Prospectus Supplement
Table of Contents

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities offered

  Maximum aggregate
offering price
 

Amount of

registration fee

2.125% Senior Notes due 2022

  $605,556,000   $60,979 (1)(2)

Guarantees of 2.125% Senior Notes due 2022 (3)

   

 

 

(1) The filing fee of $60,979 is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) The Amount to be Registered is based on the May 19, 2016 euro/U.S.$ exchange rate of €1/U.S.$1.1214, as reported by Bloomberg.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate registration fee is due for the guarantees.


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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-210094

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated March 11, 2016)

 

 

LOGO

Trinity Acquisition plc

€540,000,000 2.125% Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

Trinity Acquisition plc (the “Issuer”) will issue €540 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes that will mature on May 26, 2022 and bear interest at 2.125% per annum (the “Notes”). The Notes will be issued in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof.

Interest on the Notes is payable annually in arrears on May 26 of each year beginning on May 26, 2017. The Notes will rank equally with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.

The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer in whole at any time or in part from time to time at the applicable redemption prices specified under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption,” plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to the redemption date. As described under “Description of Notes—Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event,” if Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company experiences a change of control and a ratings decline, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase the Notes from holders unless we have previously redeemed the Notes.

Payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc.

 

 

Investing in the Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-19 of this prospectus supplement and on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus dated March 11, 2016, constitutes the listing particulars (these “Listing Particulars”) in respect of the admission of the Notes to the Official List of the Irish Stock Exchange (the “Official List”) and to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange (the “Global Exchange Market”). Application has been made to the Irish Stock Exchange for the approval of this document as Listing Particulars and for the Notes to be admitted to the Official List and trade on the Global Exchange Market, which is the exchange regulated market of the Irish Stock Exchange. The Global Exchange Market is not a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC.

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 supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Per Note     Total  

Public offering price(1)

     99.838   539,125,200   

Underwriting discount

     0.400   2,160,000   

Proceeds to Trinity Acquisition plc (before expenses)

     99.438   536,965,200   

 

(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from May 26, 2016.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme on or about May 26, 2016, which is the              London business day following the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 
Barclays   HSBC   Wells Fargo Securities
J.P. Morgan   MUFG

 

Co-Managers

 

Lloyds Bank   Citigroup
BMO Capital Markets   The Royal Bank of Scotland

May 19, 2016


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

      Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

     S-1   

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN RISKS

     S-3   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

     S-5   

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

     S-6   

THE OFFERING

     S-9   

RISK FACTORS

     S-19   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     S-28   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     S-29   

CAPITALIZATION

     S-30   

EXCHANGE RATES

     S-31   

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER DEBT

     S-32   

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

     S-38   

CERTAIN MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     S-54   

UNDERWRITING; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

     S-62   

LEGAL OPINIONS

     S-67   

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

     S-67   

EXPERTS

     S-67   

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     S-68   

LISTING AND GENERAL INFORMATION

     S-69   

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

     S-71   

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC

     S-72   

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF GUARANTORS FOR LISTING

     S-73   

PROSPECTUS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     ii   

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     iv   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

     vi   

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     vi   

SUMMARY

     1   

RISK FACTORS

     4   

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS

     4   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     4   

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     4   

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

     5   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     5   

EXPERTS

     5   

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     5   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering of the Notes and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which does not apply to the Notes. We refer to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus collectively as the “prospectus.” If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus with respect to the offering filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates.

The Issuer accepts responsibility for the information contained in these Listing Particulars, and to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Issuer (which has taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in these Listing Particulars is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

We and the underwriters are not making an offer to sell the Notes in jurisdictions where the offer or sale is not permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the Notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the Notes and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for a person to make an offer or solicitation.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be used in connection with the offering of the Notes and the admission to trade on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange.

All references to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” “Willis,” “WTW” and “Willis Towers Watson” in this prospectus supplement are to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All references to “Parent” are to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and not to any of its subsidiaries. All references to the “Issuer” and “Trinity Acquisition plc” in this prospectus supplement refer only to Trinity Acquisition plc and not to any of its subsidiaries. All references to “Legacy Willis” are to Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, prior to the Merger (as defined herein). References herein to “$,” “dollars” and “U.S. dollars” are to the currency of the United States of America and references to “€” and “euro” are to the single currency introduced at the third stage of the European Monetary Union pursuant to the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES, HSBC BANK PLC (IN THIS CAPACITY,THE “STABILIZING MANAGER”) (OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON ITS BEHALF) MAY OVER-ALLOT NOTES OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WITH A VIEW TO SUPPORTING THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES AT A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE STABILIZING MANAGER (OR PERSONS ACTING ON BEHALF

 

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OF THE STABILIZING MANAGER) WILL UNDERTAKE ANY STABILIZATION ACTION. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION MAY BEGIN ON OR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH ADEQUATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE FINAL TERMS OF THE OFFER OF THE NOTES IS MADE, AND, IF BEGUN, MAY BE ENDED AT ANY TIME, BUT IT MUST END NO LATER THAN THE EARLIER OF 30 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES AND 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ALLOTMENT OF THE NOTES. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION OR OVER-ALLOTMENTS MUST BE CONDUCTED BY THE STABILIZING MANAGER (OR PERSONS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE STABILIZING MANAGER) IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. SEE “UNDERWRITING; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the Notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in that Relevant Member State of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer. The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to, and are only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive and that are also (1) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) or (2) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “Relevant Person”). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and their contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been approved for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) by a person authorized under FSMA. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are being distributed and communicated to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.

The Notes are not being offered or sold to any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances which will not result in an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Part VI of FSMA.

The Notes are offered globally for sale only in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the Notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who receive this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus

 

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should inform themselves about and observe any applicable restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation. See “Underwriting; Conflicts of Interest.”

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN RISKS

We have included in this document (including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus) “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. 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 and planned acquisitions, competitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and operations, plans and references to future successes, and the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Towers Watson & Co. (“Towers Watson”) and the Company (prior to such business combination), including the combined company’s future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions are forward-looking statements. Also, when we use the words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “probably,” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature.

There are important risks, uncertainties, events and factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document, including the following:

 

   

changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets;

 

   

consolidation in or conditions affecting the industries in which we operate;

 

   

any changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate;

 

   

the ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes;

 

   

our ability to successfully integrate the Towers Watson, Gras Savoye & Cie (“Gras Savoye”) and Legacy Willis businesses, operations and employees, and realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings;

 

   

the potential impact of the Merger on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, clients and competitors;

 

   

significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability;

 

   

compliance with extensive government regulation;

 

   

our ability to make divestitures or acquisitions and our ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses;

 

   

expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation;

 

   

the risk that the Stanford Financial Group (“Stanford”) litigation settlement will not be finalized or approved, the risk that the bar order may be challenged in other jurisdictions, and the deductibility of the charge relating to the settlement;

 

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the risk of material adverse outcomes on existing litigation matters;

 

   

the diversion of time and attention of our management team while the Merger and other acquisitions are being integrated;

 

   

doing business internationally, including the impact of exchange rates;

 

   

the federal income tax consequences of the Merger and the enactment of additional state, federal, and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations, including changes in tax rates;

 

   

our capital structure, including indebtedness amounts, the limitations imposed by the covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness and the maintenance of the financial and disclosure controls and procedures of each;

 

   

our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all;

 

   

adverse changes in our credit ratings;

 

   

the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

 

   

our ability to retain and hire key personnel;

 

   

a decline in defined benefit pension plan market;

 

   

various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action;

 

   

failure to protect client data or breaches of information systems;

 

   

reputational damage;

 

   

disasters or business continuity problems;

 

   

clients choosing to reduce or terminate the services provided by us;

 

   

fluctuation in revenues against our relatively fixed expenses;

 

   

management of client engagements;

 

   

technological change;

 

   

the inability to protect intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others;

 

   

increases in the price, or difficulty of obtaining, insurance;

 

   

fluctuations in our pension liabilities;

 

   

loss of, failure to maintain, or dependence on certain relationships with insurance carriers;

 

   

changes and developments in the United States healthcare system;

 

   

the availability of tax-advantaged consumer-directed benefits to employers and employees;

 

   

reliance on third party services;

 

   

our holding company structure;

 

   

changes in accounting estimates and assumptions; and

 

   

changes in the market price of our shares.

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 the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

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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 and the accompanying prospectus may not occur, and we caution you against 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 SEC’s 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 operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and through the NASDAQ Global Select Market, 4 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, on which our ordinary shares are listed.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus supplement 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 supplement 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 SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site referred to above.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary contains basic information about us and this offering. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing. To fully understand this offering, you should read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and our financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment decision.

The Companies

Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has approximately 39,000 employees in more than 120 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. We believe our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas—the dynamic formula that drives business performance.

We bring together professionals from around the world—experts in their areas of specialty—to deliver the perspectives that give organizations a clear path forward. We do this by offering risk management, insurance broking, consulting, technology and solutions and private exchanges.

In our capacity as a consultant, technology and solutions provider and private exchange company, we help our clients enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees. We focus on delivering consulting services that help organizations anticipate, identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital management as well as investment advice to help our clients develop disciplined and efficient strategies to meet their investment goals. We operate the largest private Medicare exchange in the United States. Through this exchange, we help our clients move to a more sustainable economic model by capping and controlling the costs associated with retiree healthcare benefits.

In our capacity as risk 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 with insurance carriers through our global distribution network. 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 analysis), 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 derive the majority of our revenue from commissions and fees for broking and consulting services. No single client represented a significant concentration of our consolidated revenues for any of the periods presented herein.

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company is the ultimate holding company for Willis Towers Watson. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company was incorporated in Ireland on September 24, 2009 under the name Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, as a public limited company, for the sole purpose of redomiciling the ultimate parent company from Bermuda to Ireland. On June 29, 2015, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Towers Watson & Co. and Citadel

 



 

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Merger Sub, Inc., pursuant to which Towers Watson became a subsidiary of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company (the “Merger”). The Merger was completed on January 4, 2016, and in connection with the Merger, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company changed its name to “Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.”

Each of Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. are direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson 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 Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, which was incorporated in Ireland on August 27, 2015, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., which was organized in the Netherlands on November 27, 2009, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., which was incorporated in Bermuda on August 26, 2015, and Willis North America Inc., which was incorporated in Delaware on December 27, 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.willistowerswatson.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus. Willis North America Inc.’s principal executive offices are located at Brookfield Place, 200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10281 and its telephone number is 212-915-8084.

The Merger

On January 4, 2016, pursuant to the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 2015, as amended on November 19, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), between Legacy Willis, Towers Watson, and Citadel Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legacy Willis formed for the purpose of facilitating this transaction (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into Towers Watson, with Towers Watson continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis.

Immediately following the Merger, Legacy Willis effected (i) a consolidation (i.e., a reverse stock split under Irish law) of Willis ordinary shares whereby every 2.6490 Legacy Willis ordinary shares, $0.000115 nominal value per share, were consolidated into one Willis ordinary share, $0.000304635 nominal value per share, (the “Consolidation”) and (ii) an amendment to its Constitution and other organizational documents to change its name from Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.

Upon the closing of the Merger, (i) Towers Watson common stock, which was previously traded under the ticker symbol “TW” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”), ceased trading and was delisted from the NASDAQ after the close of trading on January 4, 2016 and (ii) Willis ordinary shares began trading on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol ‘WLTW’ on January 5, 2016.

Recent Developments

On April 27, 2016, Willis Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company entered into a third amendment (the “WSI Third Amendment”) to the WSI Credit Agreement (as defined herein). The terms of the WSI Third Amendment extend the end date of the Original Credit Period (as defined herein) to April 28, 2017, extend the Original Repayment Date (as defined herein) to April 28, 2018 and make certain modifications to the pricing set forth in the WSI Credit Agreement. See “Description of Other Debt—Credit Facilities—WSI Credit Facility.”

 



 

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Corporate Structure

The following chart summarizes certain relevant aspects of our corporate structure relating to our outstanding indebtedness as of March 31, 2016 and the Notes being offered hereby.

 

LOGO

 

 

Note: Simplified organization structure that may exclude some intermediate holding companies and intercompany, internal debt. Amounts shown for our senior note debt securities represent the amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2016, unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Represents $495 million of 5.750% senior notes due 2021. The Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities are guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. See “Description of Other Debt—Senior Debt Securities.”

(2) Represents $445 million of 3.500% senior notes due 2021, $247 million of 4.625% senior notes due 2023, $543 million of 4.400% senior notes due 2026 and $271 million of 6.125% senior notes due 2043. The Trinity Debt Securities are guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. See “Description of Other Debt—Senior Debt Securities.”

(3) Represents $1,081 million senior credit facilities consisting of (i) an $800 million senior revolving credit facility expiring July 2018, of which $0 is outstanding as of May 10, 2016 and (ii) a $281 million senior term loan facility expiring July 2018, of which $236 million is outstanding as of May 10, 2016. The Parent Credit Facilities are guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited. See “Description of Other Debt—Credit Facilities.”

(4) Represents (i) €550 million in tranche A term loans expiring December 2016, of which €544 million is outstanding as of May 10, 2016, and (ii) $400 million in tranche B term loans (which have been repaid). The Parent Bridge Loan Facility is guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited. See “Description of Other Debt—Credit Facilities.” We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay all amounts outstanding under the tranche A term loans of our Parent Bridge Loan. See “Use of Proceeds.”

(5) Represent $394 million of 6.200% senior notes due 2017 and $186 million of 7.000% senior notes due 2019. The Willis North America Debt Securities are guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis Group Limited See “Description of Other Debt—Senior Debt Securities.”

(6) Represents a $400 million revolving note facility with availability expiring April 2017 and the aggregated unpaid principal amount of all outstanding advances to be repaid April 2018. The WSI Credit Facility is guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson Public Company Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis North America Inc., Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. See “Description of Other Debt—Credit Facilities.”

(7) Represents 4-year $340 million term loan facility expiring December 2019, of which $319 million is outstanding as of May 10, 2016, that is guaranteed by all existing subsidiaries of Towers Watson Delaware Inc. (none of the entities shown). See “Description of Other Debt—Credit Facilities.”

(8) Formerly Towers Watson.

 



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Issuer

Trinity Acquisition plc

 

Notes Offered

€540 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2022.

 

Interest Rate

The Notes will bear an interest rate equal to 2.125% per annum.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the Notes is payable on May 26 of each year, beginning on May 26, 2017.

 

Maturity

The Notes will mature on May 26, 2022.

 

Currency of Payments

All payments of principal of, and interest on, the Notes, including any payments made upon any redemption of the Notes and the payment of any additional amounts payable with respect to the Notes, will be made in euro. If the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then-member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the Notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate published in The Wall Street Journal on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date.

 

Form and Denomination

The Notes will be issued in fully registered form in minimum denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes will be issued in book-entry form, represented by one or more global notes deposited with a common depositary and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”), and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”). Beneficial interests in any of the Notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by Clearstream and Euroclear and their participants, and these beneficial interests may not be exchanged for certificated Notes, except in limited circumstances. See “Description of Notes—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.”

 

Listing and Trading

Application has been made to the Irish Stock Exchange for the approval of this document as Listing Particulars and for the Notes to be admitted to the Official List and trade on the Global Exchange

 



 

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Market, which is the exchange regulated market of the Irish Stock Exchange. The Global Exchange Market is not a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC. We cannot assure you that the Notes will become or will remain listed on the Global Exchange Market. In addition, the Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a trading market for the Notes will develop or if one develops, that it will be maintained. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement.

 

Ranking

The Notes will be senior unsubordinated unsecured obligations of Trinity Acquisition plc and will be guaranteed on a senior unsubordinated unsecured basis by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc., and will:

 

   

rank equally with all of the Issuer’s existing and future unsubordinated and unsecured debt, including the 3.500% senior notes due 2021, the 4.625% senior notes due 2023, the 4.400% senior notes due 2026 and the 6.125% senior notes due 2043 (the “Trinity Debt Securities”);

 

   

rank equally with the Issuer’s guarantee of all of the existing senior debt of the Parent and the other Guarantors (as defined below), including the 6.200% senior notes due 2017, the 7.000% senior notes due 2019 and the 5.750% senior notes due 2021 (collectively with the Trinity Debt Securities and the Willis North America Debt Securities (as defined herein), the “Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities”) and any debt under the Credit Facilities (as defined herein);

 

   

be senior in right of payment to all of the Issuer’s future subordinated debt; and

 

   

be effectively subordinated to all of the Issuer’s future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

 

  As of March 31, 2016, after giving effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the total outstanding senior indebtedness of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors that would rank equally with the Notes would have been approximately $3,560 million.

