posasr
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 14, 2011
Registration Statement
No. 333-160129
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Post-Effective Amendment No.
3
To
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC
LIMITED COMPANY
WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS
B.V.
WILLIS INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS
LIMITED
TA I LIMITED
TRINITY ACQUISITION
PLC
WILLIS GROUP LIMITED
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA
INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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Ireland
Netherlands
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
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98-0352587
98-0644532
98-0596489
98-0351629
98-0198190
98-0199005
13-5654526
(I.R.S. Employee Identification
Number)
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c/o Willis
Group Limited
The Willis Building
51 Lime Street
London EC3M 7DQ, England
011 44 203 124 6000
(Address, including zip code,
and telephone number,
including area code, of registrants principal executive
offices)
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Adam G. Ciongoli
Group General Counsel
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company
One World Financial
200 Liberty Street, 7(th) Floor
New York, New York 10281
(212) 915-8899
(Name, address, including zip
code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for
service)
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Copies to:
Matthew
D. Bloch
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
(212) 310-8000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after the effective
date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans,
please check the following
box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than
securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following
box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General
Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that
shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the
following
box. þ
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration
statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed
to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities
Act, check the following
box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated
filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of
large accelerated filer, accelerated
filer and smaller reporting company in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated
filer þ
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller reporting
company o
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(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
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CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum
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Proposed Maximum
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Amount of
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Title of Each Class of
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Amount to be
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Offering
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Aggregate
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Registration
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Securities to be Registered
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Registered(1)
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Price Per Unit(1)
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Offering Price(1)
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Fee(1)
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Debt Securities(2)(3)
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Guarantees(2)
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Preferred Shares, nominal value US$0.000115 per share(2)(4)
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Ordinary Shares, nominal value US$0.000115 per share(2)(5)
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Warrants(2)(6)
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Warrant Units(2)(7)
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Stock Purchase Contracts(2)(8)
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Stock Purchase Units(2)(8)
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Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts(2)(8)
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(1) |
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An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of
the securities of each class identified above is being
registered as may from time to time be offered, reoffered or
sold, at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may
not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise,
conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in
units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the
Securities Act, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company is
deferring payment of all of the related registration fees.
Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, where the
securities to be offered are guarantees of other securities
which are being registered concurrently, no separate fee for the
guarantees shall be payable. |
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This Registration Statement covers an indeterminate number of
senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred
shares, ordinary shares, warrants, warrant units, share purchase
contracts, share purchase units and prepaid share purchase
contracts of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities of
Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis North America Inc. and the
related guarantees of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK
Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis
Group Limited and Willis North America Inc., that may be
reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial
sale in remarketing or other resale transactions by the
registrants or affiliates of the registrants. |
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Debt securities may be issued separately or upon exercise of
warrants to purchase debt securities which are registered
hereby. Debt securities may be issued by Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company, Trinity Acquisition plc or Willis North
America Inc. Debt securities issued by Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company may be guaranteed by certain of its
direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and
Willis North America Inc.. Debt securities issued by Trinity
Acquisition plc or Willis North America Inc. may be guaranteed
by certain of their respective direct and indirect parent
entities and direct and indirect subsidiaries. |
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An indeterminate number of preferred shares of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company are covered by this Registration
Statement. Preferred shares may be issued (a) separately or
(b) upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred shares
which are registered hereby. |
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An indeterminate number of ordinary shares of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company are covered by this Registration
Statement. Ordinary shares may be issued (a) separately,
(b) upon the conversion of either the debt securities or
the preferred shares, each of which are registered hereby or
(c) upon exercise of warrants to purchase ordinary shares.
Ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the debt securities
and the preferred shares will be issued without the payment of
additional consideration. |
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An indeterminate number of warrants of Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company, each representing the right to purchase
an indeterminate number of preferred shares or ordinary shares
or amount of debt securities, each of which are registered
hereby, are covered by this Registration Statement. |
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An indeterminate number of warrant units of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company are covered by this registration
statement. Each warrant unit consists of a warrant under which
the holder, upon exercise, will purchase an indeterminate number
of ordinary shares or preferred shares or amount of debt
securities. |
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An indeterminate number of share purchase contracts, share
purchase units and prepaid share purchase contracts of Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company, each representing the
obligation to purchase an indeterminate number of ordinary
shares, which are registered hereby, are covered by this
Registration Statement. |
This Registration Statement contains a prospectus relating to
both the offering of newly issued securities and remarketing or
other resale transactions, as well as re-sales by selling
securityholders, that occur on an ongoing basis in securities
that have been previously or will be issued under this
Registration Statement.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 (this
Post-Effective Amendment), filed by Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company, a public limited company
incorporated under the laws of Ireland having company number
475616 (the Company), is being filed pursuant to
Rule 413 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), for the purpose of amending the
Registration Statement on
Form S-3
(Registration Number
333-160129)
originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by
the Company on June 19, 2009 (the Registration
Statement) to (i) remove TA II Limited, TA III
Limited and TA IV Limited as registrants to reflect the fact
that they were liquidated and their corporate existence was
terminated pursuant to the Internal Liquidations, as described
below, (ii) register the guarantees by Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and
Willis North America Inc. of debt securities issued by the
Company, (iii) amend the base prospectus that forms a part
of the Registration Statement to describe the additional
guarantees and (iv) amend certain exhibits, file certain
additional exhibits and amend the signature pages to the
Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment shall
become effective immediately upon filing in accordance with
Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
On December 22, 2010, TA II Limited and TA III Limited
transferred their respective properties and assets each
substantially as an entirety to TA I Limited, and TA IV Limited
(together with TA II Limited and TA III Limited, the
Transferring Guarantors) transferred its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to Trinity Acquisition
plc (together with TA I Limited, the Assuming
Guarantors), and the Assuming Guarantors assumed all the
obligations of each of the applicable Transferring Guarantors
under the indenture, dated as of July 1, 2005, as amended
and supplemented, among Willis North America Inc., as issuer,
the Company, the other guarantors party thereto and the trustee,
and the securities issued thereunder. Following these transfers
the Transferring Guarantors were liquidated. The aforementioned
transactions are referred to as the Internal
Liquidations.
PROSPECTUS
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC
LIMITED COMPANY
Debt Securities
Preferred Shares
Ordinary Shares
Warrants
Warrant Units
Share Purchase Contracts
Share Purchase Units
Prepaid Share Purchase Contracts
TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC
Debt Securities
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA
INC.
Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities of
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis North America Inc.
We or either of our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries named
above (the Subsidiary Issuers) may offer the
securities listed above, or any combination thereof, from time
to time in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be
determined at the time of the offering. We or either of the
Subsidiary Issuers may sell these securities to or through one
or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to
purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. In addition,
selling securityholders may sell these securities, from time to
time, on terms described in the applicable prospectus
supplement. This prospectus describes some of the general terms
that may apply to these securities and the general manner in
which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities
to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be
offered, will be described in supplements to this prospectus.
See Risk Factors on page 4 for a discussion
of matters that you should consider before investing in these
securities.
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Companys common stock
is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
WSH.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
This prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement may be used
in the initial sale of the securities or in resales by selling
securityholders. In addition, Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company, either of the Subsidiary Issuers or any of
their respective affiliates may use this prospectus and the
applicable prospectus supplement in a remarketing or other
resale transaction involving the securities after their initial
sale. These transactions may be executed at negotiated prices
that are related to market prices at the time of purchase or
sale, or at other prices, as determined from time to time.
Prospectus dated March 14, 2011.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we
refer to as the SEC, utilizing a shelf registration
or continuous offering process. Under this shelf registration or
continuous offering process, we or either of the Subsidiary
Issuers may sell any combination of the securities described in
this prospectus in one or more offerings. In this section,
we refers only to Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may
apply to the securities that we or either of the Subsidiary
Issuers may offer and the general manner in which the securities
may be offered. Each time we or the Subsidiary Issuers sell
securities, we or the Subsidiary Issuers will provide a
prospectus supplement containing specific information about the
terms of the securities being offered and the manner in which
they may be offered. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company, the Subsidiary Issuers and any underwriter or agent
that we may from time to time retain may also provide you with
other information relating to an offering, which we refer to as
other offering material. A prospectus supplement or
any such other offering material provided to you may include a
discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations
applicable to those securities or to us and may also include, if
applicable, a discussion of material United States federal
income tax considerations and considerations under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, which we
refer to as ERISA. A prospectus supplement or such
other offering material may also add, update or change
information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency
between the information in this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement or other offering material, you must rely
on the information in the prospectus supplement or other
offering material. Throughout this prospectus, where we indicate
that information may be supplemented in an applicable prospectus
supplement or supplements, that information may also be
supplemented in other offering material provided to you. You
should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or
other offering material together with the additional information
described under the heading Incorporation By
Reference.
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including
exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional
information about us and the securities offered under this
prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the
SECs web site or at the SECs public reference room
mentioned under the heading Where You Can Find More
Information About Us.
You should rely only on the information provided in this
prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement,
including the information incorporated by reference, and in
other offering material, if any, provided by us or any
underwriter or agent that we may from time to time retain.
Reference to a prospectus supplement means the prospectus
supplement describing the specific terms of the securities you
purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have
the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise
specified. Neither we nor the Subsidiary Issuers, nor any
underwriters or agents whom we may from time to time retain,
have authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. Neither we nor the Subsidiary Issuers are offering
the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is
prohibited. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any document incorporated
by reference, or any other offering material is truthful or
complete at any date other than the date mentioned on the cover
page of these documents.
We or the Subsidiary Issuers may sell securities to underwriters
who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the
time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company or the Subsidiary Issuers
directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to
time. If Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company or the
Subsidiary Issuers, directly or through agents, solicit offers
to purchase the securities, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company and the Subsidiary Issuers reserve the sole right to
accept and, together with any agents, to reject, in whole or in
part, any of those offers. In addition, selling securityholders
may sell securities on terms described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
Any prospectus supplement will contain the names of the
underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, together with the terms
of the offering, the compensation of those underwriters and the
net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers or agents
participating in the offering may be deemed
underwriters within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the
Securities Act.
ii
Unless otherwise stated, references in this prospectus to the
Company, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company and Holdings, refer to Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company only and do not include its
consolidated subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires
or otherwise stated, references to we,
us, our and Willis Group
refer to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise stated, currency amounts in this prospectus and
any prospectus supplement are stated in United States dollars,
or $.
NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN RISKS
We have included in this document forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, which we refer to as the Exchange Act
which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by
those laws. These forward-looking statements include information
about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts that
address activities, events or developments that we expect or
anticipate may occur in the future including such things as our
outlook, future capital expenditures, growth in commissions and
fees, business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, the
benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and
operations, plans and references to future successes are
forward-looking statements. Also, when we use the words such as
anticipate, believe,
estimate, expect, intend,
plan, probably, or similar expressions,
we are making forward-looking statements.
There are important uncertainties, events and factors that could
cause our actual results or performance to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements contained in this
document, including the following:
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the impact of any regional, national or global political,
economic, business, competitive, market, environmental and
regulatory conditions on our global business operations;
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the impact of current financial market conditions on our results
of operations and financial condition, including as a result of
any insolvencies of or other difficulties experienced by our
clients, insurance companies or financial institutions;
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our ability to continue to manage our significant indebtedness;
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our ability to compete effectively in our industry;
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our ability to implement and realize anticipated benefits of the
2011 operational review, the Willis Cause or any other
initiative we pursue;
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material changes in commercial property and casualty markets
generally or the and availability of insurance products or
changes in premiums resulting from a catastrophic event, such as
a hurricane or otherwise;
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the volatility or declines in other insurance markets and the
premiums on which our commissions are based, but which we do not
control;
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our ability to retain key employees and clients and attract new
business;
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the timing or ability to carry out share repurchases,
refinancings or take other steps to manage our capital and
limitations in our long-term debt agreements that may restrict
our ability to take these actions;
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any fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could
affect expenses and revenue;
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rating agency actions that could inhibit ability to borrow funds
or the pricing thereof;
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a significant decline in the value of investments that fund our
pension plans or changes in our pension plan funding obligations;
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our ability to achieve the expected strategic benefits of
transactions;
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our ability to receive dividends or other distributions in
needed amounts from our subsidiaries;
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changes in the tax or accounting treatment of our operations;
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any potential impact from the US healthcare reform legislation;
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the potential costs and difficulties in complying with a wide
variety of foreign laws and regulations and any related changes,
given the global scope of our operations;
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our involvement in and the results of regulatory investigations,
legal proceedings and other contingencies;
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risks associated with non-core operations including
underwriting, advisory or reputational;
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our exposure to potential liabilities arising from errors and
omissions and other potential claims against us; and
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the interruption or loss of our information processing systems
or failure to maintain secure information systems.
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The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and new factors
may emerge from time to time that could also affect actual
performance and results. For additional factors see also the
section entitled Risk Factors.
Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our
forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these
assumptions, and therefore also the forward-looking statements
based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be
inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent
in the forward-looking statements included in this document, our
inclusion of this information is not a representation or
guarantee by us that our objectives and plans will be achieved.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made
and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless
the securities laws require us to do so. In light of these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events
discussed in this document may not occur, and we caution you
against unduly relying on these forward-looking statements.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document we file at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC
filings are available to the public over the Internet at the
SECs web site at www.sec.gov and through the New
York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005, on which our common stock is listed.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-3
relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This
prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not
contain all the information in the registration statement.
Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or
other document of the Company, the reference is only a summary
and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the
registration statement for a copy of the contract or other
document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at
the SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C.,
as well as through the SECs Internet site referred to
above.
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
The SECs rules allow us to incorporate by reference
information into this prospectus. This means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to
another document. Any information referred to in this way is
considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that
document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of
this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the
securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will
automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any
information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the
documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC
under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act until we sell all of the securities registered by the
registration statements of which this prospectus is a part:
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Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed on
February 28, 2011;
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Our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on
March 11, 2011;
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Our Current Report on
Form 8-K,
filed on March 14, 2011;
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The description of the Companys share capital contained in
our Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on January 4, 2010.
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The Company makes available, free of charge through our website
at www.willis.com, our annual reports on
Form 10-K,
our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
our current reports on
Form 8-K,
and Forms 3, 4, and 5 filed on behalf of directors and
executive officers, as well as any amendments to those reports
filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as
reasonably practicable after such material is electronically
filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Nothing contained herein
shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished to but not
filed with the SEC. Unless specifically incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, information on our website is not
a part of the registration statement. You may also request a
copy of any documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus (including any exhibits that are specifically
incorporated by reference in them), at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company
One World Financial
200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10281
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone:
(212) 915-8084
v
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this
prospectus and does not contain all of the information that may
be important to you. This prospectus provides you with a general
description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell
securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will
contain specific information about the terms of that offering.
The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus. To understand the
terms of our securities, you should carefully read this document
with the applicable prospectus supplement. Together, these
documents will give the specific terms of the securities we are
offering. You should also read the documents we have
incorporated by reference in this prospectus described above
under Incorporation By Reference.
The
Securities We May Offer
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the SEC utilizing a shelf registration or
continuous offering process. Under the shelf registration
process, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company may offer
from time to time any of the following securities, either
separately or in units with other securities:
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unsecured senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt
securities;
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preferred stock;
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common stock;
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warrants and warrant units;
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stock purchase contracts and prepaid stock purchase contracts;
and
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stock purchase units.
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In addition, Trinity Acquisition plc or Willis North America
Inc. may offer unsecured senior, senior subordinated or
subordinated debt securities. Debt securities issued by Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company may be guaranteed by
certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including
Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group
Limited and Willis North America Inc. Debt securities issued by
Trinity Acquisition plc or Willis North America Inc. may be
guaranteed by certain of their respective direct and indirect
parent entities and direct and indirect subsidiaries.
In addition, certain selling shareholders identified in a
prospectus supplement may offer and sell these securities, from
time to time, on terms described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Our
Business
We trace our history to 1828 and are one of the largest
insurance brokers in the world. For several years, we have
focused on our core retail and specialist broking operations.
Prior to 2008, we made a number of smaller acquisitions around
the world and increased our ownership in several of our
associates and existing subsidiaries, which were not
wholly-owned, where doing so strengthened our retail network and
our specialty businesses.
On October 1, 2008, we completed the acquisition of HRH,
the eighth largest insurance and risk management intermediary in
the United States, at that time. The acquisition doubled our
North America revenues and the combined Willis HRH operation has
critical mass in key markets including California, Florida,
Texas, Illinois, New York, Boston, New Jersey and
Philadelphia.
On December 31, 2009, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement
under Bermuda Law, the Company became the publicly held holding
company and indirect parent of Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, TA IV
Limited, Willis Group Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc and
Willis North America Inc. All of the previously outstanding
shares of Willis Bermuda (as defined below) were cancelled and
the common shareholders received, on a one-for-one basis, new
ordinary shares of the Company for the purpose of changing the
place of incorporation of the parent company of the Willis Group
from Bermuda to Ireland (the Transaction). As a
result of the Transaction, Willis Group Holdings Limited
(Willis Bermuda) is now a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company. Also on December 31, 2009 Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V. became the direct subsidiary of the
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Company and the direct or indirect parent of Willis Investment
UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III
Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited, Willis Group
Limited and Willis North America Inc. In connection with the
Transaction, the Company assumed all of Willis Bermudas
obligations under its outstanding Securities.
On December 22, 2010, TA II Limited and TA III Limited
transferred their respective properties and assets each
substantially as an entirety to TA I Limited, and TA IV Limited
transferred its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to Trinity Acquisition plc, and the Assuming Guarantors
assumed all the obligations of each of the applicable
Transferring Guarantors under the indenture, dated as of
July 1, 2005, as amended and supplemented, among Willis
North America Inc., as issuer, the Company, the other guarantors
party thereto and the trustee, and the securities issued
thereunder. Following these transfers the Transferring
Guarantors were liquidated.
We provide a broad range of insurance brokerage, reinsurance and
risk management consulting services to our clients worldwide. We
have significant market positions in the United States, in the
United Kingdom and, directly and through our associates, in many
other countries. We are a recognized leader in providing
specialized risk management advisory and other services on a
global basis to clients in various industries including
aerospace, marine, construction and energy.
In our capacity as an advisor and insurance broker, we act as an
intermediary between our clients and insurance carriers by
advising our clients on their risk management requirements,
helping clients determine the best means of managing risk, and
negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers
through our global distribution network.
We assist clients in the assessment of their risks, advise on
the best ways of transferring suitable risk to the global
insurance and reinsurance markets and then execute the
transactions at the most appropriate available price, terms and
conditions for our clients. Our global distribution network
enables us to place the risk in the most appropriate insurance
or reinsurance market worldwide.
We also offer clients a broad range of services to help them to
identify and control their risks. These services range from
strategic risk consulting (including providing actuarial
analyses), to a variety of due diligence services, to the
provision of practical
on-site risk
control services (such as health and safety or property loss
control consulting) as well as analytical and advisory services
(such as hazard modeling and reinsurance optimization studies).
We assist clients in planning how to manage incidents or crises
when they occur. These services include contingency planning,
security audits and product tampering plans. We are not an
insurance company and therefore we do not underwrite insurable
risks for our own account.
We and our associates serve a diverse base of clients including
major multinational and middle-market companies in a variety of
industries, as well as public institutions and individual
clients. Many of our client relationships span decades. We have
approximately 20,000 employees around the world (including
approximately 3,000 at our associate companies) and a network in
excess of 400 offices in some 100 countries.
We believe we are one of only a few insurance brokers in the
world possessing the global operating presence, broad product
expertise and extensive distribution network necessary to meet
effectively the global risk management needs of many of our
clients.
For more information regarding our business, including our
financial information, please read the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus.
The
Registrants
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company is the ultimate
holding company for the Willis Group. Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company was incorporated in Ireland on
September 24, 2009, as a public limited company, for the
sole purpose of redomiciling the ultimate parent company from
Bermuda to Ireland.
Each of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK
Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis
Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. are direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company that act as holding companies of each
other or other subsidiaries. Each one has been organized under
the laws of the United Kingdom except for Willis
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Netherlands Holdings B.V., which was organized in the
Netherlands on November 27, 2009 and Willis North America
Inc., which was incorporated in Delaware on December 20,
1928.
For administrative convenience, we utilize the offices of Willis
Group Limited as our principal executive offices, located at The
Willis Building, 51 Lime Street, London EC3M 7DQ, England. The
telephone number is (44) 203 124 6000. Our web site address
is www.willis.com. The information on our website is not
a part of this prospectus. Willis North America Inc.s
principal executive offices are located at One World Financial,
200 Liberty Street, New York New York 10281, and its telephone
number is
(212) 915-8000.
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RISK
FACTORS
Before you invest in these securities, you should carefully
consider the risks involved. These risks include, but are not
limited to:
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the risks described in our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on
February 28, 2011, which is incorporated by reference into
this prospectus; and
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any risks that may be described in other filings we make with
the SEC or in the prospectus supplements relating to specific
offerings of securities.
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RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED
CHARGES AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS
The following table shows the consolidated ratio of earnings to
fixed charges and of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred share dividends of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for
each of the five most recent fiscal years ended
December 31, 2010.
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Year Ended December 31,
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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8.9
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6.3
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x
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3.7
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x
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3.4x
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3.9x
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends
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8.9
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6.3
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3.7
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x
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3.4x
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3.9x
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USE OF
PROCEEDS
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we
will use the net proceeds that we receive from the sale of the
securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying
prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes. General
corporate purposes may include using the funds for working
capital, repayment of debt, capital expenditures, possible
acquisitions and any other purposes that may be stated in any
prospectus supplement. The net proceeds may be invested
temporarily or applied to repay short-term debt until they are
used for their stated purpose.
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
This section explains the provisions of the debt securities
that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. The particular
terms of the debt securities offered, including any changes from
these terms, will be described in a prospectus supplement
relating to those debt securities. In addition, the prospectus
supplement relating to any series of subordinated or senior
subordinated securities will disclose the amount of debt that
will be senior to such securities.
Overview
The debt securities will be governed by the applicable
indentures. The indentures give us broad authority to set the
particular terms of each series of debt securities, including
the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the
indentures. The applicable indentures contain the full legal
text of the matters described in this section. Because this
section is a summary, it does not describe every provision of
the debt securities or the indentures. This summary is subject
to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the
provisions of the applicable indenture, including definitions of
terms used in such indenture. You should read the applicable
indenture, including the defined terms, and the particular terms
of the debt securities for provisions that may be important to
you. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to a
series of debt securities for more information about the terms
of a particular series of debt securities, including variations
from the terms described in this prospectus. This summary is
subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the
particular terms of the debt securities in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
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Holdings
Debt Securities
In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the
senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt
securities of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company as
the Holdings debt securities. The Holdings debt
securities will be general unsecured obligations of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company. The Holdings senior debt
securities will be senior to all subordinated debt of Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company. The Holdings senior debt
securities will rank equally with other unsecured,
unsubordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company.
The Holdings senior subordinated debt securities will be
subordinate to any Holdings senior debt securities and to
certain other debt obligations of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company that may be outstanding. The Holdings senior
subordinated debt securities will rank equally with certain
other senior subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company that may be outstanding and senior to certain
subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company that may be outstanding, including any Holdings
subordinated debt securities.
The Holdings subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in
right of payment to any Holdings senior debt, to Holdings senior
subordinated debt securities and to certain other obligations of
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and will rank
equally with certain other subordinated debt of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company.
The Holdings debt securities may be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis
Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America
Inc.
