UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2019 (April 30, 2019)

 

 

Aon plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

 

 

 

England and Wales   1-7933   98-1030901

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

122 Leadenhall Street, London, England     EC3V 4AN
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +44 20 7623 5500

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: Not Applicable

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Class A Ordinary Shares,

$0.01 nominal value

  AON   New York Stock Exchange

 

 

 


Item 8.01: Other Events.

On April 30, 2019, Aon Corporation (the “Company”) and Aon plc (the “Guarantor”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters named therein, with respect to the offering and sale by the Company of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”), under the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 333-227514-01 and 333-227514). The Guarantor will provide a full and unconditional guarantee of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture (as defined below) (the “Guarantee,” and together with the Notes, the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2018, among the Company, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”).

The net proceeds from the sale of the Securities after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company, are expected to be approximately $743 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to pay down a portion of outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.

The Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The Indenture is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The form of notes (including the Guarantee) for the Notes is filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the issuance of the Securities, Latham & Watkins LLP is filing the legal opinions attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2, respectively.

Item 9.01: Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits .

 

Exhibit No.

  

Document Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April  30, 2019, by and among the Company, the Guarantor and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December  3, 2019, among the Company, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Aon plc’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2018).
  4.2    Form of 3.750% Senior Note due 2029 (including the guarantee).
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP relating to the Securities.
  5.2    Opinion of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP relating to the Notes.
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2    Consent of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).


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, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

Aon Corporation

Date: May 2, 2019     By:   /s/ Paul Hagy
     

Name: Paul Hagy

Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

Aon Corporation

Aon plc

$750,000,000 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

April 30, 2019

C ITIGROUP G LOBAL M ARKETS I NC .

B ARCLAYS C APITAL I NC .

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

As Representatives (the “ Representatives ”) of the several Underwriters listed in Exhibit A hereto

 

c/o

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

388 Greenwich Street

 

New York, NY 10013

 

c/o

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

745 Seventh Avenue

 

New York, NY 10019

 

c/o

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

Eleven Madison Avenue

 

New York, NY 10010

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Introductory . Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with the several Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto (the “ Underwriters ”) to issue and sell to the several Underwriters $750,000,000 principal amount of its 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “ Notes ”), to be issued under an indenture dated as of December 3, 2018 (the “ Base Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantor (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by an officers’ certificate of the Company to be dated as of May 2, 2019 (together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by Aon plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “ Guarantor ,” and such guarantee, the “ Guarantee ”). The Notes, together with the Guarantee, are referred to in this Agreement as the “ Securities .”

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . Each of the Company and the Guarantor represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms . The Company and the Guarantor have filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-227514-01 and 333-227514, respectively), including a related prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the Securities under the Act, which has become effective. “ Registration Statement ” at any particular time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to such registration statement, that in any case has not been superseded or modified. “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the time as of which such Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c). For purposes of this definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B.

 

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For purposes of this Agreement:

430B Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(e) or retroactively deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(f).

430C Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Applicable Time ” means 3:07 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430B Information and other final terms of the Securities, and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.

General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being so specified in Exhibit B to this Agreement.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Securities in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as applicable, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“ Exchange Rules ”).

Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to any particular time means the prospectus relating to the Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to the Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that such form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the Act.

(b)  Compliance with Act Requirements . (i) (A) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, (B) at the time of each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) (A) on its date, (B) at the time of filing the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will

 

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conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) Automatic Shelf Registration Statement . (i)  Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Status . (A) At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (C) at the time the Company, the Guarantor or any person acting on its or their behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, each of the Company and the Guarantor was a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405, including not having been an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

(ii) Effectiveness of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement . The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, that initially became effective within three years of the date of this Agreement.

(iii) Eligibility to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Form . Neither the Company nor the Guarantor has received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

(iv) Filing Fees . The Company or the Guarantor has paid or shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(d) Ineligible Issuer Status . (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company, the Guarantor or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Securities and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, each of the Company and the Guarantor was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(e) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated April 30, 2019, including the base prospectus, dated September 25, 2018 (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally), any document incorporated by reference therein and the other information, if any, stated in Exhibit B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the General Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the Closing Date or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would, when considered together with the rest of the General Disclosure Package, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(g) Good Standing of the Company . Each of the Company and the Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is existing and, where such concept applies, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority, where such concept applies, to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and each of the Company and the Guarantor is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing, where such concept applies, in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect or any development or event involving a prospective material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business or properties of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole (“ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(h) Significant Subsidiaries . Each subsidiary of the Company designated on Exhibit C hereto (each, a “ Significant Subsidiary ”) (i) has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing, where such concept applies, under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and (ii) has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing, where such concept applies, in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and except as described in the General Disclosure Package, the capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and security interests.