 

  Each of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors has only a stockholder’s claim on the assets of its subsidiaries. This stockholder’s claim is junior to the claims that creditors of such subsidiaries have against those subsidiaries. Holders of the Notes will only be creditors of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors and not creditors of Parent’s other subsidiaries. As a result, all the existing and future liabilities of Parent’s non-guarantor subsidiaries, including any claims of trade creditors and preferred stockholders, will be structurally senior to the Notes.

 



 

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  As of March 31, 2016, the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Parent had $344 million of outstanding indebtedness, other than ordinary course trade payables. As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016, the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Parent represented substantially all of the total assets of Willis Towers Watson prior to consolidating adjustments, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, and accounted for substantially all of the total revenue of Willis Towers Watson.

 

  For more information on the ranking of the Notes, see “Description of Notes—Ranking.”

 

Guarantees

Payment of principal of, and interest on, the Notes, including any payments made upon any redemption of the Notes and the payment of any additional amounts payable with respect to the Notes, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. (the “Guarantors”). Each guarantee will be:

 

   

a general unsecured obligation of the applicable Guarantor;

 

   

equal in ranking with any existing or future unsecured debt of such Guarantor that is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to such guarantee, including such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities, and such Guarantor’s guarantee under the Credit Facilities;

 

   

senior in right of payment to any existing or future debt of the applicable Guarantor that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to such guarantee; and

 

   

effectively subordinated to any future secured debt of such Guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

 

  For more information on the guarantee of the Notes, see “Description of Notes—Guarantees.”

 

Additional Amounts

Any payments made by or on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor with respect to the Notes or any Guarantee of the Notes will be made without withholding or deduction for taxes in any relevant taxing jurisdiction (as defined herein) unless required by law. If we are required by law to withhold or deduct for such taxes with respect to a payment to the holders of the Notes, we will pay the additional amounts necessary so that the net amount received by the holders of the Notes after the withholding or deduction is not less than the amount that they would have received in the absence of the withholding or deduction, subject to certain exceptions. See “Description of Notes—Additional Amounts.”

 



 

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Early Redemption for Tax Reasons

In the event of certain changes affecting taxation, the Issuer may redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, at any time upon proper notice, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, to the date of redemption. See “Description of Notes—Early Redemption for Tax Reasons.”

 

Redemption

Prior to February 26, 2022 (the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the Notes), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a price equal to the greater of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or a “make-whole” amount, plus in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  On or after February 26, 2022 (the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the Notes), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

  See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined herein) occurs, the Issuer will make an offer to each holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. See “Description of Notes—Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.”

 

Further Issuances

The Issuer may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the Notes, increase the principal amount of the Notes under the indenture and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof), in which case any additional Notes so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the date of issuance and the public offering price and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue and the initial interest payment date), and will carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest, as the Notes previously issued, and such additional Notes will form a single series with the previously issued Notes, including for voting purposes.

 

Use of Proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with existing cash resources, to repay €544 million of tranche A term loans under our Parent Bridge Loan Facility (as defined herein) and related accrued interest. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 



 

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Risk Factors

See page S-19 of this prospectus supplement and page 4 of the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of risks you should consider before making an investment in the Notes.

 

Conflicts of Interest

Certain affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank plc, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc, Wells Fargo Securities International Limited, Lloyds Bank plc and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, each an underwriter in this offering, will receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the repayment of the Parent Bridge Loan Facility and potential repayment of the Parent Revolving Credit Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Rule 5121. Because the Notes to be offered will be rated investment grade, pursuant to Rule 5121, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary. Underwriters subject to Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will not confirm sales of the Notes to any account over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer.

 

Trustee

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

Paying Agent

Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch (a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp).

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Elavon Financial Services Limited.

 



 

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Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data and Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information of WTW

The summary consolidated financial data of WTW presented below as of and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, which are incorporated herein by reference, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The summary consolidated financial data of WTW presented below as of and for each of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 have been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, which are incorporated herein by reference. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements in all material respects. The results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period.

The summary consolidated financial data presented below as of and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2015 and as of and for each of the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and the related notes which appear in our Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, amending the audited financial statements filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and our unaudited financial statements and the related notes which appear in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, each incorporated herein by reference, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which appears in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016.

Pursuant to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, we do not include separate complete consolidated financial statements for Trinity Acquisition plc or any of the Guarantors (other than Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company) in our periodic Exchange Act filings. We do include condensed consolidated financial information in our periodic Exchange Act filings that presents information for Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (on a stand-alone basis); the Guarantors (other than Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company); Trinity Acquisition plc (on a stand-alone basis); and other subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company that are not Guarantors—see note 30 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 incorporated in this prospectus supplement from our Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, amending the audited financial statements filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and note 19 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 incorporated in this prospectus supplement from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016.

The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations information of WTW for the year ended December 31, 2015, is based upon the historical financial statements of Legacy Willis and Towers Watson and has been prepared to give effect to the Merger as if it had been completed on January 1, 2015.

The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results that might have occurred had the Merger taken place on January 1, 2015 for statements of operations purposes and is not intended to be a projection of future results. Future results may vary significantly from the results reflected because of various factors, including those discussed in “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information does not give effect to certain expected financial benefits of the Merger, such as revenue synergies, tax savings and cost synergies, or the anticipated costs to achieve these benefits, including the cost of integration activities.

 



 

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The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 10, 2016.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Pro Forma
Year  Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013      2014      2015      2015(i)          2015              2016      
     (millions)  

Statement of Operations Data

                 

Total revenues

   $ 3,655       $ 3,802       $ 3,829       $ 7,486       $ 1,087       $ 2,234   

Income from operations

     663         647         427         763         293         326   

Income before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates

     499         518         340         709         254         262   

Net income

     377         373         384         645         214         245   

Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson

   $ 365       $ 362       $ 373         633         210         238   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31,      As of March 31,  
     2013      2014      2015      2015      2016  

Balance Sheet Data

              

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 796       $ 635       $ 532       $ 503       $ 954   

Goodwill

     2,838         2,937         3,737         2,889         10,477   

Other intangible assets, net

     353         450         1,115         418         5,086   

Total assets(ii)(iii)

     14,785         15,421         18,839         16,105         33,029   

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt(iii)

     14         167         988         168         1,144   

Long-term debt(iii)

     2,297         2,130         2,278         2,137         2,767   

Total liabilities(iii)

     12,542         13,355         16,426         13,733         21,672   

Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,215       $ 1,985       $ 2,229       $ 2,298       $ 11,151   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Three Months Ended
March  31,
 
     2013      2014      2015          2015              2016      
     (millions, except per share data and ratios)  

Other Financial Data

              

Capital expenditures (excluding capital leases)

   $ 105       $ 110       $ 146         17         48   

Cash dividends declared per share

     2.97         3.18         3.28         0.82         0.48   

Adjusted EBITDA(iv)

     874       $ 858       $ 890         366         671   

Ratio of Debt to Adjusted EBITDA(iv)

     2.64x         2.68x         3.67x         6.30x         5.83x   

 

(i) The pro forma condensed consolidated information has been prepared to reflect the Merger. The unaudited pro forma condensed income statement information assumes that the Merger occurred on January 1, 2015.
(ii) Legacy Willis collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its commissions, remits the premiums to the respective insurers; the Company also collects claims or refunds from insurers which it then remits to insureds. Uncollected premiums from insureds and uncollected claims or refunds from insurers (“Fiduciary Receivables”) are recorded as fiduciary assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Unremitted insurance premiums, claims or refunds (“Fiduciary Funds”) are also recorded within fiduciary assets.
(iii) Legacy Willis has early-adopted FASB-issued ASU No. 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” and FASB-issued ASU No. 2015-17 “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.” 2014 and 2013 balances have been reclassified accordingly. See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for further details.

 



 

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(iv) Management believes that the understanding of the Company’s performance and comparative analysis of our results is enhanced by our disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA. We use this and other measures to establish Willis Towers Watson performance targets and evaluate the performance of our operations. We adjust net income for such things as provision for income taxes, interest expense, depreciation, amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction costs, and other non-recurring items.

However, Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net income or other financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

We present such non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, as we believe such information is of interest to the investment community because it provides additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of the Company’s operating performance from period to period on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a U.S. GAAP basis.

Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to provide consistency and comparability with past financial performance to facilitate a comparison of our current results with those of other periods.

Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because securities analysts use Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies.

Although Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors and securities analysts in their evaluations of companies, Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP.

Some of the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA are:

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our future requirements for contractual commitments;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or requirements for, our working capital;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest income, interest expense or principal payments on our debt;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect payments for income taxes;

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any replacements of tangible or intangible assets; and

 

   

Other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

 



 

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A reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA, is as follows (in millions):

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
       2013         2014         2015         2015         2016    

Net income, U.S. GAAP basis

   $ 377      $ 373      $ 384      $ 214      $ 245   

Excluding:

      

Provision for income taxes

     122        159        (33     56        18   

Interest expense

     126        135        142        33        46   

Loss and fees related to the extinguishment of debt

     61        —          —          —          —     

Depreciation

     94        92        95        22        43   

Amortization

     55        54        76        14        161   

Restructuring costs

     —          36        126        31        25   

Integration and transaction costs

     —          7        84        —          52   

Litigation provision(a)

     —          —          70        —          50   

Expense reduction initiative costs

     41        —          —          —          —     

Gain on remeasurement of interest in associates

     —          —          (59     —          —     

Gain on disposal of operations

     (2     (12     (25     (4     (1

Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue

     —          —          —          —          32   

Impact of Venezuela devaluation

     —          14        30        —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     874        858        890        366        671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) In light of our review of the facts and circumstances relating to the Stanford Financial Group litigation matters discussed under “Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement (which are non-ordinary course litigation matters), we added $70 million to our provisions for loss contingencies relating to the Stanford litigation. In conducting such a review, we take into account a variety of factors in accordance with applicable accounting standards. As disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 6, 2016, on March 31, 2016, we entered into a settlement in principle to resolve all Stanford-related litigation under which Willis North America will make a one-time cash settlement payment of $120 million, subject to the approval of the trial court and entry of bar orders that prohibit any continued or future litigation against WTW. In connection with the settlement in principle, we have added a further provision for $50 million, before tax and therefore the additional charge will impact first quarter net income. We expect that the settlement will be tax deductible.

 



 

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Summary Historical Condensed Consolidated Financial Information of Towers Watson

The summary historical consolidated financial data of Towers Watson presented below as of June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 2015 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of Towers Watson which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The summary historical consolidated financial data of Towers Watson presented below as of June 30, 2013 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of Towers Watson not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

The summary historical consolidated financial data of Towers Watson for the six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and as of December 31, 2015 have been derived from Towers Watson’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Exhibit 99.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 9, 2016, which is also incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The summary historical consolidated financial data of Towers Watson as of December 31, 2014 have been derived from Towers Watson’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Towers Watson’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the information set forth therein. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire year, and historical results for any prior period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.

You should read the following information together with Towers Watson’s audited consolidated financial statements, the related notes and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Exhibit 99.1 in our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 17, 2016, and Towers Watson’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the related notes and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Exhibit 99.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 17, 2016, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. For more information, see “Incorporation By Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

 

     Year Ended June 30,      Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2014      2015      2014      2015  
     (audited)      (audited)      (audited)      (unaudited)      (unaudited)  

Statement of Operations Data

     (millions)   

Total revenues

   $ 3,433       $ 3,482       $ 3,645       $ 1,836       $ 1,845   

Operating income

     432         495         589         293         200   

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     429         499         586         291         251   

Income from continuing operations

     292         360         386         192         135   

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     24         6         —           —           —     

Net Income attributable to Towers Watson

   $ 319       $ 359       $ 385       $ 192       $ 135   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance sheet data (as of year-end or six-months end, as applicable)

              

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 533       $ 728       $ 715       $ 621       $ 476   

Goodwill

     2,219         2,313         2,278         2,192         2,196   

Other intangible assets, net

     688         657         654         605         614   

Total assets

     5,332         5,628         5,394         5,337         4,965   

Revolving credit facility, term loans and Notes

     250         225         240         262         740   

Total liabilities

     2,587         2,517         2,447         2,294         2,698   

Total Towers Watson stockholders equity

     2,724         3,097         2,932         3,030         2,251   

 



 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider these risk factors, the risk factors in the accompanying prospectus, the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and all of the other information herein and therein before making an investment decision. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference, for a full list of risk factors that affect us, including, but not limited to, risks relating to our business, risks relating to integration following the Merger and the Gras Savoye acquisition, risks related to our jurisdiction of incorporation and risks relating to our ordinary shares.

Risks Related to the Notes

The Issuer, Trinity Acquisition plc, is a holding company and therefore depends on its subsidiaries to service its obligations under the Notes and other indebtedness. The Issuer’s ability to repay the Notes depends upon the performance of its subsidiaries and their ability to make distributions to the Issuer. Similar constraints apply with respect to the guarantees.

The Issuer depends on its subsidiaries, which conduct the operations of our insurance brokerage business, for dividends and other payments to generate the funds necessary to meet its financial obligations, including payments of principal and interest on the Notes. However, other than the Guarantors, none of its subsidiaries is obligated to make funds available to the Issuer for payment on the Notes. In addition, legal restrictions and contractual restrictions in agreements governing future indebtedness, as well as financial condition and operating requirements of the Issuer’s subsidiaries, may limit the Issuer’s ability to obtain cash from these subsidiaries. The earnings from, or other available assets of, the Issuer’s subsidiaries may not be sufficient to pay dividends or make distributions or loans to enable the Issuer to make payments in respect of the Notes when such payments are due. In addition, even if such earnings were sufficient, we cannot assure you that the agreements governing the future indebtedness of the Issuer’s subsidiaries will permit such subsidiaries to provide the Issuer with sufficient dividends, distributions or loans to fund interest and principal payments on the Notes offered hereby when due.

Because Parent is also a holding company, and the other Guarantors of the Notes are all direct and indirect subsidiaries of Parent and are also holding companies, the restrictions and constraints described above apply similarly to Parent’s and the other Guarantors’ ability to perform their obligations under the guarantees, including with respect to payments of principal and interest under the Notes.

U.S. federal and state statutes and applicable U.K., Irish, Dutch and Bermuda law may allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void, vary or subordinate guarantees and require noteholders to return payments received from Guarantors.

The Issuer is a company organized under the laws of England and Wales. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited are Irish companies. Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. is a Dutch company. Willis North America is a Delaware corporation. WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. is a Bermuda company. Each other Guarantor is a company organized under the laws of England and Wales.

Under English insolvency law, the liquidator or administrator of a company in liquidation or administration (respectively) may apply to the court to void or vary a transaction entered into by such company at an undervalue, if such company was insolvent at the time of, or became insolvent as a consequence of, the transaction (there is a presumption of insolvency where the party to such transaction is a ‘connected person’ (as defined in the UK Insolvency Act 1986). A transaction at an undervalue includes a transaction involving a gift by the company or where the company received consideration of significantly less value than the benefit given by such company. A transaction at an undervalue entered into within two years prior to the onset of insolvency could be challenged.

 

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Separately, a transaction at an undervalue which was entered into with the intention of placing assets out of the reach of a particular party, or to otherwise prejudice a party’s interest in relation to a claim, could be challenged by that party (with the leave of the court), a liquidator, administrator, the Financial Conduct Authority or Pensions Regulator, as a transaction which defrauds creditors, whether or not the company ever entered into a formal insolvency process. A court generally will not make an order to set aside a transaction at an undervalue if the company entered into the transaction in good faith for the purposes of carrying on its business and there were reasonable grounds for believing the transaction would benefit the company.

An administrator or liquidator may also apply to court to set aside an action which puts a creditor, surety or guarantor into a better position at the expense of other creditors (known as a preference), where such company had a desire to prefer that party, if such company was insolvent at the time of, or became insolvent as a consequence of, the transaction, and such transaction occurs up to two years prior to the onset of insolvency if the preferred party is a ‘connected person’ (as defined in the UK Insolvency Act 1986) (or six months prior to the onset of insolvency if the preferred party is not connected).

