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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 30, 2004

Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439   Registration No. 333-            

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

  
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
TA I LIMITED
TA II LIMITED
TA III LIMITED
TRINITY ACQUISITION LIMITED
TA IV LIMITED
WILLIS GROUP LIMITED
WILLIS PARTNERS
WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant
as Specified in its Charter)		     
Bermuda
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
England & Wales
Delaware
Delaware
(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation)		    
98-0352587
98-0351629
98-0395656
98-0395657
98-0198190
98-0338268
98-0199005
62-1761909
13-5654526
(I.R.S. Employee
Identification Number)

Canon's Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM12
Bermuda
(441) 295-2244

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

William P. Bowden, Jr.
Willis Group Holdings Limited
7 Hanover Square
New York, New York 10004
(212) 344-8888
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:
Edward P. Tolley III
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017-3954
(212) 455-2000

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective as determined by market conditions and other factors.

        If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  / /

        If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  /x/

        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  / /

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  / /

        If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.  / /

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

    Title of each Class of
Securities to be Registered

   Amount to be Registered
   Proposed Maximum Aggregate Price Per
Security
   Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering
Price
   Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited, par value $0.000115 per share   35,774,487 shares(1)(3)   $35.355(2)   $1,264,806,987.89(2)   $160,251.05(3)
(1)
Represents shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited to be sold by certain selling shareholders identified herein or, to the extent applicable, to be named in a prospectus supplement.

(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee and calculated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of Willis Group Holdings Limited's common stock on January 23, 2004, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

(3)
Pursuant to Rule 429 of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement contains a combined Prospectus that also relates to an aggregate of $500,000,000 of Debt Securities, Guarantees, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Warrants, Warrant Units, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts registered on Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-104439) previously filed by the Registrants and declared effective on April 17, 2003 as to which such $500,000,000 of securities remains unsold and as to which a filing fee of (a) $40,450 relating to such unsold unallocated securities was paid and (b) $46,129.18 relating to separately allocated shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited sold by selling shareholders was paid. This Registration Statement constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-104439) and such Post-Effective Amendment shall hereafter become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this Registration Statement and in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act.

        The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to completion, dated January 30, 2004

PROSPECTUS

$500,000,000

WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
Warrant Units
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts

TRINITY ACQUISITION LIMITED

Guaranteed Debt Securities

WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.

Guaranteed Debt Securities

WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED 

35,774,487 Shares of Common Stock

        We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.

        See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 for information about risks you should consider before you invest in any of our securities.

        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 is dated                     , 2004.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   Page
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS   i
BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY   i
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US   1
SUMMARY   2
RISK FACTORS   5
THE WILLIS GROUP   10
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS   11
USE OF PROCEEDS   11
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES   12
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK   24
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS   31
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS, STOCK PURCHASE UNITS AND PREPAID STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS   32
BOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT   33
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS   35
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION   37
EXPERTS   39
LEGAL MATTERS   39


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        We have included in this prospectus forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that state our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, depending on a variety of factors such as changes in premium rates, the competitive environment, the actual cost of resolution of contingent liabilities, general economic conditions in different countries around the world, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and global equity and fixed income markets and other factors disclosed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements or to advise of changes in the assumptions and factors on which they are based. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are qualified by reference to this cautionary statement.


BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY

        The Bermuda Monetary Authority has classified us as a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes. Accordingly, the Bermuda Monetary Authority does not restrict our ability to convert currency, other than Bermuda dollars, held for our account to any other currency, to transfer funds in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends or other forms of payment to non-Bermuda residents who are shareholders or holders of our other securities, other than in Bermuda dollars. The permission of the

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Bermuda Monetary Authority is required for the issue and transfer of our shares and other securities under the Exchange Control Act 1972 of Bermuda and regulations under it.

        We have obtained the permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issuance of some of our common stock that we may offer as described in this document. In addition, we have obtained the permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the free issue and transferability of some of our common stock. No permission has yet been sought from the Bermuda Monetary Authority in respect of the other securities referred to in this prospectus nor for the conversion of any such securities into shares of our common stock. Approvals or permissions received from the Bermuda Monetary Authority do not constitute a guaranty by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in giving those approvals or permissions, the Bermuda Monetary Authority will not be liable for our performance or default or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this document.

ii


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities registered by the registration statements of which this prospectus is a part:


        You may also request a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, free of cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

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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 "Where You Can Find More Information About Us".

The Securities We May Offer

        This prospectus is part of two registration statements that we filed with the SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under the shelf registration process, Willis Group Holdings Limited may offer from time to time up to $500,000,000 of any of the following securities, either separately or in units with other securities:

        In addition, all or a portion of such $500,000,000 amount may be debt securities issued by Trinity Acquisition Limited or by Willis North America Inc., each an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis Group Holdings Limited. Any debt securities issued by Trinity Acquisition Limited will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, which collectively comprise all of its direct and indirect parent entities. Any debt securities issued by Willis North America Inc. will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, which collectively comprise all of its direct and indirect parent entities.

        In addition, certain selling shareholders identified herein or, to the extent applicable, in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time an aggregate of 35,774,487 shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited. See "Selling Shareholders."

        This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

Debt Securities

        We may offer unsecured general obligations of Willis Group Holdings Limited, which may be either senior, senior subordinated or subordinated, and may be convertible into shares of our common stock. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Willis Group Holdings Limited as the "Holdings debt securities". The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of Holdings' other unsecured and

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unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities will be entitled to payment only after payment of Holdings' senior debt.

        The Holdings debt securities will be issued under one of three indentures between Willis Group Holdings Limited and a trustee. We have summarized general features of the debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures, the form of each of which is an exhibit to the registration statements to which this prospectus relates.

        We may offer unsecured general obligations of Trinity Acquisition Limited, which may be either senior, senior subordinated or subordinated and may be convertible into shares of our common stock. Any of such debt securities of Trinity Acquisition Limited will be guaranteed by its direct and indirect parent entities, including Willis Group Holdings Limited. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Trinity Acquisition Limited as the "Trinity debt securities". The Trinity senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited. The subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities of Trinity Acquisition Limited will be entitled to payment only after payment of Trinity Acquisition Limited's senior debt, including guarantees outstanding under our senior credit facility.

        The Trinity debt securities will be issued under one of three indentures among Trinity Acquisition Limited, the guarantors thereto and a trustee. We have summarized general features of the Trinity debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures, the form of each of which is an exhibit to the registration statements of which this prospectus is a part.

        We may also offer unsecured general obligations of Willis North America Inc., which may be either senior, senior subordinated or subordinated and may be convertible into shares of our common stock. Any of such debt securities of Willis North America Inc. will be guaranteed by its direct and indirect parent entities, including Willis Group Holdings Limited. In this prospectus, we refer to the senior debt securities, the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities of Willis North America Inc. as the "Willis North America debt securities", and we refer to the Holdings debt securities, Trinity debt securities and the Willis North America debt securities together as the "debt securities". The Willis North America Inc. senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Willis North America Inc. The subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities of Willis North America Inc. will be entitled to payment only after payment of Willis North America Inc.'s senior debt, including amounts outstanding under our senior credit facility.

        The Willis North America debt securities will be issued under one of three indentures between the Willis North America Inc., the guarantors thereto and a trustee. We have summarized general features of the Willis North America debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures, the form of each of which is an exhibit to the registration statements of which this prospectus is a part.

Preferred Stock

        We may issue preferred stock, par value $0.000115 per share, of Willis Group Holdings Limited, in one or more series. Our board of directors will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and other rights of the series of preferred stock being offered.

Common Stock

        We may issue common stock, par value $0.000115 per share, of Willis Group Holdings Limited. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when declared by the board of directors, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote

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per share. Except as described herein, the holders of common stock have no preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights.

        In addition, certain selling shareholders identified herein or, to the extent applicable, in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time an aggregate of 35,774,487 shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited. See "Selling Shareholders."

Warrants and Warrant Units

        We may issue warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock or debt securities of Willis Group Holdings Limited. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. We may also issue warrant units. Each warrant unit will consist of a warrant under which the holder, upon exercise, will purchase a specified number of shares of common or preferred stock.

Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Prepaid Stock Purchase Contracts

        We may issue stock purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from us common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited. We may issue stock purchase contracts independently or together as part of stock purchase units.

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RISK FACTORS

Premiums and Commissions—We do not control the premiums on which our commissions are based, and volatility or declines in premiums may seriously undermine our profitability.

        We derive most of our revenues from commissions and fees for brokering and consulting services. We do not determine insurance premiums on which commissions are generally based. Premiums are cyclical in nature and may vary widely based on market conditions. From the late 1980s through late 2000, insurance premium rates generally declined as a result of a number of factors, including the expanded underwriting capacity of insurance carriers; consolidation of both insurance intermediaries and insurance carriers; and increased competition among insurance carriers.

        In addition, as traditional risk-bearing insurance carriers continue to outsource the production of premium revenue to non-affiliated agents or brokers such as ourselves, those insurance carriers may seek to reduce further their expenses by reducing the commission rates payable to those insurance agents or brokers. The reduction of these commission rates, along with general volatility and/or declines in premiums, may significantly undermine our profitability.

Claims, Lawsuits and Proceedings—Our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity may be materially adversely affected by errors and omissions and the outcome of certain actual and potential claims, lawsuits and proceedings.