(i) Execution and Delivery of Indenture . The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantor and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of the Company and the Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Notes and Guarantee have been duly authorized and, when the Notes and the Guarantee are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date, such Notes will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantor (assuming that the Notes have been authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture) and such Guarantee will have been duly executed, issued and delivered, and the Notes and the Guarantee will conform in all material respects to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Securities contained in the Final Prospectus and the Indenture, and such Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(j) Absence of Further Requirements . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company and the Guarantor, except such as have been obtained or made and such as may be required under federal or state securities laws and except as disclosed or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

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(k) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The issuance and sale by the Company and Guarantor of the Securities and the execution and delivery by the Company and Guarantor of this Agreement, and the performance by the Company and Guarantor of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, will not contravene (i) the articles of association, certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, (ii) any agreement or other instrument filed as a “material contract” with respect to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 or the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019, or (iii) any provision of material applicable law or any material judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company, the Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries.

(l) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor the Guarantor is in violation of its organizational documents or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument or agreement to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which violation or default would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Authorization of Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantor.

(n) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries possess such certificates, authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantor, have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any certificates, authorities or permits, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorities or permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company, Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantor, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) Accurate Disclosure . The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Description of the Securities,” “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees,” “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” and “Certain United Kingdom Tax Consequences,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are, in all material respects, accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown.

(q) Absence of Manipulation . Neither the Company nor the Guarantor has taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(r) Internal Controls . There are no material weaknesses in the Guarantor’s internal controls over financial reporting (“ Internal Controls ”). Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no change in the Guarantor’s internal control that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Guarantor’s Internal Controls. The Guarantor maintains a system of Internal Controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and

 

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financial reporting, an internal audit function and legal and regulatory compliance controls, that comply with Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. General Accepted Accounting Principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(s) Litigation . There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or Guarantor, threatened to which the Company, the Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject, other than proceedings fairly summarized in all material respects in the General Disclosure Package and proceedings which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the power or ability of the Company or the Guarantor to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or to consummate the offering contemplated hereby.

(t) Financial Statements . The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company, the Guarantor and the Guarantor’s consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

(u) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company, the Guarantor, and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse.

(v) Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor the Guarantor is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor the Guarantor will be, required to register as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

(w) No Unlawful Payments. (i) Except to the extent as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and the Guarantor are in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and other applicable United States and foreign anti-corruption laws and regulations (collectively the “ Anti-Corruption Laws ”), (ii) since January 1, 2010, except to the extent as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor the Guarantor has been notified of or, in each case, to its knowledge, investigated for a potential violation of Anti-Corruption Laws, and (iii) the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries have an operational anti-corruption compliance program that includes, at a minimum, policies, procedures and training intended to enhance awareness of and compliance by the Company, the Guarantor or their respective subsidiaries with Anti-Corruption Laws.

(x) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times and in all material respects in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and all applicable anti-money laundering laws, rules and regulations (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”); and neither the Company, the Guarantor nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been notified of or, in each case, to its knowledge has been investigated for a potential violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

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(y) Compliance with OFAC . (i) None of the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantor, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or any of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries is currently an individual or entity (A) on the Specially Designated Nationals List (“ SDN List ”), administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; or (B) organized, located or a resident in a country or territory that is currently the subject of other OFAC sanction programs (a “ Sanctioned Country ”); and (ii) the Company will not directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly use all or part of the proceeds of the offering of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available all or part of such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity on the SDN List or organized, located or a resident of a Sanctioned Country, for the purpose of financing their activities.

(z) Taxes . The Guarantor, the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries have filed all U.S. federal, U.K. and material U.S. state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof; all such returns were true and complete in all material respects; all taxes shown as due and payable on such returns have been timely paid, or withheld and remitted, to the appropriate taxing authority (except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by applicable U.S. or other generally accepted accounting principles have been created in the financial statements of the Company); and no material tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries which has not been paid.

(aa) Choice of Laws . The choice of laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles) as the governing law of this Agreement, the Securities, the Indenture (including the Guarantee set forth therein) is a valid choice of law under the laws of England and Wales and will be honored by the courts of England and Wales.

(bb) Jurisdiction . The Company and the Guarantor have the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 17 of this Agreement have legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York; and the Company has the power to designate, appoint and empower, and pursuant to Section 17 of this Agreement, has legally, validly and effectively designated, appointed and empowered, an agent for service of process in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement in Federal and state courts, as applicable, in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York.