The laws of the Republic of Ireland, the jurisdiction in which Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited are organized, may limit their ability to guarantee debts. Furthermore, obligations under guarantees may not be enforceable in all circumstances under Irish law. For example, there is a risk that a guarantee from an Irish company may be challenged as unenforceable on the basis that there is an absence of corporate benefit on the part of the guarantor or that it is not for the purpose of carrying on the business of the guarantor. Where an Irish guarantor is a direct or indirect holding company of the subsidiary whose debts are being guaranteed, there is less risk of an absence of a corporate benefit on the basis that the holding company could justify the decision to give a guarantee to protect or enhance its investment in its direct or indirect subsidiary.

In addition, pursuant to Section 604 of the Irish Companies Act 2014, if an Irish company goes into liquidation any payment or any act by it (usually an absolute transfer or a mortgage) relating to property in favour of any creditor which was made or done at a time when the company was unable to pay its debts as they fell due with a view to preferring that creditor over its other creditors and within six months (or two years if that creditor is a “connected person” as defined in Section 559(1) of the Irish Companies Act 2014) before the onset of the liquidation, shall be an unfair preference and invalid.

Also, in circumstances where an Irish company is or is likely to be unable to pay its debts, then that company, the directors of that company, a contingent, prospective or actual creditor of that company, or certain shareholders of that company may be entitled to petition the court for the appointment of an examiner to the company. The examiner, once appointed, has the power to set aside contracts and arrangements entered into by the company after this appointment and, in certain circumstances, can avoid a negative pledge given by the company prior to this appointment. No proceedings of any sort may be commenced against an Irish company in examinership (for the duration of the period of protection afforded to the company by the appointment of an examiner). If an examiner is appointed to an Irish guarantor, there may be a delay in enforcing payment obligations contained in a guarantee given by any such guarantor. There is also the potential risk that a compromise or scheme of arrangement will be approved in the examinership involving the writing down or rescheduling of any payment obligations owed by an Irish guarantor under a guarantee.

The laws of The Netherlands, the jurisdiction in which Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. is incorporated, may limit its ability to guarantee debts. These limitations arise under various provisions and principles of corporate law.

If Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. enters into a transaction (such as the granting of a guarantee), the validity and enforceability of the relevant transaction may be contested by Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. or its administrator (bewindvoerder) in moratorium of payments or its trustee in bankruptcy (curator), if (i) that transaction is not in Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.’s corporate interest (vennootschappelijk belang) and

 

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(ii) the other party to the transaction knew or should have known this without independent investigation (wist of zonder eigen onderzoek moest weten). In determining whether the granting of a guarantee is in the interest of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., a Dutch court would not only consider the text of the objects clause in the articles of association of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., but also all relevant circumstances, including whether Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. derives certain commercial benefits from the transaction in respect of which the guarantee was granted and any indirect benefit derived by Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. as a consequence of the interdependence of it with the group of companies to which it belongs and whether or not the subsistence of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. is jeopardized by conducting such transaction. The issuing of a guarantee is reflected in paragraph d of article 3 of the objects clause (doelomschrijving) of the articles of association of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. The mere fact that a certain legal act (rechtshandeling) is explicitly mentioned in the objects clause in the articles of association of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., may not be conclusive evidence to state that such legal act is in the corporate interest. The management of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. must consider whether the issuing of the guarantee of the Notes actually fulfils the material interests of Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.

In connection with potential local law restrictions, the guarantees will contain language limiting the amount of debt guaranteed. However, it is not clear under Dutch law to what extent such contractual limitations can remove the risks connected with upstream, cross-stream and third party guarantees. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that a third-party creditor would not challenge the guarantees and prevail in court.

Pursuant to Dutch law, if a legal act performed by a Dutch entity is prejudicial to the interests of its creditors, the validity of such legal act (including, without limitation, an agreement pursuant to which it guarantees the performance of the obligations of a third party) may, in certain circumstances, be contested by such creditors themselves or, in the event of the bankruptcy of a Dutch entity, by the bankruptcy trustee.

Pursuant to Dutch fraudulent conveyance rules (actio pauliana) in bankruptcy: any legal act performed without a legal obligation to do so (onverplichte rechtshandeling) by a Dutch bankrupt entity prior to the onset of its bankruptcy, which resulted in its creditors being prejudiced, may be nullified (vernietigd) by the bankruptcy trustee to the extent such bankrupt entity knew, or should have known, that such legal act would result in prejudice to its creditors. If such legal act was multilateral (meerzijdig) or unilateral (eenzijdig) directed towards other parties and performed against some consideration (anders dan om niet), the bankruptcy trustee can only nullify such act if he can demonstrate that the other party knew, or should have known, that such act would result in prejudice to other creditors of the bankrupt entity. Such knowledge is presumed by law in the event that the legal act by which the creditors have been prejudiced has been performed within a period of one year before the bankruptcy date in respect of, inter alia, legal acts for the payment or safeguarding of a debt that is not due and payable. In addition, in the case of such a bankruptcy, the trustee in bankruptcy (curator) may nullify the Dutch bankrupt entity’s performance of any due and payable obligation (including (without limitation) an obligation to provide security for any of its or a third party’s obligations) if (i) the payee (hij die betaling ontving) knew that a request for bankruptcy had been filed at the moment of payment, or (ii) the performance of the obligation was the result of a consultation between the Dutch bankrupt entity and the payee with a view to give preference to the latter over the Dutch bankrupt entity’s other creditors.

Outside bankruptcy, the creditors may invoke the nullification of a legal act performed by a Dutch entity without a legal obligation to do so (onverplichte rechtshandeling) provided that the Dutch entity knew, or should have known, that such act would be prejudicial to the interests of its creditors. Any reciprocal legal act (anders dan om niet) entered into by and between a Dutch entity and its creditors can only be nullified if, in addition to the Dutch entity, also the relevant creditor knew or should have known that this legal act would be prejudicial to the creditors. Under certain circumstances relating to suspect transactions, which include, amongst others, transactions by a Dutch entity which are at an under value or safe guarding of a debt that is not yet due and payable, such knowledge is statutorily presumed in the event that the legal act by which the creditors have been prejudiced has been performed within a period of one year before invoking the ground of annulment of the legal act.

 

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The laws of Bermuda, the jurisdiction in which WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. is incorporated, may limit its ability to guarantee debts. Bermuda law provides for certain avoidance provisions which would be available to a liquidator of a Bermuda company, such as WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. These include:

(a) A disposition in favor of a creditor by an insolvent company, within six months prior to the filing of a petition for the winding-up of such company and for the purpose of preferring the creditor, is void. An express statutory exemption protects the interests of any person obtaining title to property through or under a creditor of such company in good faith and for valuable consideration.

(b) Within certain limits, a disposition of property by a Bermuda company: (i) made with the dominant intention of putting property beyond the reach of a person (or class of persons) who has a claim or may at some time have a claim against the transferor; and (ii) without consideration, is voidable at the request of certain eligible creditors. This rule applies within or outside liquidation (and in fact a liquidator appears not to have standing in relation to this particular jurisdiction). Insolvency is not a prerequisite. A creditor will be an eligible creditor if it falls into one of the following categories: (a) person to whom on, or within two years after, the date of the transfer the transferor owed an obligation which obligation remains unsatisfied on the date of the action or proceeding; (b) a person to whom, on the date of the transfer, the transferor owed a contingent liability and since that date the contingency has fallen in, with the liability remaining unsatisfied; or (c) a person to whom the transferor owed an obligation in consequence of a claim that he made against the transferor, where the cause of action giving rise to the claim occurred prior to, or within two years of, the transfer. This may extend up to eight years, as eligible creditors have six years within which to initiate proceedings, calculated from when the cause of action occurred.

(c) A void disposition under Bermuda law is any disposition of the property of a company after the filing of a petition for the winding-up of a Bermuda company. Such a disposition is void unless approved by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the power to retrospectively validate a transaction made after the presentation of a petition which would otherwise be void.

Under the U.S. federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee could be voided, or claims in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of the Guarantor if, among other things, the Guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee (1) issued the guarantee with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding any current or future creditor or contemplated insolvency with a design to favor one or more creditors to the total or partial exclusion of other creditors or (2) received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for issuing its guarantee and:

 

   

was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence; or

 

   

was engaged in a business or transaction for which the Guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or

 

   

intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

In addition, any payment by that Guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the Guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the Guarantor.

On the basis of historical financial information, recent operating history and other factors, we believe, after giving effect to the debt incurred by us and the Guarantors in connection with this offering of Notes, neither we nor the Guarantors will be insolvent, will have unreasonably small capital for the business in which we are engaged or will have incurred debts beyond each of our ability to pay such debts as they mature. We believe that the guarantees will not be issued at less than fair value, that they are being issued in good faith for purposes of carrying on the Guarantors’ business and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that this offering of Notes will benefit the Guarantors. However, we cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in making such determinations or that a court would agree with our conclusions in this regard.

 

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English law, Irish law, Dutch law and Bermuda law differ from the laws in effect in the United States and may afford less protection to holders of our securities.

It may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States on us or to enforce court judgments obtained in the United States against us in England, Ireland, The Netherlands or Bermuda based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws. In addition, there is some uncertainty as to whether the courts of England, the courts of Ireland, the courts of The Netherlands or the courts of Bermuda would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the civil liabilities provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws or hear actions against us or those persons based on those laws.

Awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in England or Ireland. Investors may also have difficulties enforcing, in original actions brought in jurisdictions outside the United States, liabilities under the U.S. securities laws.

We have been advised that the United States currently does not have a treaty with England and Wales or Ireland providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, whether or not based solely on U.S. federal or state securities laws, would not be directly enforceable in England or in Ireland. While not directly enforceable, it is possible for a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability to be enforced in England or in Ireland through common law rules. However, this process is subject to numerous established principles and would involve the commencement of a new set of proceedings in each of England and Ireland to enforce the judgment.

We have also been advised that the United States currently does not have a treaty with The Netherlands regarding the recognition and enforcement of judicial decisions between the United States and the Netherlands. Therefore, a final judgment rendered by any U.S. federal or state court would not automatically be enforceable in the Netherlands. However, a final judgment obtained in a U.S. federal or state court and not rendered by default, which is not subject to appeal or other means of contestation and is enforceable in the United States with respect to the payment of obligations expressed to be subject to U.S. federal or state securities laws would generally be upheld and be regarded by a Dutch Court of competent jurisdiction as conclusive evidence when asked to render a judgment in accordance with that judgment by a U.S. federal or state court, without substantive re-examination or re-litigation of the merits of the subject matter thereof, if that judgment has been rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, in accordance with the principles of due justice, its contents and enforcement do not conflict with Dutch public policy (openbare orde) and it has not been rendered in proceedings of a penal or revenue or other public law nature.

WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. is incorporated under the laws of Bermuda. Some of WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd.’s directors and officers may reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of its assets or their assets, at any one time, are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States upon non-U.S. based directors and officers, or enforce court judgments obtained against WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. or its directors and officers in jurisdictions outside of Bermuda predicated upon civil liabilities of such company under laws other than Bermuda law.

We have been advised that there is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a United States judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. or its directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over the company or its directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules. A judgment for debt from a U.S. court that is final and for a sum certain based on U.S. federal securities laws will not be enforceable in Bermuda unless the judgment debtor had submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. court, and the issue of submission and jurisdiction is a matter of Bermuda (not U.S.) law.

 

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In addition to and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce foreign law that is either penal or contrary to the public policy of Bermuda. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, will not be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, may not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court should they be contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. or its directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial jurisdiction under Bermuda law and do not have the force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. or its directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law.

The Issuer may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control.

Under certain circumstances, and upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, the Issuer will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding Notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The source of funds for any such purchase of the Notes will be the Issuer’s available cash or cash generated from its subsidiaries’ operations or other sources, including borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. The Issuer may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control because the Issuer may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the Notes that are tendered upon a change of control. Further, the Issuer is contractually restricted under the terms of the Credit Facilities from repurchasing all of the Notes tendered by holders upon a change of control. Accordingly, the Issuer may not be able to satisfy its obligations to purchase the Notes unless it is able to refinance or obtain waivers under the instruments governing that indebtedness. The Issuer’s failure to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control would cause a default under the indentures and a cross-default under the instruments governing our Credit Facilities and the indentures governing the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities. The instruments governing the Credit Facilities also provide that a change of control will be a default that permits lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings and commitments thereunder. Any of the Issuer’s future debt agreements may contain similar provisions.

Changes in our credit ratings may adversely affect your investment in the Notes.

The ratings of debt rating agencies assigned to the Notes are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell the Notes, inasmuch as the ratings do not comment as to market prices or suitability for a particular investor, are limited in scope, and do not address all material risks relating to an investment in the Notes, but rather reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time the rating is issued. The ratings are based on current information furnished to the rating agencies by us and information obtained by the rating agencies from other sources. An explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained from such rating agency. There can be no assurance that such credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that such ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies, if, in each rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant. Actual or anticipated changes or downgrades in our credit ratings, including any announcement that our ratings are under further review for a downgrade, could affect the market value and liquidity of the Notes and increase our corporate borrowing costs.

Because there are no established trading markets for the Notes, you may not be able to resell your Notes.

The Notes will be registered under the Securities Act, but will constitute a new issuance of securities with no established trading market, and we cannot assure you as to:

 

   

the liquidity of any trading market that may develop;

 

   

the ability of holders to sell their Notes; or

 

   

the price at which the holders would be able to sell their Notes.

 

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Although we have applied to the Irish Stock Exchange for the Notes to be admitted to the Official List and trade on the Global Exchange Market, which is the exchange regulated market of the Irish Stock Exchange, we cannot assure you that the Notes will become or will remain listed or regarding the future development of a market for the Notes, the ability of holders of the Notes to sell their Notes, or the price at which such holders may be able to sell their Notes.

If trading markets were to develop, the Notes might trade at higher or lower prices than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the market for similar Notes and our financial performance.

We understand that the underwriters presently intend to make a market in the Notes. However, they are not obligated to do so, and any market-making activity with respect to the Notes may be discontinued at any time without notice. In addition, any market-making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and may be limited during the offering of the Notes. We cannot assure you that active trading markets will exist for the Notes or that any trading markets that do develop will be liquid.

In a lawsuit for payment on the Notes, a holder may bear currency exchange risk.

The indenture is, and the Notes (including the guarantees) will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the Notes or the guarantees would be required to render the judgment in euro. However, the judgment would be converted into dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the Notes, holders would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a significant amount of time. A federal court sitting in New York with diversity jurisdiction over a dispute arising in connection with the Notes would apply New York law. In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a currency other than dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on the Notes in many other United States federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of euro into U.S. dollars would depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment and when the judgment is rendered.

An investment in the Notes by a holder whose home currency is not the euro entails significant risks.

All payments of interest on and the principal of the Notes and any redemption price for the Notes and the payment of any additional amounts payable with respect to the Notes will be made in euro. An investment in the Notes by a holder whose home currency is not the euro entails significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between the holder’s home currency and euro and the possibility of the imposition or subsequent modification of foreign exchange controls. These risks generally depend on factors over which we have no control, such as economic, financial and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies. In the past, rates of exchange between euro and certain currencies have been highly volatile, and each holder should be aware that volatility may occur in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past, however, are not necessarily indicative of fluctuations in the rate that may occur during the term of the Notes. Depreciation of euro against the holder’s home currency would result in a decrease in the effective yield of the Notes below its coupon rate and, in certain circumstances, could result in a loss to the holder. If you are a U.S. holder, see “Certain Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Holders” for the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes, related to the Notes being denominated in euro. The European Union or one or more of its member states may, in the future, impose exchange controls and modify any exchange controls imposed, which controls could affect exchange rates, as well as the availability of euro at the time of payment of principal of, interest on, or any redemption payment or additional amounts with respect to, the Notes.

The Notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain euro.

If the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that

 

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have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the Notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the then most recently available market exchange rate for euro, as the case may be. There can be no assurance that this exchange rate will be as favorable to holders of Notes as the exchange rate otherwise determined by applicable law. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the Notes. Any payment in respect of the Notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the Notes or the indenture governing the Notes.

Trading in the clearing systems is subject to minimum denomination requirements.

The terms of the Notes provide that Notes will be issued with a minimum denomination of €100,000 and multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. It is possible that the clearing systems may process trades which could result in amounts being held in denominations smaller than the minimum denomination. If definitive Notes are required to be issued in relation to such Notes in accordance with the provisions of the relevant global notes, a holder who does not have the minimum denomination or any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof in its account with the relevant clearing system at the relevant time may not receive all of its entitlement in the form of definitive Notes unless and until such time as its holding satisfies the minimum denomination requirement.

