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UNILEVER N.V.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
THE NETHERLANDS
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
None
(I.R.S.) Employer Identification Number)
WEENA 455 3013 AL Rotterdam The Netherlands Tel. No.: 011-31-10-217-4000 (Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices) |
| |
UNILEVER PLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
ENGLAND
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
None
(I.R.S.) Employer Identification Number)
UNILEVER HOUSE 100 VICTORIA EMBANKMENT BLACKFRIARS London EC4Y 0DY, England Tel. No.: 011-44-20-7822-5252 (Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices) |
|
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UNILEVER UNITED STATES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
13-2915928
(I.R.S.) Employer Identification Number)
700 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632 Tel. No.: (201) 894-7135 (Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices) |
| |
UNILEVER CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
13-3153661
(I.R.S.) Employer Identification Number)
700 Sylvan Avenue Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632 Tel. No.: (201) 894-7135 (Address and telephone number of
Registrant’s principal executive offices)
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| | | | II-1 | | |
| Eric Tiziani | | | Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
| David Schwartz | | | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | |
| Fabian Garcia | | | President | |
| Eric Tiziani | | | Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
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Admission
|
| | as the context requires: (i) the admission of the New PLC Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities; and/or (ii) the admission to trading of the Unilever PLC Shares, including the New PLC Shares, on Euronext in Amsterdam | |
|
Amended Unilever N.V. Articles
|
| | the amended articles of association of N.V. proposed for adoption by the general meeting of Unilever N.V. Shareholders, holders of N.V. Special Shares and N.V. NYRS Holders at the N.V. EGM | |
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Amended Unilever PLC Articles
|
| | the amended articles of association of Unilever PLC proposed for approval by PLC Shareholders at the Unilever PLC General Meeting | |
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Amended Unilever PLC Articles
|
| | the articles of association of the Unilever PLC, as may be amended from time to time | |
|
Board
|
| | the board of directors of Unilever PLC and/or Unilever N.V. (as the context requires) and, together, the “Boards” | |
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Cash Compensation
|
| | compensation in cash to be paid to a Withdrawing Shareholder in respect of those N.V. Ordinary Shares and N.V. NYRSs which will be converted into N.V. Ordinary B Shares and subsequently cancelled in relation to any N.V. Exit Share of such Withdrawing Shareholder | |
|
Cash Compensation Funding Shares
|
| | the New PLC Shares, equal to the number of Unilever N.V. Exit Shares, to be issued after the CBM Effective Date in an offering in order to realise the cash proceeds required to fund the Cash Compensation | |
|
CBM Effective Date
|
| | the date (and, where relevant, time) the Cross-Border Merger becomes effective as fixed by the order of the UK High Court approving the Cross-Border Merger | |
|
CBM Exchange Ratio
|
| | the exchange ratio set out in the Common Draft Terms of Merger | |
|
Clearances
|
| | as defined in the Unification Agreement, all consents, clearances, confirmations, permissions and waivers that are required to be obtained, all filings that are required to be made and all waiting periods that may need to have expired, from or under the laws, regulations or practices applied by any tax, regulatory or other relevant authority in connection with the implementation of Unification | |
|
Common Draft Terms of Merger
|
| | the common draft terms of merger adopted by the Boards | |
|
Cross-Border Merger or CBM
|
| | the cross-border merger between the Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. being a “merger by absorption” for the purposes of the UK Cross-Border Merger Regulations and the Dutch Civil Code on the terms set out in the Common Draft Terms of Merger | |
|
Directors’ Remuneration Policy
|
| | the approved remuneration policy of the Unilever PLC and or/Unilever N.V. (as defined in section 226B(2) of the Companies Act 2006 or section 2:135 Dutch Civil Code, as applicable) | |
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Form F-6
|
| | the registration statement on Form F-6 registering the New PLC ADSs issuable upon deposit of New PLC Shares with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in its capacity as depositary, together with any amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto | |
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Indirect N.V. NYRS Holders
|
| | the N.V. NYRS Holders who hold their N.V. NYRSs in book-entry form through a bank, broker or other DTC participant | |
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N.V. Ordinary Shares
|
| | the ordinary shares, each with a par value of €0.16, in the capital of Unilever N.V. excluding Unilever N.V. NYRS | |
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N.V. Special Shares
|
| | the ordinary shares, each with a par value of €428.57, in the capital of Unilever N.V. numbered 1 up to and including 2,400 | |
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New PLC ADSs
|
| | the PLC ADSs proposed to be issued, credited as fully paid, pursuant to the Cross-Border Merger | |
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New PLC Shares
|
| | the: (i) Unilever PLC Shares proposed to be issued, credited as fully paid, pursuant to the Cross-Border Merger; and (ii) any Cash Compensation Funding Shares, if applicable, for the purposes of Admission only | |
|
PLC ADS Holders
|
| | a holder of PLC ADSs | |
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PLC ADSs
|
| | American depositary shares of the Unilever PLC each representing one Unilever PLC Share | |
|
Prospectus
|
| | the Prospectus approved by the FCA and published on August 10, 2020 as a prospectus prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation Rules made under section 73A of FSMA | |
|
Registered N.V. NYRS Holders
|
| | N.V. NYRS Holders who hold their N.V. NYRSs in physical certificated form | |
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Shareholders
|
| | collectively, the Unilever PLC Shareholders, the Unilever N.V. Shareholders, the PLC ADS Holders and the N.V. NYRS Holders | |
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Subsidiary
|
| | has the meaning given to it in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006 | |
|
UK Corporate Governance Code
|
| | UK Corporate Governance Code published in July 2018 by the Financial Reporting Council, as amended from time to time | |
|
UK Cross-Border Mergers Regulations
|
| | the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2974), as amended | |
|
UK Takeover Code
|
| | the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, issued by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers | |
|
Unification
|
| | the Cross-Border Merger and the related implementation steps pursuant to which the Unilever PLC will become the sole parent company of the Unilever Group | |
|
Unification Agreement
|
| | the agreement dated August 10, 2020 between the Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. setting out certain mutual commitments in relation to Unification | |
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Unification Conditions
|
| | the conditions to Unification as set out in the Unification Agreement and in the section entitled “Unilever Group — Unification Proposal — The Unification Agreement and Unification Conditions — Conditions and clearances” | |
|