(cc) eXtensible Business Reporting Language Interactive Data . The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the required information in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(dd) Cybersecurity. Except as to such matters as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably likely result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) to the reasonable knowledge of the Company, there has been no security breach or other compromise of any of the Company’s, the Guarantor’s or any of its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “ IT Systems and Data ”) and the Company, the Guarantor and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; and (ii) the Company, the Guarantor and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations, in each case, relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.359% of the principal amount of the Notes and accrued interest, if any, from May 2, 2019 to, but excluding the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Exhibit A hereto.

 

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The Company will deliver the Securities to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017, at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on May 2, 2019, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ Closing Date ”. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for inspection at the above office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

5. Certain Agreements of the Company and the Guarantor . The Company and the Guarantor agree with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing of Prospectuses. The Company and the Guarantor have filed or will file each Statutory Prospectus (including the Final Prospectus) pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (5)) not later than the second business day following the earlier of the date it is first used or the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Company and the Guarantor have complied and will comply in all material respects with Rule 433.

(b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests . The Company and the Guarantor will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus at any time and will offer the Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Company and the Guarantor will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement, (ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) the receipt by the Company or the Guarantor of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company and the Guarantor will use their commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the suspension of any such qualification where such lack of qualification would have a material adverse impact on the offering of Securities contemplated hereby and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . If, at any time on or prior to the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company and the Guarantor will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance; provided that any such amendment or supplement required to be prepared after 90 days following the Closing Date shall be at the expense of the Underwriters. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

 

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(d) Rule  158. As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date of this Agreement and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses . The Company and the Guarantor will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request during such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Act) by any Underwriter.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company and the Guarantor will arrange for the qualification of the Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Reporting Requirements . For so long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to shareholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to shareholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company or the Guarantor as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

(h) Payment of Expenses . The Company and Guarantor will pay all expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters prospectuses described in Section 5(e), any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the officers and employees of the Company and Guarantor, and any other expenses of the Company or Guarantor, fees and expenses incident to listing the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, NASDAQ Stock Market and other national and foreign exchanges, fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act, and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Agreement, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters, transfer taxes payable on resale of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they make.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package.

(j) Absence of Manipulation . The Company and the Guarantor will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company or Guarantor to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

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(k) Restriction on Disposition of Notes. The Company and the Guarantor will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or the Guarantor and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the Closing Date.

6. Free Writing Prospectuses . (a)  Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company and the Guarantor each represent and agree that, unless they obtain the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, the Guarantor and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company and the Guarantor each represent that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

(b)  Term Sheets . The Company and Guarantor will prepare a final term sheet relating to the Securities, containing only information that describes the final terms of the Securities and otherwise in a form consented to by the Representatives, and will file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) following the date such final terms have been established for the offering of the Securities. Any such final term sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement. The Company and Guarantor also consent to the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that contains only (i)(x) information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering or (y) information that describes the final terms of the Securities or their offering and that is included in the final term sheet of the Company and the Guarantor contemplated in the first sentence of this subsection or (ii) other information that is not “issuer information,” as defined in Rule 433, it being understood that any such free writing prospectus referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above shall not be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.

7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor herein (as though made on the Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Guarantor of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a)  Accountants’ Comfort Letter . The Representatives shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof with respect to the General Disclosure Package and the Closing Date with respect to the Final Prospectus, of Ernst & Young LLP, a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Laws, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and the specified date of such letters shall be a date no more than three business days prior to the date hereof or the Closing Date, as applicable.

(b)  Filing of Prospectus. The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, the Guarantor or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

 

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(c)  No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the financial condition, results of operations, business or properties of the Company, the Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company or the Guarantor by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company or the Guarantor for a possible downgrading of such rating or any announcement that the Company or the Guarantor has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company or the Guarantor on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States or any other country where such securities are listed; or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities.

(d)  Opinion of Counsel to the Company . The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of the Counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

(e)  Opinion of Special U.K. Counsel for Company and the Guarantor and Opinion, Tax Opinion and Disclosure Letter of Special U.S. Counsel for the Company and the Guarantor . The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP, special U.K. counsel to the Company and the Guarantor, and a tax opinion, an opinion and a disclosure letter dated the Closing Date, of Latham & Watkins LLP, special United States counsel to the Company and the Guarantor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibit E hereto.