The Notes will initially be held in book-entry form and therefore investors must rely on the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream to exercise any rights and remedies.

So long as Euroclear or Clearstream or their common depositary or nominee is the registered holder of the Notes issued in the form of one or more global notes, Euroclear, Clearstream or such common depositary or nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by the global notes for all purposes under the indenture and the Notes. Payment of principal of, and interest on, the Notes, including any payments made upon any redemption of the Notes and the payment of any additional amounts payable with respect to the Notes, will be made to Euroclear, Clearstream, such common depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, as registered holder thereof. After payment to the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, we will have no responsibility or liability for the payment of interest, principal or other amounts to the owners of book-entry interests. Accordingly, if investors own a book-entry interest, they must rely on the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream and, if investors are not participants in Euroclear and Clearstream, they must rely on the procedures of the participant through which they own their interest, to receive such payments or to exercise any other rights and obligations of a holder of Notes under the indenture.

Unlike the holders of the Notes themselves, owners of book-entry interests will not have the direct right to act upon our solicitations for consents, requests for waivers or other actions from holders of the Notes. Instead, if an investor owns a book-entry interest, it will be permitted to act only to the extent it has received appropriate proxies to do so from Euroclear and Clearstream. The procedures implemented for the granting of such proxies may not be sufficient to enable such investor to vote on a timely basis.

Similarly, upon the occurrence of an event of default under the indenture, unless and until definitive or certificated registered notes are issued in respect of all book-entry interests, if investors own book-entry interests, they will be restricted to acting through Euroclear and Clearstream. The procedures to be implemented through Euroclear and Clearstream, may not be adequate to ensure the timely exercise of rights under the Notes. See “Description of Notes—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” in this prospectus supplement.

Risks relating to providing consolidated financial statements only.

The Issuer has requested the Irish Stock Exchange grant a derogation under Rule 3.3(3)(c) of the Irish Stock Exchange Global Exchange Market Listing and Admission to Trading Rules from the requirement for the Guarantors to include their individual financial statements in these Listing Particulars. The financial statements

 

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of the other Guarantors have been included in the consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, which are incorporated by reference herein, and have not been presented separately herein. However, as the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson represent more than 25% of the consolidated EBITDA of Willis Towers Watson and more than 25% of the net assets of Willis Towers Watson, the consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company may be of limited use in assessing the financial position of the other Guarantors.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, will be €535,404,650 million, or $600,402,775, based on the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate of €1.00 = $1.1214 as of May 19, 2016 as announced by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with existing cash resources, to repay €544 million of tranche A term loans under our Parent Bridge Loan Facility and related accrued interest.

Our Parent Bridge Loan Facility matures on December 19, 2016. The effective interest rate of the tranche A term loans under our Parent Bridge Loan Facility was approximately 1.375% at May 10, 2016. The tranche A term loans were incurred in connection with our acquisition of additional interests in Gras Savoye.

Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are lenders under our Parent Bridge Loan Facility and will receive proceeds from this offering. See “Underwriting; Conflicts of Interest.”

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 and the five most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015.

 

     Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2016
    

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 
        2015      2014      2013      2012      2011  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)

     5.6x         2.9x         4.0x         4.0x         (1.0 )x       2.2x   

 

(1) For the year ended December 31, 2012, our deficiency in earnings necessary to cover fixed charges was $334 million.

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. Fixed charges comprise interest paid and payable, including the amortization of interest, and an estimate of the interest expense element of operating lease rentals.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table presents the consolidated capitalization of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company as of March 31, 2016, on an unaudited historical basis and an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. See “Use of Proceeds.”

You should read this table in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes which appear in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which appears in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, each incorporated herein by reference.

 

     As of
March 31,
2016
     As Adjusted,
as of
March 31,
2016
 
     ($ in millions)  

Cash:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 954       $ 944   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt(i):

     

Parent Term Loan Facility

     235         235   

Parent Bridge Loan Facility, tranche A term loans

     617         —     

Parent Bridge Loan Facility, tranche B term loans

     —           —     

Parent Revolving Credit Facility

     135         135   

WSI Credit Facility

     —           —     

6.200% Senior Notes due 2017

     394         394   

7.000% Senior Notes due 2019

     186         186   

3.500% Senior Notes due 2021

     445         445   

5.750% Senior Notes due 2021

     495         495   

4.625% Senior Notes due 2023

     247         247   

4.400% Senior Notes due 2026

     543         543   

6.125% Senior Notes due 2043

     271         271   

Other bank loans

     26         26   

Towers Watson Dividend Facility

     317         317   

2.125% Senior Notes due 2022 offered hereby(ii)

     —           610   

Total debt

   $ 3,911       $ 3,904   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

     

Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity

     11,151         11,148   

Noncontrolling interests

     153         153   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

     11,304         11,301   

Total capitalization

   $ 15,215       $ 15,205   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(i) The Company has adopted FASB-issued ASU No. 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” and therefore debt issuance costs related to the recognized debt liability are reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of that liability.
(ii) The amount in the “as adjusted” column of the above table is the U.S. dollar equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (net of the issue price, debt discount, and after deducting underwriter discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses) being offered hereby using the exchange rate of €1.00 = $1.1390 as in effect on March 31, 2016, as announced by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

 

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EXCHANGE RATES

The table below sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, information concerning the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers as announced by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board for euro (expressed in U.S. dollars per €1.00). The rates in this table are provided for your reference only.

 

Period

   High      Low      Period
Average(1)
     Period
End
 

2011

   $ 1.4875       $ 1.2926       $ 1.3931       $ 1.2973   

2012

     1.3463         1.2062         1.2859         1.3186   

2013

     1.3816         1.2774         1.3281         1.3779   

2014

     1.3927         1.2101         1.3297         1.2101   

2015

     1.2015         1.0524         1.1096         1.0859   

2016 (through May 13)

     1.1516         1.0743         1.1147         1.1294   

January 2016

     1.0964         1.0743         1.0855         1.0832   

February 2016

     1.1362         1.10868         1.1092         1.0868   

March 2016

     1.1390         1.0845         1.1134         1.1390   

April 2016

     1.1441         1.1239         1.1346         1.1441   

May 2016 (through May 13)

     1.1516         1.1294         1.1424         1.1294   

 

(1) The average of the noon buying rates of each day of the relevant year or period.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER DEBT

The following is intended to provide a summary of certain of the terms of the agreements and instruments that govern our material outstanding indebtedness described below. The following is only a summary, is not a complete description of all the terms of such agreements and instruments and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements and instruments that govern our material outstanding indebtedness and the agreements and instruments, which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 29, 2016. Additionally, capitalized terms used in this “Description of Other Debt” section but not otherwise defined, are as defined in the relevant agreement or instrument. Readers should review the agreements and instruments for a complete understanding of their terms and conditions.

Credit Facilities

General Description

Parent Credit Facilities

Parent and the Issuer are parties to a credit agreement dated as of December 16, 2011 (the “Parent Credit Agreement”), with certain senior lenders and Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”), as administrative agent, pursuant to which the lenders named therein provided us with $800 million in financing through (a) a $500 million senior revolving credit facility (the “Parent Revolving Credit Facility”) and (b) a $300 million senior term loan facility (the “Parent Term Loan Facility”; together with the Parent Revolving Credit Facility, the “Parent Credit Facilities”). The balance of the Parent Term Loan Facility was $236 million as of May 10, 2016. The final maturity date of the Credit Facilities was originally December 16, 2016 (the “Original Maturity Date”), being the date that was five years from the closing date of the Parent Credit Agreement.

On July 23, 2013, Parent and the Issuer entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Guaranty Agreement (the “Parent First Amendment”), pursuant to which:

 

   

all of the lenders under both the Parent Term Loan Facility and the Parent Revolving Credit Facility agreed to extend the maturity of their loans from the Original Maturity Date to July 23, 2018 (the “Extended Maturity Date”);

 

   

Parent’s wholly-owned indirect subsidiary and the U.S. operating company of Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, Willis Securities, Inc. (“WSI”), was permitted to incur up to $400 million in indebtedness (the “WSI Debt Cap”) for the purpose of investing in certain underwritten securities in the ordinary course of WSI’s business; and

 

   

the Issuer is entitled to request an increase in the maximum consolidated leverage ratio to 3.50 to 1.00 (from the current maximum of 3.25 to 1.00) for periods of four fiscal quarters following the completion of one or more acquisitions in a 15 month period where the aggregate consideration equals or exceeds $250 million (or eight fiscal quarters following the acquisition of Gras Savoye).

In connection with the closing of the Parent First Amendment, Parent and the Issuer also requested and received commitments from certain lenders for incremental revolving credit loans of $300 million (the “Incremental Revolving Commitments”), as a result of which the total available commitments under the Parent Revolving Credit Facility were increased to $800 million. Loans made from the Incremental Revolving Commitments may be used for working capital, capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions and any other lawful corporate purposes.

On February 27, 2015, Parent and the Issuer entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Parent Second Amendment,” and together with the Parent First Amendment and Parent Credit Agreement, the “Amended Parent Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which:

 

   

The WSI Debt Cap was increased by $400 million to $800 million and up to $400 million of such indebtedness may be proceeds or borrowings under the Parent Credit Facilities.

 

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WSI Credit Facility

WSI is party to a revolving credit agreement dated as of March 3, 2014 (the “WSI Credit Agreement”), with certain senior lenders and SunTrust Bank (“SunTrust”), as administrative agent, pursuant to which the lenders named therein provided WSI with a $300 million revolving note facility (the “WSI Credit Facility”), which was available for drawing from March 3, 2014 through March 3, 2015 (the “Original Credit Period”). The aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances was to be repaid on or before March 4, 2016 (the “Original Repayment Date”). Loans made from the WSI Credit Facility may be used for regulatory capital purposes related to securities underwriting only, which will allow WSI to meet or exceed capital requirements of regulatory agencies, self-regulatory agencies, exchanges and their clearinghouses, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

On April 28, 2014, WSI entered into a (i) a Joinder Agreement (the “Joinder”) with SunTrust and the lenders party thereto and (ii) a first amendment to the WSI Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment,” and together with the Joinder, the “First Amendment Agreements”), pursuant to which all of the lenders under the WSI Credit Facility agreed to extend the end date of the Original Credit Period to April 28, 2015 and extend the Original Repayment Date to April 28, 2016.

In connection with the closing of the Joinder, WSI requested and received commitments from certain lenders for additional revolving credit loans of $100 million (the “WSI Incremental Revolving Commitments”), and, consequently, the total available commitments under the WSI Credit Facility were increased to $400 million.

On February 27, 2015, WSI entered into a second amendment to the WSI Credit Agreement (the “WSI Second Amendment”), pursuant to which:

 

   

all of the lenders under the WSI Credit Facility agreed to extend the end date of the Original Credit Period to April 28, 2016 and extend the Original Repayment Date to April 28, 2017;

 

   

WSI is permitted to incur up to $400 million in indebtedness, which may be proceeds or borrowings under the Parent Credit Facilities; and

 

   

WSI will have the ability to borrow in euro, Yen and other approved currencies subject to a reserve for foreign currency fluctuation.

On April 27, 2016, WSI entered into a third amendment to the WSI Credit Agreement (and together with the First Amendment Agreements, the WSI Second Amendment and the WSI Credit Agreement, the “Amended WSI Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which:

 

   

All of the lenders under the WSI Credit Facility agreed to extend the end date of the Original Credit Period to April 28, 2017 and extend the Original Repayment Date to April 28, 2018;

 

   

Certain technical provisions with respect to the impact of European Union bail-in banking legislation on liabilities of certain non-U.S. financial institutions were included; and

 

   

Certain modifications were made to the pricing set forth in the WSI Credit Agreement, including changing the rate at which the WSI Credit Facility bears interest to a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 2.00% or alternately the base rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 1.00%.

Parent Bridge Loan Facility

Parent and the Issuer are parties to a term loan agreement dated as of November 20, 2015 (the “Parent Bridge Loan Agreement,” and together with the Amended Parent Credit Agreement and the Amended WSI Credit Agreement, the “Amended Credit Agreements”), with certain senior lenders and Barclays, as administrative agent, pursuant to which the lenders named therein provided us with (i) €550 million in tranche A

 

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term loans and (ii) $400 million in tranche B term loans (collectively, the “Parent Bridge Loan Facility,” and together with the Parent Credit Facilities and the WSI Credit Facility, the “Credit Facilities”). The final maturity date of the Parent Bridge Loan Facility is December 19, 2016, being the date that is 364 days following the Initial Funding Date. The tranche B term loans have been repaid and the tranche A term loans will be repaid with the net proceeds of this offering.

Conditions to Borrowings

Drawdowns under each of the Parent Credit Facilities and the WSI Credit Facility are subject to the conditions precedent that, among other things, on the date the drawdown is requested and on the drawdown date, (i) no default is continuing or would occur as a result of that drawdown and (ii) certain representations and warranties specified in the Amended Parent Credit Agreement or the Amended WSI Credit Agreement, as applicable, are true and accurate in all material respects.

Interest Rates, Fees and Prepayments

Parent Credit Facilities

Amounts outstanding under the Parent Term Loan Facility bear interest at a rate equal to (a) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% plus the Mandatory Cost (as defined in the Amended Parent Credit Agreement), if any, and (b) for Base Rate Loans, the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the “prime rate” as announced by Barclays, and (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case, based upon Parent’s guaranteed, senior-unsecured long term debt rating; provided, that if the LIBOR or EURIBOR rate, as applicable, is below zero, such shall be deemed to be zero.

Amortization payments will be required with respect to the Parent Term Loan Facility each quarterly period from the Original Maturity Date to the Extended Maturity Date, payable at $5.625 million per quarterly period.

Amounts outstanding under the Parent Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to (a) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% plus the Mandatory Cost (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement), if any, and (b) for Base Rate Loans, the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the “prime rate” as announced by Barclays, and (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case, based upon Parent’s guaranteed senior-unsecured long term debt rating. In addition, the Issuer will pay (a) a commitment fee equal to 0.20% to 0.35% of the committed amount of the Parent Revolving Credit Facility that has not been borrowed and (b) a letter of credit fee for each outstanding letter of credit equal to (i) the daily amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit times (ii) 1.25% to 2.00%, in each case, based upon Parent’s guaranteed, senior-unsecured long term debt rating.

Voluntary prepayments are permitted under the Parent Credit Facilities without penalty or premium in amounts greater than $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. In addition, the Parent Credit Facilities require mandatory prepayment in certain circumstances.

WSI Credit Facility

Advances under the WSI Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to (a) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00%, and (b) for Base Rate Loans, the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the “prime rate” as announced by SunTrust Bank, and (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case, based upon Parent’s guaranteed senior-unsecured long term debt rating. In addition, WSI will also pay a commitment fee equal to 0.15% to 0.30% of the committed amount of the WSI Credit Facility that has not been borrowed.

 

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Voluntary prepayment prior to the one-year maturity is permitted under the WSI Credit Facility without penalty if at the time of such prepayment WSI meets certain net regulatory capital requirements, subject to the prior approval of FINRA. In addition, the obligation to repay advances on their one-year maturity is suspended if at such time WSI does not meet certain net regulatory capital requirements.

Parent Bridge Loan Facility

Amounts outstanding under the Parent Bridge Loan Facility bear interest at a rate equal to (a) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans in US dollars, LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 2.00%, (b) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans in euro, EURIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.25%-2.00%, and (c) for Base Rate Loans in US dollars, the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the “prime rate” as announced by Barclays and (iii) one month LIBOR plus 1.00%, plus an applicable margin of 0.25% to 1.00%, in each case, based upon Parent’s guaranteed, senior-unsecured long term debt rating; provided that beginning 180 days after the Initial Funding Date, 0.50% will be added to the applicable margin and, provided further, that if the LIBOR or EURIBOR rate, as applicable, is below zero, such shall be deemed to be zero.

Voluntary prepayment is permitted under the Parent Bridge Loan Facility without penalty or premium. In addition, the Parent Bridge Loan Facility requires mandatory prepayment following (a) the disposition of assets, subject to certain limitations, thresholds and reinvestment rights, or (b) the issuance of debt or equity, subject to certain limitations.

Guarantees

All of the Issuer’s obligations under the Parent Credit Facilities and the Parent Bridge Loan Facility are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by (A) Parent, and (B) the Issuer’s affiliates: (i) Willis Group Limited, (ii) Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, (iii) TA I Limited, (iv) Willis North America Inc., (v) Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., (vi) WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. and (vii) Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited.