Unilever N.V. Articles of Association
|
| | the articles of association of Unilever N.V., as may be amended from time to time | |
|
Unilever N.V. EGM
|
| | the extraordinary general meeting of Unilever N.V. to be held on September 21, 2020 in order to, among other things, approve Unification, including the Cross-Border Merger, and any adjournment of such meeting | |
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Unilever N.V. Exit Shares
|
| | Unilever N.V. Shares or N.V. NYRSs (as applicable) for which Unilever N.V. Shareholders and N.V. NYRS Holders have exercised their rights under the withdrawal mechanism provided for Withdrawing Shareholders | |
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Unilever N.V. NYRS Holders
|
| | the holders of Unilever N.V. NYRSs | |
|
Unilever N.V. NYRSs
|
| | the ordinary shares, each with a par value of €0.16, in the capital of Unilever N.V., held in New York registry form | |
|
Unilever N.V. Ordinary Shareholders
|
| | the holders of Unilever N.V. Ordinary Shares | |
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Unilever N.V. Overseas Shareholders
|
| | Unilever N.V. Shareholders or Unilever N.V. NYRS Holders with a registered address in, or who are citizens, residents or nationals of or located in jurisdictions, outside the United Kingdom, United States or The Netherlands or whom the Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. reasonably believe to be citizens, residents or nationals of or located in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom, United States or The Netherlands | |
|
Unilever N.V. Shareholders
|
| | the holders of Unilever N.V. Shares (any such holder being a “Unilever N.V. Shareholder”) | |
|
Unilever N.V. Shares
|
| | Unilever N.V. Ordinary Shares | |
|
Unilever PLC Court Meeting
|
| | the meeting of the Unilever PLC Shareholders to be held at 2:30 p.m. (London time) on October 12, 2020, convened pursuant to an order of the UK High Court for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Cross-Border Merger, including any adjournment thereof | |
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Unilever PLC Deferred Shares
|
| | the deferred shares of £1.00 each in the capital of the Unilever PLC | |
|
Unilever PLC Directors
|
| | the Executive Directors and the Non-Executive Directors | |
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Unilever PLC General Meeting
|
| | the meeting of the Unilever PLC Shareholders to be held at 2:45 p.m. (London time) on October 12, 2020, for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing the Unilever PLC Special Resolution, including any adjournment thereof | |
|
Unilever PLC Meetings
|
| | the Unilever PLC Court Meeting and the Unilever PLC General Meeting (each being a “Unilever PLC Meeting”) | |
|
Unilever PLC Shareholders
|
| | the holders of the Unilever PLC Shares from time to time (any such holder being a “Unilever PLC Shareholder”) | |
|
Unilever PLC Shares
|
| | the ordinary shares of 31∕9 pence each in the capital of the Unilever PLC from time to time | |
|
Unilever PLC Special Resolution
|
| | the special resolution to be proposed at the Unilever PLC General Meeting | |
|
Withdrawing Shareholders
|
| | Unilever N.V. Shareholders and N.V. NYRS Holders who vote against Unification at the Unilever N.V. EGM and who do not wish to hold Unilever PLC Shares or PLC ADSs (as applicable) (any such holder being a “Withdrawing Shareholder”) | |
|
Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description of Exhibits
|
|
| 1 | | | — Form of Underwriting Agreement for Guaranteed Debt Securities, previously filed as Exhibit 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-155427, which Form of Underwriting Agreement is incorporated by reference herein. | |
| 4(a) | | | — Amended and Restated Indenture dated as of September 22, 2014 among Unilever Capital Corporation, Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC, Unilever United States, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, previously filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Registration Statement No. 333-199023, which form of Amended and Restated Indenture is incorporated by reference herein. | |
| 4(b) | | | — Forms of Debt Securities, previously filed as Exhibit 4(b) to Registration Statement No. 333-155427, which Form of Debt Securities is incorporated by reference herein. | |
| 4(c) | | | — Forms of Medium Term Notes, previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 2-98636, which Forms of Medium Term Notes are incorporated by reference herein. | |
| 5(a) | | | — Opinion of Linklaters LLP, United States counsel for Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC, UNUS and UCC as to the corporate status of UCC and UNUS and, in the case of UCC, the Indenture and the Debt Securities having been authorized by all necessary corporate action, and in the case of UNUS, the Indenture and the Guarantees having been authorized by all necessary corporate action. | |
| 5(b) | | | — Opinion of Linklaters LLP, English counsel for Unilever PLC, as to the corporate status of Unilever PLC and as to the Indenture and the Guarantees having been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Unilever PLC. | |
| 5(c) | | | — Opinion of Linklaters LLP, Dutch counsel for Unilever, N.V. as to the corporate status of Unilever N.V. and as to the Indenture, the Debt Securities and the Guarantees having been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Unilever N.V. | |
| 23(a) | | | — Consent of KPMG Accountants N.V. and KPMG LLP to Unilever N.V. | |
| 23(b) | | | — Consent of KPMG Accountants N.V. and KPMG LLP to Unilever PLC. | |
| 23(c) | | | — Consent of Linklaters LLP. The consent of Linklaters LLP is contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5(a). | |
| 23(d) | | | — Consent of Linklaters LLP. The consent of Linklaters LLP is contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5(b). | |
| 23(e) | | | — Consent of Linklaters LLP. The consent of Linklaters LLP is contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5(c). | |
| 25 | | | — Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon for the Amended and Restated Indenture dated as of September 22, 2014 | |
|
Name
|
| |
Title
|
|
|
/s/ Nils Smedegaard Andersen
Nils Smedegaard Andersen
|
| | (Director and Chairman of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Alan Jope
Alan Jope
|
| | (Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Graeme Pitkethly
Graeme Pitkethly
|
| | (Director and Chief Financial Officer of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Lysanne Gray
Lysanne Gray
|
| | (Controller of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Andrea Jung
Andrea Jung
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Laura Cha
Laura Cha
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Vittorio Colao
Vittorio Colao
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Judith Hartmann
Judith Hartmann
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Susan Kilsby
Susan Kilsby
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Strive Masiyiwa
Strive Masiyiwa
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Youngme Moon
Youngme Moon
|
| | (Vice-Chairman and Senior Independent Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ John Rishton
John Rishton
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Feike Sijbesma
Feike Sijbesma
|
| | (Director of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC) | |
|
/s/ Fabian Garcia
Fabian Garcia
|
| | (Director and President) | |
|
/s/ Eric Tiziani
Eric Tiziani
|
| | (Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer) | |
|
/s/ Eric Tiziani
Eric Tiziani
|
| | (Vice President — Finance, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer) | |
|
/s/ David Schwartz
David Schwartz
|
| | (Vice President and Assistant Secretary) | |
Exhibit 5(a)
Linklaters
LLP
One Silk Street London EC2Y 8HQ Telephone (+44) 20 7456 2000 Facsimile (+44) 20 7456 2222 DX Box Number 10 CDE |
Unilever Capital Corporation
Unilever United States, Inc.