(f) Opinion and Disclosure Letter of Counsel for Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion and a disclosure letter, dated the Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(h)  Officer’s Certificate . The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and the Guarantor and a principal financial or accounting officer or treasurer of the Company and the Guarantor in which such officers shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor clauses (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (j), (k), (m), (p), (v) and (y) of Section 2 of this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects; the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor in clauses (b), (g), (h), (i), (j), (l), (n), (o), (q), (r), (s), (t), (u), (w), (x), (z), (aa), (bb), (cc) and (dd) of Section 2 of this Agreement are true and correct; the Company and the Guarantor have complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; and, subsequent to the dates of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the financial condition, results of operations, business or properties of the Company, Guarantor and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

 

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The Company and the Guarantor will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder.

8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company and the Guarantor will jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Guarantor will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and (ii) any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of Company . Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, the Guarantor, each of their respective directors and each of their respective officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the following information in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”; the statement of market making with respect to the Underwriters in the second sentence of the fifth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”; and the description of stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids appearing in the ninth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

 

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(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party in such action), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantor or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).

 

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9. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase the Securities hereunder on the Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of the Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of the Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on the Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of the Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of the Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Guarantor or their officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company, the Guarantor or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. If the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Sections 7(c)(iii), 7(c)(iv), 7(c)(vi), 7(c)(vii), 7(c)(viii) and 9 hereof, the Company and the Guarantor will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Securities, and the respective obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8 hereof shall remain in effect. In addition, if any Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect.

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the Representatives, c/o (i) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel, Fax: 646-291-1469; (ii) Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration, Fax: 646-834-8144; and (iii) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: IBCM-Legal, Fax: 212-325-4296; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at Aon Corporation, 200 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: General Counsel; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.

12. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

13. Representation of Underwriters . The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives jointly will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

14. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

15. Headings . The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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16. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company and the Guarantor acknowledge and agree that:

(a)     No Other Relationship . The Representatives have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representatives has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Representatives have advised or are advising the Company or the Guarantor on other matters;

(b)     Arms’ Length Negotiations . The price of the Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company and the Guarantor following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives, and the Company and the Guarantor are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c)     Absence of Obligation to Disclose . The Company and the Guarantor have been advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Guarantor and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company or the Guarantor by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d)     Waiver . The Company and the Guarantor waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims either of the Company or the Guarantor may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Guarantor in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including members, stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Guarantor.

17. Applicable  Law . (a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles.

(b) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

(c) Submission to Jurisdiction . The Company and the Guarantor hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company and the Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Company with an office at 200 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: General Counsel, as its agent to receive on behalf of the Guarantor service of any legal process which may be served in all such actions and proceedings. Such service may be made by mail or delivery of such process to the Guarantor in care of such agent at the agent’s address set forth above and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs such agent to accept such service on behalf of the Guarantor.

18. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

15


(b)    In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

BHC Act Affiliate ” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity ” means any of the following:

 

  (i)

a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

  (ii)

a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

  (iii)

a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right ” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime ” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

16


If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to us one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company, the Guarantor and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
A ON C ORPORATION
By:   /s/ Mary Moore Johnson
 

Name: Mary Moore Johnson

Title:   Vice President and Secretary

 

A ON PLC
By:   /s/ Paul Hagy
 

Name: Paul Hagy

Title:   SVP, Global Corporate Treasurer

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

Acting on behalf of themselves and as the

Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

By   C ITIGROUP G LOBAL M ARKETS I NC .
By:   /s/ Jack D. McSpadden, Jr.
 

Name: Jack D. McSpadden, Jr.

Title:   Managing Director

 

By   B ARCLAYS C APITAL I NC .
By:   /s/ Radhika P. Gupte
 

Name: Radhika P. Gupte

Title:   Managing Director

 

By   C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:   /s/ Arvind Sriram
 

Name: Arvind Sriram

Title:   Managing Director

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]


EXHIBIT A

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount
of the Notes
 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 200,025,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     200,025,000  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     200,025,000  

Aon Securities LLC

     24,975,000  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

     24,975,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     24,975,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     24,975,000  

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

     24,975,000  

Loop Capital Markets LLC

     12,525,000  

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

     12,525,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 750,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 


EXHIBIT B

 

1.

General Use Free Writing Prospectus (included in the General Disclosure Package)

“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means:

The pricing term sheet, dated April 30, 2019, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex B-1.

 

2.

Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:

None

 


ANNEX B-1

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Relating to Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated April 30, 2019 to

Prospectus dated September 25, 2018

Registration Statement Nos. 333-227514-01 and 333-227514

Aon Corporation

TERM SHEET

$750,000,000 3.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

 

Issuer:

   Aon Corporation

Securities:

   3.750% Senior Notes due 2029

Guarantor:

   Aon plc

Legal Format:

   SEC Registered

Amount:

   $750,000,000

Ranking:

   Senior Unsecured

Expected Ratings*:

  

Moody’s Investors Service: Baa2

Standard & Poor’s: A–

Fitch: BBB+

Trade Date:

   April 30, 2019

Settlement Date (T+2):

   May 2, 2019

Maturity Date:

   May 2, 2029

Reference Treasury:

   2.625% due February 15, 2029

Reference Treasury Price and Yield:

   100-31+; 2.511%

Reoffer Spread to Treasury:

   +125 bps

Reoffer Yield:

   3.761%

Coupon:

   3.750%

Denominations:

   $2,000 and multiples of $1,000

Interest Payment Dates:

   Semi-annually in arrears on May 2 and November 2, beginning on November 2, 2019

Price to Public:

   99.909%
Proceeds to Issuer (before expenses and underwriting discount):    $749,317,500

CUSIP / ISIN:

   037389BC6 / US037389BC65
Optional Redemption:    Prior to February 2, 2029, we may redeem all of the Notes at any time or some of the Notes from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and a make whole using a discount rate of the Reference Treasury plus 20 basis points. On or after February 2, 2029 (three months prior to maturity), we may redeem any or all of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed. In the event of certain changes in respect of taxes applicable to the Notes or the Guarantee of the Notes, we may redeem the Notes in whole at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed. See “Description of the Securities—Optional Redemption” and “Description of the Securities—Optional Tax Redemption” in the preliminary prospectus supplement for more information.

 

Annex B-1-1


Joint Book-Running Managers:   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Co-Managers:   

Aon Securities LLC

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

UniCredit Capital Markets LLC

Loop Capital Markets LLC

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

Conflicts:    Aon Securities LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Aon Corporation. This offering is subject to, and will be conducted in compliance with, the requirements of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) regarding a FINRA member firm distributing the securities of an affiliate.

* An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. The rating of the notes should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other securities. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

The issuer and the guarantor have filed a registration statement, including a prospectus, with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer, the guarantor and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Joint Book-Running Managers in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by contacting Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146, Barclays Capital Inc. toll-free at 1-888-603-5847 and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC toll-free at 1-800-221-1037.

 

Annex B-1-2


EXHIBIT C

Significant Subsidiaries

 

Significant subsidiary:    Jurisdiction of incorporation:
Aon Benfield Global, Inc.    Delaware
Aon CANZ Holdings B.V.    Netherlands
Aon Consulting Inc.    New Jersey
Aon Corporation    Delaware
Aon Delta UK Limited    United Kingdom
Aon Finance N.S. 1, ULC    Canada
Aon Global Holdings Limited    United Kingdom
Aon Group, Inc.    Maryland
Aon Group International N.V.    Netherlands
Aon Holdings B.V.    Netherlands
Aon Holdings International B.V.    Netherlands
Aon Risk Services Companies, Inc.    Maryland
Aon Southern Europe B.V.    Netherlands
Aon UK Group Limited    United Kingdom
Aon UK Limited    United Kingdom
Aon US & International Holdings Limited    United Kingdom
Aon International Coöperatief U.A.    Netherlands

 


EXHIBIT D

Opinion of Counsel to the Company and the Guarantor

 


EXHIBIT E

Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP (London)

Tax Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP

Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP (U.S.)

Disclosure Letter of Latham & Watkins (U.S.)

 

Exhibit 4.2

[FORM OF NOTE]

Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Security issued upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, this Security is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

AON CORPORATION

3.750% Senior Notes due 2029

Guaranteed by Aon plc

 

No.     

   $ __________  

CUSIP No. 037389 BC6

AON CORPORATION

Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or registered assigns, the principal sum of                     DOLLARS ($                     ) on May 2, 2029 and, subject to Section 16.05 of said Indenture, to pay interest thereon from May 2, 2019 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on each May 2 and November 2, commencing November 2, 2019 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), at the rate of 3.750% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. 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 April 15 or October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately 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 on a subsequent record date for the payment of such defaulted interest established by the Company, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 15 days prior to such subsequent record date, such record date to be not less than 5 days preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.


Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of Chicago or the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, 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; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by wire transfer, other electronic means or mailing checks to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

The Securities of this series are subject to redemption and repurchase at the option of the Company prior to the stated maturity as described in the Indenture and on the reverse hereof.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, 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 herein 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.