All of WSI’s obligations under the WSI Credit Facility are guaranteed on a senior basis by (A) Parent, (B) the Issuer and (C) WSI’s affiliates: (i) Willis Group Limited, (ii) Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, (iii) TA I Limited, (iv) Willis North America Inc., (v) Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., (vi) WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. and (vii) Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited.

Further Incremental Facilities and Maturity Extensions

Subject to compliance with certain customary conditions precedent, Parent and the Issuer have the right under the Parent Credit Facilities, from time to time and on one or more occasions, to add one or more incremental revolving facilities and/or one or more term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500 million. Parent and the Issuer also have the right, on a single occasion, to request a further extension of the maturity date of the Parent Credit Facilities by one year, subject to certain requirements.

Covenants

Parent and the Issuer are subject to various affirmative and negative covenants and reporting obligations under the Credit Facilities. These include, among others, limitations on subsidiary indebtedness, liens, sale and leaseback transactions, certain investments, fundamental changes, assets sales and restricted payments, and maintenance of certain financial covenants.

Events of Default

Events of default under the Credit Facilities include non-payment of amounts due to the lenders, violation of covenants, incorrect representations, defaults under other material indebtedness, judgments and specified insolvency-related events, certain ERISA events and invalidity of loan documents, subject to, in certain instances, specified thresholds, cure periods and exceptions.

 

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Senior Debt Securities

In March 2007, Willis North America issued $600 million of 6.200% senior notes due 2017. In September 2009, Willis North America issued $300 million of 7.000% senior notes due 2019. Such senior notes are collectively referred to as the “Willis North America Debt Securities.”

In March 2011, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, under the name Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, issued $300 million of 4.125% senior notes due 2016 and $500 million of 5.750% senior notes due 2021. The 4.125% senior notes due 2016 are no longer outstanding and were repaid when due, on March 15, 2016. The $500 million of 5.750% senior notes due 2021 are referred to as the “Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities.”

In August 2013, Trinity Acquisition plc issued $250 million of 4.625% Senior Notes due 2023 and $275 million of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2043 and in March 2016, Trinity Acquisition plc issued $450 million of 3.500% Senior Notes due 2021 and $550 million of 4.400% Senior Notes due 2026. Such senior notes are collectively referred to as the “Trinity Debt Securities” and, together with the Willis North America Debt Securities and Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities, the “Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities.”

The Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities are senior, unsecured obligations, ranking equal with all of Willis Towers Watson’s existing and future senior debt, senior in right of payment to all of Willis Towers Watson’s future subordinated debt and effectively subordinated to all of Willis Towers Watson’s future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

The Willis North America Debt Securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis Group Limited, which collectively comprise all of the direct and indirect parent entities of Willis North America.

The Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior, unsecured basis by Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America, which collectively comprise all of the direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.

Willis North America may redeem the Willis North America Debt Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at “make-whole” redemption prices, plus, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company may redeem the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at “make-whole” redemption prices, plus, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

Trinity Acquisition plc may redeem the Trinity Debt Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at “make-whole” redemption prices, plus, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

The Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities contain certain restrictive covenants which limit, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

dispose of Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in the base indentures governing the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities); and

 

   

merge, consolidate or sell assets.

The Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities also contain certain customary events of default.

 

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Other Debt

Towers Watson is party to a four-year term loan credit facility dated as of November 20, 2015 (the “Towers Watson Dividend Facility”) with certain senior lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, pursuant to which the lenders named therein provided Towers Watson with $340 million in term loans. The final maturity date of the Towers Watson Dividend Facility is December 30, 2019. On December 23, 2015, Towers Watson entered into an amendment to the Towers Watson Dividend Facility to change the first principal payment date to the last business day of March, June, September or December commencing with the second quarter ending after the Funding Date (as defined in the Towers Watson Dividend Facility) under the Towers Watson Dividend Facility. The first payment of $21.3 million was paid on March 30, 2016.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The following is a description of the material terms of the Notes offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. This description supplements, and to the extent inconsistent, modifies the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that is set forth in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Securities.” To the extent the description in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the description contained in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the description in this prospectus supplement.

The Notes will be issued under the indenture, dated as of August 15, 2013, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture relating to the Notes, among us, the Guarantors, the trustee and Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, as the paying agent, dated as of May 26, 2016. Under the agency agreement dated as of May 26, 2016, we have initially appointed Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, to act as paying agent and calculation agent in connection with the Notes, and we have appointed Elavon Financial Services Limited to act as transfer agent and registrar. In this section, we refer to the indenture, together with the supplemental indenture, as the “indenture.” The following statements with respect to the Notes are summaries of the provisions of the Notes and the indenture. We urge you to read such documents in their entirety because they, and not this description, will define your rights as holders of the Notes. A copy of the form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part.

General

The Issuer will issue €540 million of Notes. As described under “—Further Issuances,” under the indenture the Issuer can issue additional Notes at later dates. In addition, the Issuer can issue additional series of debt securities without limitation as to aggregate principal amount under the indenture in the future.

The Notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a common depositary, and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear. The Notes will be issuable in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. See “—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.”

The Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

Payments

The Notes will mature on May 26, 2022.

Interest on the Notes is payable annually in arrears on May 26 of each year, beginning on May 26, 2017, 2017. The Issuer will pay interest to those persons who were holders of record on May 11 (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the interest payment date. Interest will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, or duly provided for, from the date it was most recently paid or duly provided for. Interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or the original issue date if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled interest payment date. This payment convention is referred to as Actual/Actual (ICMA) as defined in the primary market handbook of the International Capital Market Association.

Further Issuances

The Issuer may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the Notes, increase the principal amount of the Notes under the indenture and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof), in which case any additional Notes so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the date of

 

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issuance and the public offering price and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue and the initial interest payment date), and will carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest, as the Notes previously issued, and such additional Notes will form a single series with the previously issued Notes, including for voting purposes.

Payments in Euro

Initial holders will be required to pay for the Notes in euro, and all payments of interest and principal, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes and the payment of any additional amounts payable with respect to the Notes, will be payable in euro. If, on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then-member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the Notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date, or in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate published in the Wall Street Journal on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date. Any payment in respect of the Notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Notes or the Indenture. Neither the trustee nor the paying agent for the Notes shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing.

Holders of the Notes will be subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal and interest that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See “Risk Factors—An investment in the Notes by a holder whose home currency is not the euro entails significant risks.”

Business Day

For purposes of the Notes, “business day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day on which the trustee, paying agent, transfer agent and registrar or banking institutions are not required by law or regulation to be open in the State of New York or London, and for any place of payment outside of New York City or London, in such place of payment, and on which the Trans-European Automated Real Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 system), or any successor thereto, does not operate.

Ranking

The Notes will be senior unsubordinated unsecured obligations of the Issuer and will be guaranteed on a senior unsubordinated unsecured basis by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. and will:

 

   

rank equally with all of the Issuer’s existing and future unsubordinated and unsecured debt, including the Trinity Debt Securities;

 

   

rank equally with the Issuer’s guarantee of all of the existing senior debt of the Parent and the other Guarantors, including the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities and any debt under the Credit Facilities;

 

   

be senior in right of payment to all of the Issuer’s future subordinated debt; and

 

   

be effectively subordinated to all of the Issuer’s future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

 

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As of March 31, 2016, on an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the total outstanding senior indebtedness of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors that would rank equally with the Notes would have been approximately $3,560 million.

Each of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors has only a stockholder’s claim on the assets of its subsidiaries. This stockholder’s claim is junior to the claims that creditors of such subsidiaries have against those subsidiaries. Holders of the Notes will only be creditors of the Issuer, Parent and the other Guarantors and not creditors of Parent’s other subsidiaries. As a result, all of the existing and future liabilities of Parent’s non-guarantor subsidiaries, including any claims of trade creditors and preferred stockholders, will be structurally senior to the Notes.

As of March 31, 2016, the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Parent had $344 million of outstanding indebtedness, other than ordinary course trade payables. As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016, the non-guarantor subsidiaries of Parent represented substantially all of the total assets of the Willis Towers Watson and accounted for substantially all of the total revenue of Willis Towers Watson.

The Issuer’s subsidiaries have other liabilities, including contingent liabilities that may be significant. The indenture does not contain any limitations on the amount of additional debt that the Issuer and its subsidiaries may incur. The amounts of this debt could be substantial, and this debt may be debt of the Issuer’s subsidiaries, in which case this debt would be effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes.

The Notes are obligations exclusively of the Issuer. Substantially all of its operations are conducted through its subsidiaries. Therefore, the Issuer’s ability to service its debt, including the Notes, is dependent upon the earnings of its subsidiaries and their ability to distribute those earnings as dividends, loans or other payments to the Issuer. Certain laws restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to pay dividends and make loans and advances to the Issuer. In addition, such subsidiaries may enter into contractual arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends and make loans and advances to the Issuer.

Guarantees

The Issuer’s obligations under the indenture will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by each of the Guarantors pursuant to the terms of the indenture. Each Guarantee will be:

 

   

a general unsecured obligation of the applicable Guarantor;

 

   

pari passu with any existing or future unsecured debt of such Guarantor that is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee, including such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Willis Towers Watson Debt Securities and such Guarantor’s guarantee under the Credit Facilities;

 

   

senior in right of payment to any existing or future debt of the applicable Guarantor that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee; and

 

   

effectively subordinated to any future secured debt of such Guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

As of March 31, 2016, on an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the total outstanding debt of the Guarantors in the aggregate would have been approximately $1,075 million.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee will be limited so as not to constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable foreign, U.S. Federal, state or other laws. Each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Guarantee will be entitled to a contribution from the other Guarantors in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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The Guarantee of a Guarantor (other than the Parent) will be deemed automatically discharged and released in accordance with the terms of the indenture:

 

   

upon 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 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 each above, such merger, consolidation, sale, exchange or transfer is made in accordance with the indenture and the successor person or transferee has assumed all of the obligations of such Guarantor under the indenture and the securities; or

 

   

upon the release or discharge of the indebtedness that resulted in the obligation of the Guarantor to guarantee the Notes.

Optional Redemption

Prior to February 26, 2022 (the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the Notes), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (equal to €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof). The redemption price will be equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present value of (x) the payment on February 26, 2022 of principal of the Notes to be redeemed and (y) the payment of the remaining scheduled payments through February 26, 2022 of interest on the Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date, on an annual basis (Actual/Actual (ICMA)) using a discount rate equal to the applicable Government Bond Rate (as defined below), plus 40 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

On or after February 26, 2022 (the date that is three months prior to the scheduled maturity date for the Notes), we may, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (equal to €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

In the case of any such redemption, the Issuer will also pay accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

“Comparable Government Issue” means, in relation to any Government Bond Rate, the euro-denominated security issued by the German government selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes mature on February 26, 2022) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of five Reference Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Government Bond Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the annual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated maturity (on a day count basis) of the applicable Comparable Government Issue (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption date), assuming a price for such Comparable Government Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Price for such redemption date.

“Independent Investment Banker” means an investment bank of international standing that the Issuer appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

 

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“Reference Dealer” means a broker of, or a market maker in, the Comparable Government Issue selected by the Independent Investment Banker.

“Reference Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Government Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date for the Notes being redeemed.

The Issuer will send a notice of redemption to each holder of Notes to be redeemed in accordance with applicable depositary procedures at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any notice to holders of Notes to be redeemed of such a redemption shall include the appropriate calculation of the redemption price, but need not include the redemption price itself. The actual redemption price, calculated as described above, must be set forth in an officers’ certificate delivered to the trustee and the paying agent no later than two business days prior to the redemption date. Unless the Issuer defaults on payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes to be redeemed or portions thereof called for redemption. If fewer than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the trustee will select, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular Notes or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Notes not previously called if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, by such method as the trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary. Neither the trustee nor any registrar shall be liable for any such selection.

Early Redemption for Tax Reasons

The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer in whole, but not in part, at any time upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice delivered electronically or by first-class mail, with a copy to the trustee, to the registered address of each holder or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary, if:

(i) on the occasion of the next payment due under the Notes, the Issuer has or is reasonably likely to become obliged to pay Additional Amounts as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a Taxing Jurisdiction (as defined below under “—Additional Amounts”), or any change in the official application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment is announced and becomes effective on or after the date of issuance of the Notes (a “Change in Tax Law”); and

(ii) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer taking reasonable measures available to it; provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due.

Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption pursuant to the Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate of the Issuer stating that the Issuer is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Issuer so to redeem have occurred. Notes redeemed pursuant to this provision will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption and all Additional Amounts due on the date of redemption.

Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described above under the heading “—Optional Redemption,” the Issuer will make an offer to each holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (in excess of €100,000 and in integral multiples of €1,000 principal amount) of that holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes

 

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repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Issuer’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Issuer will send a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 45 days from the date such notice is sent. The notice shall, if sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to repurchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

The Issuer will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of the Notes, the Issuer will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Triggering Event payment date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful:

 

  (1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Issuer’s offer;

 

  (2) deposit with the paying agent (with notice to the trustee of such deposit by means of an officers’ certificate) an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

  (3) Deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee, the Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Issuer.

The paying agent will promptly pay, from funds deposited by the Issuer for such purpose, to each holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and send (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered.

The Issuer will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Issuer and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

Certain Covenants

Limitation on Liens

The indenture provides that Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, incur or suffer to exist, any Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, securing Debt upon any Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary of Parent that is owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent or any of its subsidiaries, in each case whether owned at the date of the original issuance of the Notes or thereafter acquired, or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom unless it has made or will make effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other Debt of Parent or any subsidiary secured by such Lien. Any Lien created for the benefit of the holders of the Notes pursuant to the preceding sentence shall provide by its terms that such Lien will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon release and discharge of the Lien.

Limitation on Dispositions of Significant Subsidiaries

The indenture provides that Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and will not permit any Significant Subsidiary to issue, any Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary of Parent. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, (a) Parent and its

 

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subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and any Significant Subsidiary may issue, any such Capital Stock to any subsidiary of Parent, (b) any subsidiary of Parent may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and any Significant Subsidiary may issue, any such securities to Parent or another subsidiary of Parent, (c) Parent and its subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and any Significant Subsidiary may issue, any such Capital Stock, if the consideration received is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined by the board of directors of Parent acting in good faith) of such Capital Stock, and (d) Parent and its subsidiaries may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, and any Significant Subsidiary may issue, any such securities if required by law or any regulation or order of any governmental or regulatory authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent may merge or consolidate any of its Significant Subsidiaries into or with another one of its Significant Subsidiaries and may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of its business in accordance with the provision described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.”

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The Issuer or any of the Guarantors, without the consent of any holder of outstanding Notes, 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:

(1) 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:

(a) is organized (i) in the case of the Issuer or any Guarantor other than Willis North America Inc. under the laws of any United States jurisdiction, any state thereof, England and Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands, Bermuda, or any country that is a member of the European Monetary Union or (ii) in the case of Willis North America Inc., under the laws of any United States jurisdiction, any state thereof or the District of Colombia; and

(b) expressly assumes the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations on the Notes and under the indenture;

(2) after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default shall have happened and be continuing; and

(3) certain other conditions are met, including in the case of a consolidation with or merger into a person organized other than under the laws of Ireland by Parent or the conveyance, transfer or lease by Parent of its properties and assets substantially as an entity to a person organized other than under the laws of Ireland that Parent shall have delivered, or have caused to be delivered, to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a result of such transaction or series of transactions 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 transaction or series of transactions had not occurred.

Additional Amounts

With respect to any payments made by or on the behalf of the Issuer or a Guarantor in respect of the Notes or any Guarantee of the Notes, as applicable, the Issuer or such Guarantor will make all payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on (whether on scheduled payment dates or upon acceleration) and the redemption price, if any, payable in respect of any Note without deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, import, assessment or other governmental charge (including penalties, interest and other liabilities related thereto) (“Taxes”) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which the Issuer or such Guarantor is incorporated or organized, engaged in business for tax purposes or otherwise resident for tax purposes, or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority therein and any jurisdiction through which any payment is made on behalf of the Issuer or any Guarantor (including the jurisdiction of any Paying Agent) (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), upon or as a result of such payments, unless required by law or by the official interpretation or administration thereof.