        We are subject to various actual and potential claims, lawsuits and proceedings relating principally to alleged errors and omissions in connection with the placement of insurance and reinsurance in the ordinary course of business. Because we often assist our clients with matters, including the placement of insurance coverage and the handling of related claims, involving substantial amounts of money, errors and omissions claims against us may arise which in turn allege our potential liability for all or part of the amounts in question. Claimants can seek large damage awards and these claims can involve potentially significant defense costs. Such claims, lawsuits and proceedings could, for example, include allegations of damages for our employees or sub-agents failing, whether negligently or intentionally, to place coverage or notify claims on behalf of clients, to provide insurance carriers with complete and accurate information relating to the risks being insured or to appropriately apply funds that we hold for our clients on a fiduciary basis. We have established provisions against these items which we believe to be adequate in the light of current information and legal advice, and we adjust such provisions from time to time according to developments.

        While most of the errors and omissions claims made against us have, subject to our self-insured deductibles, been covered by our professional indemnity insurance, our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity may be adversely affected if in the future our insurance coverage proves to be inadequate or unavailable or there is an increase in liabilities for which we self-insure. In addition, claims, lawsuits and proceedings may harm our reputation or divert management resources away from operating our business.

        The principal actual or potential claims, lawsuits and proceedings to which we are currently subject are (i) claims relating to services provided by one of our UK subsidiaries, Willis Faber (Underwriting Management) Limited, to another subsidiary, Sovereign Marine & General Insurance Company Limited (In Scheme of Arrangement), that was engaged in insurance underwriting prior to 1991 as well as certain third party insurance companies; (ii) potential claims which could be asserted with respect to our placement of property and casualty insurance for a number of entities which were directly impacted by the September 11, 2001 destruction of New York's World Trade Center complex; (iii) potential claims arising out of various legal proceedings between reinsurers, reinsureds and their reinsurance brokers relating to personal accident excess of loss reinsurance placements for the years 1993 to 1998; and (iv) claims relating to activities by a US subsidiary of ours, Baccala and Shoop Insurance Services, prior to 1984 for certain insurance issuing companies.

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Regulation—We are subject to insurance industry regulation worldwide. If we fail to comply with regulatory requirements, we may not be able to conduct our business.

        Many of our activities are subject to regulatory supervision in the various countries and jurisdiction in which we are based or our activities are undertaken. We have in the past failed to comply with some of these regulations and future failures to comply by us or our employees may occur. While past failures have resulted in insignificant fines, any failures reported in the future could lead to disciplinary action, including requiring clients to be compensated for loss, the imposition of more substantial fines and the possible revocation of our authorization to operate as well as reputational damage. In addition, changes in legislation or regulations and actions by regulators, including changes in administration and enforcement policies, could from time to time require operational improvements or modifications at various locations which could result in higher costs or hinder our ability to operate our business.

Put and Call Arrangements—We have entered into significant put and call arrangements which may require us to pay substantial amounts to purchase shares in one of our associates. Those payments would reduce our cash flow and the funds available to grow our business.

        In connection with many of our investments in our associates, we retain rights to increase our ownership percentages of these associates over time and, in some cases, the existing owners also have a right to put their shares to us. The put arrangement in place for shares of our associate, Gras Savoye, may require us to pay substantial amounts to purchase those shares, which may cause a significant decrease in our liquidity and the funds available to grow our business.

        The rights under the put arrangement may be exercised through 2011, and if fully exercised, we would be required to buy shares of Gras Savoye, other than those held by its management, possibly increasing our ownership interest by 57% from 33% to 90%. Management shareholders of Gras Savoye, representing approximately 10% of the outstanding shares, do not have general put rights before 2011, but have certain put rights on their death, disability or retirement. Payments in connection with management put rights would not have exceeded $35 million if those rights had been fully exercised at December 31, 2002.

        Until 2005, the incremental 57% of Gras Savoye may be put to us at a price equal to the greater of approximately 800 million French francs ($128 million at December 31, 2002 exchange rates) or a price determined by a contractual formula based on earnings and revenue, which at December 31, 2002 would have amounted to approximately $197 million. After 2005, the put price is determined solely by the formula. The shareholders may put their shares individually at any time during the put period. The amounts we may have to pay in connection with the put arrangements may significantly exceed these estimates.

Competition—Competition in our industry is intense, and if we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose market share and our business may be materially adversely affected.

        We face competition in all fields in which we operate, based on global capability, product breadth, innovation, quality of service and price. We compete with Marsh & McLennan and Aon, the two other providers of global risk management services, as well as with numerous specialist, regional and local firms. If we are unable to compete effectively against these competitors, we will suffer lower revenue, reduced operating margins and loss of market share.

        Competition for business is intense in all our business lines and in every insurance market, and the other two providers of global risk management services have substantially greater market share than we do. Competition on premium rates has also exacerbated the pressures caused by a continuing reduction in demand in some classes of business. For example, insureds have been retaining a greater proportion of their risk portfolios than previously. Industrial and commercial companies have been increasingly relying upon their own subsidiary insurance companies, known as captive insurance companies, self-insurance pools, risk retention groups, mutual insurance companies and other mechanisms for

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funding their risks, rather than buying insurance. Additional competitive pressures arise from the entry of new market participants, such as banks, accounting firms and insurance carriers themselves, offering risk management or transfer services.

Dependence on Key Personnel—The loss of any member of our senior management, particularly our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or a significant number of our brokers could negatively affect our financial plans, marketing and other objectives.

        The loss of or failure to attract key personnel could significantly impede our financial plans, growth, marketing and other objectives. Our success depends to a substantial extent not only on the ability and experience of our senior management, particularly our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Plumeri, but also on the individual brokers and teams that service our clients and maintain client relationships. The insurance brokerage industry has in the past experienced intense competition for the services of leading individual brokers and brokerage teams, and we have lost key individuals and teams to competitors in the past. We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to attract and retain additional highly skilled and qualified personnel and to expand, train and manage our employee base. We may not be successful in doing so, because the competition for qualified personnel in our industry is intense.

International Operations—Our significant non-US operations, particularly those in the United Kingdom, expose us to exchange rate fluctuations and various risks that could impact our business.

        A significant portion of our operations is conducted outside the United States. Accordingly, we are subject to legal, economic and market risks associated with operating in foreign countries, including devaluations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates; imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies into pounds sterling or dollars or remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries; hyperinflation in certain foreign countries; imposition or increase of investment and other restrictions by foreign governments; and the requirement of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws.

        We report our operating results and financial condition in US dollars. Our US operations earn revenue and incur expenses primarily in dollars. In the United Kingdom, however, we earn revenue in a number of different currencies, but expenses are almost entirely incurred in pounds sterling. Outside the United States and the United Kingdom, we predominantly generate revenue and expenses in the local currency. The table below details the breakdown of revenues and expenses by currency in 2002.

 
   Pounds Sterling
   US Dollars
   Other Currencies
Revenues   14%   57%   29%
Expenses   36%   43%   21%

        Because of devaluations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates or the imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies into dollars, we are subject to currency translation exposure on the profits of our operations, in addition to economic exposure. Furthermore, the mismatch between sterling revenues and expenses creates an exchange exposure. As the pound sterling strengthens, the dollars required to be translated into pounds sterling to cover the net sterling expenses increase, which then causes our results to be negatively impacted. Given these facts, the strength of the pound sterling relative to the US dollar has in the past had a material negative impact on our reported results. This risk could have a material adverse effect on our business financial condition, cash flow and results of operations in the future.

        Our policy is to convert into pounds sterling all revenues arising in currencies other than US dollars together with sufficient US dollar revenues to fund the remaining pounds sterling expenses. Outside the United Kingdom, only those cash flows necessary to fund mismatches between revenues and expenses are converted into local currency; amounts remitted to the United Kingdom are generally

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converted into pounds sterling. These transactional currency exposures are generally managed by entering into forward exchange contracts. It is our policy to hedge at least 25% of the next 12 months' exposure in significant currencies. We generally do not hedge exposures beyond three years.

Unenforceability of Certain United States Judgments—We are incorporated in Bermuda, and, as a result, it may not be possible for shareholders or holders of other securities to enforce civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States.

        We are organized under the laws of Bermuda. A substantial portion of our assets are or may be located outside the United States. As a result it may not be possible for the holders of our common or preferred stock or holders of other securities to effect service of process within the United States upon us or to enforce against us in U.S. courts judgments based on the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States.

        In addition, there is significant doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state or hear actions brought in Bermuda against us or those persons based on those laws. We have been advised by our legal advisor in Bermuda, Appleby Spurling & Kempe, that the United States and Bermuda do not currently have as treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a U.S. judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda Court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors or officers, as determined by reference to the Bermuda conflict of law rules. A judgment 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.

        In addition to and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to public policy. It is the advice of Appleby Spurling & Kempe that an action brought pursuant to 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 the U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they would be contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our 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 force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law.

Difference in Laws—The laws of Bermuda differ from the laws in effect in the United States and may afford less protection to holders of our securities.

        Holders of our common or preferred stock or holders of our other securities may have more difficulty in protecting their interests than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States. We are a Bermuda company and, accordingly, are governed by the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended. The Companies Act differs in certain material respects from laws generally applicable to United States corporations and shareholders, including:

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THE WILLIS GROUP

        Willis Group Holdings Limited is the ultimate holding company for the Willis Group. We trace our history to 1828 and are one of the largest insurance brokers in the world.

        Willis Group Holdings Limited was incorporated in Bermuda on February 8, 2001 as an exempted company under the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, for the sole purpose of redomiciling the ultimate parent company of the Willis Group (comprised of TA I Limited and subsidiaries) from the United Kingdom to Bermuda. We completed an initial public offering of approximately 16% of our shares in June 2001. In November 2001, May 2002 and May 2003 approximately 12%, 15% and 16% of our shares were publicly sold through secondary public offerings.