Dated: May 2, 2019

 

AON CORPORATION

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

Attest:

 

 

Name:

Title:


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

 

    THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

Dated: May 2, 2019

    By:    
     

Authorized Officer


This Security is one of a duly authorized series of securities of the Company entitled “3.750% Senior Notes due 2029” (herein called the “Securities”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture dated as of December 3, 2018 and an officers’ certificate dated as of May 2, 2019 (together, the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made 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. The Securities of this series will initially be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000. The Company may, from time to time, without the written consent of or notice to holders of the Securities of this series, create and issue under the Indenture additional securities having the same terms and conditions as the Securities of this series (other than the issue date, the issue price and, to the extent applicable, the first date from which interest on such additional securities shall accrue and the first interest payment date for such additional securities) and such additional securities shall be consolidated with and form a single series with the Securities of this series.

The Company may redeem the Securities of this series, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option, at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), at a rate equal to the sum of the applicable Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 20 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the redemption date (each such redemption being an “Optional Redemption”).

On or after February 2, 2029 (three months prior to maturity) the Company may redeem any or all of the Securities at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed to but excluding the redemption date (such redemption also being an “Optional Redemption”).

If the Company has given notice of Optional Redemption as provided herein and in the Indenture and funds for the redemption of any Securities of this series called for Optional Redemption have been made available on the applicable redemption date, such Securities will cease to bear interest on the date fixed for redemption. Thereafter, the only right of the Holders of such Securities will be to receive payment of the applicable redemption price.

The Company will prepare and send a notice of an Optional Redemption to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 90 calendar days prior to the date fixed for such Optional Redemption. On and after the redemption date for an Optional Redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price).


“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Securities.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of three Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Quotation Agent is given fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations, or (iii) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (or their respective affiliates that are primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City, each of which the Company refers to as a Primary Treasury Dealer) and their respective successors and any other nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer appointed from time to time by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, 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 Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual 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.

All payments made by the Guarantor with respect to the Guarantee shall be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future income, stamp or other tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge of any nature whatsoever imposed or levied by or on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom, of any territory of the United Kingdom or by any authority or agency therein or thereof having the power to tax (collectively, “Taxes”), unless the Guarantor is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law.

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


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 therein.

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 a majority in 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 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.

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, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable 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 integral multiples of $1,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain 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.

Interest on this Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

All terms used but not defined in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.


ASSIGNMENT

I or we assign and transfer this Security to:

 

_______________________________________

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. number)

_______________________________________

(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint:

as agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:

      

Your

Signature:

   
       (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Security)

 

Signature

Guarantee:

     

                                                 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

For value received, the undersigned Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), subject to the provisions in the Indenture and the terms of the Securities of this series, has fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed to and for the benefit of each Holder and the Trustee the due and prompt payment in full of all amounts which may at any time be or become from time to time due and payable by the Company under the Indenture or otherwise with respect to the Securities of this series registered in such Holder’s name, at their stated due dates or when otherwise due in accordance with the terms thereof. The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee under the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fifteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee. Each Holder of a Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions and (b) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for the purpose of such provisions.

 

Aon plc

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO       LOGO

May 2, 2019

Aon Corporation

200 East Randolph Street

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Aon plc

The Aon Centre, The Leadenhall Building

122 Leadenhall Street

London, England EC3V 4AN

 

  Re:

Registration Statement Nos. 333-227514-01 and 333-227514; $750,000,000

   

Aggregate Principal Amount of Senior Notes due 2029.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special U.S. counsel to Aon Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the “ Company ”) and Aon plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “ Guarantor ”), in connection with the issuance of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “ Notes ”), under an Indenture dated as of December 3, 2018 ( the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and an officers’ certificate dated May 2, 2019, setting forth the terms of the Notes, and, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3ASR under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on September 25, 2018 (Registration Nos. 333-227514-01 and 333-227514) (the “ Registration Statement ”). The Guarantor is providing the guarantee of the Notes (the “ Guarantee ” and, together with the Notes, the “ Securities ”) pursuant to the guarantee endorsed on the certificate evidencing the Notes and the Indenture. The Securities are to be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated April 30, 2019 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Company, the Guarantor and the underwriters named therein. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Securities.


May 2, 2019

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

 

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the internal laws of the State of New York, and the general corporation law of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. Various matters concerning English law are addressed in the opinion of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP, which has been separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters herein.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:

 

  1.

The Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, when the Notes have been duly executed, issued, and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor in the circumstances contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

  2.