 

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To the extent that any such Taxes are so levied or imposed, the Issuer or such Guarantor will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) in order that the net amount received by each holder (including Additional Amounts), after withholding for or on account of such Taxes imposed upon or as a result of such payment, will not be less than the amount that would have been received had such taxes not been imposed or levied; except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable with respect to a payment made to a holder or beneficial owner of a Note:

 

   

to the extent that such Taxes would not have been so imposed, levied or assessed but for the existence of some connection between such holder or beneficial owner of such Note and the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes other than the mere holding or enforcement of such Note or receipt of payments thereunder; or

 

   

to the extent that such Taxes would not have been so imposed, levied or assessed but for the failure of the holders or beneficial owners of such Note to comply with a reasonable written request by the Issuer (or its agent) to make a valid declaration of non-residence or any other claim or filing for exemption to which it is entitled (but only to the extent it is legally entitled to do so); or

 

   

that presents such Note for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the Note is duly provided for and notice is given to holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the holders or beneficial owners of such Note would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Note on any date during such 30-day period; or

 

   

where such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to or for an individual and is required to be made pursuant to Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any other directive or law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive, the ECOFIN Council meeting of 26-27 November 2000 or any other law implementing or complying with any arrangement entered into between the EU member states and certain third countries and territories in connection with such Directive (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any replacement directive or law); or

 

   

that presents such Note for payment (where presentation is required) by or on behalf of the holders of such Note to any Paying Agent if such withholding or deduction of such Taxes could have been avoided by presenting such Note to another Paying Agent in a member state of the European Union;

 

   

in the case of a payment made by or on behalf of a Guarantor organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, with respect to any United States withholding taxes, so long as the Issuer or such Guarantor (pursuant to the applicable notice provision) provides reasonable notice regarding potential United States withholding taxes and requests holders and beneficial owners to provide applicable U.S. tax forms; or

 

   

any combination of the above.

As used herein and for purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the principal of and interest on the Notes and the redemption price, if any, shall be deemed to include a reference to any related Additional Amounts payable in respect of such amounts.

The Issuer will also pay any stamp, registration, excise or property taxes and any other similar levies (including any interest and penalties related thereto) imposed by any Taxing Jurisdiction on the execution, delivery, registration or enforcement of any of the Notes, the Guarantees, the Indenture or any other document or instrument referred to therein.

The foregoing obligations will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of the Indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor of the Issuer or any Guarantor.

 

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Events of Default

Each of the following constitutes an event of default with respect to the Notes under the indenture:

 

   

a default in payment of interest (including Additional Amounts) on the Notes when due continued for 30 days;

 

   

a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when due;

 

   

a default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other than a covenant 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 the Notes) continued for 60 days after written notice from the trustee to the Issuer or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Notes outstanding to the Issuer and the trustee, respectively;

 

   

a default under any Debt by the Issuer, any Guarantor or any of their respective subsidiaries that results in acceleration of the maturity of such debt, or failure to pay any such debt at maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $50 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time, provided that the cure of such default shall remedy such Event of Default under this clause;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

   

any Guarantee shall for any reason cease to exist or shall not be in full force and effect enforceable in accordance with its terms.

If an event of default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with notice to the trustee) may declare the unpaid principal balance immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. However, any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes 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 Notes may, by written notice rescind and annul such acceleration under certain circumstances. See “Modification and Waiver” below.

The Issuer must file annually with the trustee an officers’ certificate stating whether or not it is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the indenture and, if so, specifying the nature and status of the default.

The indenture provides that the trustee, within 90 days after knowledge of our occurrence of a default, will send to all holders of the Notes notice of all defaults known to it, unless such default has been cured or waived; but in the case of a default other than in respect of the payment of the principal of or interest on the Notes, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Notes.

Modification and Waiver

Modification and amendments of the indenture may be made by the Issuer, any Guarantor, and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected provided, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, the Notes;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

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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 the Notes; or

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding Notes 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.

Without the consent of any holder of outstanding Notes, the Issuer, any Guarantor, and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture and the Notes to evidence the succession of another person to the Issuer or a Guarantor and the assumption of such successor to the obligations thereof in accordance with the indenture, to add to the covenants of the Issuer or a Guarantor for the benefit of the holders of all or any series, to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or Guarantor, to add any additional events of default, to secure the Notes, to establish the form or terms of any new series of Notes, to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency, to provide for the Notes 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 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 indenture with respect to the Notes may be discharged, subject to the terms and conditions as specified herein when:

 

   

all Notes, with the exceptions provided for in the indenture, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation;

 

   

all Notes not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation:

 

   

have become due and payable; or

 

   

will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year; or

 

   

are to be called for redemption within one year; or

 

   

certain events or conditions occur as specified in the indenture.

The Issuer can terminate all of its obligations under the indenture with respect to the Notes, other than the obligation to pay interest on, premium, if any, and the principal of the Notes and certain other obligations, known as “covenant defeasance,” at any time by:

 

   

depositing money or direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany with the paying agent (with notice to the trustee of such deposit by means of an officer’s certificate) in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of public accountants to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes of such series to their maturity; and

 

   

complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders and beneficial owners of the Notes 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 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 covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

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In addition, the Issuer can terminate all of its obligations under the indenture with respect to the Notes, including the obligation to pay interest on, premium, if any, and the principal of the Notes, known as “legal defeasance,” at any time by:

 

   

depositing money or direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany with the paying agent (with notice to the trustee of such deposit by means of an officer’s certificate) in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of public accountants to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes to their maturity, and

 

   

complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel stating that (x) there has been a change in the U.S. federal tax law since the date of the indenture or (y) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, in either case, to the effect that holders and beneficial owners of Notes 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.

Regarding the Trustee

The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default known to the trustee, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default known to the trustee, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

The indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are incorporated by reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of the Issuer’s creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with the Issuer or any of its affiliates; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the indenture or in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflict or resign, subject to its right under the Trust Indenture Act to seek a stay of its duty to resign.

The indenture also provides the trustee with certain rights and privileges.

Paying Agent

Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch (a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp) will act as paying agent for the Notes. Upon notice to the trustee, we may change the paying agent at any time.

Governing Law

The indenture and the Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Notices

Notices to holders of the Notes will be sent to such holders. Any notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date it was sent. So long as the Notes are represented by a global security deposited with Elavon Financial Services Limited or any successor thereto, as the common depositary (the “Common Depositary”) for Clearstream and Euroclear, notices to holders may be given by delivery to Clearstream and Euroclear, and such notices shall be deemed to be given on the date of delivery to Clearstream and Euroclear. The trustee will send notices to each registered holder’s last known address as it appears in the security register that the trustee maintains. The trustee will only send these notices to the registered holder of the Notes. You will not receive notices regarding the Notes directly from us unless we reissue the Notes to you in fully certificated form.

 

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If the Notes are listed on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange after any redemption of the Notes, we will inform the Irish Stock Exchange of the principal amount of the Notes that have not been redeemed in connection with such redemption.

Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain of the defined terms used in the indenture.

“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.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

  (1) the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of Parent;

 

  (2) the first day on which Parent ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Issuer; or

 

  (3) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Parent.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Decline.

“Debt” means:

(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 generally accepted accounting principles 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 property, all conditional sale obligations of such person and all obligations of such person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

(d) all obligations of such person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s 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;

(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.

“Guarantee” means a guarantee on the terms set forth in the indenture by a Guarantor of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to the Notes.

 

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“Guarantor” means each of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, an Irish company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, an Irish Company, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., a company incorporated 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, Willis Group Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales, Willis North America Inc., a Delaware corporation, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda, and any other person that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the indenture.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency).

“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).

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

“Permitted Lien” means Liens on the Capital Stock of a Significant Subsidiary to secure Debt incurred to finance the purchase price of such Capital Stock; provided that any such Lien may not extend to any other property of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or any other subsidiary of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and provided further that such Debt matures within 180 days from the date such Debt was incurred.

Rating Agency” means:

 

  (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and

 

  (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c) (2) (vi) (F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

“Ratings Decline” means at any time during the period commencing on the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by Parent to effect a Change of Control, and ending 60 days thereafter (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) that (a) the rating of the Notes shall be reduced by both Rating Agencies and (b) the Notes shall be rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies.

“S&P”means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of a specified person within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We have obtained the information in this section concerning Clearstream, and Euroclear and their book-entry systems and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable. We take no responsibility for an accurate portrayal of this information. In addition, the description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those clearing systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.

 

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The Notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a common depositary, and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective nominees. You may hold your interests in the global notes in Europe through Clearstream or Euroclear, either as a participant in such systems or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests in the global notes on behalf of their respective participating organizations or customers through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries. Book-entry interests in the Notes and all transfers relating to the Notes will be reflected in the book-entry records of Clearstream and Euroclear. The address of Clearstream is 42 Avenue JF Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, Luxembourg and the address of Euroclear is 1 Boulevard Roi Albert II, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium.

The distribution of the Notes will be cleared through Clearstream and Euroclear. Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the Notes will take place through Clearstream and Euroclear participants and will settle in same-day funds. Owners of book-entry interests in the Notes will receive payments relating to their Notes in euro, except as described in this prospectus supplement under “Exchange rates” and “Description of Notes—Payments in Euro.”

Clearstream and Euroclear have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow the Notes to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates. Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market.

The policies of Clearstream and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in the Notes held by them. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by Clearstream or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We also do not supervise these systems in any way.

Clearstream and Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform or continue to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.

Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the Notes will not be entitled to have the Notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the Notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Note must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of Notes.

We have been advised by Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, as follows:

Clearstream

Clearstream has advised that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and licensed as a bank and professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with

 

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domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the Euroclear Operator (as defined below) to facilitate the settlement of trades between the nominees of Clearstream and Euroclear. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through, or maintain a custodial relationship with, a Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to interests in the Notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures.

Euroclear

Euroclear has advised that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related operating procedures of Euroclear, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants, and has no records of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

Distributions with respect to the Notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

Clearance and Settlement Procedures

We understand that investors that hold their Notes through Clearstream or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. Notes will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

Secondary Market Trading

Because the purchaser determines the place of delivery, it is important to establish at the time of trading of any Notes where both the purchaser’s and seller’s accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired value date.

We understand that secondary market trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form.

 

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You should be aware that investors will be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the Notes through Clearstream and Euroclear only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the Notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the Notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.

Clearstream or Euroclear will credit payments to the cash accounts of Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, as applicable, in accordance with the relevant system’s rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the indenture on behalf of a Clearstream customer or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures.

Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the Notes among participants of Clearstream and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.

Certificated Notes

If the depositary for any of the Notes represented by a registered global note is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue Notes in definitive form in exchange for the registered global note that had been held by the depositary. Any Notes issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global note will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the trustee or other relevant agent of the trustee. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global note that had been held by the depositary. In addition, we may at any time determine that the Notes shall no longer be represented by a global note and will issue Notes in definitive form in exchange for such global note pursuant to the procedure described above.

 

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CERTAIN MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

Irish Taxation

The following is a summary of certain Irish withholding and income tax consequences of guarantee payments by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited in respect of the Notes. It applies to you if you are the absolute beneficial owner of the Notes. The summary does not apply to certain other classes of persons such as dealers in securities. The summary is based upon Irish tax laws and the practice of the Irish Revenue Commissioners in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement, which are subject to prospective or retroactive change. The summary does not constitute tax or legal advice and is of a general nature only. Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of owning these Notes in your particular circumstances.

Guarantee Payments

It is possible that Irish withholding tax could apply to guarantee payments by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited. This is because some judicial decisions having persuasive authority in Ireland suggest that a guarantee payment could be treated to be an interest payment if the underlying guaranteed obligation is an interest payment. There is consequently a risk that a guarantee payment by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited could be treated as an interest payment and, thus, subject to interest withholding tax at the rate of 20% unless an exemption applied. An exemption may apply if the Notes continue to be listed on the Global Exchange Market and held in a recognized clearing system at the time the guarantee payments are made.

In limited circumstances, a guarantee payment by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited could alternatively be treated as an “annual payment” for Irish tax purposes. An annual payment is, broadly, a payment which is “pure profit of an income nature” in the hands of the recipient (for example an annuity payment). If a guarantee payment made by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited was an “annual payment,” Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited (as applicable) would be obliged to deduct 20% withholding tax from such payment. A double taxation treaty may offer relief for any such tax imposed.

Irish Income Tax

Guarantee payments by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited may be regarded as Irish source income because Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited reside in Ireland. Irish source income is generally subject to Irish tax and there is an obligation to account for any Irish tax on a self-assessment basis. However, if guarantee payments are deemed to be interest payments (as discussed above) arising from an Irish source, you would be exempt from Irish income tax if you are a company which is regarded, for the purposes of section 198 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 of Ireland, as being a resident of a “relevant territory” (and not tax resident in Ireland) and that “relevant territory” imposes a tax that generally applied to interest receivable in that territory by companies from sources outside that territory and in certain other circumstances. If an exemption does not apply or if the guarantee payments were treated to be a form of income other than an interest payment (eg, an annual payment) arising from an Irish source, a double taxation treaty may offer relief for any such income tax imposed.

Irish Encashment Tax

If you appoint a person in Ireland to collect payments on the Notes on your behalf, Irish encashment tax (currently 20%) may be deducted by the Irish collection agent from the interest or guarantee payments. You may claim an exemption from this withholding tax if you are the beneficial owner of the interest or guarantee payments and are not tax resident in Ireland and make a written declaration to this effect to the collecting agent.

 

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United Kingdom Taxation

The following summary is based upon UK tax law and HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) practice as at the date of this document. Both law and practice may change at any time, possibly with retrospective effect. The summary is intended as a general guide only, not a complete analysis, and may not apply to certain categories of holders of the Notes (such as dealers). The summary relates only to the UK withholding tax treatment of principal and interest payable on the Notes. It does not deal with any other UK tax implications of acquiring, holding or disposing of the Notes, and relates only to the position of holders who are the absolute beneficial owners of the Notes.

Holders of the Notes (or prospective holders of the Notes) who are in any doubt as to their tax position, or may be subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the UK, should consult their professional advisers without delay.

UK Withholding Tax

The Notes will constitute “Quoted Eurobonds” in those cases where they are listed on a recognized stock exchange and so long as they continue to be so listed. Securities will be treated as listed on a recognized stock exchange if (and only if) they are admitted to trading on that exchange and either they are included in the United Kingdom official list (within the meaning of Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in accordance with the provisions of that part or they are officially listed, in accordance with provisions corresponding to those generally applicable in European Economic Area states, in a country outside the United Kingdom in which there is a recognized stock exchange. The Global Exchange Market has been designated as a recognized stock exchange for these purposes. Whilst the Notes are and continue to be Quoted Eurobonds, payments of interest on the Notes may be made without deduction or withholding for or on account of United Kingdom income tax irrespective of whether the Notes are in global or definitive form.

In all cases falling outside the exemption described above, interest on the Notes may fall to be paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the basic rate, currently 20 per cent., subject to such relief as may be available under the provisions of any applicable double taxation treaty or to any other exemption which may apply.

The Notes may be issued with a premium payable on redemption. The payment of such a redemption premium may be treated as a payment of interest for UK tax purposes and may be subject to the withholding tax treatment.

The references to “interest” above are to “interest” as understood for the purposes of UK tax law. They do not take into account any different definition of “interest” or “principal” that may prevail under any other tax law or that may apply under the terms and conditions of the Notes or any related document.

United Kingdom Tax Payers

Corporate noteholders within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax will normally recognise any profits, gains or losses on the Notes (including on redemption) for United Kingdom corporation tax purposes under the “loan relationship” rules in Part 5 of the UK’s Corporation Tax Act 2009. Generally speaking, under these rules, interest, profits, gains and losses (broadly, measured and recognised in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice) are taxed or relieved as income.

Foreign exchange gains and losses on the Notes in respect of corporate noteholders will, generally, fall within the “loan relationship” rules. Accordingly, corporate noteholders within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax will, generally, be taxed on, or obtain relief for, foreign exchange gains and losses as described above.

 

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Noteholders who are not subject to United Kingdom corporation tax but who are resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom or who carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which the Notes are attributable will, generally, be subject to income tax on interest arising in respect of the Notes on a receipts basis.

Interest, discount and premium on the Notes may be subject to United Kingdom income tax or corporation tax by direct assessment even where paid without withholding. However, interest and discount and premium that is received without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom tax is not chargeable to United Kingdom tax in the hands of a noteholder (other than in the case of certain trustees) who is not resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom unless that noteholder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a United Kingdom branch or agency, or (in the case of a corporate Noteholder) a United Kingdom permanent establishment, in connection with which the interest and discount and premium is received or to which the Notes are attributable. In such a case, United Kingdom income tax or corporation tax may be levied on the branch, agency or permanent establishment, although there are exceptions for certain types of agent (such as some brokers and investment managers). The provisions of any applicable double tax treaty may be relevant to such a Noteholder

Where interest or premium on the Notes has been paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax, noteholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be able to recover all or part of the tax deducted if there is an appropriate provision in an applicable double tax treaty.