        We provide a broad range of value-added risk management consulting and insurance brokerage services to in excess of 50,000 clients worldwide. We have significant market positions in the United States, in the United Kingdom and, directly and through our associates, in many other countries. We are one of three recognized leaders in providing specialized risk management advisory and other services on a global basis to clients in various industries including the aerospace, marine, construction and energy industries. In our capacity as an advisor and insurance broker, we act as an intermediary between our clients and insurance carriers by advising our clients on their risk management requirements; helping clients determine the best means of managing risk; and negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through our global distribution network. We also provide other value added services.

        We assist clients in the assessment of their risks, advise on the best ways of transferring suitable risk to the global insurance and reinsurance markets, and then execute the transactions at the most appropriate available price for our client. Our global distribution network enables us to place the risk in the most appropriate insurance or reinsurance market worldwide. We also offer clients a broad range of services to help them to identify and control their risks. These services range from strategic risk consulting (including providing actuarial analyses) to a variety of due diligence services to the provision of practical on-site risk control services (such as health and safety or property loss control consulting). We also 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 insurance risks for our own account.

        We and our associates serve a diverse base of clients located in approximately 180 countries. Those clients include major multinational and middle-market companies in a variety of industries, as well as public institutions. Many of our client relationships span decades. With approximately 13,000 employees around the world and a network of about 300 offices in some 80 countries, in each case including our associates, we are one of only three insurance brokers in the world possessing the global operating presence, broad product expertise and extensive distribution network necessary to meet effectively the global risk management needs of many of our clients.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

        The following table shows the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends of Willis Group Holdings Limited or its predecessor for each of the five most recent fiscal years and for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

 
   1998
   1999
   2000
   2001
   2002
   Nine months
ended September 30,
2003
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges   — (a) — (a) 1.6   1.7   4.9   8.0
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends   — (b) — (b) 1.2   1.4   4.9   8.0
(a)
Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 by $46 million and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 by $108 million; therefore, the ratio for those fiscal years is less than one-to-one and is not shown.

(b)
Earnings were insufficient to cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 by $57 million and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 by $143 million; therefore, the ratio for those fiscal years is less than one-to-one and is not shown.


USE OF PROCEEDS

        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 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.

        We will not receive any net proceeds from the sale of any shares of common stock offered by the selling shareholders.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        This section explains the provisions of the debt securities that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. The particular terms of the debt securities offered, including any changes from these terms, will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.

        The debt securities will be governed by the applicable indentures. The indentures gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities, including the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indentures. The applicable indentures contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every provision of the debt securities or the indentures. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the applicable indenture, including definitions of terms used in such indenture. You should read the applicable indenture, including the defined terms, and the particular terms of the debt securities for provisions that may be important to you. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities for more information about the terms of a particular series of debt securities, including variations from the terms described in this prospectus. This summary is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The Holdings debt securities will be general unsecured obligations of Willis Group Holdings Limited. The Holdings senior debt securities will be senior to all subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Limited. The Holdings senior debt securities will rank equally with other unsecured, unsubordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Limited.

        The Holdings senior subordinated debt securities will be subordinate to any Holdings senior debt and to certain other debt obligations of Willis Group Holdings Limited that may be outstanding. The Holdings senior subordinated debt securities will rank equally with certain other senior subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Limited that may be outstanding and senior to certain subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Limited that may be outstanding, including any Holdings subordinated debt securities.

        The Holdings subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to any Holdings senior debt, to Holdings senior subordinated debt securities and to certain other obligations of Willis Group Holdings Limited and will rank equally with certain other subordinated debt of Willis Group Holdings Limited. None of the Holdings debt securities will be guaranteed unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The Holdings senior debt securities are to be issued under a senior indenture to be executed between Willis Group Holdings Limited and JPMorgan Chase Bank. We refer to this indenture as the "Holdings senior indenture". Holdings senior subordinated debt securities are to be issued under a senior subordinated indenture to be executed by Willis Group Holdings Limited and The Bank of New York, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Holdings senior subordinated indenture". Holdings subordinated debt securities are to be issued under a subordinated indenture to be executed by Willis Group Holdings Limited and Citibank, N.A., as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Holdings subordinated indenture". In this prospectus, the Holdings senior indenture, the Holdings senior subordinated indenture and the Holdings subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Holdings indentures" and the trustees thereunder are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Holdings trustees" and individually as a "Holdings trustee".

        The Trinity debt securities will be general unsecured obligations of Trinity Acquisition Limited. The Trinity senior debt securities will be senior to all subordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited, including any outstanding Trinity senior subordinated debt securities and Trinity subordinated debt securities. The Trinity senior debt securities will rank equally with other unsecured, unsubordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited.

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        The Trinity senior subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to any Trinity senior debt securities and to other certain debt obligations of Trinity Acquisition Limited that may be outstanding, including guarantees outstanding under our senior credit facility. The Trinity senior subordinated debt securities will rank equally with certain other senior subordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited that may be outstanding and senior to certain subordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited that may be outstanding, including any Trinity subordinated debt securities.

        The Trinity subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to any Trinity senior debt securities, including guarantees outstanding under our senior credit facility, and Trinity senior subordinated debt securities and to certain other obligations of Trinity Acquisition Limited and will rank equally with certain other subordinated debt of Trinity Acquisition Limited.

        The Trinity debt securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, which collectively comprise all of the direct and indirect parent entities of Trinity Acquisition Limited.

        The Trinity senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture to be executed among Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, as guarantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Trinity senior indenture". The Trinity senior subordinated debt securities will be issued under a senior subordinated indenture to be executed between Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Trinity senior subordinated indenture". The Trinity subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture to be executed between Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, as guarantors, and Citibank, N.A., as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Trinity subordinated indenture". The Trinity senior indenture, the Trinity senior subordinated indenture and the Trinity subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to individually as a "Trinity indenture" and collectively as the "Trinity indentures" and the trustees thereunder are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Trinity trustees" and individually as a "Trinity trustee".

        The Willis North America debt securities will be general unsecured obligations of Willis North America Inc. The Willis North America senior debt securities will be senior to all subordinated debt of Willis North America Inc., including any outstanding Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities and any Willis North America subordinated debt securities. The Willis North America senior debt securities will rank equally with other unsecured, unsubordinated debt of Willis North America Inc.

        The Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to any Willis North America senior debt securities and to other certain debt obligations of Willis North America Inc. that may be outstanding, including amounts outstanding under our senior credit facility. The Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities will rank equally with certain other senior subordinated debt of Willis North America Inc. that may be outstanding and senior to certain subordinated debt of Willis North America Inc. that may be outstanding, including any Willis North America subordinated debt securities.

        The Willis North America subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to any Willis North America senior debt securities, including amounts outstanding under our senior credit facility, and Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities and to certain other obligations of Willis North America Inc. and will rank equally with certain other subordinated debt of Willis North America Inc.

        The Willis North America debt securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited,

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TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, which collectively comprise all of the direct and indirect parent entities of Willis North America Inc.

        The Willis North America senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture to be executed between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Willis North America senior indenture". The Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities will be issued under a senior subordinated indenture to be executed between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Willis North America senior subordinated indenture". The Willis North America subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture to be executed between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and Citibank, N.A., as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the "Willis North America subordinated indenture". The Willis North America senior indenture, the Willis North America senior subordinated indenture and the Willis North America subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to individually as a "Willis North America indenture" and collectively as the "Willis North America indentures" and the trustees thereunder are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Willis North America trustees" and individually as a "Willis North America trustee".

        The Holdings senior indenture, the Trinity senior indenture and the Willis North America senior indenture are sometimes referred to individually as a "senior indenture" and collectively as the "senior indentures". The Holdings senior subordinated indenture, the Trinity senior subordinated indenture and the Willis North America senior subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to individually as a "senior subordinated indenture" and collectively as the "senior subordinated debt indentures". The Holdings senior indenture, the Trinity subordinated indenture and the Willis North America subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to individually as a "subordinated indenture" and collectively as the "subordinated indentures". The Holdings indentures, the Trinity indentures and the Willis North America indentures are sometimes referred to individually as an "indenture" and collectively as the "indentures". The Holdings trustees, the Trinity trustees and the Willis North America trustees are sometimes referred to individually as a "trustee" and collectively as "trustees".

        The indentures are substantially identical, except for provisions relating to guarantees, conversion and subordination. For purposes of the summaries below, the term "issuer" shall refer to Willis Group Holdings Limited in the case of Holdings debt securities, Trinity Acquisition Limited in the case of Trinity debt securities and Willis North America Inc. in the case of Willis North America debt securities. The term "guarantor" shall refer to each guarantor under the applicable Trinity indenture or Willis North America indenture, as the case may be.

        The Holdings senior debt securities, the Trinity senior debt securities and the Willis North America senior debt securities may be referred to collectively as "senior debt securities". The Holdings senior subordinated debt securities, the Trinity senior subordinated debt securities and the Willis North America senior subordinated debt securities may be referred to collectively as "senior subordinated debt securities". The Holdings subordinated debt securities, the Trinity subordinated debt securities and the Willis North America subordinated debt securities may be referred to collectively as "subordinated debt securities".

General

        The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued. The indentures also provide that debt securities may be issued in one or more series, in such form or

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forms, with such terms and up to the amount authorized by the applicable issuer, in each case as established from time to time in or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth in an officers' certificate or established in one or more supplemental indentures. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, any series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series.

        Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following terms of any offered debt securities:

15

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the principal of, premium and interest on the offered debt securities will be payable, and exchanges and transfers of the debt securities will be handled, at the applicable trustee's corporate trust office. The applicable issuer will have the option to pay interest by check mailed to the holder's address as it appears in the security register.

        No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the offered debt securities, but the applicable issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with an exchange or transfer.

        Debt securities may be issued under an indenture as original issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the principal amount thereof. Special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to any such original issue discount securities will be described in the prospectus supplement.