Unilever PLC
Unilever N.V.
|
August 13, 2020 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Unilever Group Registration Statement on Form F-3
We have acted as your United States counsel in connection with the proposed issuance by the Unilever Capital Corporation ("UCC") or Unilever N.V. (each an "Issuer", as applicable) of debt securities (the "Debt Securities") to be guaranteed by Unilever United States Inc. ("UNUS") and one or both of Unilever N.V. or Unilever PLC depending on whether Unilever N.V. is an Issuer of any such Debt Securities (each a "Guarantor", as applicable) (with such guarantees being hereinafter referred to as the "Guarantees") which are being registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-3 (the "Registration Statement"). The Debt Securities and the Guarantees are being issued pursuant to the amended and restated indenture, dated as of September 22, 2014 (the "2014 Indenture") between the Issuer, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor trustee (the "Trustee"). This opinion is limited to the federal law of the United States, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other State of the United States or the laws of any other jurisdiction.
This communication is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity.
Linklaters LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC326345. It is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The term partner in relation to Linklaters LLP is used to refer to a member of Linklaters LLP or an employee or consultant of Linklaters LLP or any of its affiliated firms or entities with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the names of the members of Linklaters LLP together with a list of those non-members who are designated as partners and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at its registered office, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ or on www.linklaters.com and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or European lawyers.
Please refer to www.linklaters.com/regulation for important information on our regulatory position.
We have examined the 2014 Indenture, such certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have assumed that Unilever N.V. has the power to execute and deliver the Debt Securities, the Guarantees and the 2014 Indenture, and perform its obligations thereunder, and that the Debt Securities, the Guarantees and the 2014 Indenture have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Unilever N.V. under the laws of The Netherlands. We have assumed that Unilever PLC has the power to execute and deliver the Guarantees and the 2014 Indenture, and perform its obligations thereunder, and that the Guarantees and the 2014 Indenture have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Unilever PLC under the laws of England. We have assumed that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, assumptions that we have not independently verified.
In our opinion:
1 | Each of UCC and UNUS is an existing corporation in good standing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. |
2 | The issue and sale by UCC of the Debt Securities has been duly authorized by UCC and the issue by UNUS of the Guarantees has been duly authorized by UNUS. |
3 | The 2014 Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by UCC and UNUS and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Issuer and the Guarantor, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Linklaters LLP
Linklaters LLP
Page 2 of 2
Exhibit 5(b)
Linklaters
LLP
One Silk Street London EC2Y 8HQ Telephone (+44) 20 7456 2000 Facsimile (+44) 20 7456 2222 DX Box Number 10 CDE |
The Directors
|
13 August 2020 |
Dear Sirs
Unilever Group Registration Statement on Form F-3
1 | We have acted as English legal advisers to Unilever PLC, a company incorporated under the laws of England, Unilever Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“UCC”), Unilever United States, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“UNUS”) and Unilever N.V., a corporation incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands in connection with the registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 13 August 2020 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”) of debt securities of UCC and Unilever N.V. (the “Debt Securities”), which, if issued, will be guaranteed as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest by UNUS and either or both of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC (depending on whether Unilever N.V. is the issuer of a particular series of debt securities) (when granted by Unilever PLC, the “English Guarantees”). The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time pursuant to the 2014 Indenture (as defined in the Schedule to this opinion). |
2 | This opinion is limited to English law as applied by the English courts and in effect on the date of this opinion. It is given on the basis that it, and all matters relating to it, will be governed by, and that it (including all terms used in it) will be construed in accordance with, English law. In particular we express no opinion on matters of federal law of the United States, the laws of any State of the United States or the laws of any other jurisdiction. |
3 | For the purpose of this opinion we have examined the documents listed and, where appropriate, defined in the Schedule to this opinion. |
4 | We have assumed that: |
4.1 | all copy documents conform to the originals and all originals are genuine and complete; |
4.2 | each signature is the genuine signature of the individual concerned; |
4.3 | (except in the case of Unilever PLC) all relevant documents are within the capacity and powers of, and have been validly authorised by, each of the respective parties thereto; |
This communication is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity.
Linklaters LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC326345. It is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The term partner in relation to Linklaters LLP is used to refer to a member of Linklaters LLP or an employee or consultant of Linklaters LLP or any of its affiliated firms or entities with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the names of the members of Linklaters LLP together with a list of those non-members who are designated as partners and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at its registered office, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ or on www.linklaters.com and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or European lawyers.
Please refer to www.linklaters.com/regulation for important information on Linklaters LLP’s regulatory position.