Trinity
Debt Securities
In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the
senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt
securities of Trinity Acquisition plc as the Trinity debt
securities. The Trinity debt securities will be general
unsecured obligations of Trinity Acquisition plc. The Trinity
senior debt securities will be senior to all subordinated debt
of Trinity Acquisition plc, including any outstanding Trinity
senior subordinated debt securities and Trinity subordinated
debt securities. The Trinity senior debt securities will rank
equally with other unsecured, unsubordinated debt of Trinity
Acquisition plc, including its existing 12.875% Senior
Notes due 2016.
The Trinity senior subordinated debt securities will be
subordinated to any Trinity senior debt securities and to other
certain debt obligations of Trinity Acquisition plc that may be
outstanding, including its existing 12.875% Senior Notes
due 2016, guarantees outstanding under our revolving credit
facility. The Trinity senior subordinated debt securities will
rank equally with certain other senior subordinated debt of
Trinity Acquisition plc that may be outstanding and senior to
certain subordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition plc that may be
outstanding, including any Trinity subordinated debt securities.
The Trinity subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in
right of payment to any Trinity senior debt securities,
including its existing 12.875% Senior Notes due 2016,
guarantees outstanding under our revolving credit facility, its
guarantees of Willis North America Inc.s
5.125% Senior Notes due 2010, 5.625% Senior Notes due
2015, 6.200% Senior Notes due 2017 and 7.00% Senior
Notes due 2019 and Trinity senior subordinated debt securities
and to certain other obligations of Trinity Acquisition plc and
will rank equally with certain other subordinated debt of
Trinity Acquisition plc.
The Trinity debt securities may be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Willis Netherlands Holdings B. V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited and TA I Limited.
Willis
North America Debt Securities
In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the
senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt
securities of Willis North America Inc. as the Willis
North America debt securities, and we refer to the
Holdings debt securities, Trinity debt securities and the Willis
North America debt securities together as the debt
securities. The Willis North America debt securities will
be general unsecured obligations of Willis
5
North America Inc. The Willis North America senior debt
securities will be senior to all subordinated debt of Willis
North America Inc., including any outstanding Willis North
America senior subordinated debt securities and any Willis North
America subordinated debt securities. The Willis North America
senior debt securities will rank equally with other unsecured,
unsubordinated debt of Willis North America Inc., including its
guarantee of Trinity Acquisition plcs existing
12.875% Senior Notes due 2016.
The Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities
will be subordinated to any Willis North America senior debt
securities and to other certain debt obligations of Willis North
America Inc. that may be outstanding, including its guarantee of
Trinity Acquisition plcs existing 12.875% Senior
Notes due 2016, amounts outstanding under our revolving credit
facility. The Willis North America senior subordinated debt
securities will rank equally with certain other senior
subordinated debt of Willis North America Inc. that may be
outstanding and senior to certain subordinated debt of Willis
North America Inc. that may be outstanding, including any Willis
North America subordinated debt securities.
The Willis North America subordinated debt securities will be
subordinated in right of payment to any Willis North America
senior debt securities, including its guarantee of Trinity
Acquisition plcs existing 12.875% Senior Notes due
2016, amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility,
and Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities and
to certain other obligations of Willis North America Inc. and
will rank equally with certain other subordinated debt of Willis
North America Inc.
The Willis North America debt securities may be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings B. V., Willis
Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc and Willis Group Limited, which collectively
comprise all of the direct and indirect parent entities of
Willis North America Inc.
Each of the debt securities will be issued under an indenture
between the applicable issuer of the debt securities, the
guarantors of the applicable debt securities and a trustee. The
indentures are substantially identical, except for provisions
relating to guarantees, conversion and subordination. For
purposes of the summaries below, the term issuer
shall refer to Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company in
the case of Holdings debt securities, Trinity Acquisition plc in
the case of Trinity debt securities and Willis North America
Inc. in the case of Willis North America debt securities.
General
The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities which may be issued. The indentures also provide
that debt securities may be issued in one or more series, in
such form or forms, with such terms and up to the amount
authorized by the applicable issuer, in each case as established
from time to time in or pursuant to a resolution of our Board of
Directors, and set forth in an officers certificate of the
issuer and each guarantor or established in one or more
supplemental indentures. All debt securities of one series need
not be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided,
any series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders
of the debt securities of that series, for issuances of
additional debt securities of that series.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following
terms of any offered debt securities:
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the identity of the issuer and the guarantors, if applicable;
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the designation (including whether they are senior debt
securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated
debt securities and whether such debt securities are
convertible), aggregate principal amount and authorized
denominations of the offered debt securities;
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the percentage of their principal amount at which such offered
debt securities will be issued;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities;
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the date or dates on which the offered debt securities will
mature or the method of determination thereof;
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the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the
offered debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the
method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, any
reset features of the rates and the date or dates from which
such interest will accrue or the method by which such date or
dates shall be determined;
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the dates on which any such interest will be payable and the
regular record dates for such interest payment dates;
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any mandatory or optional sinking fund or purchase fund or
similar provisions;
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if applicable, the period or periods within which and the price
or prices at which the offered debt securities may be redeemed
at the option of the applicable issuer pursuant to any optional
or mandatory redemption provisions or may be repurchased at the
option of the holder of the offered debt securities, and the
other redemption or repurchase terms;
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if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which the offered
debt securities may be convertible into common stock, including
the initial conversion rate, the conversion period and any other
provision;
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if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof, the denominations in which debt securities of the
series shall be issuable;
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if other than the principal amount of the offered debt
securities, the portion of the principal amount which shall be
payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity of the
offered securities;
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whether such offered debt securities shall be subject to
defeasance and under what terms;
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any events of default provided with respect to the offered debt
securities that are in addition to or different from those
explained here;
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any subordination terms that are in addition to or different
from those explained here;
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any guarantee terms that are in addition to or different from
those explained here; and
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any other terms of the offered debt securities.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the
principal of, premium and interest on the offered debt
securities will be payable, and exchanges and transfers of the
debt securities will be handled, at the applicable
trustees corporate trust office. The applicable issuer
will have the option to pay interest by check mailed to the
holders address as it appears in the security register.
No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer
or exchange of the offered debt securities, but the applicable
issuer or the trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection
with an exchange or transfer.
Debt securities may be issued under an indenture as original
issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a
substantial discount from the principal amount thereof. Special
federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
applicable to any such original issue discount securities will
be described in the prospectus supplement.
Ranking
The payment of the principal of premium, if any, and interest
on, the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated
debt securities will be subordinated, as set forth in the senior
subordinated or subordinated indentures, in right of payment, to
the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness, whether
outstanding on the date of the applicable indenture or
thereafter incurred.
Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement,
upon any distribution to creditors of an issuer or a guarantor
in a liquidation or dissolution of such issuer or guarantor or
in a bankruptcy, reorganization, court protection, insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to it or its
property, an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any
marshalling of its assets and liabilities, the holders of senior
indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash
or cash equivalents of such senior indebtedness and all
outstanding letter of credit obligations will be fully cash
collateralized before the holders of the debt securities will be
entitled to receive any payment with respect to the senior
subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt
securities, and until all senior indebtedness is paid in full in
cash or cash equivalents, any distribution to which the holders
of the debt
7
securities would be entitled shall be made to the holders of
senior indebtedness, except that holders of the senior
subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities
may receive:
(1) shares of capital stock and any securities representing
indebtedness that are subordinated at least to the same extent
as the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated
debt securities to
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senior indebtedness and
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any securities issued in exchange for senior
indebtedness and
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(2) payments made from the trust referred to under
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.
An issuer or a guarantor also may not make any payment upon or
in respect of the senior subordinated debt securities or the
subordinated debt securities, except in such subordinated
securities or from the trust referred to under
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance,
if
(1) a default in the payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on, or of unreimbursed amounts under drawn
letters of credit or in respect of bankers acceptances or
fees relating to letters of credit or bankers acceptances
constituting designated senior indebtedness occurs and is
continuing beyond any applicable period of grace (a
payment default), or
(2) any other default occurs and is continuing with respect
to designated senior indebtedness that permits holders of the
designated senior indebtedness as to which such default relates
to accelerate its maturity without further notice, except such
notice as may be required to effect such acceleration (a
non-payment default), and the applicable trustee
receives a payment blockage notice with respect to such default
from a representative of holders of such designated senior
indebtedness.
Payments on the senior subordinated debt securities or the
subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, including any
missed payments, may and shall be resumed:
(1) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on
which such default is cured or waived or shall have ceased to
exist or such designated senior indebtedness shall have been
discharged or paid in full in cash or cash equivalents and all
outstanding letter of credit obligations shall have been fully
cash collateralized; and
(2) in case of a non-payment default, the earlier of
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the date on which such non-payment default is cured or waived,
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179 days after the date on which the applicable payment
blockage notice is received (each such period, the payment
blockage period), or
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the date such payment blockage period shall be terminated by
written notice to the applicable trustee from the requisite
holders of such designated senior indebtedness necessary to
terminate such period or from their representative.
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No new payment blockage period may be commenced until
365 days have elapsed since the effectiveness of the
immediately preceding payment blockage notice. However, if any
payment blockage notice within such
365-day
period is given by or on behalf of any holders of designated
senior indebtedness, other than the agent under our revolving
credit facility, the agent under our revolving credit facility
may give another payment blockage notice within such period. In
no event, however, may the total number of days during which any
payment blockage period or periods is in effect exceed
179 days in the aggregate during any 365 consecutive day
period. No non-payment default that existed or was continuing on
the date of delivery of any payment blockage notice to the
applicable trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a
subsequent payment blockage notice unless such default shall
have been cured or waived for a period of not less than
90 days.
If an issuer or a guarantor fails to make any payment on the
senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt
securities when due or within any applicable grace period,
whether or not on account of the payment blockage provision
referred to above, such failure would constitute an event of
default under the applicable
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indenture and would enable the holders of the senior
subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities
to accelerate the maturity of such debt securities.
The applicable indenture will further require that an issuer or
a guarantor promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness if
payment of the senior subordinated debt securities or the
subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event
of default.
Designated senior indebtedness means:
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senior indebtedness under our revolving credit facility
(including any amendments, replacements or refinancings
thereof); and
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any other senior indebtedness permitted under the applicable
indenture the principal amount of which is $25.0 million or
more and that has been designated by an issuer as designated
senior indebtedness.
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Senior indebtedness means:
(1) the obligations under our revolving credit facility and
outstanding senior notes of Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis
North America Inc.; and
(2) the obligations under any other indebtedness permitted
to be incurred by an issuer under the terms of the applicable
indenture, unless the instrument under which such indebtedness
is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the senior subordinated debt
securities or the subordinated debt securities, as the case may
be, including, with respect to clauses (1) and (2),
interest accruing subsequent to the filing of, or which would
have accrued but for the filing of, a petition for bankruptcy or
liquidation, in accordance with and at the rate specified in the
documents evidencing or governing such senior indebtedness,
whether or not such interest is an allowable claim in such
bankruptcy proceeding or liquidation.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing,
senior indebtedness will not include:
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any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or
owing by an issuer;
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any obligation of an issuer to its direct or indirect parent
corporations or to any of its subsidiaries;
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any accounts payable or trade liabilities, including obligations
in respect of funds held for the account of third parties,
arising in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees
thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities, other than
obligations in respect of letters of credit under our revolving
credit facility;
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any indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the applicable
indenture;
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indebtedness which, when incurred and without respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of Title 11, United
States Code, is without recourse to an issuer;
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in the case of the senior subordinated debt securities and the
subordinated debt securities, any indebtedness, guarantee or
obligation of an issuer which is subordinate or junior to any
other indebtedness, guarantee or obligation of such issuer;
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indebtedness evidenced by the senior subordinated debt
securities and, in the case of the senior subordinated debt
securities, indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt
securities; and
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capital stock of an issuer.
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Senior indebtedness of an issuer or any
guarantor of the senior subordinated debt securities or the
subordinated debt securities has a correlative meaning.
Conversion
Rights
The prospectus supplement will provide whether the offered debt
securities will be convertible and, if so, the initial
conversion price or conversion rate at which such convertible
debt securities will be convertible into ordinary shares of
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company. The holder of any
convertible debt security will have the right exercisable at any
time during the time period specified in the prospectus
supplement, unless previously
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redeemed by Willis Group Holdings Limited or Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company as applicable, to convert such
debt security at the principal amount (or, if such debt security
is an original issue discount security, such portion of the
principal amount thereof as is specified in the terms of such
debt security) into ordinary shares at the conversion price or
conversion rate set forth in the prospectus supplement, subject
to adjustment. The holder of a convertible debt security may
convert a portion of the debt security which is $1,000 or any
integral multiple of $1,000. In the case of debt securities
called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the
close of business on the date fixed for the redemption as may be
specified in the prospectus supplement, except that in the case
of redemption at the option of the holder, if applicable, such
right will terminate upon receipt of written notice of the
exercise of the option.
In certain events, the conversion rate will be subject to
adjustment as set forth in the applicable indenture. Such events
may include:
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the issuance of ordinary shares of any class of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company as a dividend on the ordinary
shares into which the debt securities of such series are
convertible;
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subdivisions, combinations and reclassifications of the ordinary
shares into which debt securities of such series are convertible;
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the issuance to all holders of ordinary shares into which debt
securities of such series are convertible of rights or warrants
entitling the holders (for a period not exceeding 45 days)
to subscribe for or purchase ordinary shares at a price per
share less than the current market price per ordinary share (as
defined in the indentures); and
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the distribution to all holders of ordinary shares of evidences
of debt of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company or of
assets (excluding cash dividends paid from retained earnings and
dividends payable in ordinary shares for which adjustment is
made as referred to above) or subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
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No adjustment of the conversion price or conversion rate will be
required unless an adjustment would require a cumulative
increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price or rate.
Fractional ordinary shares will not be issued upon conversion,
but Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company will pay a cash
adjustment for it. Convertible debt securities surrendered for
conversion between the record date for an interest payment, if
any, and the interest payment date (except convertible debt
securities called for redemption on a redemption date during
such period) must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal
to the interest which the registered holder is to receive.
Defaults,
Notice and Waiver
The following are events of default under the indentures with
respect to debt securities of any series issued thereunder:
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default in the payment of interest on any debt security of that
series when due and continued for 30 days (whether or not
such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions, if
any, of the indenture);
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default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any
on) any debt security of that series at its maturity (whether or
not payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions, if
any, of the indenture);
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default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when due by
the terms of any debt security of that series (whether or not
payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions, if any,
of the indenture);
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default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or
warranty of the applicable issuer, any of its significant
subsidiaries or any guarantor, as applicable, specified in the
indenture or any debt security of that series (other than a
covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose
breach is elsewhere dealt with or which has been included in the
indenture solely for the benefit of debt securities other than
that series), continued for 90 days after written notice
from the trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal
amount of the debt securities of such series outstanding;
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization;
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if applicable, any guarantee shall for any reason cease to exist
or shall not be in full force and effect enforceable in
accordance with its terms; and
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any other event of default provided with respect to debt
securities of that series.
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If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any
series at the time outstanding shall occur and be continuing,
the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may
declare the unpaid principal balance immediately due and
payable, by a written notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the case of an event of default arising from the events
described in the fifth bullet above, all outstanding debt
securities of the applicable series will become due and payable
without further action or notice. However, any time after a
declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of
any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a
majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of
that series may, by written notice rescind and annul such
acceleration under certain circumstances. For information as to
waiver of defaults, see Modification and Waiver
below.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any
series of offered debt securities which are original issue
discount securities for the particular provision relating to
acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal
amount of such original issue discount securities upon the
occurrence of an event of default and the continuation thereof.
The applicable issuer must file annually with each trustee an
officers certificate stating whether or not the issuer is
in default in the performance and observance of any of the
terms, provisions and conditions of the respective indenture
and, if so, specifying the nature and status of the default.
Each indenture provides that the trustee, within 90 days
after the occurrence of a default, will give by mail to all
holders of debt securities of any series notice of all defaults
with respect to such series known to it, unless such default has
been cured or waived; but, in the case of a default in the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
any debt security of such series or in the payment of any
sinking fund or similar obligation installment with respect to
debt securities of such series, the trustee shall be protected
in withholding such notice if the Board of Directors or such
committee of directors as designated in such indenture or
responsible officer of the trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interest of such
holders.
Each indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be
indemnified by holders of debt securities before proceeding to
exercise any right or power under such indenture at the request
of any such holders. Each indenture provides that the holders of
a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt
securities of any series may, subject to certain exceptions,
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the trustee regarding the debt
securities of such series. The right of a holder to institute a
proceeding with respect to each indenture is subject to certain
conditions precedent including notice and indemnity to the
trustee, but the holder has an absolute right to receipt of
principal and interest when due and to institute suit for
payment of principal and interest.
Covenants
Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating
to offered debt securities, the applicable issuer and any of the
applicable guarantors, without the consent of any holder of
outstanding debt securities, may consolidate with or merge into
any other person, or convey, transfer or lease its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person, provided
that the person formed by such consolidation or into which the
applicable issuer or the applicable guarantors, is merged or the
person which acquires by conveyance or transfer or which leases
the properties and assets of the applicable issuer or guarantor,
as the case may be, substantially as an entirety is, in the case
of Willis North America Inc., organized under the laws of the
United States, any State thereof, or the District of Columbia,
in the case of any guarantor other than Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company or Willis North America Inc., under the
laws of England and Wales, and in the case of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company, under the laws of any United
States jurisdiction, any state thereof, Bermuda, England and
Wales or any country that is a member of the European Monetary
Union and was such member on January 1, 2004, as the case
may be, and expressly assumes the applicable issuers or
guarantors obligations, as the case may be, on the debt
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securities and under the indenture, that after giving effect to
the transaction, no event of default shall have happened and be
continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.
Other
Covenants
The prospectus supplement relating to offered debt securities
will describe any other material covenants in respect of a
series of debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable prospectus supplement, any covenants applicable to
the Holdings debt securities will be binding on Holdings and its
significant subsidiaries and any covenants applicable to the
Trinity debt securities or the Willis North America debt
securities will be binding on Trinity Acquisition plc and its
significant subsidiaries, with the exception of any covenant
regarding filing reports under the Exchange Act, as amended,
which will be binding on Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company. Other than the covenant included in the indentures
described under Consolidation, Merger and Sale of
Assets above or any covenant described in the applicable
prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not have the
benefit of any covenants that limit or restrict our business or
operations or the incurrence of additional indebtedness by the
applicable issuer or any guarantor, and there are no covenants
or other provisions in the indenture providing for a put or
increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of
debt securities additional protection in the event of a
recapitalization transaction, a change of control transaction or
a highly leveraged transaction.
Modification
and Waiver
Modification and amendments of the indentures may be made by the
applicable issuer, if applicable, any guarantor, and the trustee
with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding debt securities of each series
affected provided, that no modification or amendment may,
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt
security affected:
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change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;
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reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest, on
any debt security;
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reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount
security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
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adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the
holder of any security, or reduce the amount of, or postpone the
date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous
obligation of the holder or modify the payment terms of any
sinking fund or similar obligation;
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impair the right to commence suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or after the stated maturity thereof with respect to
any debt security; or
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reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is
required for modification or amendment of the indenture or for
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or
for waiver of certain defaults.
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Without the consent of any holder of outstanding debt
securities, the applicable issuer, any guarantor, and the
trustee may amend or supplement the indentures and each series
of debt securities to evidence the succession of another person
to the applicable issuer or a guarantor and the assumption of
such successor to the obligations thereof to add to the
covenants of the applicable issuer or a guarantor for the
benefit of the holders of all or any series, to surrender any
right or power conferred upon such issuer or guarantor, to add
any additional events of default, to secure the debt securities,
to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities,
to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to provide for debt
securities in bearer form in addition to or in place of
registered debt securities or to make any other provisions that
do not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding
debt securities, including adding guarantees.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of
all debt securities of that series waive any past default under
the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences,
except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium,
if any) or interest on any debt
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security of that series or in respect of a provision which under
such indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent
of the holder of each outstanding debt security of that series.
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance
The applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of
any series may be discharged, subject to the terms and
conditions as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement
when:
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all debt securities, with the exceptions provided for in the
applicable indenture, of that series have been delivered to the
applicable trustee for cancellation;
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all debt securities of that series not theretofore delivered to
the applicable trustee for cancellation:
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have become due and payable; or
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will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one
year; or
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are to be called for redemption within one year; or
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certain events or conditions occur as specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
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Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the
applicable issuer can terminate all of its obligations under the
indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series,
other than the obligation to pay interest on, premium, if any,
and the principal of the debt securities of such series and
certain other obligations, known as covenant
defeasance, at any time by:
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depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the
trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and
interest on the debt securities of such series to their
maturity; and
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complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to
the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders
of debt securities of such series will not recognize income,
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
covenant defeasance.
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In addition, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, the applicable issuer can terminate all of its
obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt
securities of any series, including the obligation to pay
interest on, premium, if any, and the principal of the debt
securities of such series, known as legal
defeasance, at any time by:
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depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the
trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and
interest on the debt securities of such series to their
maturity, and
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complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to
the trustee of an opinion of counsel stating that there has been
a change in the federal tax law since the date of the indenture
to the effect that holders of debt securities of such series
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such legal defeasance or the delivery to
the trustee of a ruling or other formal statement or action by
the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect.
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Guarantees
The Holdings debt securities may be guaranteed as set forth in
the applicable prospectus supplement by Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and
Willis North America Inc. Payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on the Trinity debt securities may be fully
and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited and TA I
Limited. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Willis North America debt securities may be
fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis Group Limited, which
collectively comprise all of its direct and indirect parent
entities. The guarantees will be made on a senior, senior
subordinated or subordinated basis corresponding to the relative
ranking of the underlying debt securities.
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The obligations of each guarantor under its guarantee will be
limited so as not to constitute a fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer or similar laws under applicable
U.S. Federal or state laws. Each guarantor that makes a
payment or distribution under its guarantee will be entitled to
a contribution from any other guarantor in a pro rata amount
based on the net assets of each guarantor determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
A guarantee issued by any guarantor will be automatically and
unconditionally released and discharged upon any sale, exchange
or transfer to any person not an affiliate of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company of all of the Willis
Groups capital stock in, or all or substantially all the
assets of, such guarantor.
Trustees
The Bank of New York Mellon is the current trustee under the
senior indentures, the senior subordinated indentures and the
subordinated indentures. The trustees may perform certain
services for and transact other banking business with Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Trinity Acquisition plc,
Willis North America Inc. or, if applicable, any guarantor from
time to time in the ordinary course of business.
DESCRIPTION
OF SHARE CAPITAL
The following description of our share capital is a summary.
This summary is subject to the Irish Companies Acts
1963-2009
(the Irish Companies Acts) and the complete text of
our memorandum and articles of association filed as
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on January 4, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference. In this section, the Company,
we and our refers to Willis Group
Holdings Public Company Limited only.
Capital
Structure
Authorized Share Capital. Our authorized share
capital is 40,000 divided into 40,000 ordinary shares with
a nominal value of 1 per share and US$575,000 divided into
4,000,000,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of
US$0.000115 per share and 1,000,000,000 preferred shares with a
nominal value of US$0.000115 per share. The authorized share
capital includes 40,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of
1 per share in order to satisfy statutory requirements for
all Irish public limited companies commencing operations.