Ranking

        The payment of the principal of premium, if any, and interest on, the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated, as set forth in the senior subordinated or subordinated indentures, in right of payment, to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the applicable indenture or thereafter incurred.

        Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon any distribution to creditors of an issuer or a guarantor in a liquidation or dissolution of such issuer or guarantor or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to it or its property, an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of its assets and liabilities, the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of such senior indebtedness and all outstanding letter of credit obligations will be fully cash collateralized before the holders of the debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, and until all senior indebtedness is paid in full in cash or cash equivalents, any distribution to which the holders of the debt securities would be entitled shall be made to the holders of senior indebtedness, except that holders of the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities may receive

        An issuer or a guarantor also may not make any payment upon or in respect of the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, except in such subordinated securities or from the trust referred to under "Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance", if

16

        Payments on the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, including any missed payments, may and shall be resumed:

No new payment blockage period may be commenced until 365 days have elapsed since the effectiveness of the immediately preceding payment blockage notice. However, if any payment blockage notice within such 365-day period is given by or on behalf of any holders of designated senior indebtedness, other than the agent under our senior credit facility, the agent under our senior credit facility may give another payment blockage notice within such period. In no event, however, may the total number of days during which any payment blockage period or periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 365 consecutive day period. No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any payment blockage notice to the applicable trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent payment blockage notice unless such default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days.

        If an issuer or a guarantor fails to make any payment on the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities when due or within any applicable grace period, whether or not on account of the payment blockage provision referred to above, such failure would constitute an event of default under the applicable indenture and would enable the holders of the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities to accelerate the maturity of such debt securities.

        The applicable indenture will further require that an issuer or a guarantor promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness if payment of the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event of default.

        "Designated senior indebtedness" means:

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        "Senior indebtedness" means:

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, senior indebtedness will not include:

        "Senior Indebtedness" of an issuer or any guarantor of the senior subordinated debt securities or the subordinated debt securities has a correlative meaning.

Conversion Rights

        The prospectus supplement will provide whether the offered debt securities will be convertible and, if so, the initial conversion price or conversion rate at which such convertible debt securities will be convertible into shares of Willis Group Holdings Limited common stock. The holder of any convertible debt security will have the right exercisable at any time during the time period specified in the prospectus supplement, unless previously redeemed by Willis Group Holdings Limited, to convert such debt security at the principal amount (or, if such debt security is an original issue discount security, such portion of the principal amount thereof as is specified in the terms of such debt security) into shares of common stock at the conversion price or conversion rate set forth in the prospectus supplement, subject to adjustment. The holder of a convertible debt security may convert a portion of the debt security which is $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. In the case of debt securities called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the close of business on the date fixed for the redemption as may be specified in the prospectus supplement, except that in the case of redemption at the option of the holder, if applicable, such right will terminate upon receipt of written notice of the exercise of the option.

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        In certain events, the conversion rate will be subject to adjustment as set forth in the applicable indenture. Such events may include:

        No adjustment of the conversion price or conversion rate will be required unless an adjustment would require a cumulative increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price or rate. Fractional shares of common stock will not be issued upon conversion, but Willis Group Holdings Limited will pay a cash adjustment for it. Convertible debt securities surrendered for conversion between the record date for an interest payment, if any, and the interest payment date (except convertible debt securities called for redemption on a redemption date during such period) must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest which the registered holder is to receive.

Defaults, Notice and Waiver

        The following are events of default under the indentures with respect to debt securities of any series issued thereunder:

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        If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding shall occur and be continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the unpaid principal balance immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an event of default arising from the events described in the fifth bullet above, all outstanding debt securities of the applicable series will become due and payable without further action or notice. However, any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may, by written notice rescind and annul such acceleration under certain circumstances. For information as to waiver of defaults, see "Modification and Waiver" below.

        Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of offered debt securities which are original issue discount securities for the particular provision relating to acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of such original issue discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation thereof.

        The applicable issuer and, in the case of Willis North America debt securities, Trinity Acquisition Limited must file annually with each trustee an officers' certificate stating whether or not the issuer is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the respective indenture and, if so, specifying the nature and status of the default.

        Each indenture provides that the trustee, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default, will give by mail to all holders of debt securities of any series notice of all defaults with respect to such series known to it, unless such default has been cured or waived; but, in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund or similar obligation installment with respect to debt securities of such series, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if the board of directors or such committee of directors as designated in such indenture or responsible officer of the trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of such holders.

        Each indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by holders of debt securities before proceeding to exercise any right or power under such indenture at the request of any such holders. Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may, subject to certain exceptions, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee regarding the debt securities of such series. The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to each indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent including notice and indemnity to the trustee, but the holder has an absolute right to receipt of principal and interest when due and to institute suit for payment of principal and interest.

Covenants

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to offered debt securities, the applicable issuer and, in the case of Willis North America debt securities, Trinity Acquisition Limited, without the consent of any holder of outstanding debt securities, may consolidate with or merge into any other person, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person, provided that the person formed by such consolidation or into which the applicable issuer

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or, in the case of Willis North America debt securities, Trinity Acquisition Limited is merged or the person which acquires by conveyance or transfer or which leases the properties and assets of the applicable issuer or Trinity Acquisition Limited, as the case may be, substantially as an entirety is organized under the laws of any United States jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of organization of such issuer or Trinity Acquisition Limited, as the case may be, and expressly assumes the applicable issuer's or Trinity Acquisition Limited's obligations, as the case may be, on the debt securities and under the indenture, that after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default shall have happened and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.

        The prospectus supplement relating to offered debt securities will describe any other material covenants in respect of a series of debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any covenants applicable to the Holdings debt securities will be binding on Holdings and its restricted subsidiaries and any covenants applicable to the Trinity debt securities or the Willis North America debt securities will be binding on Trinity and its restricted subsidiaries, with the exception of any covenant regarding filing reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which will be binding on Willis Group Holdings Limited. Other than the covenant included in the indentures described under "Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets" above or any covenant described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not have the benefit of any covenants that limit or restrict our business or operations or the incurrence of additional indebtedness by the applicable issuer or any guarantor, and there are no covenants or other provisions in the indenture providing for a put or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control transaction or a highly leveraged transaction.

Modification and Waiver

        Modification and amendments of the indentures may be made by the applicable issuer, if applicable, any guarantor, and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of each series affected provided, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:

        Without the consent of any holder of outstanding debt securities, the applicable issuer, any guarantor, and the trustee may amend or supplement the indentures and each series of debt securities

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to evidence the succession of another corporation to the applicable issuer or a guarantor and the assumption of such successor to the obligations thereof, to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities, to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to provide for debt securities in bearer form in addition to or in place of registered debt securities or to make any other provisions that do not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding debt securities, including adding guarantees.

        The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of that series or in respect of a provision which under such indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of that series.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

        The applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series may be discharged, subject to the terms and conditions as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement when:

        Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the applicable issuer can terminate all of its obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, other than the obligation to pay interest on, premium, if any, and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, known as "covenant defeasance", at any time by:

        In addition, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the applicable issuer can terminate all of its obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, including the obligation to pay interest on, premium, if any, and the principal of the debt securities of such series, known as "legal defeasance", at any time by:

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Guarantees

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Holdings debt securities will not be guaranteed. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Trinity debt securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited, which collectively comprise all of its direct and indirect parent entities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Willis North America debt securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, which collectively comprise all of its direct and indirect parent entities. The guarantees will be made on a senior, senior subordinated or subordinated basis corresponding to the relative ranking of the underlying debt securities.

        The obligations of each guarantor under its guarantee will be limited so as not to constitute a fraudulent conveyance under applicable U.S. Federal or state laws. Each guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its guarantee will be entitled to a contribution from any other guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each guarantor determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

        A guarantee issued by any guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon any sale, exchange or transfer to any person not an affiliate of Willis Group Holdings Limited of all of Willis Group Holdings Limited's capital stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such guarantor.

Trustees

        JPMorgan Chase Bank is the trustee under the senior indentures. The Bank of New York is the trustee under the senior subordinated indentures. Citibank, N.A. is the trustee under the subordinated indentures. The trustees may perform certain services for and transact other banking business with Willis Group Holdings Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis North America Inc. or, if applicable, any guarantor from time to time in the ordinary course of business.

Bermuda Monetary Authority Approval

        The approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority will be required prior to any issuance or transfer of any debt security of Willis Group Holdings Limited or for the conversion of any debt securities into common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

        The following summary is a description of the material terms of the capital stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited. Our memorandum of association and bye-laws are filed as exhibits to the registration statements to which this prospectus relates.

General

        We were incorporated as an exempted company under The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended. Accordingly, the rights of our shareholders are governed by Bermuda law and our memorandum of association and bye-laws.

        Our authorized capital consists of 4,000 million shares of common stock and 1,000 million shares of preferred stock. As of September 30, 2003, our issued and outstanding share capital consisted of 154,251,139 shares of common stock. With the consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, persons who are not residents of Bermuda may freely hold, vote and transfer the shares that we are offering in this prospectus.

Common Stock

        Our current authorized but unissued shares are at the disposal of our board of directors, who may issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of those shares to any persons and on any terms they deem appropriate, provided the issuance does not violate Bermuda law or our bye-laws and we obtain Bermuda Monetary Authority approval in applicable circumstances.

        Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Unless required by Bermuda law or our bye-laws, voting at general meetings is decided by a simple majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Under our bye-laws, shareholders representing at least 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote constitute a quorum. Under our bye-laws, the vote of 75% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and the approval of a majority of the board is required to amend bye-laws regarding appointment and removal of directors, remuneration, powers and duties of the board, indemnification of directors and officers, director's interests and the procedures for amending bye-laws. Any share entitled to vote may be voted by written proxy and proxies may be valid for all general meetings. There are no limitations under Bermuda law on the voting rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders.

        Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general shareholders' meeting per calendar year. Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, general meetings of shareholders may either be annual or special. Under Bermuda law, special general meetings must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Directors may also convene special general meetings as they deem necessary.

        Bermuda law requires that shareholders be given at least five days' advance notice of a general meeting, although the accidental omission of notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Under our bye-laws, notice of annual general meetings must be made in writing at least 21 days before the meeting and notice of special general meetings must be made in writing at least seven days before the meeting.

        Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, directors are elected at the annual general meeting or to serve until their successors are elected or appointed, unless they are earlier removed or resign.

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        The election of our directors is determined by a simple majority of votes cast, except as otherwise required by law. Our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all directors.

        Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, a director may be removed at a special general meeting of shareholders specifically called for that purpose, provided that the director was served with at least 14 days' notice. The director has a right to be heard at the meeting. Any vacancy created by the removal of a director at a special general meeting may be filled at that meeting by the election of another director in his or her place or, in the absence of any election, by the board of directors.

        Under the Companies Act 1981, the duties of directors and officers are to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company and to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Every director and officer of the company is also required to comply with the provisions of the Companies Act 1981, all related regulations and the Company's bye-laws. In addition, the directors are subject to common law fiduciary duties. These duties include the duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, and not for any collateral purpose.

        Under Bermuda law, the directors' duties are owed to the company itself, not to its shareholders or members, creditors, or any class of either shareholders, members or creditors. In discharging his or her duties, a director is required to exercise the care and skill which may be reasonably expected of a person with the director's skills and experience.

        Bermuda law renders void any provision in the bye-laws or in any contract between a company and any director exempting him or her from or indemnifying him or her against any liability in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of which he or she may be guilty in relation to the company. In addition, the Companies Act 1981 provides that where a director, officer or auditor of a company is found liable to any person for damages arising out of the performance of any function of his or her duties, he will only be held jointly and severally liable if it is proved that he or she knowingly engaged in fraud or dishonesty. In any other case, the court will determine the percentage of responsibility of all parties it determines has contributed to the loss or liability of the plaintiff, and the liability of any one director, officer or auditor shall be equal to the total loss suffered by the plaintiff multiplied by the director's, officer's or auditor's percentage of responsibility as determined by the court.

        Dividends are payable only when declared by the board of directors. Bermuda law prohibits a company from declaring a dividend or making a distribution out of contributed surplus if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or would after payment, be unable to pay its liabilities as they become due, or the realizable value of the company's assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts. All dividends unclaimed for a period of six years after having been declared will be forfeited and revert to us. Except as noted in this paragraph, there are no limitations under Bermuda law on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to receive dividends.

        In the event of our liquidation, after payment of all debts and liabilities, we will distribute our remaining assets to our shareholders in proportion to their ownership of outstanding shares, subject to the preferential rights accorded to any series of preferred stock.

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        Generally, holders of our common stock have no pre-emptive rights. In limited circumstances not involving a public offering, pursuant to our shareholder rights agreement, members of the consortium are entitled to pre-emptive rights.

        We may from time to time by shareholder resolution passed by a simple majority:

        Transfer of shares must be in writing. The instruments of transfer of a share may be in any form which our board of directors approves.

        Our bye-laws provide that, subject to Bermuda law, the rights attached to any class of shares of common stock may be modified by a resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders representing at least a majority of the votes cast of that class. For purposes of this meeting, one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy representing at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of that class and entitled to vote will be a quorum.

        Neither Bermuda law nor our bye-laws will restrict in any way our power to borrow and raise funds. The decision to borrow funds is passed by or under direction of our board of directors, no shareholders' resolution being required.

Preferred Stock

        Authorized shares of our preferred stock may be issued at the discretion of our board of directors without any further action by the shareholders, except as required by applicable law or regulation. Our board of directors is authorized, from time to time, to divide the preferred stock into classes or series,

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to designate each class or series and to determine for each class or series its respective rights and preferences, including, without limitation, any of the following:

        Any series or class of preferred stock could, as determined by our board of directors at the time of issuance, rank senior to our common stock with respect to dividends, voting rights, redemption and liquidation rights. The preferred stock authorized is of the type commonly known as blank-check preferred stock.

        The prospectus supplement relating to the new series will specify whether the series of preferred stock will be issued separately, as part of warrant units or upon exercise of warrants.

        Each new series of preferred stock will rank equally with each other series of preferred stock and prior to our common stock regarding the distribution of dividends or disposition of other assets, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Holders of each new series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends, if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for cash dividends. For each series, we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement:

        We will pay dividends to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our records, on the record dates fixed by the board of directors.

        We cannot declare or pay full dividends on funds set apart for the payment of dividends on any series of preferred stock unless dividends have been paid or set apart for payment on a proportionate basis with other equity securities which rank equally with the preferred stock regarding the distribution of dividends. If we do not pay full dividends on all equity securities which rank equally, then each

27


series of preferred stock will share dividends in proportion with our other equity securities that rank equally with that series.

        The prospectus supplement for any new series of preferred stock will state the terms and other provisions, if any, on which shares of the new series of preferred stock are convertible into shares of our common stock or exchangeable for securities of a third party.

        We will specify in the prospectus supplement applicable to each new series of preferred stock:

        In the event that preferred stock is partially redeemed, the shares to be redeemed will be determined by lot, on a proportionate basis or any other method determined to be equitable by the board of directors.

        Dividends will cease to accrue on shares of preferred stock called for redemption, and all rights of holders of redeemed shares will terminate, on and after a redemption date, except for the right to receive the redemption price, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price.

        Upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Willis Group Holdings Limited, holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive:

These payments will be made to holders of preferred stock out of our assets available for distribution to shareholders before any distribution is made on any securities ranking junior to the preferred stock regarding liquidation rights.

        In the event that holders of preferred stock are not paid in full upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Willis Group Holdings Limited, then these holders will share, on a proportionate basis, any future distribution of our assets with holders of our other securities that rank equally with them.

        After payment of the full amount of the liquidation preference to which they are entitled, the holders of each series of preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.

        The holders of shares of preferred stock will have no voting rights except as indicated in the certificate of designations relating to the series, the applicable prospectus supplement or as required by applicable law.

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        We will specify each of the transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each new series of preferred stock in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        We will reserve the full number of shares of our common stock issuable on conversion of the preferred stock out of the total of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock to permit the conversion of the preferred stock into shares of common stock.

Other Matters

        Access to books and records and dissemination of information.    Members of the general public have the right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include the company's certificate of incorporation, its memorandum of association, including its objects and powers, and any alteration to the company's memorandum of association.

        The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings and the company's audited financial statements, which must be presented at the annual general meeting. The register of shareholders of a company is also open to inspection by shareholders without charge and to members of the general public on the payment of a fee. A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 1981, establish a branch register outside Bermuda.

        A company is required to keep at its registered office a register of its directors and officers which is open for inspection for not less than two hours in each day by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.

        Amendment of memorandum of association and bye-laws.    Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders of which due notice has been given. In certain circumstances, an amendment to the memorandum of association also requires the approval of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, who may grant or withhold approval at his discretion. However, such approval of the Bermuda Minister of Finance is not required for an amendment which alters or reduces a company's share capital as provided in the Companies Act 1981. Except as set forth therein, the bye-laws may be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of votes cast at a general meeting.

        Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of no less than 20% in par value of a company's issued share capital have the right to apply to the Bermuda Court for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting. This does not apply to an amendment which alters or reduces a company's share capital as provided in the Companies Act 1981. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda Court. An application for amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the company's memorandum is passed. Such application may be made on behalf of the persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No such application may be made by persons voting in favor of the amendment.

        Appraisal rights and shareholder suits.    Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation of two Bermuda companies, a shareholder who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation and is not satisfied that fair value has been paid for his shares may apply to the Bermuda Court to appraise the

29


fair value of his shares. The amalgamation of a company with another company requires the amalgamation agreement to be approved by:

        Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong done to the company where the act complained of:

        Furthermore, consideration would be given by the Bermuda courts to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company's shareholders than those who actually approved it.

        When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Bermuda courts for an order regulating the company's conduct of affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholder by other shareholders or by the company.

        Bermuda Monetary Authority consent will be required for the issuance and or transfer of any preferred stock and for any common stock that does not currently benefit from the existing Bermuda Monetary Authority permission.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        We may issue warrants to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock or debt securities of Willis Group Holdings Limited. We may issue warrants independently of, or together with, any other securities, including as part of a warrant unit, and warrants may be attached to or separate from those securities.

        Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with a series of warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following describes the general terms and provisions of the warrants offered by this prospectus. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any other terms of the warrant and the applicable warrant agreement.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants, including the following:

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms and other provisions of any warrant units.

        Bermuda Monetary Authority approval will be required for the issuance of any warrants to purchase shares of common or preferred stock or other debt securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS, STOCK PURCHASE UNITS AND PREPAID STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

        Willis Group Holdings Limited may issue stock purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of stock purchase units, consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice-versa. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts upon release to a holder of any collateral securing each holder's obligation under the original stock purchase contract.

        The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, and, if applicable, prepaid stock purchase contracts.

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BOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT

        Most offered securities will be book-entry (global) securities. Upon issuance, all book-entry securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities, without coupons. Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, ("DTC"), a securities depository, and will be registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. DTC will thus be the only registered holder of these securities.