4.4 | each issue of Debt Securities will be validly authorised by UCC or Unilever N.V., as applicable. |
4.5 | each of the meetings of the Board of Directors of Unilever PLC held on 15 May 2014 and 21 November 2019 (in respect of which certified extracts of the minutes have been supplied to us) was duly convened, constituted and quorate and the resolutions referred to in the Minutes were validly passed and remain in full force and effect without modification; |
4.6 | the PLC Resolutions (in respect of which a certified copy has been supplied to us) were validly passed and remain in full force and effect without modification; |
4.7 | each of the documents which are the subject of this opinion is valid and binding on each party under the law to which it is expressed to be subject and that words and phrases used in those documents have the same meaning and effect as they would if those documents were governed by English law; |
4.8 | all documents furnished to us as copies are genuine, authentic and complete and conform to the original documents of which they are copies and the genuineness of all signatures thereon or on the original thereof and the relevant documents have been executed in the forms reviewed by us; and |
4.9 | there will be no provision in any supplement to the Registration Statement or any other document which would affect the content of this opinion. |
5 | Based on the documents referred to, and assumptions made, in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, and subject to the qualifications in paragraph 6 below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the following opinion: |
5.1 | Unilever PLC has been incorporated and is existing as a company with limited liability under the laws of England. |
5.2 | Unilever PLC has corporate power to enter into, and perform its obligations under, the 2014 Indenture and the English Guarantees and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the execution, delivery and performance of the 2014 Indenture. |
5.3 | The English courts will recognise and give effect to the choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of the 2014 Indenture. |
6 | This opinion is subject to the following: |
6.1 | It should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts, including statements of foreign law, or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion, contained in the Registration Statement, or that no material facts have been omitted from it. |
6.2 | We express no opinion as to the compliance or otherwise with the financial limitations on the giving of guarantees contained in the Articles of Association of Unilever PLC. |
6.3 | Our opinion that Unilever PLC is existing is based on the Search and the Winding-Up Search. It should be noted that the Search and the Winding-Up Search are not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding-up or administration petition or order has been presented or made, a receiver has been appointed, a company voluntary arrangement has been proposed or approved, a moratorium has been applied for or has come into force or any other insolvency proceeding has commenced. |
7 | This opinion is given on the basis of English law in force, and as it affects the obligations under the 2014 Indenture and/or the relevant English Guarantee, as at the date of this opinion. This opinion is given on the basis that there will be no amendment to or termination or replacement of the document and authorisations referred to in the Schedule to this opinion. This opinion is also given on the basis that we undertake no responsibility to notify you of any change in English law after the date of this opinion, including any change occurring on or following IP completion day, as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. |
Page 2 of 4
8 | We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us made under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required within Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. |
9 | This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. It is not to be transmitted to anyone else for any other purpose or quoted or referred to in any public document or filed with anyone without our express consent. |
Yours faithfully
/s/ Linklaters LLP | |
Linklaters LLP |
Page 3 of 4
SCHEDULE
1 | A certified copy of the Articles of Association of Unilever PLC in force as at the date of this opinion. |
2 | A certified extract from the Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Directors of Unilever PLC held on 15 May 2014 (the “2014 Minutes”). |
3 | A certified extract from the Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Directors of Unilever PLC held on 21 November 2019 (the “2019 Minutes” and together with the 2014 Minutes, the “Minutes”). |
4 | A certified copy of the resolutions of the Chief Executive Officer dated 18 September 2014 (the “2014 PLC Resolutions”). |
5 | A certified copy of the resolutions of the Chief Financial Officer dated 14 July 2020 (the “2020 PLC Resolutions” and, together with the 2014 PLC Resolutions, the “PLC Resolutions”). |
6 | A certified copy of the executed power of attorney of Unilever PLC dated 18 September 2014. |
7 | A certified copy of the executed power of attorney of Unilever PLC dated 14 July 2020. |
8 | Amended and Restated Indenture dated 22 September 2014 (the “2014 Indenture”) among UCC, UNUS, Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC and The Bank of New York Mellon. |
9 | The results of an online search in respect of Unilever PLC on the Companies House Direct Service made at 09:58 a.m. on 13 August 2020 (the “Search”). |
10 | The results of telephone searches in respect of Unilever PLC at the Central Register of Winding-Up Petitions made at 10:01 a.m. on 13 August 2020 (the “Winding-Up Search”). |
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Exhibit 5(c)
Linklaters
LLP
World Trade Centre Amsterdam Zuidplein 180 1077 XV Amsterdam Telephone (31 20) 799 6200 Facsimile (31 20) 799 6300 |
To:
Unilever N.V.
|
13 August 2020 |
Dear Sirs
Unilever Group Registration Statement on Form F-3
1 | We have acted as your Dutch legal advisers in connection with the registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 13 August 2020 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “Securities Act”) of debt securities of Unilever Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation and Unilever N.V. (the “Debt Securities”), which, if issued, will be guaranteed as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest by Unilever United States, Inc., a Delaware corporation and either or both of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC (depending on whether Unilever N.V. is the issuer of a particular series of debt securities). The Debt Securities and any Dutch Guarantees (as defined below) relating thereto may be issued from time to time pursuant to the 2014 Indenture (as defined in the Schedule to this letter). We have taken instructions solely from Unilever N.V. |
2 | This opinion is limited to Dutch law as applied by the Dutch courts and published in print and in effect on the date of this opinion, excluding tax law, the laws of the European Union (insofar as not implemented or incorporated in Dutch law) and market abuse, competition and procurement laws. This opinion is given on the basis that we undertake no responsibility to notify any addressee of this opinion of any change in Dutch law after the date of this opinion. It is given in accordance with customary Dutch legal practice and on the basis that it and all matters relating to it will be governed by and construed in accordance with Dutch law. In this opinion, Dutch legal concepts are expressed in English terms and not in their original Dutch terms. The Dutch concepts concerned may not be identical to the concepts described by the English terms as they may exist or be interpreted under the laws of jurisdictions other than the Netherlands. |
3 | For the purpose of this opinion we have examined the documents listed and, where appropriate, defined (together with certain other terms used herein) in the Schedule to this letter. Our examination has been limited to the text of the documents. In addition we have obtained the following confirmations given by telephone or otherwise on the date of this opinion: |
This communication is confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity.