When the Notes have been duly executed by duly authorized officers of the Company, issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, delivered against payment therefor in the circumstances contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, and the Guarantee has been duly executed by an authorized officer of the Guarantor, the Guarantee will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions are subject to:

(i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors;

(ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought;

(iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and


May 2, 2019

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(iv) we express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies, or judicial relief, (c) the waiver of rights or defenses contained in the Indenture, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any debt securities, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (g) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (h) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (i) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (j) grants of setoff rights, (k) proxies, powers and trusts, (l) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (m) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (n) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

With your consent, we have assumed (a) that the Indenture, the Guarantee and the Notes (collectively, the “ Documents ”) have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto other than the Guarantor, (b) that each of the Documents constitutes or will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company and the Guarantor, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, and (c) that the status of each of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties is not affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K dated May 2, 2019 and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” 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 or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

        99 Bishopsgate
        London EC2M 3XF
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        www.lw.com

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2 May 2019

 

Aon Corporation

200 E. Randolph Street

Chicago, IL 60601

United States of America

 

Aon plc

The Aon Centre

The Leadenhall Building

122 Leadenhall Street

London EC3V 4AN

United Kingdom

      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
           

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the 3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) of Aon Corporation (the “Issuer”) and guaranteed by Aon plc (the “Guarantor”)

We have acted as English legal advisers to the Guarantor in relation to the issue of the Notes. The Issuer originally filed the registration statement on Form S-3ASR on 25 September 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ Registration Statement ”). The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the terms of the indenture dated 3 December 2018 entered into between the Issuer, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) (the “ Indenture ”).

The Registration Statement relates to the offer and sale by the Issuer of the Notes.

 

1.

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1

Purpose

This letter is being rendered to you pursuant to Form S-3.

 

1.2

Defined terms and headings

In this letter:

 

  (a)

capitalised terms used without definition in this letter or the schedules hereto have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless a contrary indication appears; and

 

  (b)

headings are for ease of reference only and shall not affect interpretation.

 

1.3

Legal review

For the purpose of issuing this letter we have reviewed only the following documents and conducted only the following enquiries and searches:

 

 

Latham & Watkins is the business name of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP, a registered limited liability partnership organised under the laws of New York and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 203820). A list of the names of the partners of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP is open to inspection at its principal place of business, 99 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3XF, and such persons are either solicitors, registered foreign lawyers, European lawyers or managers authorised by the SRA. We are affiliated with the firm Latham & Watkins LLP, a limited liability partnership organised under the laws of Delaware.


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  (a)

a search at Companies House in respect of the Guarantor conducted on 26 April 2019 and updated on 2 May 2019;

 

  (b)

an enquiry at the Central Registry of Winding Up Petitions, London on 26 April 2019 at 10:03 am with respect to the Guarantor and updated on 2 May 2019 at 10:00 am ((a) and (b) together, the “ Searches ”);

 

  (c)

a PDF signed copy of a certificate of a director or secretary of the Guarantor dated today’s date (the “ Certificate ”);

 

  (d)

a PDF executed copy of the Indenture between the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee and containing the guarantee of the Notes by the Guarantor (the “ Guarantee ”); and

 

  (e)

a draft of the Registration Statement.

 

1.4

Applicable law

This letter, the opinions given in it, and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this letter and/or the opinions given in it, are governed by, and to be construed in accordance with English law (including European Union law to the extent directly applicable), and relate only to English law (including European Union law to the extent directly applicable), as applied by the English courts as at today’s date. In particular:

 

  (a)

we have not investigated the laws of any country other than England and we assume that no foreign law affects any of the opinions stated below; and

 

  (b)

we express no opinion in this letter on the laws of any jurisdiction other than England.

 

1.5

Assumptions and reservations

The opinions given in this letter are given on the basis of each of the assumptions set out in Schedule 1 ( Assumptions ) and are subject to each of the reservations set out in Schedule 2 ( Reservations ) to this letter. The opinions given in this letter are strictly limited to the matters stated in paragraph 2 ( Opinions ) below and do not extend, and should not be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any other matters.

 

2.

OPINIONS

Subject to paragraph 1 ( Introduction ) and the other matters set out in this letter and its Schedules, it is our opinion that, as at today’s date:

 

2.1

Corporate Existence

The Guarantor has been incorporated and is existing as a company under the laws of England. The Searches gave no indication that any winding-up, dissolution or administration order or appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer has been made with respect to the Guarantor.

 

2.2

Corporate Authority

The execution of the Indenture has been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Guarantor.

 

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2.3

Capacity

The Guarantor has the requisite corporate capacity to enter into the Indenture and to perform its obligations thereunder.