        Purchasers of securities may only hold interests in book-entry securities through DTC if they are participants in the DTC system. Purchasers may also hold interests through a securities intermediary—banks, brokerage houses and other institutions that maintain securities accounts for customers that have an account with DTC or its nominee. DTC will maintain accounts showing the security holdings of its participants, and these participants will in turn maintain accounts showing the security holdings of their customers. Some of these customers may themselves be securities intermediaries holding securities for their customers. Thus, each beneficial owner of a book-entry security will hold that security indirectly through a hierarchy of intermediaries, with DTC at the "top" and the beneficial owner's own securities intermediary at the "bottom."

        The securities of each beneficial owner of a book-entry security will be evidenced solely by entries on the books of the beneficial owner's securities intermediary. The actual purchaser of the securities will generally not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global securities registered in its name and will not be considered the owner under the declaration. In most cases, a beneficial owner will also not be able to obtain a paper certificate evidencing the holder's ownership of securities. The book-entry system for holding securities eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates and is the system through which most publicly traded common stock is held in the United States. However, the laws of some jurisdictions require some purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of their securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer book-entry securities.

        A beneficial owner of book-entry securities represented by a global security may exchange the securities for definitive (paper) securities only if:

        Unless we indicate otherwise, any global security that is exchangeable will be exchangeable in whole for definitive securities in registered form, with the same terms and of an equal aggregate principal amount. Definitive securities will be registered in the name or names of the person or persons specified by DTC in a written instruction to the registrar of the securities. DTC may base its written instruction upon directions that it receives from its participants.

        In this prospectus, for book-entry securities, references to actions taken by security holders will mean actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and references to payments and notices of redemption to security holders will mean payments and notices of redemption to DTC as the registered holder of the securities for distribution to participants in accordance with DTC's procedures.

        DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York

33


Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered under section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

        We will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interest in the book-entry securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

Clearstream and Euroclear

        Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, Luxembourg ("Clearstream Banking SA") and Euroclear (two international clearing systems that perform functions similar to those that DTC performs in the U.S.), to facilitate the initial issuance of book-entry securities and cross-market transfers of book-entry securities associated with secondary market trading.

        Although DTC, Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform such procedures, and the procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

        Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and DTC will record the aggregate ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream Banking SA and Euroclear, as participants in DTC.

        When book-entry securities are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream Banking SA participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to settlement. Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive book-entry securities against payment. After settlement, Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear will credit its participant's account. Credit for the book-entry securities will appear on the next day (European time).

        Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC participants can employ their usual procedures for sending book-entry securities to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. Thus, to the DTC participant, a cross market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

        When a Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear participant wishes to transfer book-entry securities to a DTC participant, the seller must send instructions to Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer the book-entry securities against payment. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back-valued to the value date (which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York). If settlement is not completed on the intended value date (i.e., the trade fails), proceeds credited to the Clearstream Banking SA or Euroclear participant's account would instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

        35,774,487 of the shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited being offered pursuant to this prospectus may be offered by certain selling shareholders.

        The following presents information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares and the number of shares that may be sold hereunder as of September 30, 2003, by each potential selling shareholder. The actual amount, if any, of common stock to be offered by each selling shareholder and the amount and percentage of common stock to be owned by such selling shareholder following such offering will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person named in the table below is Ten Trinity Square, London EC3P 3AX, England. The amounts and percentages of our shares beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of that security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of that security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which that person has no economic interest. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this offering are deemed issued and outstanding. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing percentage beneficial ownership of any other person. The percentage of our share capital before and after this offering is based on 154,251,139 shares of common stock outstanding on September 30, 2003.

 
    
    
    
   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned After the
Sale of Maximum
Number of
Shares
 
   Shares Beneficially Owned
   Maximum
Number of
Shares to
be Sold
Hereunder
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
  Number
   %
   Number
   %
KKR 1996 Overseas, Limited(1)   35,543,328   23.04 % 35,543,328   —   —
Henry R. Kravis(1)   35,543,328   23.04 % 35,543,328   —   —
George R. Roberts(1)   35,543,328   23.04 % 35,543,328   —   —
Perry Golkin(1)   35,577,328   23.06 % 35,543,328   34,000   *
Todd A. Fisher(1)   35,551,328   23.05 % 35,543,328   8,000   *
Scott C. Nuttall(1)   35,546,328   23.04 % 35,543,328   3,000   *
James R. Fisher(2)   288,886   *   260,386   28,500   *
Fisher Capital Corp. L.L.C.(2)   231,159   *   231,159   —   —
*
Less than 1%.

(1)
Shares shown as beneficially owned by KKR 1996 Overseas, Limited are owned of record by Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership. KKR 1996 Overseas, Limited is the general partner of KKR Associates II (1996), Limited Partnership, which is the general partner of KKR 1996 Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership, which is the general partner of Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership, which owns approximately 23.04% of our issued and outstanding shares prior to this offering. Messrs. Henry R. Kravis, George R. Roberts, Paul E. Raether, Michael W. Michelson, James H. Greene, Jr., Edward A. Gilhuly, Perry Golkin, Scott M. Stuart, Todd A. Fisher, Johannes P. Huth, Alex Navab, Jr., Robert I. MacDonnell and Michael T. Tokarz, as members of

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(2)
James R. Fisher owns 28,500 shares of our stock. Fisher Capital Corp. L.L.C., is the beneficial owner of exercisable options to purchase 231,159 shares of our stock. Mr. Fisher, as the managing member and majority owner of Fisher Capital Corp. L.L.C., may be deemed to share ownership of any shares beneficially owned by Fisher Capital Corp. L.L.C. but disclaims such beneficial ownership. James R. Fisher has an interest in 29,227 of our shares as an investor through KKR Partners (International) Limited Partnership. Mr. Fisher may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of any shares beneficially owned by KKR Partners (International) Limited Partnership but disclaims such beneficial ownership. The address of Mr. Fisher and Fisher Capital Corp. L.L.C is 8 Clarke Drive, Cranbury, New Jersey 08512.

        The approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority will be required for the transfer of any common stock that does not currently benefit from existing Bermuda Monetary Authority permission.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell the debt securities, the preferred stock, the common stock, the warrants, the warrant units, the stock purchase contracts, the stock purchase units and the prepaid stock purchase contracts in any of the following ways:

        The prospectus supplement for the securities we or the selling shareholders sell will describe that offering, including:

Underwriters

        If underwriters are used in the sale, we and the selling shareholders, as applicable, will execute an underwriting agreement with those underwriters relating to the securities that we or the selling shareholders will offer. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase these securities will be subject to conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of these securities if any are purchased.

        The securities subject to the underwriting agreement will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold by them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from the purchasers of these securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell these securities to or through dealers. These dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        We also may sell the securities in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in connection with a redemption or repayment, by a remarketing firm acting as principal for its own account or as our agent. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities that they remarket.

        We may authorize underwriters to solicit offers by institutions to purchase the securities subject to the underwriting agreement from us at the public offering price stated in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. If we sell securities pursuant to these delayed delivery contracts, the prospectus supplement will

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state that as well as the conditions to which these delayed delivery contracts will be subject and the commissions payable for that solicitation.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth whether or not underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the debt securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including, for example, by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities, or to continue such activities if commenced.

Dealers and Agents

        If dealers are utilized in the sale of offered securities, we will sell such offered securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

        We may also sell any of the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of these securities and will list commissions payable by us to these agents in the prospectus supplement. These agents will be acting on a best efforts basis to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment, unless we state otherwise in the prospectus supplement. Any such dealer or agent may be deemed an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Direct Sales

        We or the selling shareholders may sell any of the securities directly to purchasers. In this case, we will not engage underwriters or agents in the offer and sale of these securities.

Indemnification

        We and the selling shareholders may indemnify underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and agree to contribute to payments which these underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

No Assurance of Liquidity

        The securities offered hereby may be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase securities from us may make a market in these securities. The underwriters will not be obligated, however, to make such a market and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice to holders of the securities. We cannot assure you that there will be liquidity in the trading market for any securities of any series.

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EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 2003 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference (which report express an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to our adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets"), and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


LEGAL MATTERS

        Appleby Spurling & Kempe, Bermuda, will pass upon the matters of Bermuda law. William P. Bowden, Jr. will pass upon matters of New York law. As of January 30, 2004, Mr. Bowden owned 20,090 shares of common stock of Willis Group Holdings Limited. Any underwriters, dealers or agents may be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.    Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution

        The following is an itemization of all fees and expenses incurred or expected to be incurred by the registrants in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All but the SEC registration fee are estimates and remain subject to future contingencies.

SEC registration fee   $ 160,251.05
Legal fees and expenses     250,000.00
Accounting fees and expenses     25,000.00
Trustees' fees and expenses     10,000.00
Printing and engraving fees     40,000.00
Blue Sky fees and expenses     15,000.00
Miscellaneous expenses     24,748.95
   
  Total   $ 525,000.00
   

Item 15.    Indemnification Of Directors And Officers

        The Bye-laws of the Registrant provide for indemnification of the Registrant's officers and directors against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense incurred or suffered by such party as an officer or director of the Registrant; provided that such indemnification shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 as in effect from time to time in Bermuda.

        The Companies Act provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to them as a result of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which they may be guilty. However, the Companies Act also provides that any provision, whether contained in the company's bye-laws or in a contract or arrangement between the company and the director, indemnifying a director against any liability which would attach to him in respect of his fraud or dishonesty will be void.

        The directors and officers of the Registrant are covered by directors' and officers' insurance policies maintained by the Registrant.

        Under the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership, directors of the Registrant who are officers, directors, employees, partners, shareholders, members or agents of KKR 1996 Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership or its affiliates are indemnified by Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense relating to the performance as a director of the Registrant during the period of time in which Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership holds an interest in the Registrant; provided that such indemnification shall not cover acts not made in good faith and not in the best interest of Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership or constitute malfeasance.