Linklaters LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC326345. It is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The term partner in relation to Linklaters LLP is used to refer to a member of Linklaters LLP or an employee or consultant of Linklaters LLP or any of its affiliated firms or entities with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the names of the members of Linklaters LLP together with a list of those non-members who are designated as partners and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at its registered office, One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ, England or on www.linklaters.com and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or European lawyers. Linklaters LLP is also registered with the Dutch Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce under number 34367130.
Please refer to www.linklaters.com/regulation for important information on our regulatory position.
3.1 | Confirmation from the Chamber of Commerce that the Trade Register Extract is up to date in all respects material for this opinion. |
3.2 | Confirmation from the insolvency office (afdeling insolventie) of the competent court in Rotterdam and the central insolvency register (centraal insolventieregister) that Unilever N.V. is not registered as having been declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or granted suspension of payments (surseance verleend). |
4 | We have assumed the following: |
4.1 | All copy documents conform to the originals and all originals are genuine and complete. |
4.2 | Each signature is the genuine signature of the individual concerned and, if an electronic signature (elektronische handtekening) (other than a qualified electronic signature (gekwalificeerde elektronische handtekening)), the signing method used is sufficiently reliable (voldoende betrouwbaar) taking into account the purpose for which that electronic signature was used and all other circumstances. |
4.3 | All documents were at their date, and have through the date hereof remained, accurate, complete and in full force and effect without modification, and have been or will have been executed in the same form as examined by us for the purposes of this opinion and (i) in the case of the Debt Securities, authenticated, effectuated (where required), issued, accepted and paid for in compliance with the 2014 Indenture with the Dutch Guarantee (if applicable) attached thereto or endorsed thereon and (ii) in the case of the Dutch Guarantees, validly granted and delivered in compliance with the 2014 Indenture. All confirmations referred to in paragraph 3 are true. |
4.4 | Unilever N.V. has not (i) had its assets placed under administration (onder bewind gesteld), (ii) been dissolved (ontbonden), merged (gefuseerd) or split up (gesplitst), or (iii) been subjected to any one of the insolvency and winding-up proceedings listed in Annex A to Regulation (EU) 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings (recast) (“Insolvency Proceedings”, including, inter alia, bankruptcy (faillissement)). |
4.5 | The entry into and performance of the 2014 Indenture and the transactions contemplated thereby, including any issues of Dutch Securities or granting of Dutch Guarantees, are conducive to the corporate objects and in the interest of Unilever N.V. |
4.6 | The extract from the minutes referred to in the Schedule are a true record of proceedings in duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings described therein and the resolutions set out in those minutes have been validly passed and the written resolutions referred to in the Schedule have been validly passed, and any conditions and limitations contained therein have been or will have been complied with. Each issue of Dutch Securities or granting of Dutch Guarantees will have been validly authorised by Unilever N.V. |
4.7 | No advice is required from any works council under the Works Councils Act (Wet op de ondernemingsraden) in connection with Unilever N.V.'s update of the Shelf Programme, entry into and performance of the 2014 Indenture or the Dutch Guarantees and issue and performance of the Dutch Securities. |
4.8 | The 2014 Power of Attorney and the 2014 Indenture including the Dutch Guarantees have been signed on behalf of Unilever N.V. by its chief executive officer or two executive members of its board of directors in office at the time of signing or, in the case of the 2014 Indenture including the Dutch Guarantees, by a person or persons duly authorised to do so under a valid power of attorney, if in facsimile with the approval of the signatory. |
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4.9 | The 2017 Power of Attorney and 2020 Power of Attorney and the Dutch Securities have been or will have been signed on behalf of Unilever N.V. by its chief executive officer or chief financial officer or two executive members of its board of directors in office at the time of signing, if in facsimile with the approval of the signatory. |
4.10 | No member of Unilever N.V.'s board of directors has a conflict of interest (tegenstrijdig belang) with respect to the Shelf Programme, the Dutch Securities, the Dutch Guarantees or the 2014 Indenture (or the transactions contemplated thereby). |
4.11 | All documents and their entry into and performance are within the capacity and powers (corporate and otherwise) of, and have been or will have been validly authorised, entered into, accepted and duly performed by, each party thereto other than Unilever N.V. |
4.12 | All documents (including the Dutch Securities and the Dutch Guarantees), including any governing law provisions contained therein, are valid, binding and enforceable on each party (including Unilever N.V.) under the law to which they are expressed to be subject where that is not Dutch law, and under any applicable law other than Dutch law. Words and phrases used in those documents have the same meaning and effect as they would if those documents were governed by Dutch law. |
4.13 | Insofar as any obligation of Unilever N.V. under the 2014 Indenture, the Dutch Securities or the Dutch Guarantees falls to be performed in, or is otherwise affected by the laws of, any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands, its performance would not be illegal or ineffective under the laws of that jurisdiction. |
4.14 | There are no provisions of any law, other than Dutch law, which may apply to the Dutch Securities, the Dutch Guarantees or the 2014 Indenture (or the transactions contemplated thereby) or to any power of attorney issued by Unilever N.V. (including the Powers of Attorney), which would affect this opinion. |
4.15 | The Debt Securities will not be offered in, or admitted to trading on a regulated market in, the Netherlands. |
4.16 | The Dutch Securities will be issued with terms and conditions that make the Dutch Securities neither qualify as game or wager (spel en weddenschap) within the meaning of the Dutch Civil Code nor fall within the scope of the Games of Chance Act (Wet op de kansspelen). |
4.17 | Unilever N.V. does not and will not come to qualify as a bank within the meaning of the Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht), or if it does, it complies and will continue to comply with the conditions for one of the exemptions contained in the Financial Supervision Act from the requirement to be authorised or licensed. |
5 | In our opinion: |
5.1 | Unilever N.V. has been incorporated and is existing as a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law. |
5.2 | Unilever N.V. has the corporate power to enter into and perform the 2014 Indenture and the Dutch Guarantees and to issue and perform the Dutch Securities. |