We may issue shares subject to the maximum prescribed by our
authorized share capital contained in our memorandum and
articles of association. The authorized share capital may be
increased or reduced by way of an ordinary resolution of our
shareholders. The shares comprising our authorized share capital
may be divided into shares of such nominal value as the
resolution shall prescribe. As a matter of Irish company law,
the directors of a company may issue new ordinary or preferred
shares without shareholder approval once authorized to do so by
the articles of association of the Company or by an ordinary
resolution adopted by the shareholders at a general meeting. An
ordinary resolution requires the approval of over 50% of the
votes of a companys shareholders cast at a general
meeting. The authority conferred can be granted for a maximum
period of five years, at which point it must be renewed by the
shareholders of the company by an ordinary resolution. Because
of this requirement of Irish law, our articles of association
authorize our board of directors to issue new ordinary or
preferred shares without shareholder approval for a period of
five years from the date of adoption of such articles of
association, which were effective on December 31, 2009.
The rights and restrictions to which the ordinary shares will be
subject are prescribed in our articles of association. Our
articles of association entitle the board of directors, without
shareholder approval, to determine the terms of the preferred
shares we may issue. Our board of directors is authorized,
without obtaining any vote or consent of the holders of any
class or series of shares, unless expressly provided by the
terms of that class or series or shares, to provide from time to
time for the issuance of other classes or series of preferred
shares and to establish the characteristics of each class or
series, including the number of shares, designations, relative
voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation and other rights,
redemption, repurchase or exchange rights and any other
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
rights and limitations not inconsistent with applicable law.
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Irish law does not recognize fractional shares held of record.
Accordingly, our articles of association do not provide for the
issuance of fractional shares, and our official Irish register
will not reflect any fractional shares.
Issued Share Capital. Immediately prior to the
Transaction, the issued share capital of the Company was
40,000, comprised of 40,000 ordinary shares, with nominal
value of 1 per share (the Euro Share Capital).
In connection with the consummation of the Transaction the Euro
Share Capital was acquired by the Company. The Company then
issued approximately 168,661,172 ordinary shares having a
nominal value of US$0.000115 each. All shares issued on
completion of the Transaction were issued and fully paid.
Pre-emption
Rights, Share Warrants and Share Options
Under Irish law certain statutory pre-emption rights apply
automatically in favor of shareholders where shares are to be
issued for cash. However, we have opted out of these pre-emption
rights in our articles of association as permitted under Irish
company law.
Our articles of association provide that, subject to any
shareholder approval requirement under any laws, regulations or
the rules of any stock exchange to which we are subject, our
board of directors is authorized, from time to time, in its
discretion, to grant such persons, for such periods and upon
such terms as the board deems advisable, options to purchase
such number of shares of any class or classes or of any series
of any class as the board may deem advisable, and to cause
warrants or other appropriate instruments evidencing such
options to be issued. The Irish Companies Acts provide that
directors may issue share warrants or options without
shareholder approval once authorized to do so by the articles of
association or an ordinary resolution of shareholders. Our board
of directors may issue shares upon exercise of warrants or
options without shareholder approval or authorization (up to the
relevant authorized share capital limit). In connection with the
Transaction, we assumed, on a one-for-one basis, Willis
Bermudas existing obligations to deliver shares under our
equity incentive plans, warrants or other rights pursuant to the
terms thereof.
The Irish Companies Acts prohibit an Irish company from
allotting shares for nil or no consideration.
Accordingly, the nominal value of the shares issued upon the
lapse of restrictions or the vesting of any restricted stock
unit, performance shares awards, bonus shares or any other
share-based grants must be paid pursuant to the Irish Companies
Acts.
We are subject to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the
NYSE) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, that require shareholder approval of certain equity
plan and share issuances.
Dividends
Under Irish law, dividends and distributions may only be made
from distributable reserves. Distributable reserves generally
means our accumulated realized profits less accumulated realized
losses and includes reserves created by way of capital
reduction. In addition, no distribution or dividend may be made
unless our net assets are equal to, or in excess of, the
aggregate of our called up share capital plus undistributable
reserves and the distribution does not reduce our net assets
below such aggregate. Undistributable reserves include the share
premium account, the capital redemption reserve fund and the
amount by which our accumulated unrealized profits, so far as
not previously utilized by any capitalization, exceed our
accumulated unrealized losses, so far as not previously written
off in a reduction or reorganization of capital.
The determination as to whether or not we have sufficient
distributable reserves to fund a dividend must be made by
reference to relevant accounts of the Company. The
relevant accounts will be either the last set of
unconsolidated annual audited financial statements or other
financial statements properly prepared in accordance with the
Irish Companies Acts, which give a true and fair
view of our unconsolidated financial position and accord
with accepted accounting practice. The relevant accounts must be
filed in the Companies Registration Office (the official public
registry for companies in Ireland).
The mechanism as to who declares a dividend and when a dividend
shall become payable is governed by our articles of association.
Our articles of association authorize the directors to declare
interim dividends as appear justified from our profits without
the approval of the shareholders at a general meeting. The board
of directors may also recommend a final dividend to be approved
and declared by the shareholders at a general meeting. The board
of
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directors may direct that the payment be made by distribution of
assets, shares or cash and no dividend issued may exceed the
amount recommended by the directors. The dividends can be
declared and paid in the form of cash or non-cash assets.
Our directors may deduct from any dividend payable to any member
all sums of money (if any) payable by such member to the Company
in relation to shares of the Company.
Our directors are also entitled to issue shares with preferred
rights to participate in dividends we declare. The holders of
such preferred shares may, depending on their terms, rank senior
to our ordinary shares in terms of dividend rights
and/or be
entitled to claim arrears of a declared dividend out of
subsequently declared dividends in priority to ordinary
shareholders.
Share
Repurchases, Redemptions and Conversions
Overview
Our articles of association provide that any ordinary share
which we acquire or agree to acquire shall be converted into a
redeemable share. Accordingly, for Irish company law purposes,
our repurchase of ordinary shares can technically be effected as
a redemption of those shares as described below under
Repurchases and Redemptions.
Except where otherwise noted, when we refer elsewhere in this
prospectus to repurchasing or buying back ordinary shares of the
Company, we are also referring to the redemption of ordinary
shares by the Company pursuant to such provision of our articles
of association or the purchase of our ordinary shares by us or
our subsidiaries, in each case in accordance with our articles
of association and Irish company law as described below.
Repurchases
and Redemptions
Under Irish law, a company can issue redeemable shares and
redeem them out of distributable reserves (which are described
above under Dividends) or, subject to certain
restrictions, the proceeds of a new issue of shares for that
purpose. We may only issue redeemable shares where the nominal
value of the issued share capital that is not redeemable is at
least 10% of the nominal value of our total issued share
capital. All redeemable shares must also be fully-paid and the
terms of redemption of the shares must provide for payment on
redemption. Redeemable shares may, upon redemption, be cancelled
or held in treasury. Based on the provision of our articles
described above, shareholder approval will not be required to
redeem our shares.
Under Irish law, it is permissible for the Company to purchase
its shares either on-market or off-market. A general authority
of our shareholders (by way of ordinary resolution) is required
to allow the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to make
on-market purchases of our shares. As long as this general
authority has been granted, no specific shareholder authority
for a particular on-market purchase by the Company or a
subsidiary of shares of the Company is required. The
shareholders of the Company have authorized the purchase of our
shares by the Company and subsidiaries of the Company, such that
together, the Company and its subsidiaries were authorized to
purchase shares in an aggregate maximum amount approximately
equal to the remaining authorization under the former Willis
Bermuda share repurchase program. This authority will expire on
30 June 2011 unless varied, revoked or renewed by an
ordinary resolution in accordance with Irish law. We expect that
we will seek shareholder approval to renew this authorization at
future annual general meetings.
In any event, on-market purchases of Company shares may also be
affected as a redemption (as described above) without
shareholder approval.
Any off-market purchases of Company shares by the Company will
be effected as a redemption as described above.
Our board of directors will also be entitled to issue preferred
shares which may be redeemed at our option or our
shareholders, depending on the terms of such preferred
shares. Please see Capital Structure
Authorized Share Capital above for additional information
on preferred shares.
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Repurchased and redeemed shares may be cancelled or held as
treasury shares. The nominal value of treasury shares held by us
at any time must not exceed 10% of the nominal value of our
issued share capital. We cannot exercise any voting rights in
respect of shares held as treasury shares. Treasury shares may
be cancelled by us or re-issued subject to certain conditions.
Purchases
by Subsidiaries
The shareholders of the Company have given a general authority
to any subsidiaries of the Company to purchase our own shares
on-market on the same terms and subject to the same conditions
as applicable to on-market purchases by the Company as described
above.
For an off-market purchase by a subsidiary of ours, the proposed
purchase contract must be authorized by special resolution of
our shareholders before the contract is entered into. The person
whose shares are to be bought back cannot vote in favor of the
special resolution and, for at least 21 days prior to the
meeting at which the special resolution is voted on, the
purchase contract must be on display or must be available for
inspection by our shareholders at our registered office. The
purchase contract must also be available for inspection at that
meeting.
The number of shares held by our subsidiaries at any time will
count as treasury shares and will be included in any calculation
of the permitted treasury share threshold of 10% of the nominal
value of our issued share capital. While a subsidiary holds
shares of the Company, it cannot exercise any voting rights in
respect of those shares. The acquisition of the shares of the
Company by a subsidiary must be funded out of distributable
reserves of the subsidiary.
Existing
Share Repurchase Program
The board of directors of Willis Bermuda has previously
authorized a program to repurchase up to one billion dollars of
its common shares. Our board of directors authorized the
repurchase of our shares by the Company and our subsidiaries and
Willis Bermuda and the nominee shareholders of the Company
authorized the purchase of our shares by our subsidiaries, such
that the Company and its subsidiaries are authorized to purchase
shares up to an aggregate amount approximately equal to the
remaining authorization under the former Willis Bermuda share
repurchase program.
Bonus
Shares
Under our articles of association, we may by ordinary resolution
capitalize any amount for the time being standing to the credit
of any of our reserves (including any capital redemption reserve
fund or share premium account) or to the credit of profit and
loss account for issuance and distribution to shareholders as
fully-paid up bonus shares on the same basis of entitlement as
would apply in respect of a dividend distribution.
Consolidation
and Division; Subdivision
Under our articles of association, we may by ordinary resolution
consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into
shares of larger nominal value than its existing shares or
subdivide our shares into smaller amounts than is fixed by our
articles of association.
Reduction
of Share Capital
We may, by ordinary resolution, reduce our authorized share
capital in any way. We also may, by special resolution and
subject to confirmation by the Irish High Court, reduce or
cancel our issued share capital in any way.
Annual
Meetings of Shareholders
We are required to hold an annual general meeting at intervals
of no more than 15 months, provided that an annual general
meeting is held in each calendar year and no more than nine
months after our fiscal year-end. An annual general meeting may
be held outside Ireland if a resolution so authorizing has been
passed at the preceding annual general meeting. We intend to
hold annual general meetings in Ireland. Because of the
fifteen-month
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requirement described in this paragraph, our articles of
association include a provision reflecting this requirement of
Irish law.
Notice of an annual general meeting must be given to all of our
shareholders and to our auditors. Our articles of association
provide for a minimum notice period of 21 days, which is
the minimum permitted under Irish law.
The only matters which must, as a matter of Irish company law,
be transacted at an annual general meeting are the presentation
of the annual accounts, balance sheet and reports of the
directors and auditors, the appointment of auditors and the
fixing of the auditors remuneration (or delegation of
same). An auditor is deemed to be reappointed at an annual
general meeting without any resolution being passed unless a
resolution is passed that the auditor shall not be reappointed
(or appointing another auditor) or the auditor is not qualified
for reappointment or the auditor is unwilling to be reappointed.
Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast by shareholders at an annual general meeting and
serve until the next following general meeting. Any nominee for
director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast is
not elected to the board.
Special
Meetings of Shareholders
Extraordinary general meetings may be convened by (i) the
chairman of the board of directors, (ii) the board of
directors, (iii) on requisition of shareholders holding not
less than 10% of our paid up share capital carrying voting
rights or (iv) on requisition of our auditors.
Extraordinary general meetings are generally held for the
purposes of approving shareholder resolutions as may be required
from time to time. At any extraordinary general meeting only
such business shall be conducted as is set forth in the notice
thereof.
Notice of an extraordinary general meeting must be given to all
of our shareholders and to our auditors. Under Irish law, the
minimum notice periods are 21 days notice in writing for an
extraordinary general meeting to approve a special resolution
and 14 days notice in writing for any other extraordinary
general meeting. Because of the 21 day and 14 day
requirements described in this paragraph, our articles of
association include provisions reflecting these requirements of
Irish law.
In the case of an extraordinary general meeting convened by our
shareholders, the proposed purpose of the meeting must be set
out in the requisition notice. Upon receipt of this requisition
notice, the board of directors has 21 days to convene a
meeting of our shareholders to vote on the matters set out in
the requisition notice. This meeting must be held within two
months of the receipt of the requisition notice. If the board of
directors does not convene the meeting within such 21 day
period, the requisitioning shareholders, or any of them
representing more than one half of the total voting rights of
all of them, may themselves convene a meeting, which meeting
must be held within three months of the receipt of the
requisition notice.
If the board of directors becomes aware that our net assets are
half or less of the amount of our
called-up
share capital, the directors of the Company must convene an
extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders not later than
28 days from the date that one of the directors learns of
this fact. This meeting must be convened for the purposes of
considering whether any, and if so what, measures should be
taken to address the situation.
Quorum
for General Meetings
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least
50% of our ordinary shares outstanding constitutes a quorum for
the conduct of business. No business may take place at a general
meeting if a quorum is not present in person or by proxy. The
board of directors has no authority to waive quorum requirements
stipulated in our articles of association. Abstentions and
broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of
determining whether there is a quorum in respect of the
proposals. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee
(such as a broker) holding shares for a beneficial owner
abstains from voting on a particular proposal because the
nominee does not have discretionary voting power for that
proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial
owner on how to vote those shares.
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Voting
Our articles of association provide that all resolutions shall
be decided by a poll. Every shareholder shall have one vote for
each ordinary share that he or she holds as of the record date
for the meeting. Voting rights may be exercised by shareholders
registered in our share register as of the record date for the
meeting or by a duly appointed proxy of such a registered
shareholder, which proxy need not be a shareholder. Where
interests in shares are held by a nominee trust company this
company may exercise the rights of the beneficial holders on
their behalf as their proxy. All proxies must be appointed in
the manner prescribed by our articles of association. Our
articles of association permit the appointment of proxies by the
shareholders to be notified to us electronically in such manner
as may be approved by the board of directors.
In accordance with our articles of association, the directors of
the Company may from time to time cause us to issue preferred
shares. These preferred shares may have such voting rights as
may be specified in the terms of such preferred shares (e.g.,
they may carry more votes per share than ordinary shares or may
entitle their holders to a class vote on such matters as may be
specified in the terms of the preferred shares).
Treasury shares will not be entitled to be voted at general
meetings of shareholders.
Irish company law requires special resolutions of
the shareholders at a general meeting to approve certain
matters. A special resolution requires the approval of not less
than 75% of the votes of our shareholders cast at a general
meeting where a quorum is present. This may be contrasted with
ordinary resolutions, which require a simple
majority of the votes of our shareholders cast at a general
meeting.
Examples of matters requiring special resolutions include:
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amending the objects of the Company;
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amending the articles of association of the Company;
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approving the change of name of the Company;
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authorizing the entering into of a guarantee or provision of
security in connection with a loan, quasi-loan or credit
transaction to a director or connected person;
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opting out of pre-emption rights on the issuance of new shares;
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re-registration of the Company from a public limited company as
a private company;
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variation of class rights attaching to classes of shares (where
the articles of association do not provide otherwise, which
special resolution would be of the class concerned);
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purchase of own shares off-market;
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the reduction of share capital;
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sanctioning a compromise/scheme of arrangement;
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resolving that the Company be wound up by the Irish courts;
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resolving in favor of a shareholders voluntary
winding-up;
and
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setting the re-issue price of treasury shares.
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Variation
of Rights Attaching to a Class or Series of Shares
Any variation of class or series rights attaching to the issued
shares of the Company is addressed in our articles of
association as well as the Irish Companies Acts and must in
accordance with the articles of association be approved by
ordinary resolution of the class or series affected.
Inspection
of Books and Records
Under Irish law, shareholders have the right to:
(i) receive a copy of the memorandum and articles of
association of the Company and any act of the Irish Government
which alters the memorandum of association of the
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Company; (ii) inspect and obtain copies of the minutes of
general meetings and resolutions of the Company;
(iii) inspect and receive a copy of the register of
shareholders, register of directors and secretaries, register of
directors interests and other statutory registers
maintained by the Company; and (iv) receive copies of
balance sheets and directors and auditors reports
which have previously been sent to shareholders prior to an
annual general meeting. Our auditors will also have the right to
inspect all books, records and vouchers of the Company. The
auditors report must be circulated to the shareholders
with our financial statements prepared in accordance with Irish
law 21 days before the annual general meeting and must be
read to the shareholders at our annual general meeting.
Acquisitions
There are a number of mechanisms for acquiring an Irish public
limited company, including:
(a) a court-approved scheme of arrangement under the Irish
Companies Acts. A scheme of arrangement with shareholders
requires a court order from the Irish High Court and the
approval of:
(i) 75% of the voting shareholders by value; and
(ii) 50% in number of the voting shareholders, at a meeting
called to approve the scheme;
(b) through a tender offer by a third party for all of the
shares of the Company. Where the holders of 80% or more of our
shares have accepted an offer for their shares in the Company,
the remaining shareholders may be statutorily required to also
transfer their shares. If the bidder does not exercise its
squeeze out right, then the non-accepting
shareholders also have a statutory right to require the bidder
to acquire their shares on the same terms. If shares of the
Company were listed on the Irish Stock Exchange or another
regulated stock exchange in the European Union (EU),
this threshold would be increased to 90%; and
(c) it is also possible for us to be acquired by way of a
merger with an EU-incorporated public company under the EU
Cross-Border Merger Directive 2005/56. Such a merger must be
approved by a special resolution. If we are being merged with
another EU public company under the EU Cross-Border Merger
Directive 2005/56 (implemented in Ireland by the European
Communities (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2008) and
the consideration payable to our shareholders is not all in
cash, the directive and regulations allow for an amendment of
the exchange rate applied in the merger in certain circumstances.
Under Irish law, there is no requirement for a companys
shareholders to approve a sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of a companys property and assets.
Appraisal
Rights
Generally, under Irish law, shareholders of an Irish company do
not have dissenters or appraisal rights. Under the European
Communities (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2008 governing
the merger of an Irish public limited company and a company
incorporated in the European Economic Area, a shareholder
(i) who voted against the special resolution approving the
merger or (ii) of a company in which 90% of the voting
shares is held by the other company the party to the merger of
the transferor company has the right to request that the other
company acquire its shares for cash.
Disclosure
of Interests in Shares
Under the Irish Companies Acts, there is a notification
requirement for shareholders who acquire or cease to be
interested in five percent of the shares of an Irish public
limited company. A shareholder of the Company must therefore
make such a notification to us if as a result of a transaction
the shareholder will be interested in five percent or more of
the shares of the Company; or if as a result of a transaction a
shareholder who was interested in more than five percent of the
shares of the Company ceases to be so interested. Where a
shareholder is interested in more than five percent of the
shares of the Company, any alteration of his or her interest
that brings his or her total holding through the nearest whole
percentage number, whether an increase or a reduction, must be
notified to us. The relevant percentage figure is calculated by
reference to the aggregate nominal value of the shares in which
the shareholder is interested as a proportion of the entire
nominal value of our issued share capital. Where the percentage
level of the shareholders interest does not amount to a
whole percentage this figure may be rounded
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down to the next whole number. All such disclosures should be
notified to us within five business days of the transaction or
alteration of the shareholders interests that gave rise to
the requirement to notify. Where a person fails to comply with
the notification requirements described above no right or
interest of any kind whatsoever in respect of any shares in the
Company concerned, held by such person, shall be enforceable by
such person, whether directly or indirectly, by action or legal
proceeding. However, such person may apply to the court to have
the rights attaching to the shares concerned reinstated.
In addition to the above disclosure requirement, the Company,
under the Irish Companies Acts, may by notice in writing require
a person whom we know or have reasonable cause to believe to be,
or at any time during the three years immediately preceding the
date on which such notice is issued, to have been interested in
shares comprised in our relevant share capital to:
(i) indicate whether or not it is the case; and
(ii) where such person holds or has during that time held
an interest in the shares of the Company, to give such further
information as may be required by us including particulars of
such persons own past or present interests in shares of
the Company within such three year period. Any information given
in response to the notice is required to be given in writing
within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.
Where such a notice is served by us on a person who is or was
interested in shares of the Company and that person fails to
give us any information required within the reasonable time
specified, we may apply to court for an order directing that the
affected shares be subject to certain restrictions. Under the
Irish Companies Acts, the restrictions that may be placed on the
shares by the court are as follows:
(a) any transfer of those shares, or in the case of
unissued shares any transfer of the right to be issued with
shares and any issue of shares, shall be void;
(b) no voting rights shall be exercisable in respect of
those shares;
(c) no further shares shall be issued in right of those
shares or in pursuance of any offer made to the holder of those
shares; and
(d) no payment shall be made of any sums due from the
Company on those shares, whether in respect of capital or
otherwise.
Where the shares in the Company are subject to these
restrictions, the court may order the shares to be sold and may
also direct that the shares shall cease to be subject to these
restrictions.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
Irish
Takeover Rules and Substantial Acquisition Rules
A transaction by virtue of which a third party is seeking to
acquire 30% or more of the voting rights of the Company will be
governed by the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 and the Irish
Takeover Rules made thereunder and will be regulated by the
Irish Takeover Panel. The General Principles of the
Irish Takeover Rules and certain important aspects of the Irish
Takeover Rules are described below.
General
Principles
The Irish Takeover Rules are built on the following General
Principles which will apply to any transaction regulated by the
Irish Takeover Panel:
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in the event of an offer, all classes of shareholders of the
target company should be afforded equivalent treatment and, if a
person acquires control of a company, the other holders of
securities must be protected;
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the holders of securities in the target company must have
sufficient time to allow them to make an informed decision
regarding the offer;
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the board of a company must act in the interests of the company
as a whole. If the board of the target company advises the
holders of securities as regards the offer it must advise on the
effects of the implementation of the offer on employment,
employment conditions and the locations of the target
companys place of business;
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false markets in the securities of the target company or any
other company concerned by the offer must not be created;
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a bidder can only announce an offer after ensuring that he or
she can fulfill in full the consideration offered;
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a target company may not be hindered longer than is reasonable
by an offer for its securities. This is a recognition that an
offer will disrupt the day-to-day running of a target company
particularly if the offer is hostile and the board of the target
company must divert its attention to resist the offer; and
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a substantial acquisition of securities (whether
such acquisition is to be effected by one transaction or a
series of transactions) will only be allowed to take place at an
acceptable speed and shall be subject to adequate and timely
disclosure.