 

2.4

Due Execution

The Indenture and the notation of Guarantee contained therein have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor.

 

2.5

No Conflict

The entry into and performance of its obligations under the Indenture by the Guarantor does not:

 

  (a)

violate the provisions of its articles of association; or

 

  (b)

violate any existing laws of England applicable to companies generally.

 

3.

EXTENT OF OPINIONS

We express no opinion as to any agreement, instrument or other document other than as specified in this letter or as to any liability to tax which may arise or be suffered as a result of or in connection with the Registration Statement.

This letter only applies to those facts and circumstances which exist as at today’s date and we assume no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances which may subsequently come to our attention, any changes in laws which may occur after today, or to inform the addressees of any change in circumstances happening after the date of this letter which would alter our opinions.

 

4.

DISCLOSURE AND RELIANCE

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act. This opinion also may be relied upon by Latham & Watkins LLP in connection with the issuance of its opinion letter in connection with the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, including any post-effective amendments to be filed by the Issuer with the SEC under the Securities Act. This letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose.

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Guarantor’s Form 8-K dated 2 May 2019 and to the use of our name in the prospectus contained under the caption “Legal matters”. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Yours faithfully

/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

 

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SCHEDULE 1

ASSUMPTIONS

The opinions in this letter have been given on the basis of the following assumptions:

 

1.

GENUINE, AUTHENTIC AND COMPLETE DOCUMENTS/SEARCHES

 

  (a)

The genuineness of all signatures, stamps and seals on all documents, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies;

 

  (b)

that all documents, forms and notices which should have been delivered to the UK Companies House in respect of the Guarantor have been so delivered, that the results of the Searches are complete and accurate, and that the position has not changed since the times at which the Searches were made;

 

  (c)

that the contents of the Certificate are correct in all respects and the attachments to the Certificate are complete, accurate and up to date; and

 

  (d)

that the Guarantor has not passed any new resolutions affecting, terminating, revoking or superseding the resolutions contained in the Certificate reviewed by us.

 

2.

OTHER DOCUMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS

 

  (a)

That the Indenture remains accurate and complete and has not been amended, terminated or otherwise discharged as at the date of this letter; and

 

  (b)

the absence of fraud or mutual mistake of fact or law or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings or course of conduct or prior or subsequent dealings, amending, rescinding or modifying or suspending any of the terms of the Indenture or which would result in the inclusion of additional terms therein, and that the parties have acted in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

3.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

That all statements of fact and representations and warranties as to matters of fact (except as to matters expressly set out in the opinions given in this letter) contained in or made in connection with any of the documents examined by us were true and correct as at the date given and are true and correct at today’s date and no fact was omitted therefrom which would have made any of such facts, representations or warranties incorrect or misleading.

 

4.

FILINGS, APPROVALS, CONSENTS ETC.

That no consents, approvals, authorisations, orders, licences, registrations, filings or similar formalities are required from any governmental or regulatory authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and the Notes by any of the parties thereto or if such consents, approvals, authorisations, orders, licences, registrations, filings or similar formalities are required, these have been made or will be made within the prescribed time limits.

 

5.

INSOLVENCY

That none of the parties to the Indenture has taken any corporate or other action nor have any steps been taken or legal proceedings been started against any such party for the liquidation, winding up, dissolution, reorganisation or bankruptcy of, or for the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, trustee, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer of, any such party or

 

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all or any of its or their assets (or any analogous proceedings in any jurisdiction) and none of the parties to the Indenture is unable to pay its debts as they fall due within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or becomes unable to pay its debts within the meaning of that section as a result of any of the transactions contemplated herein, or is insolvent or has been dissolved or declared bankrupt.

 

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SCHEDULE 2

RESERVATIONS

The opinions in this letter are subject to the following reservations:

 

1.

LIMITATIONS OF SEARCHES

The Searches are not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding-up or administration petition or order has been presented or made, a receiver appointed, a company voluntary arrangement proposed or approved or any other insolvency proceeding commenced. We have not made enquiries of any District Registry or County Court.

 

2.

INSOLVENCY

The opinions set out in this letter are subject to:

 

  (a)

any limitations arising from applicable laws relating to insolvency, bankruptcy, administration, reorganisation, liquidation, moratoria, schemes or analogous circumstances; and

 

  (b)

an English court exercising its discretion under section 426 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (co-operation between courts exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency) to assist the courts having the corresponding jurisdiction in any part of the United Kingdom or any relevant country or territory.

 

3.

MATTERS OF FACT

We express no opinion as to matters of fact.

 

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