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5.3 | Unilever N.V. has taken all necessary corporate action to authorise its entry into and performance of the 2014 Indenture. |
5.4 | Unilever N.V. has validly signed the 2014 Indenture. |
5.5 | The entry into and performance of the 2014 Indenture and the Dutch Guarantees and the issue and performance of the Dutch Securities by Unilever N.V. does not violate Dutch law or its articles of association. |
5.6 | Under Dutch law and in accordance with and subject to Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I) (the “Rome I Regulation”), the choice of New York law as the governing law of the 2014 Indenture, the Dutch Securities and the Dutch Guarantees is recognised as a valid choice of law and accordingly New York law governs the validity, binding effect and enforceability of the 2014 Indenture, the Dutch Securities and the Dutch Guarantees against Unilever N.V. |
6 | This opinion is subject to any matters not disclosed to us and to the following qualifications: |
6.1 | The term “enforceable” as used above (including the term “give binding effect to” in relation to proceedings in a Dutch court to enforce a judgment rendered by a New York court or otherwise), or any other reference by whatever term to enforcement, means that the obligations assumed by the relevant party under the relevant document are of a type which the Dutch courts enforce. It does not mean that those obligations (or such judgment) will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their (or its) terms. We do not express any opinion as to whether specific performance or injunctive relief would be available. |
6.2 | This opinion is limited by, and therefore we do not express any opinion or statement as to the consequences of, any Insolvency Proceeding, insolvency, liquidation (ontbinding en vereffening), reorganisation, fraudulent conveyance (Actio Pauliana) and other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors, and any sanctions and measures implemented or effective in the Netherlands under the Sanctions Act 1977 (Sanctiewet 1977) or European Union regulations or otherwise by international sanctions. |
6.3 | Under Dutch law, a power of attorney does not preclude the principal from performing the legal acts covered by the power of attorney and can be made irrevocable only insofar as it is granted for the purpose of performing a legal act in the interest of the attorney or a third party and subject to any amendments made or limitations imposed by the court on serious grounds (gewichtige redenen). Each power of attorney (volmacht) or mandate (lastgeving), whether or not irrevocable, granted by a company, will terminate by force of law and without notice, upon bankruptcy of the company or the death of or termination by the attorney or the attorney being placed under guardianship or the attorney being disqualified as a director of the company, and will cease to have effect upon the company having been granted a suspension of payments. This qualification would also apply to the extent that the appointment of a process agent or other agent were to be deemed to constitute a power of attorney or a mandate. |
6.4 | If a facsimile signature is used for the Dutch Securities or Dutch Guarantees, each signatory should consent to such use of his signature and evidence of such consent may be required for the enforcement of the Dutch Securities or Dutch Guarantees in the Netherlands. If a Dutch Security or Dutch Guarantee is signed on behalf of Unilever N.V. (manually or in facsimile) by a person who is a duly authorised representative of Unilever N.V. on signing but no longer on the actual issue date of the Dutch Security or the Dutch Guarantee, enforcement of the Dutch Security or the Dutch Guarantee in the Netherlands may require that the holder thereof presents both the Dutch Security or the Dutch Guarantee and evidence of the agreement of Unilever N.V. to also be bound in such circumstances and evidence of the consent of the signatory. |
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6.5 | A provision of an agreement which stipulates that certain documents or determinations are conclusive, final or binding may not be enforceable in all circumstances. |
6.6 | A provision in an agreement requiring, forbidding or restricting a company to take any action that falls within the powers of its general meeting, or similar corporate body, may not be enforceable. |
6.7 | We do not express any opinion as to any “deemed” action or absence thereof. |
6.8 | To the extent Dutch law applies, an indemnity will not be enforceable if the damage, loss, cost, liability or expense against which a person or legal entity is indemnified is a result of wilful misconduct or gross negligence of such person or entity or if such person or entity did not act in good faith. |
6.9 | Dutch law does not know the concept of trust as this is known under common law, nor the concept of suspense account, and we do not express any opinion in respect thereof. Any provision pursuant to which moneys or goods are to be held in trust by one party for another party or are to be segregated from the other assets of the party concerned (or provisions having a similar intended effect) may not be enforceable in the Netherlands. |
6.10 | To the extent Dutch law applies, any provision to the effect that no holder of a Debt Security or any Coupon (as defined therein) shall have any right to institute any action or proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Debt Securities, Dutch Guarantees or the 2014 Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy thereunder, may not be enforceable in all circumstances. |
6.11 | To the extent Dutch law applies, any provision to the effect that in any proceedings initiated by the Trustee, the Trustee shall be held to represent all holders of the Debt Securities to which such proceedings relate, and that it shall not be necessary to make any holders of Debt Securities party to such proceedings, may not be enforceable in all circumstances |
6.12 | The enforcement in the Netherlands of the 2014 Indenture, the Dutch Securities, the Dutch Guarantees and foreign judgments will be subject to Dutch rules of civil procedure. A Dutch court may mitigate amounts due in respect of litigation and collection costs. |
6.13 | A Dutch court may decline jurisdiction if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. We express no opinion on competing judgments resulting from any concurrent proceedings. |
6.14 | Claims may become barred by limitation periods or may be or become subject to set-off or counterclaim. |
6.15 | The admissibility of a choice of jurisdiction (such as for courts in the United States) and the procedural consequences of such choice are determined by the laws of the chosen jurisdiction. |
6.16 | In proceedings before a court of the Netherlands the service of process against Unilever N.V. other than by personal delivery by a bailiff of the courts of the Netherlands (gerechtsdeurwaarder) and in accordance with the applicable treaties will not be considered by the court to constitute valid service of process, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the 2014 Indenture, the Dutch Securities or the Dutch Guarantees. |
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6.17 | To the extent that Dutch law applies to the transfer of title to a Dutch Security, this requires delivery (levering) pursuant to a valid agreement (geldige titel) by a transferor who has power to pass on title to that Dutch Security (beschikkingsbevoegdheid). |
6.18 | To the extent that Dutch law is applicable to the Debt Securities or any transfer thereof, any provision to the effect that the (registered) holder of a Debt Security may be treated as the absolute owner thereof or solely entitled thereto may not be enforceable in all circumstances. |