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Mandatory
Bid
If an acquisition of shares were to increase the aggregate
holding of an acquirer and its concert parties to shares
carrying 30% or more of the voting rights in the Company, the
acquirer and, depending on the circumstances, its concert
parties would be required (except with the consent of the Irish
Takeover Panel) to make a cash offer for the remaining
outstanding shares at a price not less than the highest price
paid for the shares by the acquirer or its concert parties
during the previous 12 months. This requirement would also
be triggered by an acquisition of shares by a person holding
(together with its concert parties) shares carrying between 30%
and 50% of the voting rights in the Company if the effect of
such acquisition were to increase the percentage of the voting
rights held by that person (together with its concert parties)
by 0.05% within a twelve-month period. A single holder (that is,
a holder excluding any parties acting in concert with the
holder) holding more than 50% of the voting rights of a company
is not subject to this rule.
Voluntary
Bid; Requirements to Make a Cash Offer and Minimum Price
Requirements
A voluntary offer is an offer that is not a mandatory offer. If
a bidder or any of its concert parties acquire ordinary shares
of the Company within the period of three months prior to the
commencement of the offer period, the offer price must be not
less than the highest price paid for the Companys ordinary
shares by the bidder or its concert parties during that period.
The Irish Takeover Panel has the power to extend the look
back period to 12 months if the Irish Takeover Panel,
having regard to the General Principles, believes it is
appropriate to do so. If the bidder or any of its concert
parties has acquired ordinary shares of the Company
(i) during the period of 12 months prior to the
commencement of the offer period which represent more than 10%
of the total ordinary shares of the Company or (ii) at any
time after the commencement of the offer period, the offer shall
be in cash (or accompanied by a full cash alternative) and the
price per the Companys ordinary share shall be not less
than the highest price paid by the bidder or its concert parties
during, in the case of (i), the period of 12 months prior
to the commencement of the offer period and, in the case of
(ii), the offer period. The Irish Takeover Panel may apply this
rule to a bidder who, together with its concert parties, has
acquired less than 10% of the total ordinary shares of the
Company in the 12 month period prior to the commencement of
the offer period if the Irish Takeover Panel, having regard to
the General Principles, considers it just and proper to do so.
An offer period will generally commence from the date of the
first announcement of the offer or proposed offer.
Substantial
Acquisition Rules
The Irish Takeover Rules also contain rules governing
substantial acquisitions of shares which restrict the speed at
which a person may increase his or her holding of shares and
rights over shares to an aggregate of between 15% and 30% of the
voting rights of the Company. Except in certain circumstances,
an acquisition or series of acquisitions of shares or rights
over shares representing 10% or more of the voting rights of the
Company is prohibited, if such acquisition(s), when aggregated
with shares or rights already held, would result in the acquirer
holding 15% or more but less than 30% of the voting rights of
the Company and such acquisitions are made within a period of
seven days. These rules also require accelerated disclosure of
acquisitions of shares or rights over shares relating to such
holdings.
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Frustrating
Action
Under the Irish Takeover Rules, the board of directors of the
Company are not permitted to take any action which might
frustrate an offer for the shares of the Company once the board
of directors has received an approach which may lead to an offer
or has reason to believe an offer is imminent except as noted
below. Potentially frustrating actions such as (i) the
issue of shares, options or convertible securities,
(ii) material disposals, (iii) entering into contracts
other than in the ordinary course of business or (iv) any
action, other than seeking alternative offers, which may result
in frustration of an offer, are prohibited during the course of
an offer or at any time during which the board has reason to
believe an offer is imminent. Exceptions to this prohibition are
available where:
(a) the action is approved by our shareholders at a general
meeting; or
(b) with the consent of the Irish Takeover Panel where:
(i) the Irish Takeover Panel is satisfied the action would
not constitute a frustrating action;
(ii) the holders of 50% of the voting rights state in
writing that they approve the proposed action and would vote in
favor of it at a general meeting;
(iii) the relevant action is pursuant to a contract entered
into prior to the announcement of the offer; or
(iv) the decision to take such action was made before the
announcement of the offer and either has been at least partially
implemented or is in the ordinary course of business.
For other provisions that could be considered to have an
anti-takeover effect, please see above at
Authorized Share Capital (regarding
issuance of preferred shares), Pre-emption Rights, Share
Warrants and Share Options and Disclosure of
Interests in Shares, in addition to Corporate
Governance below.
Corporate
Governance
The articles of association of the Company allocate authority
over the management of the Company to the board of directors.
The board of directors may then delegate the management of the
Company to committees (consisting of members of the board or
other persons) or executives, but regardless, the directors will
remain responsible, as a matter of Irish law, for the proper
management of the affairs of the Company. The Company has
replicated the existing committees that were previously in place
for Willis Bermuda, which include an Audit Committee, a
Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee. We also adopted, with certain amendments, Willis
Bermudas Corporate Governance Guidelines Code of Ethics
and Insider Trading Policy. In addition, we adopted a new
Regulation FD Corporate Communications Policy.
Legal
Name; Formation; Fiscal Year; Registered Office
The legal and commercial name of the Company is Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company. The Company was incorporated in
Ireland, as a public limited company on September 24, 2009
with company registration number 475616. Our fiscal year ends on
December 31 and our registered address is Grand Mill Quay,
Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Duration;
Dissolution; Rights upon Liquidation
Our duration will be unlimited. The Company may be dissolved and
wound up at any time by way of a shareholders voluntary
winding up or a creditors winding up. In the case of a
shareholders voluntary
winding-up,
a special resolution of shareholders is required. The Company
may also be dissolved by way of court order on the application
of a creditor, or by the Companies Registration Office as an
enforcement measure where the Company has failed to file certain
returns. The articles of association of the Company also provide
for a voluntary winding up to be effected by way of a unanimous
vote of the shareholders.
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The rights of the shareholders to a return of the Companys
assets on dissolution or winding up, following the settlement of
all claims of creditors, may be prescribed in the Companys
articles of association or the terms of any preferred shares
issued by the directors of the Company from time to time.
The holders of preferred shares in particular may have the right
to priority in a dissolution or winding up of the Company. If
the articles of association contain no specific provisions in
respect of a dissolution or winding up then, subject to the
priorities or any creditors, the assets will be distributed to
shareholders in proportion to the
paid-up
nominal value of the shares held. Our articles of association
provide that the ordinary shareholders of the Company are
entitled to participate pro rata in a winding up, but their
right to do so may be subject to the rights of any preferred
shareholders to participate under the terms of any series or
class of preferred shares.
Uncertificated
Shares
Holders of ordinary shares of the Company will not have the
right to require the Company to issue certificates for their
shares. The Company will only issue uncertificated ordinary
shares.
Stock
Exchange Listing
Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol
WSH, the same symbol under which the Willis Bermuda
common shares were previously listed. We do not plan for our
ordinary shares to be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange at the
present time.
No
Sinking Fund
The Companys ordinary shares have no sinking fund
provisions.
No
Liability for Further Calls or Assessments
The shares to be issued in the Transaction were duly and validly
issued and fully-paid.
Transfer
and Registration of Shares
Our share register will be maintained by our transfer agent.
Registration in this share register will be determinative of
membership in the Company. A shareholder of the Company who
holds shares beneficially will not be the holder of record of
such shares. Instead, the depository (for example,
Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC (as defined below)) or
other nominee will be the holder of record of such shares.
Accordingly, a transfer of shares from a person who holds such
shares beneficially to a person who also holds such shares
beneficially through a depository or other nominee will not be
registered in our official share register, as the depository or
other nominee will remain the record holder of such shares.
A written instrument of transfer is required under Irish law in
order to register on our official share register any transfer of
shares (i) from a person who holds such shares directly to
any other person, (ii) from a person who holds such shares
beneficially to a person who holds such shares directly, or
(iii) from a person who holds such shares beneficially to
another person who holds such shares beneficially where the
transfer involves a change in the depository or other nominee
that is the record owner of the transferred shares. An
instrument of transfer also is required for a shareholder who
directly holds shares to transfer those shares into his or her
own broker account (or vice versa). Such instruments of transfer
may give rise to Irish stamp duty, which must be paid prior to
registration of the transfer on our official Irish share
register. However, a shareholder who directly holds shares may
transfer those shares into his or her own broker account (or
vice versa) without giving rise to Irish stamp duty provided
there is no change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the
shares as a result of the transfer and the transfer is not made
in contemplation of a sale of the shares.
Any transfer of the Companys shares that is subject to
Irish stamp duty will not be registered in the name of the buyer
unless an instrument of transfer is duly stamped and provided to
our transfer agent. Our articles of association allow us, in our
absolute discretion, to create an instrument of transfer and pay
(or procure the payment of) any stamp duty payable by a buyer.
In the event of any such payment, we are (on behalf of itself or
its affiliates) entitled to (i) seek reimbursement from the
buyer or seller (at its discretion), (ii) set-off the
amount of the stamp duty against
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future dividends payable to the buyer or seller (at its
discretion), and (iii) claim a lien against the the
Companys shares on which it has paid stamp duty.
Parties to a share transfer may assume that any stamp duty
arising in respect of a transaction in the Companys shares
has been paid unless one or both of such parties is otherwise
notified by us.
Our articles of association delegate to our Secretary the
authority to execute an instrument of transfer on behalf of a
transferring party.
In order to help ensure that the official share register is
regularly updated to reflect trading of the Companys
shares occurring through normal electronic systems, we intend to
regularly produce any required instruments of transfer in
connection with any transactions for which we pay stamp duty
(subject to the reimbursement and set-off rights described
above). In the event that we notify one or both of the parties
to a share transfer that we believe stamp duty is required to be
paid in connection with such transfer and that we will not pay
such stamp duty, such parties may either themselves arrange for
the execution of the required instrument of transfer (and may
request a form of instrument of transfer from us for this
purpose) or request that the Company execute an instrument of
transfer on behalf of the transferring party in a form
determined by the Company. In either event, if the parties to
the share transfer have the instrument of transfer duly stamped
(to the extent required) and then provide it to our transfer
agent, the buyer will be registered as the legal owner of the
relevant shares on the Companys official Irish share
register (subject to the matters described below).
If we are under a contractual obligation to register or to
refuse to register the transfer of a share to any person, the
board of directors shall act in accordance with such obligation
and register or refuse to register the transfer of a share to
such person, whether or not it is a fully-paid share or a share
on which we have a lien. Subject to the previous sentence, our
directors have general discretion to decline to register an
instrument of transfer of a share whether or not it is a
fully-paid share or a share on which we have a lien.
The registration of transfers may be suspended by our directors
at such times and for such period, not exceeding in the whole
30 days in each year, as the directors may from time to
time determine.
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants to purchase ordinary shares or preferred
shares or debt securities of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company. We may issue warrants independently of, or
together with, any other securities, including as part of a
warrant unit, and warrants may be attached to or separate from
those securities.
Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant
agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The
warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with a
series of warrants and will not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners
of warrants. The following describes the general terms and
provisions of the warrants offered by this prospectus. The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe any other terms
of the warrant and the applicable warrant agreement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of
any warrants, including the following:
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the title and aggregate number of the warrants;
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any offering price of the warrants;
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the designation and terms of any securities that are purchasable
upon exercise of the warrants;
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the number of shares or aggregate principal amount of the
securities purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price
of such securities;
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with
which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants
issued with each security;
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if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and
any securities issued with them will be separately transferable;
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the time or period when the warrants are exercisable and the
final date on which the warrants may be exercised and terms
regarding any right of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company to accelerate this final date;
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants
exercisable at any one time;
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any currency or currency units in which the offering price and
the exercise price are payable;
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any applicable anti-dilution provisions of the warrants;
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any applicable redemption or call provisions; and
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any additional terms of the warrants not inconsistent with the
provisions of the warrant agreement.
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The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific
terms and other provisions of any warrant units.
DESCRIPTION
OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS, SHARE PURCHASE UNITS
AND PREPAID SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company may issue share
purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to
purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified
number of ordinary shares of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company at a future date or dates. The price per
ordinary share may be fixed at the time the share purchase
contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a
specific formula set forth in the share purchase contracts. The
share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part
of share purchase units, consisting of a share purchase contract
and debt securities or debt obligations of third parties,
including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the
holders obligations to purchase the ordinary shares under
the share purchase contracts. The share purchase contracts may
require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the share
purchase units or vice-versa. These payments may be unsecured or
prefunded on some basis. The share purchase contracts may
require holders to secure their obligations in a specified
manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued
prepaid share purchase contracts upon release to a holder of any
collateral securing each holders obligation under the
original share purchase contract.
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any share
purchase contracts or share purchase units, and, if applicable,
prepaid share purchase contracts.
BOOK
ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
Most offered securities will be book-entry (global) securities.
Upon issuance, all book-entry securities will be represented by
one or more fully registered global securities, without coupons.
Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
The Depository Trust Company (DTC), a
securities depository, and will be registered in the name of DTC
or a nominee of DTC. DTC will thus be the only registered holder
of these securities.
Purchasers of securities may only hold interests in book-entry
securities through DTC if they are participants in the DTC
system. Purchasers may also hold interests through a securities
intermediary banks, brokerage houses and other
institutions that maintain securities accounts for customers
that have an account with DTC or its nominee. DTC will maintain
accounts showing the security holdings of its participants, and
these participants will in turn maintain accounts showing the
security holdings of their customers. Some of these customers
may themselves be securities intermediaries holding securities
for their customers. Thus, each beneficial owner of a book-entry
security will hold that security indirectly through a hierarchy
of intermediaries, with DTC at the top and the
beneficial owners own securities intermediary at the
bottom.
The securities of each beneficial owner of a book-entry security
will be evidenced solely by entries on the books of the
beneficial owners securities intermediary. The actual
purchaser of the securities will generally not be entitled to
have the securities represented by the global securities
registered in its name and will not be considered the owner
under the terms of the securities. In most cases, a beneficial
owner will also not be able to obtain a paper certificate
evidencing the holders ownership of securities. The
book-entry system for holding securities eliminates
26
the need for physical movement of certificates and is the system
through which most publicly traded common stock is held in the
United States. However, the laws of some jurisdictions require
some purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of their
securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability
to transfer book-entry securities.
A beneficial owner of book-entry securities represented by a
global security may exchange the securities for definitive
(paper) securities only if:
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DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such
global security and we do not appoint a qualified replacement
for DTC within 90 days;
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We in our sole discretion decide to allow some or all book-entry
securities to be exchangeable for definitive securities in
registered form; or
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In the case of debt securities, an event of default has occurred
and is continuing with respect to such book-entry debt
securities and, in exchange for any such securities, we decide
to, or upon the request of the applicable trustee we shall,
deliver new debt securities of that series in definitive
registered form in the same aggregate principal amount as the
global debt securities being exchanged.
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Unless we indicate otherwise, any global security that is
exchangeable will be exchangeable in whole for definitive
securities in registered form, with the same terms and of an
equal aggregate principal amount. Definitive securities will be
registered in the name or names of the person or persons
specified by DTC in a written instruction to the registrar of
the securities. DTC may base its written instruction upon
directions that it receives from its participants.
In this prospectus, for book-entry securities, references to
actions taken by security holders will mean actions taken by DTC
upon instructions from its participants, and references to
payments and notices of redemption to security holders will mean
payments and notices of redemption to DTC as the registered
holder of the securities for distribution to participants in
accordance with DTCs procedures.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws
of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of
the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing
agency registered under section 17A of the Exchange
Act. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on
file with the SEC.
We will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interest in the book-entry securities or
for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating
to the beneficial ownership interests.
Clearstream
and Euroclear
Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream Banking,
societe anonyme, Luxembourg (Clearstream Banking SA)
and Euroclear (two international clearing systems that perform
functions similar to those that DTC performs in the U.S.), to
facilitate the initial issuance of book-entry securities and
cross-market transfers of book-entry securities associated with
secondary market trading.
Although DTC, Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear have agreed
to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate
transfers, they are under no obligation to perform such
procedures, and the procedures may be modified or discontinued
at any time.
Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear will record the ownership
interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and
DTC will record the aggregate ownership of each of the
U.S. agents of Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear, as
participants in DTC.
When book-entry securities are to be transferred from the
account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream
Banking SA participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser
must send instructions to Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
through a participant at least one business day prior to
settlement. Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear, as the case may
be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive book-entry
securities against payment.
27
After settlement, Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear will
credit its participants account. Credit for the book-entry
securities will appear on the next day (European time).
Because settlement is taking place during New York business
hours, DTC participants can employ their usual procedures for
sending book-entry securities to the relevant U.S. agent
acting for the benefit of Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC
seller on the settlement date. Thus, to the DTC participant, a
cross market transaction will settle no differently than a trade
between two DTC participants.
When a Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear participant wishes to
transfer book-entry securities to a DTC participant, the seller
must send instructions to Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
through a participant at least one business day prior to
settlement. In these cases, Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer the book-entry
securities against payment. The payment will then be reflected
in the account of the Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
participant the following day, with the proceeds back-valued to
the value date (which would be the preceding day, when
settlement occurs in New York). If settlement is not completed
on the intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), proceeds
credited to the Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear
participants account would instead be valued as of the
actual settlement date.
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
Initial
Offering and Sale of Securities
In this section, we refers only to Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company. We and the Subsidiary Issuers
may offer and sell the securities from time to time as follows:
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to or through underwriters or dealers for resale;
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directly to other purchasers;
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through designated agents; or
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
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In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or
distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our
existing securityholders. In some cases, we or dealers acting
with us or on our behalf may also purchase securities and
reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods
described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with
any offering of our securities or debt securities of the
Subsidiary Issuers through any of these methods or other methods
described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our
existing securityholders, we may enter into a standby
underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby
underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment
fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby
basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting
arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a
subscription rights offering for us.
Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the
securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In some cases, we and any Subsidiary Issuer may also repurchase
the securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of
the methods described above. This prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement may be used in connection with any
offering of securities through any of these methods or other
methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In
addition, we, either of the Subsidiary Issuers or any of their
or our respective affiliates may use this prospectus and the
applicable prospectus supplement in a remarketing or other
resale transaction involving the securities after the initial
sale. These transactions may be executed at negotiated prices
that are related to market prices at the time of purchase or
sale, or at other prices.
The securities, including securities issued or to be issued by
us or the Subsidiary Issuers or securities borrowed from third
parties in connection with arrangements under which we or the
Subsidiary Issuers agree to issue
28
securities to underwriters or their affiliates on a delayed or
contingent basis, that we and any Subsidiary Issuer distribute
by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or
more transactions, at:
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a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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prices related to prevailing market prices; or
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negotiated prices.
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This prospectus may be delivered by underwriters and dealers in
connection with short sales undertaken to hedge exposures under
commitments to acquire securities of us or the Subsidiary
Issuers to be issued on a delayed or contingent basis.
We and the Subsidiary Issuers may solicit, or may authorize
underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit, offers to purchase
securities directly from the public from time to time, including
pursuant to contracts that provide for payment and delivery on
future dates. We and the Subsidiary Issuers may also designate
agents from time to time to solicit offers to purchase
securities from the public on our or the Subsidiary
Issuers behalf. The prospectus supplement relating to any
particular offering of securities will name any agents
designated to solicit offers, and will include information about
any commissions we or the Subsidiary Issuers may pay the agents
and will describe the material terms of any such delayed
delivery arrangements, in that offering. Agents may be deemed to
be underwriters as that term is defined in the
Securities Act.
In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters may
receive compensation from us or the Subsidiary Issuers or from
purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents,
in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and
such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the underwriters
and/or
commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters,
and any discounts or commissions they receive from us or the
Subsidiary Issuers, and any profit on the resale of the
securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such
underwriter, dealer or agent will be identified, and any such
compensation received will be described, in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
We or the Subsidiary Issuers may enter into derivative
transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered
by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated
transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so
indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third
parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the
applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale
transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged
by us or the Subsidiary Issuers or borrowed from us or others to
settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings
of stock, and may use securities received from us or the
Subsidiary Issuers in settlement of those derivatives to close
out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in
such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be
identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or a
post-effective amendment.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, each series of the securities will be a new issue
with no established trading market, other than the common stock.
Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will
be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official
notice of issuance. We and the Subsidiary Issuers may elect to
list any of the other securities on an exchange, but are not
obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters
may make a market in a series of the securities, but will not be
obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any
time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to
the liquidity of the trading market for the securities.
If dealers are utilized in the sale of the securities, we and
the Subsidiary Issuers will sell the securities to the dealers
as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the
public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the
time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the
transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
29
We and the Subsidiary Issuers may enter into agreements with
underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the
distribution of the securities which may entitle these persons
to indemnification by us and any Subsidiary Issuer against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such
underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make. Any
agreement in which we or the Subsidiary Issuers agree to
indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil
liabilities will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
In connection with an offering, the underwriters may purchase
and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may
include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to
cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the
sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than
they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the
purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price
of the securities while an offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when
a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of
the underwriting discount received by it because the
underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the
account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering
transactions.
These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or
otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a
result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price
that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these
activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the
underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on
an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are
listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that
automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or
otherwise.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will
authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to
solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities
from us at the public offering price stated in the prospectus
supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for
payment and delivery on a future date. These contracts will be
subject to only those conditions stated in the prospectus
supplement, and the prospectus supplement will state the
commission payable to the solicitor of such offers.
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person
to give any information or represent anything not contained in
this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized
information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to
sell or solicit an offer to buy any securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Underwriters, dealers and agents, and their respective
affiliates and associates, may engage in transactions with or
perform services for us or the Subsidiary Issuers, or be
customers of ours or the Subsidiary Issuers, in the ordinary
course of business.
Remarketing
Transactions and Other Resales
We, the Subsidiary Issuers or any of their or our respective
affiliates may use this prospectus in connection with offers and
sales of the securities in remarketing transactions and other
resales. In a remarketing transaction, we or the Subsidiary
Issuers may resell a security acquired from other holders, after
the original offering and sale of the security. Resales may
occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated, at
prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or
negotiated prices. In these transactions, our affiliates or
affiliates of either of the Subsidiary Issuers may act as
principal or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a
transaction in which the affiliate acts as principal, or as
agent for both counterparties in a transaction in which the
affiliate does not act as principal. Our affiliates and
affiliates of any of the Subsidiary Issuers may receive
compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including
from both counterparties in some cases.
In connection with a remarketing transaction, one or more firms,
referred to as remarketing firms, may also offer or
sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates,
in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their
purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own
accounts or as agents for us or the Subsidiary Issuers. These
remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities pursuant to
the terms of the securities. The applicable prospectus
supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of
its agreement, if any, with us or the Subsidiary Issuers and
will describe the remarketing firms compensation.
Remarketing firms may be
30
deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they
remarket. Remarketing firms may be entitled to indemnification
by us or the Subsidiary Issuers under agreements that may be
entered into with us or the Subsidiary Issuers against certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or
perform services for us and the Subsidiary Issuers in the
ordinary course of business.
Sales by
Selling Securityholders
Selling securityholders may use this prospectus in connection
with resales of the securities. The applicable prospectus
supplement will identify the selling securityholders and the
terms of the securities. Selling securityholders may be deemed
to be underwriters in connection with the securities they resell
and any profits on the sales may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The selling
securityholders will receive all the proceeds from the sale of
the securities. We will not receive any proceeds from sales by
selling securityholders.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference from the Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Companys Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on March 14, 2011 and the effectiveness of Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Companys internal control
over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon
the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
VALIDITY
OF SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the validity of the securities under Irish law will
be passed upon for us by Matheson Ormsby Prentice. Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
certain matters of New York law will be passed upon for us by
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Any underwriters, dealers
or agents may be advised about other issues relating to any
offering by their own legal counsel.