The provisions relating to the payment of additional amounts referred to in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Additional Amounts” would not apply if HM Revenue & Customs sought to assess the person entitled to the interest or premium directly to United Kingdom tax. However, exemption from, or reduction of, any such United Kingdom tax liability may be available under an applicable double tax treaty.

The Notes will not constitute “qualifying corporate bonds.” Therefore, a disposal (including redemption) of Notes by a Noteholder who is not within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for United Kingdom tax purposes, depending on the circumstances of the Noteholder. In calculating any gain or loss on a disposal (including redemption) of a Note, sterling values are compared at acquisition and disposal. Accordingly, a taxable profit can arise even where the foreign currency amount received on a disposal (including redemption) is the same as, or less than, the amount paid for the Note.

A transfer of Notes by a non-corporate Noteholder resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, or who carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Notes are attributable, may give rise to a charge to United Kingdom income tax on an amount representing the interest on the transferred Notes that has accrued since the preceding interest payment date.

Other rules relating to United Kingdom withholding tax

Where Notes are to be, or may fall to be, redeemed at a premium, then any such element of premium may constitute a payment of interest. Payments of interest are subject to United Kingdom withholding tax as outlined above.

Where interest has been paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax, Noteholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be able to recover all or part of the tax deducted if there is an appropriate provision in any applicable double taxation treaty.

The references to “interest” above mean “interest” as understood in United Kingdom tax law. The statements above do not take any account of any different definitions of “interest” or “principal” which may prevail under any other law or which may be created by the terms and conditions of the Notes or any related documentation.

 

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The above description of the United Kingdom withholding tax position assumes that there will be no substitution of the Issuer and does not consider the tax consequences of any such substitution.

Stamp Duty

The transfer (although not the issue) of debt owed by a UK debtor is potentially subject to United Kingdom transfer taxes (stamp duty); however, there are a number of exemptions which may apply, including an exemption for “Loan Capital.” We are not aware of any reason why the Loan Capital exemption should not apply, although holders of the Notes should consult their own tax advisor.

Reporting Requirements

The Issuer will need to comply with such account holder reporting requirements as are imposed upon it (in particular in respect of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) and/or the UK’s International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (the “UK IGA”) (to the extent such regulations relate to FATCA reporting obligations)). As far as the Issuer is aware, it is not currently subject to reporting obligations under FATCA or the UK IGA (in respect of FATCA).

Information relating to interests in the Notes may be required to be provided to tax authorities in certain circumstances pursuant to certain domestic and international reporting and transparency regimes. This may include (but is not limited to) information relating to the value of the interest, amounts paid or credited with respect to the interest, details of the investors or beneficial owners of the interest (or the persons for whom the interest is held), details of the persons who exercise control over entities that are, or are treated as, investors, details of the persons to whom payments derived from the interest are or may be paid and information and documents relating to the interest. Information may be required to be provided by, amongst others, the Issuer, investors, persons by (or via) whom payments derived from the interests are made or who receive (or would be entitled to receive) such payments, persons who effect or are a party to transactions relating to the interests and certain registrars or administrators. In certain circumstances, the information obtained by a tax authority may be provided to tax authorities in other countries. In order to enable these requirements to be met, investors may be required to provide information to the Issuer or to other persons.

Some jurisdictions operate a withholding system in place of, or in addition to, such provision of information requirements.

Bermuda Taxation

Currently, there is no income or other tax of Bermuda imposed by withholding or otherwise on any payment to be made by a Bermuda guarantor which is incorporated in Bermuda pursuant to a guarantee.

The Bermuda Government has enacted legislation under which the Minister of Finance is authorized to give an assurance to an exempted company, permit company, exempted partnership or exempted unit trust scheme (each an exempted undertaking) that in the event that Bermuda enacts legislation imposing tax computed on profits, income, any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to such entities or any of their operations or their shares, debentures or other obligations, until March 31, 2035. WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. has such a tax assurance in place.

 

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United States Taxation

This section describes certain United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposal of the Notes offered in this offering. It applies to you only if you are a beneficial owner of the Notes that acquires Notes in the offering at the issue price (generally the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold for cash to investors) and you hold your Notes as capital assets for United States federal income tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

   

a dealer in securities or currencies;

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

 

   

a bank or other financial institution;

 

   

an insurance company;

 

   

a tax-exempt organization;

 

   

a person that owns Notes that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate risks;

 

   

a person that owns Notes as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for United States federal income tax purposes;

 

   

a United States holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for United States federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; or

 

   

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. In addition, this section does not address all aspects of United States taxation that may be applicable to investors in light of their particular circumstances, including the effect of United States federal alternative minimum tax, gift or estate tax laws, or any state or local tax laws.

If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds the Notes, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the Notes should consult its tax advisor with regard to the United States federal income tax treatment of an investment in the Notes.

This section does not address the 3.8% United States federal income tax on net investment income of certain United States persons. Investors should consult their own advisors regarding the possible application of this tax.

Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the consequences of purchasing, owning or disposing of these Notes in your particular circumstances under the Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

United States Holders

This subsection describes the United States federal income tax consequences to a United States holder. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of a Note and you are, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, of any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if (i) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and certain other conditions apply.

If you are not a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you and you should refer to “Non-United States Holders” below.

Additional Payments. In certain circumstances, the Issuer may be obligated or elect to pay amounts in excess of stated principal on the Notes. See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption” and “Description of Notes—Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.” The Issuer believes that the possibility of any such payment is remote and therefore the rules governing contingent payment debt instruments should not apply to the Notes. The Issuer’s position is binding on a United States holder unless such holder discloses its contrary position in the manner required by applicable Treasury regulations. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), however, may take a different position, which could require a United States holder to accrue income on its Notes in excess of stated interest and to treat as ordinary income rather than capital gain any income realized on the taxable disposition of a Note. The discussion herein assumes that the Notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

Payments of Interest. You will be taxed on interest (including Additional Amounts, if any, and any non-United States taxes withheld on payments of interest or Additional Amounts) on your Note as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. If you use the cash method of tax accounting, the amount of interest income you will realize with respect to a payment of interest in euro will be the U.S. dollar value of the payment based on the exchange rate in effect on the date you receive the payment, regardless of whether you convert the payment into U.S. dollars. If you are an accrual-basis United States holder, the amount of interest income you will realize will be based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or with respect to an interest accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the average exchange rate for the partial period within the taxable year). Alternatively, as an accrual-basis United States holder, you may elect to translate all interest income on Notes at the spot rate on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year, in the case of an accrual period that spans more than one taxable year) or on the date that you receive the interest payment if that date is within five business days of the end of the accrual period. If you make this election, you must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and you cannot change the election without the consent of the IRS. If you use the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes, you will recognize foreign currency gain or loss on the receipt of a euro interest payment if the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received differs from the rate applicable to the previous accrual of that interest income. This foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss, but generally will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the Note.

Except as described above, interest income (including Additional Amounts, if any) on a Note generally will constitute foreign source income and generally will be considered “passive category income” in computing the foreign tax credit allowable to United States holders under United States federal income tax laws.

Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Notes. Your tax basis in your Note generally will be its cost. Unless a non-recognition provision applies, you will generally recognize U.S. source capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of your Note equal to the difference between the amount you realize on such disposition (excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent not previously included in income), and your tax basis in your Note. In the case of a disposition for euro, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro received at the spot exchange rate on the date of disposition (or on the settlement date, if the Notes are traded on an established securities exchange and you are either a cash basis United States holder or an electing accrual basis United States

 

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holder). Your adjusted tax basis in a Note will equal the cost of the Note. The cost of a Note purchased with euro will be the U.S. dollar value of the euro used to purchase it at the spot exchange rate on the date of purchase (or on the settlement date, if the Notes are traded on an established securities exchange and you are either a cash basis United States holder or an electing accrual basis United States holder). Gain or loss will be capital gain or loss except to the extent attributable to accrued but unpaid interest or foreign currency exchange gain or loss as discussed below. Capital gain of a noncorporate United States holder is generally taxed at a reduced rate of taxation where the holder has a holding period greater than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. You will recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount of the Note on the date of acquisition and the date of disposition. The foreign currency exchange gain or loss cannot exceed overall gain or loss on the disposition of the Note. Foreign currency exchange gain or loss generally will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss. If you recognize foreign currency exchange loss upon a sale, exchange or retirement of a Note above certain thresholds, you may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Treasury regulations issued under the Code meant to require the reporting to the IRS of certain tax shelter transactions cover certain transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions giving rise to losses in excess of a certain minimum amount (for example, $50,000 in the case of an individual or trust), such as the receipt or accrual of interest or a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a foreign currency note or foreign currency received in respect of a foreign currency note. United States holders should consult their tax advisors to determine the tax return disclosure obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the Notes, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

Non-United States Holders

This subsection describes the United States federal income tax consequences to a Non-United States holder. You are a Non-United States holder if you are the beneficial owner of a Note and are not a United States holder (as described above) or a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership) for United States federal income tax purposes.

If you are a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you.

Subject to the discussion below under the caption “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” the interest income paid to you in respect of the Notes generally will be exempt from United States federal income taxes and United States withholding tax, unless such income is effectively connected with the conduct by you of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment).

If you are a Non-United States holder, subject to the discussion below under the caption “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” any gain you realize on a sale of the Notes generally will be exempt from United States federal income tax, including United States withholding tax, unless:

 

   

your gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States; or

 

   

you are an individual holder and are present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions are met.

Reporting obligations of owners of foreign financial assets

Section 6038D of the Code generally requires U.S. individuals (and certain domestic entities that have U.S. individual owners, each a “specified domestic entity”) to file IRS Form 8938 if they hold certain “specified foreign financial assets,” the aggregate value of which exceeds $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year (or the aggregate value of which exceeds $75,000 at any time during the taxable year). The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, the Notes. If a person does not file a required IRS

 

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Form 8938, such person may be subject to substantial penalties and the statute of limitations on the assessment and collection of all U.S. federal income taxes of such person for the related tax year may not close before the date which is three years after the date on which such report is filed. U.S. individuals and domestic entities should discuss these reporting obligations with your tax advisers.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, information reporting requirements may apply to payments of principal and interest on a Note, and the proceeds of a sale of a Note, made to United States holders. Backup withholding may apply to such payments or proceeds if the United States holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise comply with the applicable backup withholding rules. Non-United States holders and certain other persons that provide an appropriate certification and otherwise qualify for exemption are not subject to backup withholding and information reporting requirements.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment made to a holder generally may be claimed as a credit against such person’s United States federal income tax liability, if any, and may entitle such person to a refund, provided such holder timely furnishes the required information to the IRS.

Certain United States holders are required to report information to the IRS with respect to their investment in the Notes subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for Notes held through a custodial account with a financial institution). Investors who fail to report required information could become subject to substantial penalties. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their investment in the Notes.

THE IRISH, UNITED KINGDOM, BERMUDA AND UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE IRISH, UNITED KINGDOM, BERMUDA, UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

 

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UNDERWRITING; CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase from us, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite the underwriter’s name in the table below.

 

Underwriter

   Principal
Amount  of

Notes
 

Barclays Bank PLC

   145,800,000.00   

HSBC Bank plc

     145,800,000.00   

Wells Fargo Securities International Limited

     145,800,000.00   

J.P. Morgan Securities plc

     20,250,000.00   

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc

     20,250,000.00   

Lloyds Bank plc

     15,525,000.00   

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

     15,525,000.00   

Bank of Montreal, London Branch

     15,525,000.00   

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

     15,525,000.00   
  

 

 

 
   540,000,000.00   

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Notes if they purchase any of the Notes. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters propose to offer the Notes directly to the public at the relevant public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the Notes to dealers at the relevant public offering price less a concession not to exceed 0.250% of the principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed 0.125% of the principal amount of the Notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering price and concessions.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Notes).

 

     Paid by the Issuer  

Per Note

     0.40

We estimate that our total expenses (excluding underwriting discounts) for this offering will be approximately $1.75 million.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters, may purchase and sell Notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of Notes in excess of the principal amounts of the Notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates syndicate short positions. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids for or purchases of Notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the Notes while the offering is in progress.

In connection with the issue of the Notes, HSBC Bank plc (in this capacity, the Stabilizing Manager) (or any person acting on its behalf) may over-allot Notes or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the

 

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Stabilizing Manager (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilizing Manager) will undertake any stabilization action. Any stabilization action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the final terms of the offer of the Notes is made, and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue of the Notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the Notes. Any stabilization action or over-allotments must be conducted by the Stabilizing Manager (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilizing Manager) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the Notes. They may also cause the prices of the Notes to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their affiliates have performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. Certain affiliates of the underwriters have committed amounts to the Credit Facilities as lenders. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay amounts outstanding under our Parent Bridge Loan Facility. As a result, affiliates of certain of the underwriters will receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering. The underwriters or their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes offered hereby.

The Notes are new issues of securities with no established trading markets. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the Notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading markets for the Notes.

We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the closing date specified on the cover page of this prospectus, which will be the fifth business day following the date of pricing of the Notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+ 5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Notes on the date of pricing or the two succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle T+ 5, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of Notes who wish to trade Notes on the date of pricing or the two succeeding business days should consult their own advisors.

 

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New Issue of Notes

There are currently no established trading markets for the Notes. Application has been made for the Notes to be listed on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange. The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the Notes. However, they are not obligated to do so and may, in their sole discretion, discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that liquid trading markets for the Notes will develop, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable.

Conflicts of Interest

Certain affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank plc, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc, Wells Fargo Securities International Limited, Lloyds Bank plc and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, each an underwriter in this offering, will receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the repayment of the Parent Revolving Credit Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Rule 5121. Because the Notes to be offered will be rated investment grade, pursuant to Rule 5121, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary. Underwriters subject to Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will not confirm sales of the Notes to any account over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The Notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contain a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State no offer of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

   

to legal entities which are qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Directive;

 

   

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives of the underwriters for any such offer; or

 

   

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

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provided that no such offer of Notes shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Notes to the public” in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State. The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/00, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

   

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and

 

   

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the Notes may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the Notes without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The Notes applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring the Notes must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus supplement contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The Notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the Notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the Notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

The validity of the Notes and certain matters of New York law will be passed upon for us by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (New York). Certain legal matters under English law will be passed upon for us by Weil, Gotshal & Manges (UK). Certain matters of Irish law will be passed upon for us by Matheson. Certain matters of the laws of the Netherlands will be passed upon for us by Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. Certain matters of the laws of Bermuda will be passed upon by Appleby (Bermuda) Limited. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

The Issuer is a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited are companies organized and existing under the laws of Ireland, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V. is a company organized and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited and Willis Group Limited are companies organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. is a company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda (together the “Non-U.S. Guarantors”). Certain of the directors and executive officers of the Issuer and the Non-U.S. Guarantors may be nonresidents of the United States. All or a substantial portion of the assets of such nonresident persons and of the Issuer and of the Non-U.S. Guarantors may be located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors (i) to effect service of process within the United States upon the Issuer and the Non-U.S. Guarantors or those nonresident persons or (ii) to enforce against the Issuer and the Non-U.S. Guarantors or nonresident persons judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, and the effectiveness of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s internal control over financial reporting, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, have been audited by Deloitte LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Towers Watson & Co. as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2015, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2016 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus supplement. 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 supplement from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus supplement is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Irish Stock exchange and 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 supplement is a part:

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on February 29, 2016 (the “2015 Form 10-K”) (excluding Item 8 of Part II);

 

   

The portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on April 27, 2016 that are incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015;

 

   

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, filed on May 10, 2016;

 

   

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2016, February 8, 2016, March 1, 2016, March 10, 2016 (two of which have a date of report of March 9, 2016 and one of which has a date of report of March 10, 2016 and includes certain information that replaces and supersedes Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015), March 17, 2016, March 22, 2016, April 6, 2016 and April 28, 2016.

 

   

Our Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on January 8, 2016; and

 

   

The description of our share capital contained in our Form 8-A, filed on January 5, 2016.