6.19 | We do not express any opinion as to any co-ownership interest in, or transfer of, or conversion of, any Debt Security, or as to any consolidation, substitution or assumption of obligations as provided for in Article VIII of the 2014 Indenture or any in rem matters. |
6.20 | To the extent that any provisions of the Dutch Securities, the Dutch Guarantees or the 2014 Indenture are general conditions (algemene voorwaarden) within the meaning of Section 6:231 of the Dutch Civil Code, a holder of Dutch Securities or a beneficiary of Dutch Guarantees may nullify (vernietigen) a provision therein if (i) Unilever N.V. has not offered the holder of Dutch Securities or the beneficiary of Dutch Guarantees a reasonable opportunity to examine the terms and conditions of the security or the guarantee or the 2014 Indenture or (ii) the provision, having regard to all relevant circumstances, is unreasonably onerous (onredelijk bezwarend) to the holder of Dutch Securities or the beneficiary of Dutch Guarantees. |
6.21 | To the extent Dutch law applies: |
6.21.1 | a Dutch Security will only be validly issued, and will only be valid, binding and enforceable against Unilever N.V., after that Dutch Security has been issued to and accepted and paid for by a person other than Unilever N.V.; |
6.21.2 | as to the acquisition of Dutch Securities by their issuer, Dutch Securities will be cancelled by operation of law unless the Dutch Securities are in bearer form and the acquisition is made through a transfer in accordance with Section 3:93 of the Dutch Civil Code), and if not cancelled those Dutch Securities will no longer be binding and enforceable against their issuer until the Dutch Securities have been acquired by a person other than the issuer. |
6.22 | Bearer zero coupon Debt Securities and other Debt Securities which qualify as savings certificates as defined in the Savings Certificates Act (Wet inzake spaarbewijzen) may only be transferred or accepted through the intermediary of their issuer or a member of Euronext Amsterdam N.V. and with due observance of the Savings Certificates Act (including registration requirements). However, no such intermediary services are required in respect of (i) the initial issue of those Debt Securities to the first holders thereof, (ii) any transfer and acceptance by individuals who do not act in the conduct of a profession or trade, and (iii) the transfer or acceptance of those Debt Securities, if they are physically issued outside the Netherlands and are not distributed in the Netherlands in the course of primary trading or immediately thereafter. |
6.23 | We do not express any opinion as to the authority of any of the parties other than Unilever N.V. to perform the provisions of the 2014 Indenture applicable to it. |
6.24 | We do not express any opinion as to any specific issue of Dutch Securities or granting of Dutch Guarantees, which we may do in a separate opinion or reliance letter referring to this programme opinion. |
6.25 | It should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts or the reasonableness of any statements of belief or opinion contained in the Registration Statement (including the prospectus contained therein), or that no material facts have been omitted from it. |
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6.26 | The Trade Register Extract and the confirmations referred to in paragraph 3 do not provide conclusive evidence that the information set out in the Trade Register Extract is correct or that Unilever N.V. has not become the subject of an Insolvency Proceeding. |
6.27 | We do not express any opinion as to facts. |
7 | This opinion is addressed to you solely for your benefit in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. It is not to be transmitted to anyone else or for any other purpose or quoted or referred to in any public document or filed with anyone without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us made under the heading “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities Against Foreign Persons” and “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required within Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. |
Yours faithfully
/s/ Linklaters LLP
Linklaters LLP
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Schedule
1 | An electronic certified copy of an extract from the trade register (the “Trade Register Extract”) obtained from the chamber of commerce (the “Chamber of Commerce”) regarding Unilever N.V. dated 12 August 2020. |
2 | A faxed copy of a notarial copy of Unilever N.V.’s deed of incorporation dated 9 November 1927 and of its articles of association as most recently amended on 9 May 2012, both as obtained from and according to the Chamber of Commerce. |
3 | A print-out of an electronic copy of The Governance of Unilever with effect from 1 June 2014 and that with effect from 1 January 2017 and that with effect from 1 January 2020. |
4 | A print-out of an electronic copy of an extract from the minutes of meetings of the board of directors of Unilever N.V. held on 15 May 2014 and 17 November 2016 and 21 November 2019 referring to resolutions adopted by Unilever N.V.’s board of directors in such meeting; of a written resolution of the chief executive officer of Unilever N.V. dated 18 September 2014; and of a written resolution of the chief financial officer of Unilever N.V. dated 10 July 2017; and of a written resolution of the chief financial officer of Unilever N.V. dated 14 July 2020, in each case confirming certain matters with respect to the Unilever Group’s Shelf Programme (the “Shelf Programme”). |
5 | A print-out of an electronic copy of a power of attorney dated 18 September 2014 granted by Unilever N.V. to each Executive Director, the Group Treasurer, the Chief Legal Officer, the Group Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Unilever N.V. and each of Michel Pinto, Richard Hazell, David Schwartz, Steven Rapp and Robert Leek executed by the chief executive officer of Unilever N.V. (the “2014 Power of Attorney”) and of a power of attorney dated 10 July 2017 granted by Unilever N.V. to each Executive Director, the Chief Legal Officer, the Group Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Unilever N.V. and each of Michel Pinto, Richard Hazell, David Schwartz, Steven Rapp, James Allison and Robert Leek executed by the chief financial officer of Unilever N.V. (the “2017 Power of Attorney”); and of a power of attorney dated 14 July 2020 granted by Unilever N.V. to each Executive Director, the Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of Unilever N.V. and each of Richard Hazell, Johanna Hyttinen, Janine Juggins and Robert Leek executed by the chief financial officer of Unilever N.V. (the “2020 Power of Attorney” and together with the 2014 Power of Attorney and the 2017 Power of Attorney, the “Powers of Attorney”). |
6 | A print-out of an electronic copy of a certificate of secretary dated 30 September 2014 executed by Tonia Lovell in her stated capacity of Group Secretary of Unilever N.V. |
7 | A print-out of an electronic copy of a certificate of secretary dated 27 July 2017 executed by Tonia Lovell in her stated capacity of Group Secretary of Unilever N.V. |
8 | A print-out of an electronic copy of a certificate of secretary dated 13 August 2020 executed by Ritva Sotamaa in her stated capacity of Group Secretary of Unilever N.V. |
9 | A print-out of an electronic copy of the registration statement on form F-3 dated 13 August 2020 in relation to the Shelf Programme (including the prospectus, but excluding any documents incorporated by reference in it and any exhibits to it). |