31
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC
LIMITED COMPANY
Debt Securities
Preferred Shares
Ordinary Shares
Warrants
Warrant Units
Share Purchase
Contracts
Share Purchase Units
Prepaid Share Purchase
Contracts
TRINITY ACQUISITION
PLC
Debt Securities
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA
INC.
Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities
of
Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company,
Trinity Acquisition plc and
Willis North America Inc.
PART II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 14.
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Other
Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution
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The following is an itemization of all fees and expenses
incurred or expected to be incurred by the registrants in
connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities
being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions. All but the SEC registration fee are estimates and
remain subject to future contingencies.
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SEC registration fee*
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$
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**
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Blue sky filings
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**
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Legal fees and expenses
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**
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Accounting fees and expenses
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**
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Trustees fees and expenses
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**
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Printing and engraving fees
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**
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Rating Agency fees and expenses
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**
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Miscellaneous expenses
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**
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Total
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$
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**
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* |
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Applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred in
accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the
Securities Act and are not estimated at this time. |
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** |
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These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and
amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated
at this time. |
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Item 15.
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Indemnification
Of Directors And Officers
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The Companys articles of association
(Articles) provide that, subject to applicable law,
the Company shall indemnify its directors and officers against
all liabilities, loss, damage or expense incurred or suffered by
such person as a director or officer. The Articles further
provide that such indemnified persons shall be indemnified out
of the funds of the Company against all liabilities incurred or
suffered in defending any proceedings, whether civil or
criminal, in which judgment is given in a directors or
officers favour, he is acquitted, or in respect of any
application under the Irish Companies Acts in which relief from
liability is granted to him. The Articles also require the
Company, subject to applicable law, to pay expenses incurred by
a director or officer in defending any civil or criminal action
or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of any such
action or proceeding, provided that the indemnified person
undertakes to repay the Company such amount if it is ultimately
determined that such person was not entitled to indemnification.
With regard to the Companys indemnification of its
directors and its secretary, the Irish Companies Acts prescribe
that an Irish company may only indemnify an officer for
liability attaching to that officer which does not involve
negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust and any
liability incurred by an officer in respect of proceedings in
which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is
acquitted or where the court has granted relief, wholly or
partially, on the basis that he has acted honestly and
reasonably and, having regard to the circumstances of the case,
ought fairly be excused. These restrictions in the Irish
Companies Acts do not apply to executives who are not directors
or the secretary of an Irish company. Any provision which seeks
to indemnify a director or secretary of an Irish company over
and above this shall be void under Irish law, whether contained
in its articles of association or in any contract between the
director or secretary and the Irish company.
Irish companies may take out directors and officers liability
insurance, as well as other types of insurance, for their
directors and officers. The Company has purchased and maintains
a directors and officers liability policy.
In connection with the Transaction, each of Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company and Willis North America Inc.
has entered into deeds of indemnity and indemnification
agreements, respectively, with each its directors and certain
officers. These arrangements provide for the indemnification of,
and advancement of expenses
II-1
to, the indemnitee by such registrant, respectively, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and include related provisions
meant to facilitate the indemnitees receipt of such
benefits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
statement:
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Exhibit
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No.
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Description
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1
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.1
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Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
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2
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.1
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Scheme of Arrangement between Willis Group Holdings Limited and
the Scheme Shareholders (incorporated by reference to
Annex A to Willis Group Holdings Limiteds Definitive
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on November 2,
2009).
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3
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.1
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Memorandum and Articles of Association of Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company filed on
January 4, 2010 the Ireland
Form 8-K).
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3
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.2
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Certificate of Incorporation of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
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3
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.3
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Incorporation Deed of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. adopted
November 27, 2009.***
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3
|
.4
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Memorandum of Association dated August 19, 2008 of Willis
Investment UK Holdings Limited and Articles of Association
adopted August 19, 2008 of Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited.***
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3
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.5
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Memorandum of Association (as amended October 1,
2008) of TA I Limited and Articles of Association (as
amended October 1, 2008) of TA I Limited.***
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3
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.6
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Memorandum of Association (as amended April 2,
2009) of Trinity Acquisition plc and Articles of
Association (as amended April 2, 2009) of Trinity
Acquisition plc.***
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3
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.7
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Memorandum of Association (as amended October 1,
2008) of Willis Group Limited and Articles of Association
(as amended October 1, 2008) of Willis Group
Limited.***
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3
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.8
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Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Willis North America
Inc., dated July 19, 1984 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to Registration
No. 333-74483).
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3
|
.9
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Certificate of Merger of Willis Partners into Willis North
America Inc., dated June 31, 2004 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit No. 3.11 to the Registration
Statement
No. 333-135176).
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3
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.10
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By-Laws of Willis North America Inc. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.2 to Registration
No. 333-
74483).
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3
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.11
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Amendment to By-laws of Willis North America (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit No. 3.13 to the Registration
Statement
No. 333-135176).
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4
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.1
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Form of Senior Indenture among Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company, as issuer, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.,
Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America
Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.**
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4
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.2
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|
Form of Senior Indenture between Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.***
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4
|
.3
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Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon,
as Trustee.***
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4
|
.4
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Form of Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
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4
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.5
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Form of Senior Indenture among Trinity Acquisition plc, as
issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.6
|
|
Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among Trinity Acquisition
plc, as issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
II-2
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
4
|
.7
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture among Trinity Acquisition plc, as
issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.8
|
|
Senior Indenture dated as of July 1, 2005, and First
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2005, among
Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as
Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon (a successor to
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as Trustee; for the issuance of the
5.125% Senior Notes due 2010 and the 5.625% Senior
Notes due 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on July 1, 2005).
|
|
4
|
.9
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 28, 2007
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited,
Trinity Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited,
as Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee; for
the issuance of the 6.20% Senior Notes Due 2017
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on March 30, 2007).
|
|
4
|
.10
|
|
Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2008
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as Guarantors; and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee to the Indenture dated as of
July 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to
Form 10-Q
filed on November 10, 2008).
|
|
4
|
.11
|
|
Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 29,
2009 among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as Guarantors; and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee; for the issuance of the
7.00% Senior Notes Due 2019 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on September 29, 2009).
|
|
4
|
.12
|
|
Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 31, 2009
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as
Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
4
|
.13
|
|
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 22,
2010, among Willis North America Inc., as issuer, Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings
B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II
Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited
and Willis Group Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New
York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.6 to
Form 10-K
filed on February 28, 2011).
|
|
4
|
.14
|
|
Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among Willis North America
Inc., Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited, and Willis Group Limited, as
guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.15
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture among Willis North America Inc.,
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as guarantors, and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.16
|
|
Form of Warrant Agreement.*
|
|
4
|
.17
|
|
Form of Warrant Unit.*
|
|
4
|
.18
|
|
Form of Share Purchase Contract Agreement.*
|
|
4
|
.19
|
|
Form of Share Purchase Unit.*
|
|
4
|
.20
|
|
Form of Prepaid Share Purchase Contract.*
|
|
4
|
.21
|
|
Form of Guarantee.*
|
|
5
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Matheson Ormsby Prentice, dated January 4,
2010.***
|
|
5
|
.2
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, dated
June 19, 2009.***
|
II-3
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
5
|
.3
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, dated
January 4, 2010.***
|
|
5
|
.4
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (US).**
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Form of Deed of Indemnity of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20
to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
10
|
.2
|
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement of Willis North America Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
12
|
.1
|
|
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.**
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of Matheson Ormsby Prentice (included as part of
Exhibit 5.1).***
|
|
23
|
.2
|
|
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP. (included as
part of Exhibit 5.2 and 5.3).***
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP (US). (included
as part of Exhibit 5.4).**
|
|
23
|
.7
|
|
Consent of Deloitte LLP.**
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney of the Registrants.***
|
|
25
|
.1
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Indenture, among
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, as issuer, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group
Limited and Willis North America Inc., as guarantors, and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.**
|
|
25
|
.2
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.3
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Subordinated
Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.4
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.5
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, The Bank
of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.6
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Senior Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.7
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.8
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.9
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Senior Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.10
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
|
|
* |
|
To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on
Form 8-K
and incorporated herein by reference. |
|
** |
|
Filed herewith. |
|
*** |
|
Previously filed as an exhibit to this registration statement. |
II-4
(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
Calculation of Registration Fee table in the
effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and
(iii) do not apply if the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission
by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a
form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is
part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under
the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the
registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration
statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration
statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering
made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or
(x) for the purpose of providing the information required
by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to
be part of and included in the registration statement as of the
earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after
effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of
securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As
provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer
and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date
shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration
statement relating to the securities in the registration
statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration
statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference into the registration statement or
prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as
to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such
effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made
in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such effective date.
II-5
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a
Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the
initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned
Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities
of an undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration
statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell
the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered
or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following
communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to
the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such
securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an
undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant or used or
referred to by an undersigned Registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about
an undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of an undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by an undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each filing of Registrants annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrants
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Joseph
J. Plumeri
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
William
W. Bradley
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Joseph
A. Califano, Jr.
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Anna
C. Catalano
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Sir
Roy Gardner
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Sir
Jeremy Hanley
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Robyn
S. Kravit
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Jeffrey
B. Lane
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Wendy
E. Lane
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
James
F. McCann
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Douglas
B. Roberts
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael
J. Somers
Michael
J. Somers
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael
K. Neborak
Michael
K. Neborak
|
|
Group Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
Attorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-8
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Adriaan
Cornelis Konijnendijk
|
|
Managing Director A
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sarah
Turvill
Sarah
Turvill
|
|
Managing Director B
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ William
Mooney
William
Mooney
|
|
Managing Director B
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Paul
van Duuren
Paul
van Duuren
|
|
Managing Director A
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dennis
Beets
Dennis
Beets
|
|
Managing Director A
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
Attorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
WILLIS INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Grahame
Millwater
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Stephen
Wood
Stephen
Wood
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. CiongoliAttorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
TA I LIMITED
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Joseph
J. Plumeri
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Stephen
Wood
Stephen
Wood
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Grahame
Millwater
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Congoli
Attorney
in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Stephen
Wood
Stephen
Wood
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Grahame
Millwater
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
Attorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-12
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
WILLIS GROUP LIMITED
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Group General Counsel
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Joseph
J. Plumeri
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Grahame
Millwater
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Stephen
Wood
Stephen
Wood
|
|
Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Authorized U.S. Representative
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
Attorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-3
and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York,
State of New York, on March 14, 2011.
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.
Name: Adam G. Ciongoli
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Secretary, Executive Vice President and Director
|
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Adam G.
Ciongoli, Adam Rosman, Nicole Napolitano and Debra Enderle and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in
connection with this Registration Statement, including to sign
and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as
director or officer of the Registrant any and all amendments or
supplements (including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities
exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and things
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Victor
P. Krauze
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sharon
Edwards
Sharon
Edwards
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Todd
J. Jones
Todd
J. Jones
|
|
President and Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
|
|
Secretary, Executive Vice President and Director
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*By:
|
|
/s/ Adam
G. Ciongoli
Adam
G. Ciongoli
Attorney in Fact
|
|
|
|
March 14, 2011
|
II-14
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
statement:
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
1
|
.1
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
|
|
2
|
.1
|
|
Scheme of Arrangement between Willis Group Holdings Limited and
the Scheme Shareholders (incorporated by reference to
Annex A to Willis Group Holdings Limiteds Definitive
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on November 2,
2009).
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Memorandum and Articles of Association of Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company filed on
January 4, 2010 the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
3
|
.3
|
|
Incorporation Deed of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. adopted
November 27, 2009.***
|
|
3
|
.4
|
|
Memorandum of Association dated August 19, 2008 of Willis
Investment UK Holdings Limited and Articles of Association
adopted August 19, 2008 of Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited.***
|
|
3
|
.5
|
|
Memorandum of Association (as amended October 1,
2008) of TA I Limited and Articles of Association (as
amended October 1, 2008) of TA I Limited.***
|
|
3
|
.6
|
|
Memorandum of Association (as amended April 2,
2009) of Trinity Acquisition plc and Articles of
Association (as amended April 2, 2009) of Trinity
Acquisition plc.***
|
|
3
|
.7
|
|
Memorandum of Association (as amended October 1,
2008) of Willis Group Limited and Articles of Association
(as amended October 1, 2008) of Willis Group
Limited.***
|
|
3
|
.8
|
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Willis North America
Inc., dated July 19, 1984 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to Registration
No. 333-74483).
|
|
3
|
.9
|
|
Certificate of Merger of Willis Partners into Willis North
America Inc., dated June 31, 2004 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit No. 3.11 to the Registration
Statement
No. 333-135176).
|
|
3
|
.10
|
|
By-Laws of Willis North America Inc. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.2 to Registration
No. 333-
74483).
|
|
3
|
.11
|
|
Amendment to By-laws of Willis North America (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit No. 3.13 to the Registration
Statement
No. 333-135176).
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture among Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company, as issuer, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.,
Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America
Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.**
|
|
4
|
.2
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture between Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.3
|
|
Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon,
as Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.4
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group Holdings
Public Limited Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.5
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture among Trinity Acquisition plc, as
issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.6
|
|
Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among Trinity Acquisition
plc, as issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
II-15
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
4
|
.7
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture among Trinity Acquisition plc, as
issuer, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North
America Inc., as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as
Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.8
|
|
Senior Indenture dated as of July 1, 2005, and First
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2005, among
Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as
Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon (a successor to
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as Trustee; for the issuance of the
5.125% Senior Notes due 2010 and the 5.625% Senior
Notes due 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on July 1, 2005).
|
|
4
|
.9
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 28, 2007
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited,
Trinity Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited,
as Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee; for
the issuance of the 6.20% Senior Notes Due 2017
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on March 30, 2007).
|
|
4
|
.10
|
|
Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2008
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as Guarantors; and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee to the Indenture dated as of
July 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to
Form 10-Q
filed on November 10, 2008).
|
|
4
|
.11
|
|
Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 29,
2009 among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as Guarantors; and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee; for the issuance of the
7.00% Senior Notes Due 2019 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to
Form 8-K
filed on September 29, 2009).
|
|
4
|
.12
|
|
Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 31, 2009
among Willis North America Inc., as Issuer; Willis Group
Holdings Limited, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company,
Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as
Guarantors; and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
4
|
.13
|
|
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 22,
2010, among Willis North America Inc., as issuer, Willis Group
Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings
B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II
Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited
and Willis Group Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New
York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.6 to
Form 10-K
filed on February 28, 2011).
|
|
4
|
.14
|
|
Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among Willis North America
Inc., Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity
Acquisition plc, TA IV Limited, and Willis Group Limited, as
guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.15
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture among Willis North America Inc.,
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands
Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I
Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc,
TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited, as guarantors, and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.***
|
|
4
|
.16
|
|
Form of Warrant Agreement.*
|
|
4
|
.17
|
|
Form of Warrant Unit.*
|
|
4
|
.18
|
|
Form of Share Purchase Contract Agreement.*
|
|
4
|
.19
|
|
Form of Share Purchase Unit.*
|
|
4
|
.20
|
|
Form of Prepaid Share Purchase Contract.*
|
|
4
|
.21
|
|
Form of Guarantee.*
|
|
5
|
.1
|
|
Opinion of Matheson Ormsby Prentice, dated January 4,
2010.***
|
|
5
|
.2
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, dated
June 19, 2009.***
|
II-16
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
5
|
.3
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, dated
January 4, 2010.***
|
|
5
|
.4
|
|
Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (US).**
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Form of Deed of Indemnity of Willis Group Holdings Public
Limited Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20
to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
10
|
.2
|
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement of Willis North America Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Ireland
Form 8-K).
|
|
12
|
.1
|
|
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.**
|
|
23
|
.1
|
|
Consent of Matheson Ormsby Prentice (included as part of
Exhibit 5.1).***
|
|
23
|
.2
|
|
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP. (included as
part of Exhibit 5.2 and 5.3).***
|
|
23
|
.3
|
|
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP (US). (included
as part of Exhibit 5.4).**
|
|
23
|
.7
|
|
Consent of Deloitte LLP.**
|
|
24
|
.1
|
|
Power of Attorney of the Registrants.***
|
|
25
|
.1
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Indenture, among
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, as issuer, Willis
Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group
Limited and Willis North America Inc., as guarantors, and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.**
|
|
25
|
.2
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.3
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Senior Subordinated
Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.4
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.5
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, The Bank
of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.6
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Senior Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.7
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Trinity
Acquisition plc Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.8
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Senior Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.9
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Senior Subordinated Indenture.***
|
|
25
|
.10
|
|
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on
Form T-1
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The
Bank of New York Mellon, to act as trustee under the Willis
North America Inc. Subordinated Indenture.***
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* |
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To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on
Form 8-K
and incorporated herein by reference. |
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** |
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Filed herewith. |
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*** |
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Previously filed as an exhibit to this registration statement. |
II-17
exv4w1
Exhibit 4.1
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY,
Issuer
WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V.
WILLIS INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
TA I LIMITED
TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC
WILLIS GROUP LIMITED
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.,
Guarantors
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of
Senior Debt Securities
Table of Contents
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ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION |
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SECTION 1.01 Definitions |
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6 |
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SECTION 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions |
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12 |
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SECTION 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee |
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12 |
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SECTION 1.04 Acts of Holders |
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12 |
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SECTION 1.05 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Issuer |
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13 |
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SECTION 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.09 Successors and Assigns |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.10 Separability Clause |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.11 Benefits of Indenture |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.12 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury |
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14 |
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SECTION 1.13 Legal Holidays |
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15 |
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SECTION 1.14 Submission to Jurisdiction |
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15 |
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SECTION 1.15 Appointment of Agent for Service of Process |
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15 |
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SECTION 1.16 Indemnification of Judgment Currency |
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16 |
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ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
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SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally |
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16 |
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SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication |
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16 |
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SECTION 2.03 Securities in Global Form |
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17 |
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ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
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SECTION 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
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17 |
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SECTION 3.02 Denominations |
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19 |
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SECTION 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating |
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19 |
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SECTION 3.04 Temporary Securities |
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20 |
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SECTION 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Global Securities Representing the Securities |
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21 |
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SECTION 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities |
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23 |
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SECTION 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved |
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24 |
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SECTION 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners |
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24 |
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SECTION 3.09 Cancellation |
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25 |
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SECTION 3.10 Computation of Interest |
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25 |
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SECTION 3.11 CUSIP Numbers |
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25 |
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ARTICLE FOUR [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
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ARTICLE FIVE
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
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SECTION 5.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities of any Series |
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25 |
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SECTION 5.02 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
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26 |
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SECTION 5.03 Legal Defeasance and Discharge |
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26 |
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SECTION 5.04 Covenant Defeasance |
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27 |
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SECTION 5.05 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance |
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27 |
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SECTION 5.06 Survival of Certain Obligations |
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28 |
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SECTION 5.07 Application of Trust Money |
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28 |
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SECTION 5.08 Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent |
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29 |
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SECTION 5.09 Reinstatement |
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29 |
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ARTICLE SIX
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
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SECTION 6.01 Events of Default |
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29 |
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SECTION 6.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment |
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30 |
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SECTION 6.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
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31 |
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SECTION 6.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
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32 |
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SECTION 6.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities |
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32 |
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SECTION 6.06 Application of Money Collected |
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32 |
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SECTION 6.07 Limitation on Suits |
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33 |
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SECTION 6.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest |
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33 |
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SECTION 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
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33 |
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SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
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34 |
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SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
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34 |
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SECTION 6.12 Control by Holders |
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34 |
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SECTION 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults |
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34 |
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2
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SECTION 6.14 Undertaking for Costs |
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35 |
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SECTION 6.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws |
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35 |
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ARTICLE SEVEN
THE TRUSTEE
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SECTION 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
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35 |
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SECTION 7.02 Notice of Defaults |
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36 |
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SECTION 7.03 Certain Rights of Trustee |
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36 |
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SECTION 7.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
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38 |
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SECTION 7.05 May Hold Securities |
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38 |
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SECTION 7.06 Money Held in Trust |
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38 |
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SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Reimbursement |
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38 |
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SECTION 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests |
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39 |
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SECTION 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility |
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39 |
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SECTION 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
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39 |
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SECTION 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
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40 |
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SECTION 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
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41 |
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SECTION 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer |
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41 |
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ARTICLE EIGHT
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND ISSUER
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SECTION 8.01 Issuer to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders |
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41 |
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SECTION 8.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders |
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42 |
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SECTION 8.03 Reports by Trustee to Holders |
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42 |
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ARTICLE NINE
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
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SECTION 9.01 Merger, Consolidation, etc. Only on Certain Terms |
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42 |
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SECTION 9.02 Successor Corporation Substituted |
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43 |
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ARTICLE TEN
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
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SECTION 10.01 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders |
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43 |
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SECTION 10.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders |
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44 |
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SECTION 10.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures |
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45 |
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SECTION 10.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
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45 |
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SECTION 10.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act |
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45 |
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SECTION 10.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures |
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45 |
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SECTION 10.07 Notice of Supplemental Indenture |
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45 |
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ARTICLE ELEVEN
COVENANTS
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SECTION 11.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest |
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46 |
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SECTION 11.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency |
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46 |
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SECTION 11.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust |
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46 |
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SECTION 11.04 Corporate Existence |
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47 |
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SECTION 11.05 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims |
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47 |
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SECTION 11.06 Maintenance of Properties |
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47 |
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SECTION 11.07 Waiver of Certain Covenants |
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48 |
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SECTION 11.08 Statement by Officers as to Default |
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48 |
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SECTION 11.09 Reports by the Issuer |
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48 |
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SECTION 11.10 Further Assurances |
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49 |
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3
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ARTICLE TWELVE
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
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SECTION 12.01 Applicability of Article |
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49 |
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SECTION 12.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee |
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49 |
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SECTION 12.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed |
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49 |
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SECTION 12.04 Notice of Redemption |
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50 |
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SECTION 12.05 Deposit of Redemption Price |
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50 |
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SECTION 12.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date |
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50 |
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SECTION 12.07 Securities Redeemed in Part |
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51 |
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SECTION 12.08 Securities No Longer Outstanding After Notice to Trustee and Deposit of Cash |
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51 |
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ARTICLE THIRTEEN
SINKING FUNDS
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SECTION 13.01 Applicability of Article |
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51 |
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SECTION 13.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
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51 |
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SECTION 13.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund |
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52 |
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ARTICLE FOURTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
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SECTION 14.01 Exemption from Individual Liability |
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52 |
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ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
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SECTION 15.01 Purposes of Meetings |
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52 |
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SECTION 15.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee |
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53 |
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SECTION 15.03 Call of Meetings by Issuer or Holders |
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53 |
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SECTION 15.04 Qualification for Voting |
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53 |
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SECTION 15.05 Quorum; Adjourned Meetings |
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53 |
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SECTION 15.06 Regulations |
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54 |
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SECTION 15.07 Voting Procedure |
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54 |
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SECTION 15.08 Written Consent in Lieu of Meetings |
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55 |
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SECTION 15.09 No Delay of Rights by Meeting |
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55 |
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ARTICLE SIXTEEN
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SECTION 16.01 Guarantee |
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55 |
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SECTION 16.02 Limitation on Liability |
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57 |
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SECTION 16.03 Benefits Acknowledged |
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57 |
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SECTION 16.04 Successors and Assigns |
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57 |
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SECTION 16.05 No Waiver |
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57 |
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SECTION 16.06 Modification |
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57 |
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ARTICLE SEVENTEEN
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 17.01 Counterparts |
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58 |
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4
Reconciliation and Tie of this Indenture,
relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
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Trust Indenture Act Section |
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Indenture Section |
310 (a)(1) |
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7.09 |
(a)(2) |
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7.09 |
(a)(3) |
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Not applicable |
(a)(4) |
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Not applicable |
(b) |
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7.08, 7.10 |
311 (a) |
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7.13 |
(b) |
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7.13 |
312 (a) |
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8.01, 8.02(a) |
(b) |
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8.02(b) |
(c) |
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8.02(c) |
313 (a) |
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8.03 |
(b) |
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8.03 |
(c) |
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8.03 |
(d) |
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8.03 |
314 (a) |
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11.09 |
(a)(4) |
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11.08 |
(b) |
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Not applicable |
(c)(1) |
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1.02 |
(c)(2) |
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1.02 |
(c)(3) |
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Not applicable |
(d) |
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Not applicable |
(e) |
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1.02 |
315 (a) |
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7.01(a) |
(b) |
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7.02 |
(c) |
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7.01(b) |
(d)(3) |
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7.01 |
(e) |
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6.14 |
316 (a)(1)(A) |
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6.12 |
(a)(1)(B) |
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6.13 |
(a)(2) |
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Not applicable |
(b) |
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6.08 |
317 (a)(1) |
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6.03 |
(a)(2) |
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6.04 |
(b) |
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11.03 |
318 (a) |
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1.07 |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the
Indenture.