The Company makes available, free of charge through our website at www.willistowerswatson.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 supplement (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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company

Brookfield Place

200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor

New York, New York 10281

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (212) 915-8084

 

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LISTING AND GENERAL INFORMATION

 

1. The issuance of the Notes has been authorized by resolutions of the board of directors of the Issuer and of Parent dated February 29, 2016 and February 2, 2016, respectively.

 

2. The Issuer, a company organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales, was incorporated on June 25, 1998. Trinity’s I.R.S. Employer Identification Number is 98-0198190 and its telephone number is (44) 203 124 6000.

 

3. The registration numbers for and country in which each of the Issuer, Parent and the Other Guarantors is registered is as presented below.

 

Entity

   Registration Number    Country of Registration

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

   475616    Ireland

Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited

   567171    Ireland

Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.

   34367289    Amsterdam

Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited

   6677275    England & Wales

Trinity Acquisition plc

   3588435    England & Wales

TA I Limited

   3588080    England & Wales

WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd.

   50563    Bermuda

Willis Group Limited

   621757    England & Wales

Willis North America Inc.

   0249202    U.S.A.

 

4. There has been no material adverse change in our prospects since December 31, 2015 and there has been no significant change in our financial or trading position since March 31, 2016 (the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been incorporated by reference herein).

 

5. Except as disclosed or incorporated by reference in these Listing Particulars, we have not, during the previous 12 months been involved in any governmental, legal or arbitration proceedings (including any such proceedings which are pending or threatened of which we are aware), which have had in the recent past, or may have, a significant effect on our financial position and profitability.

 

6. For so long as the Notes are listed on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange, copies of the following documents in physical format may be obtained during normal business hours, at our principal office, at the address listed on the inside back cover page of these Listing Particulars:

 

   

the latest published audited fiscal year-end statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014;

 

   

the bylaws;

 

   

the memorandum and articles of association of each of the Issuer and Parent; and

 

   

the indenture (including the relevant supplemental indenture thereto) governing the Notes.

 

7. For so long as the Notes are admitted to the Official List and traded on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange, copies of these Listing Particulars will be available free of charge at our principal offices, at the address listed on the inside back cover of these Listing Particulars. In addition, copies, in physical format, of the annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that we file with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at our principal offices. Those documents may also be reviewed in the electronic format at our website at www.willistowerswatson.com.

 

8. Matheson is acting solely in its capacity as listing agent for the Issuer in relation to the Notes and is not itself seeking admission of the Notes to the Official List of the Irish Stock Exchange or to trade on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange.

 

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9. The expenses in relation to the admission of the Notes to trade on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange will be approximately €6,500.

 

10. The global securities representing the Notes have been accepted for clearance through Clearstream and Euroclear under Common Code 141877470 and the ISIN for the Notes is XS1418774706.

 

11. Save as disclosed in “Underwriting; Conflicts of Interest,” there are no potential conflicts of interest between any duties owed by the directors to the Issuer and or Parent and their private interests and/or other duties.

 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

Directors

The following persons are the members of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s board of directors as of the date of this prospectus supplement. The table sets forth their principal occupations. The business address for each director listed below is The Willis Building, 51 Lime Street, London EC3M 7DQ, England.

 

Director

  

Principal Occupation

John J. Haley

   Chief Executive Officer, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

Dominic Casserley

   President, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

Anna C. Catalano

   Former Group Vice President, Marketing for BP plc

Victor F. Ganzi

   Former President & CEO of The Hearst Corporation

Wendy E. Lane

   Chair, Lane Holdings, Inc.

James F. McCann

   Chief Executive Officer, 1-800-Flowers.com

Brendan R. O’Neill

   Former CEO of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC

Jaymin B. Patel

   President and Chief Executive Officer, Brightstar Corporation

Linda Rabbitt

   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rand Construction Corporation

Paul Thomas

   Former CEO of Reynolds Packaging Group

Jeffrey W. Ubben

   Chief Executive Officer, ValueAct Capital

Wilhelm Zeller

   Former CEO of Hannover Re Group

 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC

Directors

The following persons are the members of Trinity Acquisition plc’s board of directors as of the date of this prospectus supplement. The table sets forth their principal occupations. The business address for each director listed below is The Willis Building, 51 Lime Street, London EC3M 7DQ, England.

 

Director

  

Principal Occupation

Oliver Goodinge

   General Counsel, Great Britain

Steven Alcock

   Western Europe, International and Great Britain Controller

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF GUARANTORS FOR LISTING

Willis Tower Watson’s audited consolidated financial information includes both Guarantor and non-guarantor companies. The non-guarantor subsidiaries represent over 25% of the consolidated EBITDA and net assets of Willis Towers Watson. No single subsidiary Guarantor on a standalone basis accounts for more than 20% of the consolidated EBITDA or net assets of Willis Towers Watson. Presented below is certain supplemental information provided in connection with the listing of the Notes on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange.

 

(dollars in millions)    Year ended and as of December 31, 2015, as  applicable  
     EBITDA(1)      % of
EBITDA
    Net assets      % of
net assets
 

Guarantors(2)

   $ (90      (14 )%    $ (1,376      (57 )% 

Non-guarantors

     754         114     5,615         233

Issuer

     0         0     (1,826      (76 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 664         100   $ 2,413         100
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) EBITDA is for continuing operations only and is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA, is as follows (in millions):

 

(dollars in millions)    Year ended December 31, 2015  
     Guarantors      Non-guarantors      Issuer      Total  

Net income

     (306      762         (72      384   

Excluding:

           

Provision for income taxes

     (51      13         5         (33

Interest expense

     244         (169      67         142   

Deprecation

     22         73         0         95   

Amortization

     0         76         0         76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ (90    $ 754       $ 0       $ 664   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2) The Guarantors are Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. Each of Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd, Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

 

LOGO

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON 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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company, Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis North America Inc.

 

 

We or either of our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, Trinity Acquisition plc and Willis North America Inc. (each a “Subsidiary Issuer,” and together 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 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.

 

 

Investing in these securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 and the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities.

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s ordinary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “WLTW.”

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 an applicable prospectus supplement may be used in the initial sale of the securities or in resales by selling securityholders. In addition, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, 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 11, 2016.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   ii

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   iv

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

   vi

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

   vi

SUMMARY

   1

RISK FACTORS

   4

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS

   4

USE OF PROCEEDS

   4

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

   4

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

   5

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   5

EXPERTS

   5

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

   5

 

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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 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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to the securities that we or 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 Towers Watson 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 SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s 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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company or the Subsidiary Issuers directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company or the Subsidiary Issuers, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, Willis Towers Watson 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.

 

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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.”

Unless otherwise stated, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company,” “WTW” and “Holdings,” refer to Willis Towers Watson 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 Towers Watson 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 “$.”

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We have included in this document (including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus) “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. 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, the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Towers Watson & Co. (“Towers Watson”) and the Company (prior to such business combination), including the combined company’s future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions 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. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature.

There are important risks, uncertainties, events and factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document, including the following:

 

    changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets;

 

    consolidation in or conditions affecting the industries in which we operate;

 

    any changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate;

 

    the ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes;

 

    our ability to successfully integrate the Towers Watson, Gras Savoye and Willis businesses, operations and employees, and realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings;

 

    the potential impact of the Merger on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers and competitors;

 

    significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability;

 

    compliance with extensive government regulation;

 

    our ability to make divestitures or acquisitions and our ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses;

 

    expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation;

 

    the risk we would be required to increase our financial provision on the Stanford litigation;

 

    the risk of material adverse outcomes on existing litigation matters, including without limitation the Stanford litigation;

 

    the diversion of time and attention of our management team while the Merger is being integrated;

 

    the federal income tax consequences of the Merger and the enactment of additional state, federal, and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations, including changes in tax rates;

 

    our capital structure, including indebtedness amounts, the limitations imposed by the covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness and the maintenance of the financial and disclosure controls and procedures of each;

 

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    our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all;

 

    adverse changes in our credit ratings;

 

    the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

 

    our ability to retain and hire key personnel;

 

    a decline in defined benefit pension plans;

 

    various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action;

 

    failure to protect client data or breaches of information systems;

 

    reputational damage;

 

    disasters or business continuity problems;

 

    doing business internationally, including the impact of exchange rates;

 

    clients choosing to reduce or terminate the services provided by us;

 

    fluctuation in revenues against our relatively fixed expenses;

 

    management of client engagements;

 

    technological change;

 

    the inability to protect intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others;

 

    increases in the price, or difficulty of obtaining, insurance; fluctuations in our pension liabilities;

 

    loss of, failure to maintain, or dependence on certain relationships with insurance carriers;

 

    changes and developments in the United States healthcare system;

 

    the availability of tax-advantaged consumer-directed benefits to employers and employees;

 

    reliance on third party services;

 

    our holding company structure;

 

    changes in accounting estimates and assumptions; and

 

    changes in the market price of our shares.

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 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 and the accompanying prospectus may not occur, and we caution you against relying on these forward-looking statements.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These filings contain important information that does not appear in this prospectus. You may read and copy materials on file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of its Public Reference Room. The SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s site at www.sec.gov and through the NASDAQ Global Select Market, 4 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, on which our ordinary shares are 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 SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site referred to above.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that is filed with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information that we file later with the SEC may update and supersede the information in this prospectus and in the information we incorporate by reference. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (File No. 001-16503) and any filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus (excluding any portions of such documents that have been “furnished” but not “filed” for purposes of the Exchange Act):

 

    Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on February 29, 2016 (excluding Item 8 of Part II);

 

    Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2016, February 8, 2016, March 1, 2016 and March 10, 2016 (two of which have a date of report of March 9, 2016 and one of which has a date of report of March 10, 2016 and includes certain information that replaces and supersedes Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015);

 

    Our Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on January 8, 2016; and

 

    The description of our share capital contained in our Form 8-A, filed on January 5, 2016.

The Company makes available, free of charge through our website at www.willistowerswatson.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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company

Brookfield Place

200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor

New York, New York 10281

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (212) 915-8084

 

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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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company may offer from time to time any of the following securities, either separately or in units with other securities:

 

    debt securities;

 

    preferred shares;

 

    ordinary shares;

 

    warrants and warrant units;

 

    share purchase contracts and prepaid share purchase contracts; and

 

    share purchase units.

In addition, Trinity Acquisition plc or Willis North America Inc. may offer debt securities. Debt securities issued by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company may be guaranteed by certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., 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 stockholders 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

Willis Towers Watson Group is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. Currently, Willis Towers Watson Group has approximately 39,000 employees in more than 120 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas—the dynamic formula that drives business performance.

We bring together professionals from around the world—experts in their areas of specialty—to deliver the perspectives that give organizations a clear path forward. We do this by offering risk management, insurance broking, consulting, technology and solutions and private exchanges.

 



 

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In our capacity as risk 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 with insurance carriers through our global distribution network. 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 analysis), 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.

In our capacity as a group employee benefits advisor, we provide multiple options on a global basis for large national, regional and global clients to meet their needs for consistency across jurisdictions. Through our group exchanges, unique arrangements with global and regional carriers and individual client assignments, our Health & Benefits unit brings a deep understanding of client priorities, issues, challenges and opportunities to every client assignment and takes a balanced approach to four key drivers: Financial/Cost Management, Employee Appreciation, Resource Management and Global Governance and Oversight.

In our capacity as a consultant, technology and solutions and private exchange company, we help our clients enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees. We focus on delivering consulting services that help organizations anticipate, identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital management as well as investment advice to help our clients develop disciplined and efficient strategies to meet their investment goals. We operate the largest private Medicare exchange in the United States. Through this exchange, we help our clients move to a more sustainable economic model by capping and controlling the costs associated with retiree healthcare benefits.

We derive the majority of our revenue from commissions and fees for brokerage and consulting services. We do not determine the insurance premiums on which our commissions are generally based. Commission levels generally follow the same trend as premium levels as they are derived from a percentage of the premiums paid by the insureds. Fluctuations in these premiums charged by the insurance carriers can therefore have a direct and potentially material impact on our results of operations. No single client represented a significant concentration of our consolidated revenues for any of our three most recent fiscal years.

We and our colleagues serve a diverse base of clients ranging in size from large, major multinational corporations to middle-market companies in a variety of industries, public institutions, and individual clients. Many of our client relationships span decades. We work with major corporations, emerging growth companies, governmental agencies and not-for-profit institutions in a wide variety of industries.

We believe we are one of only a few global advisory, broking and solutions companies in the world possessing the global operating presence, broad product expertise and extensive distribution network necessary to meet effectively the global needs of many of our clients.

The Registrants

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company is the ultimate holding company for the Willis Towers Watson Group. Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company was incorporated in Ireland on September 24, 2009 under the name Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, as a public limited company, for the sole purpose of redomiciling the ultimate parent company from Bermuda to Ireland. On June 29, 2015, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Towers Watson, pursuant to which Towers Watson became a subsidiary of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company (the “Merger”). The Merger was completed on January 4, 2016 and in connection with the Merger, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company changed its name to “Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.”

 



 

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Each of Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. are direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Willis Towers Watson 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 Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, which was incorporated in Ireland on August 27, 2015, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., which was organized in the Netherlands on November 27, 2009, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., which was incorporated in Bermuda on August 26, 2015, and Willis North America Inc., which was incorporated in Delaware on December 27, 1928.

For administrative convenience, we and each of our subsidiary registrants utilize the offices of Willis Group Limited as our and their 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.willistowerswatson.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus. Willis North America Inc.’s principal executive offices are located at Brookfield Place, 200 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10281 and its telephone number is 212-915-8084.

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividends

Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends are set forth on page 4 under the heading, “Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividends.”

 



 

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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:

 

    the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus; and

 

    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.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND 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 Towers Watson Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the five most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2015      2014      2013      2012     2011  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)

     2.9x         4.0x         4.0x         (1.0 )x      2.2x   

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends(1)

     2.9x         4.0x         4.0x         (1.0 )x      2.2x   

 

(1) For the year ended December 31, 2012, our deficiency in earnings necessary to cover fixed charges was $334 million and fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was $334 million.

For the purposes of calculating each of the consolidated ratios above, “earnings” are defined as income before income taxes, interest in earnings of associates and minority interest plus “fixed charges” and dividends from associates. Fixed charges comprise interest paid and payable, including the amortization of interest, and an estimate of the interest expense element of operating lease rentals.

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 SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the debt securities, preferred shares, ordinary shares, warrants, warrant units, share purchase contracts, share purchase units or prepaid share purchase contracts that may be offered under this prospectus.

 

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We, or any selling securityholders, may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or a combination thereof on a continuous or delayed basis. Also, Willis Securities, Inc., also known as Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, an affiliate of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries, may act as a transaction advisor or underwriter of these securities, in which case the offering of our securities will be conducted in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. We will provide the specific plan of distribution for any securities to be offered in supplements to this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, and the effectiveness of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s internal control over financial reporting from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, have been audited by Deloitte LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Towers Watson & Co. as of June 30, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2015, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 10, 2016 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report 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. 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. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain matters of the laws of the Netherlands will be passed upon for us by Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities under Bermuda law will be passed upon for us by Appleby (Bermuda) Limited. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain matters of English law will be passed upon for us by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (UK). Any underwriters, dealers or agents may be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

 

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PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF TRINITY ACQUISITION PLC

Trinity Acquisition plc

51 Lime Street

London EC3M7DQ

TRUSTEE

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

150 East 42nd Street

New York, New York 10017

PAYING AGENT

Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch (a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp)

125 Old Broad Street

London EC2N 1AR

IRISH LISTING AGENT

Matheson

70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay

Eircode D02 R296

LEGAL ADVISERS

 

To the Company as to Irish law

Matheson

70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay

Eircode D02 R296

 

To the Company as to UK law

Weil, Gotshal & Manges

110 Fetter Lane

London EC4A 1AY

To the Company as to United States law

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 5th Ave

New York, New York 10153

 

To the Company as to Dutch law

Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V.

Claude Debussylaan 54

1082 MD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

 

To the Company as to Bermuda law

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited

Canon’s Court 22 Victoria Street

PO Box HM 1179

Hamilton HM EX Bermuda

To the Underwriters as to United States law

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Ave

New York, New York 10017

COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Deloitte LLP

Hill House

1 Little New Street

London EC4A 3TR


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LOGO

Trinity Acquisition plc

€540,000,000 2.125% Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

May 19, 2016

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Barclays

HSBC

Wells Fargo Securities

J.P. Morgan

MUFG

Co-Managers

Lloyds Bank

Citigroup

BMO Capital Markets

The Royal Bank of Scotland