10 | A print-out of an electronic copy of an executed amended and restated indenture dated as of 22 September 2014 relating to the Debt Securities (the “2014 Indenture”), between Unilever Capital Corporation as issuer, Unilever N.V. as issuer and guarantor, Unilever PLC and Unilever United States, Inc. as guarantors and The Bank of New York as trustee (the “Trustee”), including the forms of Debt Securities (when issued by Unilever N.V., the “Dutch Securities”) and the guarantees (when granted by Unilever N.V., the “Dutch Guarantees”) and the form thereof which, if applicable, we understand will be attached to or endorsed on the Debt Securities. |
References to the “Debt Securities” include the Dutch Securities, unless the context requires otherwise; references to “documents” are to any and all documents mentioned in this Schedule including the Debt Securities and the Dutch Guarantees, unless the context requires otherwise.
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Exhibit 23(a)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
The Board of Directors
Unilever N.V.
We consent to the use of our report dated 4 March 2020 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Unilever Group (Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC, together with their subsidiaries) as of 31 December 2019 and 2018 and 1 January 2018, and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the years in the three-year period ended 31 December 2019, and the related notes and the Guarantor financial information included in the Guarantor Statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firms under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
Our report covering the 31 December 2019 consolidated financial statements of the Unilever Group and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019 refers to a change in the accounting for leases due to the adoption of IFRS 16, Leases, and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Unilever Group acquired Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru on 30 August 2019, 1 October 2019 and 1 October 2019, respectively, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Unilever Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019, Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru’s internal control over financial reporting associated with approximately 0.25% of Unilever Group’s total assets as of 31 December 2019 and approximately 0.03% of Unilever Group’s turnover included in the consolidated financial statements of the Unilever Group as of and for the year ended 31 December 2019. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Unilever Group also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru.
/s/KPMG Accountants N.V. | /s/KPMG LLP |
Amsterdam, the Netherlands | London, United Kingdom |
13 August 2020 | 13 August 2020 |
Exhibit 23(b)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
The Board of Directors
Unilever PLC
We consent to the use of our report dated 4 March 2020 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Unilever Group (Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC, together with their subsidiaries) as of 31 December 2019 and 2018 and 1 January 2018, and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the years in the three-year period ended 31 December 2019, the related notes and the Guarantor financial information included in the Guarantor Statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firms under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
Our report covering the 31 December 2019 consolidated financial statements of the Unilever Group and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019 refers to a change in the accounting for leases due to the adoption of IFRS 16, Leases, and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Unilever Group acquired Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru on 30 August 2019, 1 October 2019 and 1 October 2019, respectively, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Unilever Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2019, Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru’s internal control over financial reporting associated with approximately 0.25% of Unilever Group’s total assets as of 31 December 2019 and approximately 0.03% of Unilever Group’s turnover included in the consolidated financial statements of the Unilever Group as of and for the year ended 31 December 2019. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Unilever Group also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Astrix, Lenor Japan and FruFru.
/s/KPMG Accountants N.V. | /s/KPMG LLP |
Amsterdam, the Netherlands | London, United Kingdom |
13 August 2020 | 13 August 2020 |
Exhibit 25
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) | |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
New York
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank) |
13-5160382
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y.
(Address of principal executive offices) |
10286
(Zip code) |
UNILEVER N.V.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
The Netherlands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
None
(I.R.S. employer identification no.) |
WEENA 455
3013 AL Rotterdam The Netherlands (Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip code) |
UNILEVER CAPITAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware
incorporation or organization)
|
13-3153661
identification no.) |
700 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (Address of principal executive offices) |
07632 (Zip code) |
UNILEVER UNITED STATES, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
13-2915928
identification no.) |
700 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (Address of principal executive offices) |
07632 (Zip code) |
UNILEVER PLC
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
England (State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
None
identification no.) |
Unilever House
100 Victoria Embankment Blackfriars London EC4Y 0DY, England (Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip code) |
Guaranteed Debt Securities
and Guarantees—Constituting Guarantees of Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
1. | General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee: |
(a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Name | Address |
Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York |
One State Street, New York,
N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223 |
Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.
10045 |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
550 17th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20429 |
The Clearing House Association L.L.C. |
100 Broad Street
New York, N.Y. 10004 |
(b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
16. | List of Exhibits. |
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act").
1. | A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735). |
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4. | A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229494). |
6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229519). |
7. | A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York, and State of New York, on the
6th day of August, 2020.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON | ||
By: | /s/ Francine Kincaid | |
Name: Francine Kincaid | ||
Title: Vice President |
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Exhibit 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y.
10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2020, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.
I, Michael Santomassimo, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Michael Santomassimo
Chief Financial Officer
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
Thomas P. Gibbons | |||
Samuel C. Scott | Directors | ||
Joseph J. Echevarria | |||