INDENTURE, dated as of , 2011, among WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC LIMITED
COMPANY, a company organized and existing under the laws of Ireland, as issuer, (the Issuer),
WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS, B.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, WILLIS
INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and
Wales, TA I LIMITED, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales, TRINITY
ACQUISITION PLC, a company organized and existing under the laws of
England and Wales, WILLIS GROUP LIMITED, a company organized and existing under the laws of
England and Wales and WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., a Delaware corporation, as guarantors
(collectively, the Guarantors), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation,
as trustee (the Trustee).
RECITALS OF THE ISSUER
The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the
issuance from time to time of its unsecured senior debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness (the Securities), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the
Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
5
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders
thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all
Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.01 Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and
include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or by Commission
rule under the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in
accordance with GAAP; and
(d) the words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to
this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
Certain terms, used principally in Article Seven, are defined in that Article.
Act when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such
specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings,
the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to
any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by agreement or otherwise.
Authenticating Agent means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.03 to
act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.
Authorized Newspaper shall mean a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, and customarily published on each Business Day, currently expected
to be The Wall Street Journal (National Edition). Where successive publications are required to be
made in an Authorized Newspaper, the successive publications may be made in the same or different
newspapers meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
Bankruptcy Law means (i) any and all relevant provisions of the Companies Act of 1963-2009
of Ireland, including but not limited to Part IV of the Companies Act 1963 of Ireland and Section 2
of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 of Ireland, as supplemented or amended, together will all
rules, regulations and instruments made thereunder and applicable Irish law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, winding up, court protection, administration, receivership or other similar matters,
(ii) any and all relevant
6
provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the Netherlands
(Faillissementswet), as supplemented or amended, together will all rules, regulations and
instruments made thereunder and applicable Dutch law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding
up, administration, receivership or other similar matters, (iii) the U.K. Insolvency Act 1986, as
supplemented or amended, together with all rules, regulations and instruments made thereunder and
applicable laws of England and Wales relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, winding up,
administration, receivership and other similar matters and (iv) Title 11, United States Bankruptcy
Code of 1978 as amended, or any similar United States federal or state law relating to relief of
debtors or any amendment to, succession to or change in any such law.
Board of Directors means either the board of directors of the Issuer or any committee of
that board duly appointed by the board of directors and authorized to act hereunder.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be
in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of
Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any Person, any shares or other equivalents (however
designated) of any class of corporate stock or partnership interests or any other participations,
rights, warrants, options or other interests in the nature of an equity interest in such Person,
including, without limitation, preferred stock and any debt security convertible or exchangeable
into such equity interest.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted,
created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this
instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the
Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
Corporate Trust Office means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in New
York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered,
which office at the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, New York
10286.
Corporation includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.
Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar
official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Defaulted Interest has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
Depositary has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
Dollar or $ means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United
States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America set
forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a
significant segment of the accounting profession as in effect from time to time.
7
Global Security has the meaning specified in Section 2.03.
Guarantee means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Issuers Indenture obligations.
Guaranteed Obligations has the meaning specified in Section 16.01.
Guarantor means each of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., a company organized under the laws
of the Netherlands, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, a company organized and existing under
the laws of England and Wales, TA I Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of
England and Wales, Trinity Acquisition plc, a company organized and existing under the laws of
England and Wales, Willis Group Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of England
and Wales, Willis North America Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any other subsidiary of Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Company which becomes a guarantor of the Issuers Indenture
obligations.
Hedging Obligation means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under
(i) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate
or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements and
(ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in
currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.
Holder means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, (a) the principal of and premium (if any) in
respect of any obligation of such Person for money borrowed, and any obligation evidenced by notes,
debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible
or liable; (b) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on
the balance sheet of the lessee under GAAP and leases of property or assets made as part of any
sale and leaseback transaction entered into by such Person; (c) all obligations of such Person
issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of any property, all conditional sale obligations
of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but
excluding trade accounts payable or similar obligations to a trade creditor arising in the ordinary
course of business); (d) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any
letter of credit, bankers acceptance or similar credit transaction; (e) all obligations of the
type referred to in clauses (a) through (d) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for
the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly,
as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any guarantee (other than by endorsement
of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); (f) all obligations
of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (d) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any
property of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person); and (g) to the
extent not otherwise included in this definition Hedging Obligations of such Person.
Indenture means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the
applicable provisions hereof and shall include the form and terms of particular series of
Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.
Interest when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms
bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
Interest Payment Date when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of
an installment of interest on such Security.
Issuer means Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, a company organized and existing
under the laws of Ireland, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Indenture, and thereafter Issuer shall mean such successor Person.
8
Issuer Request or Issuer Order means a written request or order signed in the name of the
Issuer by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Vice
President, its Chief Financial Officer or a Member of the Sealing Committee and by its Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
Legal Defeasance has the meaning specified in Section 5.03.
Lien means, with respect to any property of any Person, any mortgage or deed of trust,
pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, lien, charge,
encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any
kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such property (including any capital lease
obligation, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing or any sale and leaseback transaction).
Maturity when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of
such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
Obligation means any principal, premium, interest (including interest accruing subsequent to
a bankruptcy or other similar proceeding whether or not such interest is an allowed claim
enforceable against the Issuer in a bankruptcy case under Federal Bankruptcy Law), penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable pursuant to the terms of
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or a Member of the
Sealing Committee, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, and delivered to the Trustee.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Issuer or
any Guarantor, as applicable, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.
Original Issue Discount Security means any Security which provides for an amount less than
the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
Outstanding when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination,
all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation;
(ii) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money or, as provided
in Section 5.05 hereof, U.S. Government Obligations, in the necessary amount has been
theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Issuer) in trust or,
except for purposes of Section 5.01, set aside and segregated in trust by the Issuer (if the
Issuer shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if
such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in
lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture,
other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the
Trustee proof satisfactory to it that
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such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose
hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Issuer;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver hereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (i) the
principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding
shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such
determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01, (ii) the
principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies which shall be deemed
to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner
provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case
of a Security described in Clause (i) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause);
and (iii) Securities owned by the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate
of the Issuer or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, or upon such determination as
to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be
so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be
regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees
right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any other
obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Issuer or of such other obligor.
Paying Agent means any Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium,
if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Issuer.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
Place of Payment when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or
places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series
are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.
Predecessor Security of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all
or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes
of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or
in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
Principal of a debt security, including any Security, on any day and for any purpose means
the amount (including, without limitation, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, any
accrued
original issue discount, but excluding interest) that is payable with respect to such debt
security as of such date and for such purpose (including, without limitation, in connection with
any sinking fund, upon any redemption at the option of the Issuer, upon any purchase or exchange at
the option of the Issuer or the holder of such debt security and upon any acceleration of the
maturity of such debt security).
Principal Amount of a debt security, including any Security, means the principal amount as
set forth on the face of such debt security.
Redemption Date when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed
for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price
(exclusive of accrued interest, if any) at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
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Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities
of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.
Responsible Officer when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer assigned to and
working in the corporate trust department of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the
administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
Securities has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more
particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Security Register and Security Registrar have the respective meanings specified in Section
3.05.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Issuer that would be a significant
subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.
Special Record Date for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.
Stated Maturity when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal
thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which
the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association, or other
business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar
entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors,
managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination
thereof and (ii) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of
which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting
interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a
combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or
otherwise and (y) such Person or any wholly owned Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling
general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
Trustee means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument
until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee
hereunder, and if at any time
there is more than one such Person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any
series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and as in force at
the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 10.05; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act is amended after such date, Trust Indenture
Act means, with respect to the Securities of any series issued after such date, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
U.S. Government Obligations has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.
Vice President when used with respect to the Issuer or the Trustee, means any vice
president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title
vice president.
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SECTION 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Issuer or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any
action under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuer or such Guarantor shall furnish to the
Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including any covenant
compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in
the opinion of such counsel such action is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and all such
conditions precedent (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition
precedent), if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or
request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of
this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or
opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided
for in this Indenture (other than annual certificates provided pursuant to Section 11.08) shall
include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination
or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or
covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion
of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by
the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document,
but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more
other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to
such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or any Guarantor may be based, insofar
as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or Opinion of Counsel, or representations by
counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the
certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or
opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel or representation by
counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of,
or representations by, an officer or officers of the Issuer or such
Guarantor stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the
possession of the Issuer or such Guarantor, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to
such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests,
consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may,
but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
SECTION 1.04 Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action
provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one
or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in
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writing or by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of
such Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen; and, except
as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments or any such record is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly
required, to the Issuer or any Guarantor. Such instrument or instruments or such record (and the
action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act of the
Holders signing such instrument or instruments or voting at such meeting. Proof of execution of any
such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of
this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Issuer and any Guarantor if made in the
manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved
in the manner provided in Section 15.07 and the record so proved shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Issuer and any Guarantor, if
made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be
proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or
other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual
signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof, or may be proved in
such other manner as shall be deemed sufficient by the Trustee. Where such execution is by a signer
acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also
constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
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(c)The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register. |
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the
Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every
Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu
thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Issuer in
reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
(e) The Issuer or the Trustee, as applicable, may set a date for the purpose of determining
the Holders of Securities entitled to consent, vote or take any other action referred to in this
Section 1.04, which date shall be not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the taking
of the consent, vote or other action.
SECTION 1.05 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Issuer.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of the Holders
or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to,
or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at
its Corporate Trust Office, attention: Corporate Trust Department, and, unless otherwise herein
expressly provided, any
such document shall be deemed to be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed upon its
receipt by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, or
(2) the Issuer or any Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to the Issuer addressed to it at:
c/o Willis Group Limited
51 Lime Street
London, EC3M 7DQ
England
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or at any other address or addresses previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the
Issuer or such Guarantor.
SECTION 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be
sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in
the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date,
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail,
neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular
Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this
Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person
entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the
equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such
filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such
waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it
shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with
the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
SECTION 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of
Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c),
such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 1.09 Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Issuer or any Guarantor shall bind their
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 1.10 Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 1.11 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person,
other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 1.12 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law.
Each of the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any and all
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right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 1.13 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series, in any case where any
Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business
Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the
Securities) payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Security
need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest
Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no additional interest
shall accrue with respect to the payment due on such date for the period from and after such
Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.14 Submission to Jurisdiction.
For the benefit of the Holders, the Issuer and each Guarantor hereby (i) irrevocably submits
to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or United States federal court
sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York solely for purposes of any legal
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture and (ii)
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any legal action or proceeding in any New York State court
or United States federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, and any
claim that any such action or proceedings brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. The Issuer and each Guarantor agrees that a final judgment in any such legal
action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
To the extent that the Issuer or any Guarantor may in any jurisdiction claim for itself or its
assets immunity (to the extent that any immunity may now or hereafter exist) from suit, execution,
attachment (whether in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) or other legal process
(whether through service or notice or otherwise), and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction
there may be attributed to itself or its assets such immunity (whether or not claimed), the Issuer
and each Guarantor irrevocably agree not to claim, and irrevocably waive, such immunity to the full
extent permitted by the laws of such jurisdiction.
SECTION 1.15 Appointment of Agent for Service of Process.
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Issuer and each Guarantor (except for
Willis North America, Inc.) hereby designates and appoints Willis North America Inc. (or any
successor corporation) as its agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all
process which may be served in any legal action or proceeding which may be instituted in any
Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, arising out of or
relating to the Securities or the Guarantees or this Indenture, but for that purpose only. Service
of process upon such agent at the office of Willis North
America Inc. at One World Financial Center, 200 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281,
attention of the General Counsel, and written notice of said service to the Issuer or such
Guarantor by the Person servicing the same addressed as provided by Section 1.05, shall be deemed
in every respect effective service of process upon the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, in
any such legal action or proceeding, and the Issuer and such Guarantor hereby submits to the
nonexclusive jurisdiction of any such court in which any such legal action or proceeding is so
instituted. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as the Holders of Securities or the
Trustee shall have any rights pursuant to the terms thereof or of this Indenture until the
appointment of a successor by the Issuer or such Guarantor with the consent of the Trustee and such
successors acceptance of such appointment. The Issuer and each such Guarantor further agree to
take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and
instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of such agent or
successor.
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SECTION 1.16 Indemnification of Judgment Currency.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and each of the Guarantors shall
indemnify each Holder against any loss incurred by such Holder as a result of any judgment or order
being given or made for any amount due under any Security or Guarantee and such judgment or order
being expressed and paid in a currency (the Judgment Currency), which is other than U.S. dollars
and as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the U.S. dollar is
converted into the Judgment Currency for the purposes of such judgment or order and (ii) the spot
rate of exchange in The City of New York at which the Holder on the date of payment of such
judgment is able to purchase U.S. dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually
received by such Holder. This indemnification will constitute a separate and independent obligation
of the Issuer or each of the Guarantors, as the case may be, and will continue in full force and
effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term spot rate of exchange
includes any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or
conversion into, U.S. dollars.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established from time to time
by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case
with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or
permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification
and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such
Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Any portion of the text of any
Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face
of the Security. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to
a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the
delivery of the Issuer Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of
such Securities. Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have attached thereto a
true and correct copy of the form of Security referred to therein approved by or pursuant to such
Board Resolution.
The Trustees certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in
this Article.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders
or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such
Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustees certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the
following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein issued under the
within-mentioned Indenture.
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS TRUSTEE
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Authorized Signatory |
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SECTION 2.03 Securities in Global Form
If any Security of a series is issuable in global form (a Global Security), such Global
Security may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from
time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding
Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any
endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount,
of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee and in such manner as
shall be specified in such Global Security. Any instructions by the Issuer with respect to a Global
Security, after its initial issuance, shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.02.
Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Permanent Global
Securities will be issued in definitive form.
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant
to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers Certificate, of the Issuer or established in
one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of
the series from all other Securities);
(2) the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series and any limit upon the
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other securities of the series
pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.06 or 12.07);
(3) the date or dates on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Securities of the
series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(4) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method of determination
thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, including the rate
of interest applicable on overdue payments of principal or interest, if different from the rate
of interest stated in the title of the Security, the date or dates from which such interest
shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such
interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date;
(5) the Paying Agent or Paying Agents for the Securities of the series if other than the
Trustee;
(6) the Place of Payment of the Securities of the series;
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(7) if other than U.S. Dollars, the foreign currency or currencies in which Securities of
the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest on Securities of the series may be made, and the particular provisions applicable
thereto and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United
States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of Outstanding in
Section 1.01 and, if applicable, the amount of the Securities of the series which entitles the
Holder of a Security of the series or its proxy to one vote for purposes of Section 15.06;
(8) the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem the Securities of such series and the period
or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which
Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem or purchase Securities of the series
pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and
the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part,
pursuant to such obligation;
(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(11) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form
of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the depositary (the Depositary) for such
Global Security or Securities; and the manner in which and the circumstances under which Global
Securities representing Securities of the series may be exchanged for Securities in definitive
form, if other than, or in addition to, the manner and circumstances specified in Section
3.05(b);
(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of
Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(13) if the provisions of Section 5.03 or 5.04 of this Indenture are to apply to the
Securities of the series, a statement indicating the same;
(14) any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth
in Section 6.01 pertaining to the Securities of the series;
(15) the form of the Securities of the series; and
(16) any other terms of a particular series and any other provisions expressing or
referring to the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of that series are to be issued,
(which terms and
provisions are not in conflict with the provisions of this Indenture or do not adversely
affect the rights of Holders of any other series of Securities then Outstanding); provided,
however, that the addition to or subtraction from or variation of Articles Five, Six, Nine,
Eleven, Thirteen and Sixteen (and Section 1.01 insofar as it relates to the definition of
certain terms as used in such Articles) with regard to the Securities of a particular series
shall not be deemed to constitute a conflict with the provisions of those Articles.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination
and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in
such Officers Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one
series need not be issued at the same time, and unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened
for issuance of additional Securities of such series without the consent of the Holders thereof.
The Securities of all series shall rank on a parity in right of payment.
18
Except as modified in a Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture
establishing a series of Securities, the Securities shall be fully and unconditionally guaranteed,
jointly and severally, by each Guarantor as provided in Article Sixteen.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board
Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of
the Officers Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
SECTION 3.02 Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such
denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such
provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be
issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed under the common seal of the Issuer reproduced thereon and
the affixing of such seal to the Securities shall be signed and countersigned by any two directors
of the Issuer, or by a director and the Secretary of the Issuer or by any director of the Issuer
and any other officer of the Issuer authorized by the Board of Directors to sign or countersign the
affixing of such seal. The signature of any of these directors or officers on the Securities may
be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of
the Issuer shall bind such Person notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased
to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold
such offices at the date of issuance of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the
Issuer may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for
authentication, together with an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Issuer Order shall authenticate and deliver such
Securities. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent Global Security, then, for purposes
of this Section and Section 3.04, the notation of a beneficial owners interest therein upon
original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security
shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with the original issuance of such beneficial owners
interest in such permanent Global Security.
In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this
Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to
Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon the documents specified in Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act, and, in addition:
(1) a Board Resolution relating thereto, and if applicable, an appropriate record of any
action taken pursuant to such Board Resolution, certified by the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Issuer, if applicable;
(2)an executed supplemental indenture, if any; and
(3)an Opinion of Counsel which shall state:
19
(A) that the form and terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to
Board Resolutions, by a supplemental indenture or by both such resolution or resolutions and
such supplemental indenture in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(B) that the supplemental indenture, if any, when executed and delivered by the Issuer,
the Guarantors and the Trustee, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the
Issuer and the Guarantors;
(C) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by
the Issuer in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel,
will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against
it in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and
remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of commercial
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding at law or in equity); and
(D) that the Guarantees, when the Securities to which they relate shall have been
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Issuer in the manner and subject
to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with their
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject,
as to enforceability, to general principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate
such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the
Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in
a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all Securities of
a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the
Board Resolution and the Officers Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the
Board Resolution and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 at or
prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be
issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially
in the form
provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory,
and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that
such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate
Notes. An Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each
reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.
SECTION 3.04 Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Issuer may execute, and
upon Issuer Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are
printed, lithographed, typewritten, reproduced or otherwise produced, in any authorized
denomination, substantially of the tenor
20
of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are
issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the
officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such
Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Issuer will cause definitive Securities
of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive
Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for
definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at
the office or agency of the Issuer in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the
Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the
Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like
principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so
exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
SECTION 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange Global Securities
Representing the Securities.
(a) The Issuer shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register
(the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Issuer in a Place
of Payment being herein sometimes referred to as the Security Register) in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuer shall provide for the registration of
Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed Security Registrar for
the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.
The Security Registrar shall maintain on behalf of the Issuer a full and complete list of names and
addresses of all Holders of Securities issued by the Issuer pursuant to this Indenture and any
indenture supplemental hereto, and the principal amount of Securities held by such Holder.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or
agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new
Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal
amount and Stated Maturity.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article Three, at the option of the Holder, Securities of
any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized
denominations and of an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be
exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the
Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the
Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the
valid obligations of the Issuer and each Guarantor evidencing the same debt and entitled to the
same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer
or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if
so required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar duly executed,
by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing with such signature guaranteed by
a commercial bank reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or by a member of a national securities
exchange.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities,
but the Issuer or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange
of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 10.06 or 12.07 not involving any
transfer.
21
The Issuer shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities
of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the
mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under
Section 12.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register
the transfer of or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
(b) If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are
to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Issuer
shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3.03 and the Issuer Order with
respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in temporary or
permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by one or
more Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global
Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee
or delivered or held pursuant to such Depositarys instruction, and (iv) unless otherwise provided
for with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.01, shall bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: This Security may not be transferred except as a whole by
the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary
or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor
Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary, unless and until this Security is exchanged
in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form.
Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 must, at the time of its designation and
at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and any other applicable statute or
regulation.
If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Issuer that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time
the Depositary for Securities of a series shall no longer be a clearing agency registered and in
good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation (as required by this
Section 3.05), the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary eligible under this Section 3.05
with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such
series is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or
becomes aware of such condition, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will
authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series
in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion and subject to the procedures of the
Depositary determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event, the
Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and
delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such
series in definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or
Securities.
If the Securities of any series shall have been issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities and if an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Issuer may, and upon the request of the Trustee shall, promptly
execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of
definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in
definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global
Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
22
The Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series
of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form on
such terms as are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without charge:
(i) to each Person specified by the Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same
series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in an aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for such Persons beneficial interest in the Global Security;
and
(ii) to the Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if
any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal
amount of Securities delivered to holders thereof.
Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive form, such Global Security
shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to
this subsection (b) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect
participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to
the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
None of the Issuer, the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
SECTION 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and
of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction
of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the
absence of notice to the Issuer or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected
purchaser, the Issuer shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series
and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due
and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such
Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Issuer may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the
Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all
other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen Securities.
23
SECTION 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest.
At the option of the Issuer, interest on the Securities of any series that bear interest may
be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Security Register.
Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (Defaulted Interest) shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuer, at its election in each case, as provided in
clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Issuer may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose
names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered
at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest,
which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of
the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the
date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted
Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the
date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of
the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the
Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall
be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and
not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at
the expense of the Issuer, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest
and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest
shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and
shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Issuer may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on
which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,
if, after notice given by the Issuer to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this
clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security
shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such
other Security.
SECTION 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, any
Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, any Guarantor, or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of
receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on
such Security and for all other purposes
24
whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and
none of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer, any Guarantor, or the
Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 3.09 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, conversion, registration of transfer or
exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and promptly shall be
cancelled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Issuer
or any Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously
authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer or any Guarantor may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered promptly shall be cancelled by the Trustee. No
Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as
provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities
held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the Trustees customary procedures
unless directed by an Issuer Order. The acquisition of any Securities by the Issuer or any
Guarantor shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby
unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Permanent Global
Securities shall not be destroyed until exchanged in full for definitive Securities or until
payment thereon is made in full.
SECTION 3.10 Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series,
interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year of twelve 30-day
months.
SECTION 3.11 CUSIP Numbers.
The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and,
if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of
such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and
any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer
will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE FOUR
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE FIVE
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 5.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities of any Series.
The Issuer shall be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the entire Indebtedness on all the
Securities of any particular series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer
or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon Issuer Request and
at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute such instruments as may be requested by the Issuer
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such Indebtedness, when
(a) either
(1) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which
have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section
3.06 and (ii)
25
Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or
segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged
from such trust, as provided in Section 11.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or
(2) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(A) have become due and payable, or
(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the
expense, of the Issuer,
and the Issuer or any Guarantor, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused
to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to
pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06), for principal (and premium, if
any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due
and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(b) the Issuer or any Guarantor, has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Issuer or any Guarantor; and
(c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the
satisfaction and discharge of the entire Indebtedness on all Securities of such series have been
complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the
Issuer and each Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 7.07 or to any Authenticating Agent under
Section 3.03 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of
clause (2) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 5.07 and the last
paragraph of Section 11.03 shall survive.
SECTION 5.02 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Issuer may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a supplemental indenture
or, at any time, by a Board Resolution set forth in an Officers Certificate with respect to the
Securities of any series,
unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a particular series of
Securities, elect to have either Section 5.03 or 5.04 be applied to all of the Outstanding
Securities of that series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Five.
SECTION 5.03 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 5.02 of the option applicable to this Section 5.03,
the Issuer shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all
Outstanding Securities of the particular series and any coupons appertaining thereto on the date
the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose,
such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged all the
obligations relating to the Outstanding Securities of that series, including any coupons
appertaining thereto, and the Securities of that series, including any coupons appertaining
thereto, shall thereafter be deemed to be outstanding only for the purposes of Section 5.06 and
the other Sections of this Indenture referred to below in this Section 5.03, and to have satisfied
all of its other obligations under such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this
Indenture and cured all then existing Events of Default (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the
expense
26
of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the
following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the Issuers
or any Guarantors obligations, as the case may be, with respect to Securities of such series under
Sections 3.05, 3.06, 11.02 and 11.03, (ii) rights of Holders to receive payments of the principal
of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series as they shall
become due from time to time and other rights, duties and obligations of Holders as beneficiaries
hereof with respect to the amounts so deposited with the Trustee, (iii) the rights, obligations and
immunities of the Trustee hereunder (for which purposes the Securities of such series shall be
deemed outstanding), (iv) this Article Five and the obligations set forth in Section 5.06 hereof
and (v) the obligations of the Issuer and each Guarantor under Section 7.07 hereof.
Subject to compliance with this Article Five, the Issuer may exercise its option under Section
5.03 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 5.04 with respect to the
Securities of a particular series and any coupons appertaining thereto.
SECTION 5.04 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 5.02 of the option applicable to this Section 5.04,
the Issuer shall be released from any obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 11.04,
11.05 and 11.06 hereof or established pursuant to Section 3.01 or 10.01 hereof with respect to the
Outstanding Securities of the particular series on and after the date the conditions set forth
below are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Securities of that series and any
coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed not Outstanding for the purposes of any
direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof)
in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other
purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for
accounting purposes). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the
Outstanding Securities of that series and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Issuer may omit to
comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth
in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein
to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision
herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or Event
of Default under Section 6.01(4) or any Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.01 or
10.01 but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of that
series shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 5.05 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 5.03 or Section
5.04 to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series:
(a) the Issuer must irrevocably deposit, or cause to be irrevocably deposited, with the
Trustee for the Securities of that series, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities of that series, cash in the currency or currency unit in which the Securities of that
series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of
that series) sufficient or U.S. Government Obligations the principal of and interest on which will
be sufficient or a combination thereof sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, due on the Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons to and
including the date of Stated Maturity, or the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, with
respect to the Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons;
(b) in the case of Legal Defeasance only, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for
the Securities of that series (1) an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary
assumptions and exclusions, since the date on which Securities of such series were originally
issued, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. Federal income tax law, to the effect that,
and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and
exclusions, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of that series will not recognize income,
gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred or (2) a copy
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of a ruling or
other formal statement or action to that effect received from or published by the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service;
(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance only, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee
for the Securities of that series an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary
assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of that series will not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant
Defeasance and will be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series (other than
any event resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit) shall have
occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of,
or constitute a default under any material agreement (other than this Indenture) or instrument to
which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound; and
(f) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for the Securities of that series an
Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to
customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or
relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied
with.
As used in this Article Five, U.S. Government Obligations means securities that are (i)
direct obligations of the United States of America for payment of which its full faith and credit
is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or
instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally
guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either
case under clause (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof,
and will also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specified payment of interest on or principal
of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a
depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to
make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount
received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of
interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
SECTION 5.06 Survival of Certain Obligations.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the Securities of a particular series
referred to in Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.04, or 5.05, the respective obligations of the Issuer, the
Guarantors and the Trustee for the Securities of a particular series under Sections 3.03, 3.04,
3.05, 3.06, 3.09, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09 and 6.08, Article 7, and Sections 8.01, 8.02, 11.02, 11.03 and
11.04, shall survive with respect to Securities of that series until the Securities of that series
are cancelled, and thereafter the obligations of the Issuer and the Trustee for the Securities of a
particular series with respect to that series under Sections 5.08 and 7.07 shall survive. Nothing
contained in this Article Five shall abrogate any of the obligations or duties of the Trustee of
any series of Securities under this Indenture.
SECTION 5.07 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11.03, all money and U.S.
Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to
Sections 5.01 and 5.05 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions
of the Securities and this
28
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Issuer or any Guarantor acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for
whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
SECTION 5.08 Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any other Paying Agent remaining unclaimed by the
Holders of any Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of or interest on
such Securities shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee or
any such other Paying Agent and such Holders shall thereafter be entitled to look to the Issuer
only as general creditors for payment thereof (unless otherwise provided by law); provided,
however, that, before the Trustee or any such other Paying Agent is required to make any such
payment to the Issuer, the Trustee may, upon the written request of the Issuer and at the expense
of the Issuer, cause to be published once in an Authorized Newspaper a notice that such money
remains unclaimed and that, after the date set forth in said notice, the balance of such money then
unclaimed will be returned to the Issuer.
SECTION 5.09 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with
Section 5.07, by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court
or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the
Issuers and each Guarantors obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived
and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 5.01 or 5.05, as the case may
be, until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government
Obligations in accordance with Section 5.07 provided that, if the Issuer or any Guarantor has made
payment of principal of, or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its
obligations, the Issuer or such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such
Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the
Trustee.
ARTICLE SIX
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
HOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.
Event of Default, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any
one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be
voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or
order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due
and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of
that series at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any
Security of that series; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer, any
Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary in this Indenture or any Security of that series (other
than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this
Section specifically dealt
29
with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely
for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default
or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail,
to the Issuer or such Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Issuer or such Guarantor and the
Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and
stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder; or
(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for
relief in respect of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Issuer or
any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Issuer or
any Significant Subsidiary under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, or appointing a Custodian of the
Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of their property, or ordering
the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order
for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
consecutive days; or
(6) the commencement by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of a voluntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or of any other case or proceeding to be
adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for
relief in respect of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or
insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, or the consent by it to
the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of the
Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of any substantial part of its property, or the making by
it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its
inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by
the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action, or the taking of any
comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or
(7) any Guarantee shall for any reason cease to be, or shall for any reason be asserted in
writing by any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary not to be, in full force and effect
and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent contemplated by the Indenture
and any such Guarantee; or
(8) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
SECTION 6.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other
than of a type specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6)) occurs and is continuing, then in every such
case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series
are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in
the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable
immediately, by a notice in writing to the Issuer or a Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by
Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become
immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in any of the Securities of such series
to the contrary notwithstanding.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series
has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the
Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Issuer or a Guarantor and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
30
(1) the Issuer or a Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient
to pay
(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have
become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the
rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue
interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof;
and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the
nonpayment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such
declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section
6.01(5) or (6), all outstanding Securities shall IPSO FACTO become due and payable without further
action or notice.
SECTION 6.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Issuer covenants that if
(1) default is made in the payment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes
due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or, premium, if any, on) any
Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(3) default is made in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous
obligation when the same becomes due pursuant to the terms of any Security,
the Issuer, upon demand of the Trustee, will pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such
Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal, including any
sinking fund payment or analogous obligations (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, and, to
the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue
principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due to the
Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof.
If the Issuer fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own
name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of
the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may
enforce the same against the Issuer or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable
31
in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or any other obligor upon such
Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the
Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall
deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein,
or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 6.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the
Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Issuer or of such other
obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective
of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Issuer for the payment of overdue
principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or
documents and take such other actions, including participating as a member, voting or otherwise,
of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter, as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and
of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such
claim and to distribute the same;
and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make
such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any
other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to
or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding except as aforesaid,
to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar person or to participate as a
member, voting or otherwise, on any committee of creditors.
SECTION 6.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and
enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof
in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be
brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in
respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 6.06 Application of Money Collected.
32
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following
order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on
account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the
notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money
has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer, its successors or assigns,
or to whomever may be so lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent
jurisdiction may direct.
SECTION 6.07 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding,
judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of
Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee
during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any
manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb
or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or
preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
SECTION 6.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have
the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or
Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and
the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and such rights shall not be
impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
33
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy
under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has
been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, the Issuer, any Guarantor the Trustee and the Holders shall
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all
rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had
been instituted.
SECTION 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy
herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of
any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other
appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such
Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed
expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series
shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Securities of such series, provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee shall not determine that the action so directed would be unjustly
prejudicial to the Holders of the Securities of such series not taking part in such direction,
or to the Holders of the Securities of any other series or would involve the Trustee in personal
liability, and
(3) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction.
SECTION 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
Subject to Section 6.02, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such
series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a
default
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of
such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Ten cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series
affected.
34
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof
shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the
enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit
of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess
reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, against any party litigant in such suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party
litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee,
to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10%
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any
Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the
case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 6.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Issuer and each Guarantor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit
or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force,
which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and each
Guarantor (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or
advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of
any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such
power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SEVEN
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates
or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but
in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically
required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same
to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not
verify the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or the contents thereof or whether
procedures specified by or pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture have been followed in
the preparation thereof.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and
skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs.
35
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability
for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct,
except that
(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this
Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a
Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining
the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, as provided in Section 6.12, relating to the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to
the Securities of such series;
(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties
hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it; and
(5) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture
relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 7.02 Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of
any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as
their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known
to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that,
except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation
installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a
trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that
the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and
provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 6.01(4)
with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least
30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term default means any
event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of such series.
SECTION 7.03 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Issuer or any Guarantor mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Issuer Request or Issuer Order or similar document and any resolution
of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that
a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Trustee (unless other
36
evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely
upon an Officers Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of
Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture,
unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated
in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document,
but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts
or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer or any
Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with
due care by it hereunder;
(h) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any matter unless a
Responsible Officer assigned to and working in the Trustees corporate trust department has actual
knowledge thereof or unless written notice thereof is received by the Trustee at the Corporate
Trust Office and such notice references the Securities generally, the Issuer, a Guarantor or this
Indenture. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to an Event of Default, such reference
shall, insofar as determining any liability on the part of the Trustee is concerned, be construed
to refer only to an Event of Default of which the Trustee is deemed to have actual knowledge in
accordance with this paragraph; and
(i) the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated
in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;
(j) in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has
been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(k) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the
performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or
indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work
stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural
catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications
or computer (software or hardware) services;
(l) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee,
including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be
enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and
other Person employed to act hereunder; and
(m) the Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers Certificate setting forth the
names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions
pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to
sign an Officers Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such
certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
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SECTION 7.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustees certificate of
authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer or the Guarantors, and neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee
makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by
the Issuer or the Guarantors of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 7.05 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other
agent of the Issuer, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of
Securities and, subject to Sections 7.08 and 7.13, may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its
Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying
Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 7.06 Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money
received by it hereunder.
SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Issuer agrees,
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services
rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in
regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee
in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and
the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection
with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Issuer under this Section, the
Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by
the Trustee, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, if the
Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified
in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01, the expenses and the compensation for the services will be
intended to constitute expenses of administration under Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee
and the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture.
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SECTION 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act during the period of time provided for
therein. In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, there shall be excluded
this Indenture with respect to Securities of any particular series of Securities other than that
series of Securities. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the
application referred to in the second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a corporate Trustee hereunder which complies with the requirements
of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and having its
Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in
its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the
manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee
pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by
giving written notice thereof to the Issuer. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee
required by Section 7.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 10 days after the
giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act
of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuer.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 7.08 after written request therefor by
the Issuer or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six
months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign
after written request therefor by the Issuer, any Guarantor or by any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or
insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public
officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Issuer by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to
all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 6.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security for at
39
least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the
appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy
shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more
series, the Issuer, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees
with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and
that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular
series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11. If, within one year
after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Issuer
and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance
of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 7.11, become the
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of any series shall have been so appointed by the Issuer or the Holders and accepted appointment in
the manner required by Section 7.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of
such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) The Issuer shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event to all Holders of Securities
of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall
include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the
address of its Corporate Trust Office.
SECTION 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all
Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Issuer and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Issuer or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring
Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and
money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture
supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to
vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee
with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those
series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring
Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute
such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust
or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or
40
trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon execution and delivery of
such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act,
deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Issuer, any Guarantor or any successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee
all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of
that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all
instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all
rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance
such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
SECTION 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation or association into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which
it may be consolidated, or any corporation or association resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or association to which all
or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee may be sold or otherwise
transferred, shall be the successor trustee hereunder without any further act. In case any
Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any
successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such
authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer.
The Trustee is subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor
relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or
been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated
therein.
ARTICLE EIGHT
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE
SECTION 8.01 Issuer to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(a) semi-annually, either (i) not later than June 1 and November 1 in each year in the case of
Original Issue Discount Securities of any series which by their terms do not bear interest prior to
Maturity, or (ii) not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date in the case of Securities of
any other series, a list, each in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding June 1 or November 1 or
as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the
receipt by the Issuer of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more
than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar with respect to
Securities of any series, no such lists need be furnished.
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SECTION 8.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names
and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in
Section 8.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as
Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 8.01
upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under
this Indenture or under the Securities and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee shall
be provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Issuer and
the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held
accountable by reason of any disclosure or information as to the names and addresses of Holders
made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 8.03 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after each May 1 beginning with the May 1 following the date of this Indenture,
and for so long as Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee shall (at the expense of the Issuer)
mail to the Holders of the Securities a brief report dated as of such May 1 that complies with
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act (but if no event described in Section 313(a) of the Trust
Indenture Act has occurred within the twelve months preceding such May 1, no report need be
transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Section 313(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Section 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Securities shall be mailed
to the Issuer and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities are listed in
accordance with Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Issuer shall promptly notify the
Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE NINE
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 9.01 Merger, Consolidation, etc. Only on Certain Terms.
Neither the Issuer nor any of the Guarantors shall consolidate with or merge into any other
Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person, unless:
(1) if the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall consolidate with or merge
into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer or such
Guarantor, as the case may be, is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer,
or which leases, the properties and assets of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be,
substantially as an entirety shall, (i) in the case of the Issuer or any Guarantor that is not
Willis North America Inc., be a Person organized and existing under the laws of any United
States jurisdiction, any state thereof, Bermuda, England and Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands or
any country that is a member of the European Monetary Union, or (ii) in the case of Willis North
America Inc., be a person organized and existing under the laws of any United States
jurisdiction and any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by
an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to
the Trustee, all the obligations of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors, as the case may be,
under this
42
Indenture and the Securities and immediately after such transaction no Event of Default
shall have happened or be continuing; and
(2) the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, has delivered to the Trustee an
Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that (a) such consolidation,
merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection
with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all
conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with
and (b) in the case of a consolidation with or merger by the Issuer into a Person organized
other than under the laws of Ireland or the conveyance, transfer or lease by the Issuer of its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a Person organized other than under the
laws of Ireland, Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax
purposes as a result of such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and will be
subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time
as would have been the case if such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease had not
occurred.
SECTION 9.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Issuer or any of the Guarantors, as the case may be, with or
merger by the Issuer or such Guarantor into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease
of the properties and assets of the Issuer or such Guarantor substantially as an entirety in
accordance with Section 9.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Issuer or such Guarantor is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer or such
Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named as the Issuer or such Guarantor herein, and thereafter, except in the case of
a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this
Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE TEN
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 10.01 Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Issuer and each Guarantor, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, in the case of the Issuer, and a resolution of the board of directors of such Guarantor
or a committee thereof in the case of such Guarantor (which shall be certified in the same manner
as a Board Resolution), and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or
more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following
purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Issuer or any Guarantor and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer or any Guarantor herein and in
the Securities (pursuant to Article Nine, if applicable); or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Issuer or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders
of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than
all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for
the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuer
or any Guarantor; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be
applicable to less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are
expressly being included solely to be applicable to such series); or
43
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be
necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to provide for
uncertificated Securities (so long as any registration-required obligation within the meaning
of section 163(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is in registered form for
purposes of such section); or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such
change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any
series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the
benefit of such provision; or
(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections
2.01 and 3.01; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of
Section 7.11(b); or
(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
inconsistent with any other provision herein, to eliminate any conflict between the terms hereof
and the Trust Indenture Act or to make any other provision with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of
the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.
SECTION 10.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said
Holders delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee, the Issuer and each Guarantor each, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, in the case of the Issuer, and a resolution of the board of
directors of such Guarantor or a committee thereof in the case of such Guarantor (which shall be
certified in the same manner as a Board Resolution), and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provision to or changing in any manner
or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or
interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest
thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the
principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02, or adversely
affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or reduce the amount
of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation, or
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), in
each case other than the amendment or waiver in accordance with the terms of this Indenture of
any covenant or related definition included pursuant to Section 3.01 that provides for an offer
to repurchase any Securities of a series upon a sale of assets or change of control transaction,
or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series,
the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose
44
Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture
or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 6.13 or Section 11.07, except to
increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture
cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
affected thereby.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this
Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series
of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with
respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of the Holders under this Section to approve the
particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act
shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 10.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to
the documents required by Section 1.02 hereof, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of
such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee in its sole
discretion may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which
adversely affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 10.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be
modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this
Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated
and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 10.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 10.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental
indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in
form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Issuer shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion
of the Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by
the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of
such series.
SECTION 10.07 Notice of Supplemental Indenture.
Promptly after the execution by the Issuer, each Guarantor and the Trustee of any supplemental
indenture pursuant to Section 10.02, the Issuer shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent
provided in Section 1.05, to all Holders of any series of the Securities affected thereby, a notice
setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. The failure to give
such notice to all Holders of
45
Securities of such series, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of
such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 11.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of each series
that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any,
on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities of that series and
this Indenture.
SECTION 11.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Issuer will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or
agency where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer and
exchange, where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Securities of that
series and this Indenture may be served and where the Securities may be presented for payment. The
Issuer will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the
location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such
required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office
of the Trustee, and the Issuer hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where
the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes
and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or
rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency
in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Issuer will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the
location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 11.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Issuer or any Guarantor shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any
series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if
any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act or of any failure by the Issuer (or by any other obligor on the Securities of that series) to
make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities
of such series when the same shall be due and payable.
Whenever the Issuer shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it
will, at or prior to the opening of business on each due date of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to
pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) or
interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee
of its action or failure so to act.
If the Issuer shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee for any series of
Securities, it will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section,
that such Paying Agent will:
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(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as
herein provided;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Issuer or any Guarantor (or any other
obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the
Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge with
respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder or for any other reason, pay or by
Issuer Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such
series by the Issuer, any Guarantor or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon
the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Issuer, any Guarantor or such Paying
Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be
released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer in trust
for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series
and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has
become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer or any Guarantor on Issuer Request subject to
applicable abandoned property and escheat law, or (if then held by the Issuer or any Guarantor)
shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an
unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer or any Guarantor for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the Issuer or any Guarantor as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Issuer cause to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks (in each case on
any day of the week) in an Authorized Newspaper notice that such money remains unclaimed and that,
after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.
SECTION 11.04 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article Nine, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
SECTION 11.05 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Issuer will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, pay or discharge or cause to
be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Issuer or any such Significant Subsidiary or upon
the income, profits or property of the Issuer or any such Significant Subsidiary, and (2) all
lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon
the property of the Issuer or any such Significant Subsidiary; provided, however, that none of the
Issuer nor any Significant Subsidiary shall be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or
discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 11.06 Maintenance of Properties.
The Issuer will cause all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be
maintained and kept in reasonably good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all
necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements,
betterments and improvements thereof,
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all as in the judgment of the Issuer may be necessary so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in
this Section shall prevent the Issuer from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of its
properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Issuer desirable in the conduct of its
business and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities of any
series.
SECTION 11.07 Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Issuer may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition
set forth in Sections 11.04, 11.05 and 11.06 or established pursuant to Section 3.01 or 10.01, with
respect to the Securities of any series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of
such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such
term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or
condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective,
the obligations of the Issuer and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision
or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 11.08 Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Issuer will, within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year, commencing with the first
fiscal year ending after the issuance of Securities of any series under this Indenture, file with
the Trustee a certificate of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or
the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, covering the period from the date of issuance of
such Securities to the end of the fiscal year in which such Securities were issued, in the case of
the first such certificate, and covering the preceding fiscal year in the case of each subsequent
certificate, and stating whether or not, to the knowledge of the signer, the Issuer has complied
with all conditions and covenants on its part contained in this Indenture, and, if the signer has
obtained knowledge of any default by the Issuer in the performance, observance or fulfillment of
any such condition or covenant, specifying each such default and the nature thereof. For the
purpose of this Section 11.08, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or
requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 11.09 Reports by the Issuer.
The Issuer shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer is required to file the same
with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other
reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to
time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Issuer may be required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or,
if the Issuer is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of
said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and
periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national
securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and
reports with respect to compliance by the Issuer with the conditions and covenants of this
Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security
Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any
information, documents
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and reports required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this
Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational
purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any
information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the
Issuers compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to
rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
SECTION 11.10 Further Assurances.
From time to time whenever reasonably demanded by the Trustee, the Issuer and each Guarantor
will make, execute and deliver or cause to be made, executed and delivered any and all such further
and other instruments and assurances as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out the
intention or facilitate the performance of the terms of this Indenture.
ARTICLE TWELVE
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 12.01 Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable
in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 12.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Issuer to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.
In case of any redemption at the election of the Issuer of all or less than all the Securities of
any series, the Issuer shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Issuer
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such
Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the
case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption
provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish
the Trustee with an Officers Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 12.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to
be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee,
from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method
as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series
or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a
denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series;
provided, however, that Securities of such series registered in the name of the Issuer shall be
excluded from any such selection for redemption until all Securities of such series not so
registered shall have been previously selected for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities selected for
redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions
relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to
be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been
or is to be redeemed.
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SECTION 12.04 Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the
Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.
All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP
numbers) and shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the
identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular
Securities to be redeemed,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each
such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on
and after said date,
(5) that interest, if any, accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as
specified in said notice,
(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the
Redemption Price, and
(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Issuer shall be given
by the Issuer or, at the Issuers request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the
Issuer.
SECTION 12.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or prior to 10 a.m. New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Issuer shall deposit
with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or any Guarantor is acting as Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 11.03) an amount of money sufficient to
pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date)
accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 12.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall,
on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from
and after such date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and
accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security
for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Issuer at the
Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date: provided, however, that
installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be
payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as
such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the
provisions of Section 3.07.
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If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for
redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the
Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
SECTION 12.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment
therefor (with, if the Issuer or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by, the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Issuer shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new
Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such
Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the
principal of the security so surrendered. Securities in denominations larger than the minimum
authorized denomination therefor may be redeemed in part, but only in whole multiples of $1,000.
SECTION 12.08 Securities No Longer Outstanding After Notice to Trustee and Deposit of Cash.
If the Issuer, having given notice to the Trustee as provided in Section 12.02, shall have
deposited with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of any Securities of
any series or portions thereof called for redemption in whole or in part cash or other form of
payment if permitted by the terms of such Securities, in the amount necessary so to redeem all such
Securities or portions thereof on the Redemption Date and provision satisfactory to the Trustee
shall have been made for the giving of notice of such redemption, such Securities or portions
thereof, shall thereupon, for all purposes of this Indenture, be deemed to be no longer
Outstanding, and the Holders thereof shall be entitled to no rights thereunder or hereunder, except
the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price, together with interest accrued to the
Redemption Date, on or after the Redemption Date of such Securities or portions thereof.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 13.01 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of
Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities
of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any
series is herein referred to as a mandatory sinking fund payment, and any payment in excess of
such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as
an optional sinking fund payment. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the
cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 13.02.
Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as
provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
SECTION 13.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Issuer (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously
called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been
redeemed either at the election of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through
the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with
respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such
Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been
previously so credited pursuant to the terms of such Securities. Such Securities
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shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price
specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of
such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 13.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities,
the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate specifying the amount of the next
ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which
is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 13.02
and the basis for such credit and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall
select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in
Section 12.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the
expense of the Issuer in the manner provided in Section 12.04. Such notice having been duly given,
the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections
12.06 and 12.07.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 14.01 Exemption from Individual Liability.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any
Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Issuer,
any Guarantor or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Issuer or any Guarantor,
whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the
obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor, and
that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the
incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Issuer, any Guarantor or of any
successor Person, or any of them, because of the creation of the Indebtedness hereby authorized, or
under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in
any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability, either at
common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims
against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, because of the
creation of the Indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants
or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are
hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution
of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 15.01 Purposes of Meetings.
A meeting of Holders of Securities of all or any series may be called at any time and from
time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article for any of the following purposes:
(1) to give any notice to the Issuer, any Guarantor or to the Trustee, or to give any
directions to the Trustee, or to waive any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take
any other action authorized to be taken by the Holders of Securities pursuant to any of the
provisions of Article Six;
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(2) to remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee pursuant to the provisions of
Article Seven;
(3) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant
to the provisions of Section 10.02; or
(4) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any
specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all or any series, as
the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 15.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee.
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of all or any series to
take any action specified in Section 15.01, to be held at such time and at such place in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting
of the Holders of Securities of all or any series, setting forth the time and place of such meeting
and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given to all Holders
of Securities of each series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken at such
meeting by publication at least twice in an Authorized Newspaper prior to the date fixed for the
meeting, the first publication to be not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date
fixed for the meeting, and the last publication to be not more than five days prior to the date
fixed for the meeting, or such notice may be given to Holders by mailing the same by first class
mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities at the time Outstanding, at their addresses as
they shall appear in the Security Register, not less than 20 nor more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the meeting. Failure to receive such notice or any defect therein shall in no case
affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting. Any meeting of Holders of Securities of
all or any series shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all such Securities Outstanding,
the Issuer and the Trustee are present in person or by proxy or shall have waived notice thereof
before or after the meeting.
SECTION 15.03 Call of Meetings by Issuer or Holders.
In case at any time the Issuer by Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of each series that may be affected
by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting shall have requested the Trustee to call a
meeting of Holders of Securities of all series that may be so affected to take any action
authorized in Section 15.01 by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action
proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed or made the first
publication of the notice of such meeting within 30 days after receipt of such request, then the
Issuer or the Holders in the amount above specified may determine the time and the place in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such meeting and may call such meeting by mailing or
publishing notice thereof as provided in Section 15.02.
SECTION 15.04 Qualification for Voting.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more
Securities of a series affected by the action proposed to be taken, or (b) be a Person appointed by
an instrument in writing as proxy by the Holder of one or more such Securities. The right of
Holders to have their votes counted shall be subject to the proviso in the definition of
Outstanding in Section 1.01. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at
any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any
representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Issuer and its
counsel.
SECTION 15.05 Quorum; Adjourned Meetings.
At any meeting of Holders, the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities in an
aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action on the business for the transaction of which
such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. No business shall be transacted
in the absence of a quorum
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unless a quorum is represented when the meeting is called to order. In the absence of a quorum
within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the
request of the Holders of Securities (as provided in Section 15.03), be dissolved. In any other
case the Persons holding or representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
represented at the meeting may adjourn such a meeting for a period of not less than 10 days with
the same effect, for all intents and purposes, as though a quorum had been present. In the absence
of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be similarly further
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting
shall be given as provided in Section 15.02 except that, in the case of publication, such notice
need be published only once but must be given not less than five days prior to the date on which
the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened, and in the case of mailing, such notice may be mailed
not less than five days prior to such date.
Any Holder of a Security who has executed an instrument in writing complying with the
provisions of Section 1.04 shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining a quorum
and be deemed to have voted; provided, however, that such Holder shall be considered as present or
voting only with respect to the matters covered by such instrument in writing.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of the Holders of Securities of any
series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all Holders of such series of
Securities whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
SECTION 15.06 Regulations.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable
regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities, in regard to proof
of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment
and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and
other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting
as it shall think fit.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting,
unless the meeting shall have been called by the Issuer or by Holders of Securities as provided in
Section 15.03, in which case the Issuer or the Holders of Securities calling the meeting, as the
case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a
permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities represented at the meeting.
At any meeting each Holder of a Security of a series entitled to vote at such meeting, or
proxy therefor, shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (in the case of
Original Issue Discount Securities, such principal amount to be determined as provided in the
definition of Outstanding) of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided,
however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged
as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of
the meeting shall have no right to vote except as a Holder of Securities of such series or proxy
therefor. Any meeting of Holders of Securities duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section
15.02 or 15.03 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time, and the meeting may
be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 15.07 Voting Procedure.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballot on
which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities entitled to vote at such
meeting, or proxies therefor, and on which shall be inscribed an identifying number or numbers or
to which shall be attached a list of identifying numbers of the Securities so held or represented
by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall
count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with
the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in
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duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each
meeting of Holders of Securities shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall
be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot
taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a
copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed or published as provided
in Section 15.02 and, if applicable, Section 15.05. The record shall be signed and verified by the
permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the
Issuer and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached
thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
SECTION 15.08 Written Consent in Lieu of Meetings.
The written authorization or consent by the Holders of the requisite percentage in aggregate
principal amount of Securities of any series herein provided, entitled to vote at any such meeting,
evidenced as provided in Section 1.04 and filed with the Trustee, shall be effective in lieu of a
meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series, with respect to any matter provided for in
this Article Fifteen.
SECTION 15.09 No Delay of Rights by Meeting.
Nothing contained in this Article shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by
reason of any call of a meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series or any rights
expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the
exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or the Holders of
Securities of any or all such series under any provisions of this Indenture or the Securities.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN
GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 16.01 Guarantee
Except as otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental
indenture establishing a series of Securities and subject to the provisions of this Article
Sixteen, each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as
a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors
and assigns (a) the full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when
due, whether on the Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise; and all other
monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including all obligations of the Issuer to
the Trustee under this Indenture) and the Securities and (b) the full and punctual performance
within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for expenses,
indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being
hereinafter collectively called the Guaranteed Obligations). Each Guarantor further agrees that
the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or
further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this
Article Sixteen notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.
Each Guarantor, waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) (a) presentation to,
demand of, payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) notice
of protest for nonpayment and (c) notice of any default under Securities of any series or the
Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder
shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or
demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the
55
Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Securities of any series or any other
agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (iii) any rescission, waiver,
amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities of
any series or any other agreement relating to this Indenture or the Securities; (iv) the release of
any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any of them; (v)
the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other
guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor,
except as provided in Section 16.02(b).
Each Guarantor hereby waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) (x) any right to which
it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such
Guarantors obligations would be less than the full amount claimed, (y) any right to which it may
be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuers
or such Guarantors obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such
Guarantor hereunder and (z) any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be
sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.
Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment,
performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives (to the extent
that it may lawfully do so) any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the
Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Except as expressly set forth in Article Five and Section 16.02, the obligations of each
Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination
for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and
shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever
or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or
otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor
herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or
the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the
Securities of any series or any other agreement relating to this Indenture or the Securities, by
any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise,
in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any
other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor
or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment
in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any
part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must
otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the
Issuer or otherwise.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or
the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the
Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall
become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or
comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon
receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the
Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such
Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only
to the extent not prohibited by law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the
Holders and the Trustee.
Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to
the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all
Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the
Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations
guaranteed hereby may be
56
accelerated as provided in Article Six for the purposes of any Guarantee herein,
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect
of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of
acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article Six, such Guaranteed Obligations
(whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the
purposes of this Section 16.01.
Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under
this Section 16.01.
SECTION 16.02 Limitation on Liability.
(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum,
aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not
exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it
relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
(b) This Guarantee as to any Guarantor shall terminate and be of no further force or effect
and such Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article Sixteen
and Section 9.02 upon (i) the merger or consolidation of such Guarantor with or into any Person
other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Issuer where such Guarantor is not the
surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) the sale, exchange or transfer to any
Person not an Affiliate of the Issuer of all the Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the
assets of, such Guarantor; provided however, that in the case of (i) and (ii) above, such merger,
consolidation, sale, exchange or transfer is made in accordance with Section 9.01 and the successor
Person or transferee has assumed all of the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and
the Securities. This Guarantee also shall be automatically released upon the release or discharge
of the Indebtedness that results in the creation of such Guarantee, as the case may be. At the
request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing
such release.
SECTION 16.03 Benefits Acknowledged.
Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the
financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it
pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
SECTION 16.04 Successors and Assigns.
This Article Sixteen shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and
shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the
event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and
privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities of any series shall
automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and
conditions of this Indenture.
SECTION 16.05 No Waiver.
Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising
any right, power or privilege under this Article Sixteen shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right,
power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein
expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits
which either may have under this Article Sixteen at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
SECTION 16.06 Modification.
57
No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article Sixteen, nor the consent
to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall
be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor
in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same,
similar or other circumstances.
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 17.01 Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall
be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided,
upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of
the date first written above.
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The COMMON SEAL |
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of WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC |
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LIMITED COMPANY |
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was hereto affixed and this DEED was |
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DELIVERED in the presence of: |
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58
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WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS B.V. |
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By:
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WILLIS INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS LIMITED |
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By:
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Title: |
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TA I LIMITED |
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By:
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TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC |
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WILLIS GROUP LIMITED |
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By:
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WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC. |
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By:
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS TRUSTEE |
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By:
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59
exv5w4
Exhibit 5.4
Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
March 14, 2011
Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company
51 Lime Street
London EC3M 7DQ, England
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, a company organized and
existing under the laws of Ireland (the Issuer), and to Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., a
company organized and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, Willis Investment UK Holdings
Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales, TA I Limited, a
company with limited liability organized under the laws of England and Wales, Trinity Acquisition
plc, a company with limited liability organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales,
Willis Group Limited, organized under the laws of England and Wales, and Willis North America, a
Delaware corporation (each individually, a Guarantor, and collectively, the Guarantors), in
connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 3, dated the date hereof, (the Amendment) to
the Issuers Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated the date hereof (the Registration
Statement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), in connection
with the registration of the guarantees of the Guarantors to be issued in connection with the
Holdings Debt Securities (the New Guarantees). The New Guarantees may be issued and sold or
delivered from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the
prospectus contained therein (the Prospectus) and supplements to the Prospectus (the Prospectus
Supplements) pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act.
The New Guarantees will be issued under an Indenture (the Indenture) among the Issuer, the
Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the Trustee).
In so acting, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction) of (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Prospectus; and (iii) such corporate
records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or comparable documents
of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Issuer, and have made such inquiries
of such officers and representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the
opinions hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified,
conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As
to all questions of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we
have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives the
Guarantors. We have also assumed (i) the valid existence of each of the Guarantors and (ii) that
each of the Guarantors has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform,
as applicable, the Indenture and the New Guarantees.
Further, we have assumed (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including any
post-effective amendments) will have become effective and comply with all applicable laws and no
stop order suspending the Registration Statements effectiveness will have been issued and remain
in effect, in each case, at the time the New Guarantees are offered or issued as contemplated by
the Registration Statement, (ii) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the
Commission describing the New Guarantees offered thereby and will at all relevant times comply with
all applicable laws, (iii) the Issuer has timely filed all necessary reports pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are incorporated into the Registration Statement
by reference, (iv) all New Guarantees will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the
appropriate prospectus supplement, (v) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and
any other necessary agreement with respect to any New Guarantees will have been duly authorized and
validly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the other party or parties thereto, (vi) any New
Guarantees issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any New Guarantees being offered or
issued will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such
conversion, exercise or exchange and (vii) the issuance of any legally required consents,
approvals, authorizations or orders of the Commission and any other regulatory authority.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein, we are of
the opinion that:
New Guarantees. Assuming that the issuance and terms of any New Guarantees and the
terms of the offering thereof have been duly authorized, when (i) the Indenture substantially in
the form so filed, and the New Guarantees have been duly executed, authorized and delivered by all
parties thereto, (ii) the terms of the New Guarantees to be issued under the Indenture and of their
issuance have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any
applicable law, affect the enforceability of such New Guarantees or result in a default under or
breach of any agreement or instrument binding on Guarantors party thereto, and so as to comply with
any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over
the Guarantors party thereto and (iii) the New Guarantees have been duly executed in accordance
with the applicable indenture and the related Notes issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and
any prospectus supplement relating
2
thereto, and in accordance with any underwriting agreement, such New Guarantees will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the applicable Guarantors, enforceable against the
applicable Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and
remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including
principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except that rights to
indemnification and contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or
public policy relating thereto.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, and we express no
opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other
jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the use of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to any
and all references to our firm in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
3
exv12w1
Exhibit 12.1
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table contains our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the
periods indicated. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial
statements, including the Notes to those statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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For the Year Ended December 31, |
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2010 |
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2009 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
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3.9x
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3.4x
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3.7x
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6.3x
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8.9x |
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(1) |
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For the purposes of calculating the consolidated ratio of earnings to
fixed charges, earnings are defined as income before income taxes,
interest in earnings of associates and minority interest plus fixed
charges and dividends from associates, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges comprise
interest paid and payable, including the amortization of interest, and
an estimate of the interest expense element of lease rentals. |
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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Year ended |
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December 31, |
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2010 |
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2009 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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(millions except ratios) |
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Income before income taxes, equity in net income
of associates and noncontrolling interest |
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$ |
587 |
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$ |
522 |
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$ |
399 |
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$ |
554 |
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$ |
514 |
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Add back fixed charges: |
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Total fixed charges |
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205 |
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220 |
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150 |
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106 |
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66 |
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Dividends from associates |
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5 |
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12 |
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9 |
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6 |
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5 |
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Less: |
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Capitalized interest |
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(1 |
) |
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(1 |
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(2 |
) |
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Income as adjusted |
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$ |
796 |
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$ |
754 |
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$ |
557 |
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$ |
664 |
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$ |
585 |
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Fixed charges |
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Interest expense |
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$ |
166 |
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$ |
174 |
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$ |
105 |
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$ |
66 |
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$ |
38 |
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Portions of rents representative of interest factor |
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39 |
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46 |
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45 |
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40 |
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28 |
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Total fixed charges |
|
$ |
205 |
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$ |
220 |
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$ |
150 |
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$ |
106 |
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$ |
66 |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
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3.9 |
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3.4 |
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3.7 |
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6.3 |
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8.9 |
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COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
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Year ended |
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December 31, |
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2010 |
|
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2009 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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(millions except ratios) |
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Income before income taxes, equity in net income
of associates and noncontrolling interest |
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$ |
587 |
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$ |
522 |
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$ |
399 |
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$ |
554 |
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$ |
514 |
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Add back fixed charges: |
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Total fixed charges |
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205 |
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220 |
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|
150 |
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106 |
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66 |
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Dividends from associates |
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5 |
|
|
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12 |
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|
|
9 |
|
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|
6 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Less: |
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|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized interest |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income as adjusted |
|
$ |
796 |
|
|
$ |
754 |
|
|
$ |
557 |
|
|
$ |
664 |
|
|
$ |
585 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
|
$ |
166 |
|
|
$ |
174 |
|
|
$ |
105 |
|
|
$ |
66 |
|
|
$ |
38 |
|
Portions of rents representative of interest factor |
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fixed charges |
|
$ |
205 |
|
|
$ |
220 |
|
|
$ |
150 |
|
|
$ |
106 |
|
|
$ |
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock dividends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends |
|
$ |
205 |
|
|
$ |
220 |
|
|
$ |
150 |
|
|
$ |
106 |
|
|
$ |
66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends |
|
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
8.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For the purposes of calculating the consolidated ratio of earnings to
fixed charges, earnings are defined as income before income taxes,
interest in earnings of associates and minority interest plus fixed
charges and dividends from associates, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges comprise
interest paid and payable, including the amortization of interest, and
an estimate of the interest expense element of lease rentals. |
exv23w7
Exhibit 23.7
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration
Statement No. 333-160129 on Form S-3 of our report dated February 25, 2011 (March 14, 2011 as to
Note 30) relating to the consolidated financial statements of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited
Company appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company
dated March 14, 2011 and of our report dated February 25, 2011 on the effectiveness of Willis
Group Holdings Public Limited Companys internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company for the year ended
December 31, 2010 and to the reference to us under the heading Experts in the Prospectus, which
is part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte LLP
London, United Kingdom
March 14, 2011
exv25w1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) | |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
New York
|
|
13-5160382 |
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
if not a U.S. national bank)
|
|
identification no.) |
|
|
|
One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.
|
|
10286 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip code) |
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
Ireland
|
|
98-0352587 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
WILLIS NETHERLANDS HOLDINGS, B.V.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
Netherlands
|
|
98-0644532 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
WILLIS INVESTMENT UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
England & Wales
|
|
98-0596489 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
TA I LIMITED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
England & Wales
|
|
98-0351629 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
England & Wales
|
|
98-0198190 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
-2-
WILLIS GROUP LIMITED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
England & Wales
|
|
98-0199005 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
13-5654526 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
identification no.) |
|
|
|
c/o Willis Group Limited |
|
|
The Willis Building |
|
|
51 Lime Street |
|
|
London EC3M 7DQ, England |
|
|
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip code) |
Senior Debt Securities
and Guarantees of Senior Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
-3-
1. |
|
General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee: |
|
(a) |
|
Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is
subject. |
|
|
|
Name |
|
Address |
Superintendent of Banks of the State
of New York
|
|
One State Street, New
York, N.Y. 10004-1417,
and Albany, N.Y. 12223 |
|
|
|
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
|
|
33 Liberty Street, New
York, N.Y. 10045 |
|
|
|
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
|
|
Washington, D.C. 20429 |
|
|
|
New York Clearing House Association
|
|
New York, N.Y. 10005 |
|
(b) |
|
Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
|
|
Yes. |
|
2. |
|
Affiliations with Obligor. |
|
|
|
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
|
|
|
None. |
|
16. |
|
List of Exhibits. |
|
|
|
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated
herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 (the Act) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d). |
|
1. |
|
A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon
(formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now
in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to
exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with
Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with
Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration
Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
333-152735). |
- 4 -
4. |
|
A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed
with Registration Statement No. 333-154173). |
|
6. |
|
The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6
to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735). |
|
7. |
|
A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to
law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
- 5 -
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this
statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 10th day of March, 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
|
|
|
By: |
/S/ SHERMA THOMAS
|
|
|
|
Name: |
SHERMA THOMAS |
|
|
|
Title: |
SENIOR ASSOCIATE |
|
|
- 6 -
EXHIBIT 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2010, published in
accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions
of the Federal Reserve Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Amounts In Thousands |
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and balances due from depository
institutions: |
|
|
|
|
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency
and coin |
|
|
2,924,000 |
|
Interest-bearing balances |
|
|
64,634,000 |
|
Securities: |
|
|
|
|
Held-to-maturity securities |
|
|
3,651,000 |
|
Available-for-sale securities |
|
|
58,491,000 |
|
Federal funds sold and securities purchased
under agreements to resell: |
|
|
|
|
Federal funds sold in domestic offices |
|
|
20,000 |
|
Securities purchased under agreements to
resell |
|
|
1,792,000 |
|
Loans and lease financing receivables: |
|
|
|
|
Loans and leases held for sale |
|
|
6,000 |
|
Loans and leases, net of unearned income |
|
|
23,307,000 |
|
LESS: Allowance for loan and
lease losses |
|
|
482,000 |
|
Loans and leases, net of unearned
income and allowance |
|
|
22,825,000 |
|
Trading assets |
|
|
4,910,000 |
|
Premises and fixed assets (including
capitalized leases) |
|
|
1,163,000 |
|
Other real estate owned |
|
|
6,000 |
|
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
associated companies |
|
|
947,000 |
|
Direct and indirect investments in real estate
ventures |
|
|
0 |
|
Intangible assets: |
|
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
|
6,364,000 |
|
Other intangible assets |
|
|
1,805,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Amounts In Thousands |
Other assets |
|
|
12,317,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
|
181,855,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
Deposits: |
|
|
|
|
In domestic offices |
|
|
65,674,000 |
|
Noninterest-bearing |
|
|
33,246,000 |
|
Interest-bearing |
|
|
32,428,000 |
|
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
subsidiaries, and IBFs |
|
|
75,029,000 |
|
Noninterest-bearing |
|
|
4,900,000 |
|
Interest-bearing |
|
|
70,129,000 |
|
Federal funds purchased and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase: |
|
|
|
|
Federal funds purchased in domestic
offices |
|
|
3,272,000 |
|
Securities sold under agreements to
repurchase |
|
|
1,550,000 |
|
Trading liabilities |
|
|
6,207,000 |
|
Other borrowed money: |
|
|
|
|
(includes mortgage indebtedness and
obligations under capitalized leases) |
|
|
2,191,000 |
|
Not applicable |
|
|
|
|
Not applicable |
|
|
|
|
Subordinated notes and debentures |
|
|
3,490,000 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
8,577,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
165,990,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EQUITY CAPITAL |
|
|
|
|
Perpetual preferred stock and related
surplus |
|
|
0 |
|
Common stock |
|
|
1,135,000 |
|
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to
preferred stock) |
|
|
8,591,000 |
|
Retained earnings |
|
|
6,821,000 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
-1,044,000 |
|
Other equity capital components |
|
|
0 |
|
Total bank equity capital |
|
|
15,503,000 |
|
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in
consolidated subsidiaries |
|
|
362,000 |
|
Total equity capital |
|
|
15,865,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and equity capital |
|
|
181,855,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I, Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that
this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Gibbons, |
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and
liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
|
|
|
|
|
Robert P. Kelly Gerald L. Hassell Catherine A. Rein
|
|
]
|
|
Directors |