II-1


Item 16.    Exhibits

        The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:

Exhibit No.
   Description
1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
3.1   Memorandum of Association of Willis Group Holdings Limited, dated February 8, 2001, as altered by registration pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda on April 10, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
3.2   Form of Bye-Laws of Willis Group Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
3.3   Memorandum of Increase in the Share Capital of Willis Group Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
3.4   Memorandum of Association dated June 15, 1998 of TA I Limited and Articles of Association as amended by resolution dated July 16, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.4 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
3.5   Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of TA II Limited, dated June 15, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.5 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
3.6   Memorandum of Association dated June 15, 1998 of TA III Limited and Articles of Association as adopted by special resolution dated November 24, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.6 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
3.7   Memorandum of Association dated June 15, 1998 of Trinity Acquisition Limited and Articles of Association as adopted by special resolution dated November 24, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.7 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
3.8   Memorandum of Association dated November 17, 2000 of TA IV Limited and Articles of Association as adopted by special resolution dated December 18, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.8 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
3.9   Memorandum of Association as amended by special resolution passed March 8, 1999 of Willis Group Limited and Articles of Association as adopted by special resolution dated November 10, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.4 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
3.10   Partnership Agreement of Willis Partners (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
3.11   Certificate of Incorporation of Willis North America Inc., dated December 27, 1928 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration No. 333-74483)
3.12   By-Laws of Willis North America Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registration No. 333-74483)
4.1   Form of Specimen Certificate for Registrant's Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 18, 1998, between TA I Limited and Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership (the "Profit Sharing Registration Rights Agreement") (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.3   Amendment No. 1 to the Profit Sharing Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)

II-2

4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 21, 1998, among TA I Limited, TA II Limited, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc, Guardian Royal Exchange plc, The Chubb Corporation, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and The Travelers Indemnity Company (the "Consortium Registration Rights Agreement") (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.4 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.5   Amendment and Assumption Agreement, dated November 12, 1998, relating to the Consortium Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.5 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.6   Amendment to the Carrier Agreements relating to, among other things, the Consortium Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.6 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.7   Management and Employee Shareholders' and Subscription Agreement, dated as of December 20, 1999, among TA I Limited, Mourant & Co. Trustees Limited, and certain management members of TA I Limited and its subsidiaries (the "Management Registration Rights Agreement") (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.7 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.8   Global Amendment to the Equity Participation Plan Agreements of TA I Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.8 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
4.9   Indenture, dated February 2, 1999, among Willis Corroon Corporation, as issuer, Willis Corroon Partners and Willis Corroon Group Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
4.10   Form of 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (included as part of Exhibit No. 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
4.11   Form of Senior Indenture between Willis Group Holdings Limited and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.11 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.12   Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group Holdings Limited and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.12 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.13   Form of Subordinated Indenture between Willis Group Holdings Limited and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.13 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.14   Form of Senior Indenture between Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, as guarantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.14 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.15   Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture between Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.15 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.16   Form of Subordinated Indenture between Trinity Acquisition Limited, Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, as guarantors, and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.16 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)

II-3

4.17   Form of Senior Indenture between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.17 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.18   Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.18 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
4.19   Form of Subordinated Indenture between Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, Trinity Acquisition Limited, TA IV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis Partners, as guarantors, and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.19 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
5.1**   Opinion of Appleby Spurling & Kempe
5.2   Opinion of William P. Bowden, Jr. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 5.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
10.1**   Credit Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2003, among Willis North America Inc., Willis Group Holdings Limited, the lenders party thereto and Banc of America Securities Limited, as administrative agent (the "Credit Agreement")
10.2   Willis Group Holdings Limited Non-Employee Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-63186)
10.3   The Willis Group Holdings Limited Non-Employee Directors Share Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.4 to Registration Statement No. 333-63186)
10.4   Amended and Restated 1998 Share Purchase and Option Plan for Key Employees of Willis Group Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.5 to Registration Statement No. 333-63186)
10.5   Amended and Restated Willis Award Plan for Key Employees of Willis Group Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.6 to Registration Statement No. 333-63186)
10.6   Willis Group Holdings Limited 2001 Share Purchase and Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.8 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
10.7   The Willis Group Holdings Limited 2001 Bonus and Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.8 to registration No. 333-63186)
10.8   Willis Group Holdings Limited North America 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-62780)
10.9   Willis North America Inc. Financial Security Partnership Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-67466)
10.10   Guarantee by Willis Corroon Group Limited of pension plan of Brian Johnson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.11 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
10.11   Form of Willis Group Holdings Limited Zero Cost Share Option Scheme (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.12 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
10.12   Form of Amendment to TA I Limited Zero Cost Share Option Scheme (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.12 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)

II-4

10.13   Agreement, dated July 23, 1997, among Assurances Generales de France IART, UAP Incendie-Accidents, Athena, Gras Savoye Euro Finance S.A., Mr. Emmanuel Gras, Mr. Patrick Lucas, Mr. Daniel Naftalski, Willis Corroon Group plc, Willis Corroon Europe B.V., and Gras Savoye & Cie, along with Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated December 11, 1997, and Addendum thereto dated July 23, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 2.11 to Registration Statement No. 333-74483)
10.14   Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of July 22, 1998 among TA I Limited, TA II Limited, Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc, Guardian Royal Exchange plc, The Chubb Corporation, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and The Travelers Indemnity Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.14 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982) (amended by Exhibit 4.8 filed herewith)
10.15   Contribution and Share Subscription Agreement dated as of July 22, 1998 among TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III plc, Trinity Acquisition plc, KKR 1996 Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership and Profit Sharing (Overseas), Limited Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.15 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
10.16   Share Subscription Agreement dated as of July 22, 1998 among TA I Limited, TA II Limited and the consortium members listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.16 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
10.17   Share Subscription Agreement dated as of November 12, 1998 among The Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., TA I Limited and TA II Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.17 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
10.18   Form of Employment Agreement — Thomas Colraine (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.20 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
10.19   Form of Employment Agreement — Richard J. S. Bucknall (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.21 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
10.20   Form of Employment Agreement — John M. Pelly (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.22 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
10.21   Form of Employment Agreement — Mario Vitale (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.23 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
10.22   Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of March 26, 2001, between Willis Group Holdings Limited and Joseph J. Plumeri (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.9 to Registration Statement No. 333-60982)
10.23   Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Willis Group Holdings Limited and Joseph J. Plumeri (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 10.25 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
12**   Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
21.1   List of subsidiaries of Willis Group Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 21.1 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
23.1**   Consent of Appleby Spurling & Kempe (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)

II-5

23.2   Consent of William P. Bowden, Jr. (included as part of Exhibit 5.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
23.3**   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.1   Power of Attorney of the Registrants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 24.1 to Willis Group Holdings Limited's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2002)
24.2   Power of Attorney of Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 24.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
24.3**   Power of Attorney
25.1   Statement of Eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Holdings senior trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.1 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.2   Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York, as Holdings senior subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.3   Statement of Eligibility of Citibank, N.A., as Holdings subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.4   Statement of Eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trinity senior trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.4 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.5   Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York, as Trinity senior subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.5 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.6   Statement of Eligibility of Citibank, N.A., as Trinity subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.6 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.7   Statement of Eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Willis North America senior trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.7 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.8   Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York, as Willis North America senior subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.8 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
25.9   Statement of Eligibility of Citibank, N.A., as Willis North America subordinated trustee, on Form T-1 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 25.9 to Registration Statement No. 333-104439)
*
To be filed by amendment or by Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

**
Filed herewith.

Item 17.    Undertakings

        (a)   The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

II-6

        (b)   The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section (d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-7


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:    Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
*
Joseph J. Plumeri		   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer)   January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
Thomas Colraine
 
Group Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 
January 30, 2004

*
Henry R. Kravis
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
George R. Roberts
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Perry Golkin
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Todd A. Fisher
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Scott C. Nuttall
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

II-8


*
James R. Fisher
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Paul M. Hazen
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Senator William Bradley
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Douglas B. Roberts
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

*By:
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Attorney-in-fact
 
January 30, 2004

II-9


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    TA I LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY      
Michael Chitty
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
Thomas Colraine
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

II-10


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    TA II LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY      
Michael Chitty
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
Thomas Colraine
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

II-11


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    TA III LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
Name: William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY          
Michael Chitty
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE          
Thomas Colraine
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

II-12


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    TRINITY ACQUISITION LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
Name: William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY          
Michael Chitty
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE          
Thomas Colraine
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.          
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

II-13


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    TA IV LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
      Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
      Title:    Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY      
Michael Chitty
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
Thomas Colraine
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

II-14


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    WILLIS GROUP LIMITED

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
      Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
      Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  JOSEPH J. PLUMERI      
Joseph J. Plumeri		   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director   January 30, 2004

/s/  RICHARD J.S. BUCKNALL      
Richard J.S. Bucknall
 
Group Chief Operating Officer and Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
Thomas Colraine
 
Group Chief Financial Officer and Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Janet Coolick
 
Group Chief Administrative Officer and Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Patrick Lucas
 
Executive Vice President Manager, Partner of Gras Savoye and Director
 
January 30, 2004

*
Joseph M. McSweeny
 
Chairman of Willis Risks Solutions—North America and Director
 
January 30, 2004

II-15


*
John M. Pelly
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Willis Faber Re; Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Authorized U.S. Representative
 
January 30, 2004

*By:
 
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
 
 
 
 
   
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Attorney-in-fact   January 30, 2004

II-16


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    WILLIS PARTNERS
By: Willis Group Limited, Its General Partner

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.

Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  THOMAS COLRAINE      
   Willis Group Limited, General Partner, by a director, Thomas Colraine   January 30, 2004

/s/  MICHAEL CHITTY      
 
Willis Faber U.K. Group Limited, General Partner, by director, Michael Chitty
 
January 30, 2004

II-17


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-104439 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on January 30, 2004.

    WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.

 
 
By:
/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
Name:  William P. Bowden, Jr.
Title:  Group General Counsel

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to such Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
   Title
   Date

 
 
 
 
 
/s/  MARIO VITALE      
Mario Vitale		   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (principal executive officer)   January 30, 2004

/s/  WOLE COAXUM      
Wole Coaxum
 
Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.
 
Director
 
January 30, 2004

/s/  MARY E. CAIAZZO      
Mary E. Caiazzo
 
Director, General Counsel, Secretary and Senior Vice President
 
January 30, 2004
*By:   /s/  WILLIAM P. BOWDEN, JR.      
William P. Bowden, Jr.		   Attorney-in-fact   January 30, 2004

II-18



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
SUMMARY
RISK FACTORS
THE WILLIS GROUP
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
USE OF PROCEEDS
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS, STOCK PURCHASE UNITS AND PREPAID STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS
BOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
EXPERTS
LEGAL MATTERS
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES

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Exhibit 5.1

        JMcM/ch/124997.18
 Direct Telephone: +441 298 3257
Direct Fax: +441 298 3407
Direct e-mail: jmcmahon@ask.bm

 
 
 
 
January 30, 2004

Willis Group Holdings Limited
Canon's Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM 12
Bermuda

Dear Sirs

Willis Group Holdings Limited (the "Company")

You have asked us to render this opinion in our capacity as your counsel as to Bermuda law in connection with the filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the United States of America (the "Securities Act"), of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related documents (the "Registration Statement") of the Company's debt securities ("Holdings Debt Securities"), unissued common shares to be sold the Company (the "Common Shares"), unissued preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares"), warrants to purchase Holdings Debt Securities ("Debt Warrants"), warrants to purchase Common Shares ("Common Share Warrants"), warrants to purchase Preferred Shares (Preferred Share Warrants"), share purchase contracts and prepaid share purchase contracts ("Share Purchase Contracts"), share purchase units ("Share Purchase Units"), issued common shares that may be offered and sold by certain shareholders ("the Selling Shareholder Shares"), debt securities of Trinity Acquisition Limited ("Trinity Debt Securities") and debt securities of Willis North America Inc. ("Willis North America Debt Securities"). Holdings Debt Securities, Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Warrants, Common Share Warrants, Preferred Share Warrants, Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units, Selling Shareholder Shares, Trinity Debt Securities and Willis North America Debt Securities are collectively referred to as the "Securities".

For the purposes of this opinion we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement and documents listed in the Schedule to this opinion. The Registration Statement and such documents are collectively referred to as the "Documents".

Assumptions

In stating our opinion we have assumed:

(a)
the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents examined by us submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies;

(b)
that each of the Documents which was received by electronic means is complete, intact and in conformity with the transmission as sent;

(c)
the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;

(d)
the authority, capacity and power of each of the persons signing the Documents (other than the directors or officers of the Company);

(e)
that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than as to the laws of Bermuda, made in any of the Documents is true, accurate and complete;
(f)
that the Board of Directors at its meeting to be held on Tuesday 3 February will resolve to ratify and confirm the filing of the Registration Statement and will resolve to ratify and confirm the undertaking by the Company of all its obligations as set out in the Registration Statement.

(g)
that, when the directors of the Company passed the Resolutions, each of the directors discharged his fiduciary duties to the Company and acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company;

(h)
that the Company will at the relevant time of issue or transfer of any of the Securities hold the necessary permissions of the Bermuda Monetary Authority for such issue or transfer;

(i)
that the Selling Shareholder Shares are existing issued shares as at the date of this opinion and that, at the relevant time of sale of any Selling Shareholder Shares by any holder thereof, such holder is the registered holder of the Selling Shareholder Shares to be sold by such holder (or otherwise entitled to direct the transfer of those Selling Shareholder Shares) free of any encumbrance and that such Selling Shareholder Shares are fully paid;

(j)
that the Company has filed the Registration Statement in good faith for the purpose of carrying on its business and that, at the time it did so, there were reasonable grounds for believing that the activities contemplated by the Registration Statement would benefit the Company;

(k)
that the Common Share Warrants, Preferred Share Warrants, Share Purchase Contracts, Share Purchase Units, Trinity Debt Securities, Willis North America Debt Securities and Holdings Debt Securities will effect and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of each of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms, under the laws of the jurisdiction by which they are expressed to be governed;

(l)
that the records which were the subject of the Company Search were complete and accurate at the time of such search and disclosed all information which is material for the purposes of this opinion and such information has not since the date of the Company Search been materially altered; and

(m)
that the records which were the subject of the Litigation Search were complete and accurate at the time of such search and disclosed all information which is material for the purposes of this opinion and such information has not since the date of the Litigation Search been materially altered.

Opinion

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations set out below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:

(1)
The Company is an exempted company incorporated with limited liability and existing under the laws of Bermuda.

(2)
When duly authorised, issued, allotted and fully paid for and in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Common Shares (including any Common Shares issued pursuant to any, Common Share Warrants, Share Purchase Contracts, Share Purchase Units, Holdings Debt Securities, Trinity Debt Securities or Willis North America Debt Securities) will be validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable shares of the Company.

(3)
When duly authorised, issued, allotted and fully paid for, the Preferred Shares (including any Preferred Shares issued pursuant to any Preferred Share Warrants, or Share Purchase Units) will be validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable shares of the Company.

(4)
All necessary corporate action required to have been taken by the Company in connection with the original issuance by the Company of the Selling Shareholder Shares pursuant to Bermuda Law has been taken by or on behalf of the Company, and all necessary approvals of the Bermuda Monetary

2

(5)
The Selling Shareholder Shares when sold by their current holders and transferred and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will remain duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable common shares of the Company.

(6)
The issue or transfer of the Securities will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any requirement of any law or any regulation of Bermuda, or (ii) the Constitutional Documents as that term is defined in paragraph 4 of the Schedule to this opinion.

(7)
There are no taxes, duties or other charges payable to or chargeable by the Government of Bermuda, or any authority or agency thereof, in respect of the issue or transfer of the Securities.

Reservations

        We have the following reservations:

(a)
We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the Courts of Bermuda at the date hereof.

(b)
Any provision in the Registration Statement that certain calculations or certificates will be conclusive and binding will not be effective if such calculations or certificates are fraudulent or erroneous on their face and will not necessarily prevent juridical enquiries into the merits of any claim by an aggrieved party.

(c)
Searches of the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies and of the Supreme Court Causes Book at the Registry of the Supreme Court are not conclusive and it should be noted that the Register of Companies and the Supreme Court Causes Book do not reveal:

(i)
details of matters which have been lodged for filing or registration which as a matter of best practice of the Registrar of Companies or the Registry of the Supreme Court would have or should have been disclosed on the public file, the Causes Book or the Judgment Book, as the case may be, but for whatever reason have not actually been filed or registered or are not disclosed or which, notwithstanding filing or registration, at the date and time the search is concluded are for whatever reason not disclosed or do not appear on the public file, the Causes Book or Judgment Book;

(ii)
details of matters which should have been lodged for filing or registration at the Registrar of Companies or the Registry of the Supreme Court but have not been lodged for filing or registration at the date the search is concluded;

(iii)
whether an application to the Supreme Court for a winding-up petition or for the appointment of a receiver or manager has been prepared but not yet been presented or has been presented but does not appear in the Causes Book at the date and time the search is concluded;

(iv)
whether any arbitration or administrative proceedings are pending or whether any proceedings are threatened, or whether any arbitrator has been appointed; or

(v)
whether a receiver or manager has been appointed privately pursuant to the provisions of a debenture or other security, unless notice of the fact has been entered in the Register of Charges in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

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Furthermore, in the absence of a statutorily defined system for the registration of charges created by companies incorporated outside Bermuda ("overseas companies") over their assets located in Bermuda, it is not possible to determine definitively from searches of the Register of Charges maintained by the Registrar of Companies in respect of such overseas companies what charges have been registered over any of their assets located in Bermuda or whether any one charge has priority over any other charge over such assets.

(d)
In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Company Search as referred to in the Schedule of this opinion and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such search.

(e)
In order to issue this opinion we have carried out the Litigation Search as referred to in the Schedule to this opinion and have not enquired as to whether there has been any change since the date of such search.

(f)
Any reference in this opinion to shares being "non-assessable" shall mean, in relation to fully-paid shares of the Company and subject to any contrary provision in any agreement in writing between such company and the holder of shares, that: no shareholder shall be obliged to contribute further amounts to the capital of the Company, either in order to complete payment for their shares, to satisfy claims of creditors of the Company, or otherwise; and no shareholder shall be bound by an alteration of the Memorandum of Association or Bye-Laws of the Company after the date on which he became a shareholder, if and so far as the alteration requires him to take, or subscribe for additional shares, or in any way increases his liability to contribute to the share capital of, or otherwise to pay money to, the company.

Disclosure

        This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the filing by the Company of the Registration Statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Risk Factors—Unenforceability of certain United States Judgments" and "Legal Matters" in the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the United States, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to or relied upon by any Person for any purpose.

Further, this opinion speaks as of its date and is strictly limited to the matters stated herein and we assume no obligation to review or update this opinion if applicable laws or the existing facts or circumstances should change.

This opinion is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with Bermuda law. It is given on the basis that it will not give rise to any legal proceedings with respect thereto in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda.

Yours faithfully,

        /s/ Appleby Spurling & Kempe

Appleby Spurling & Kempe

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SCHEDULE

1.
A copy of the Registration Statement.

2.
The entries and filings shown in respect of the Company on the file of the Company maintained in the Register of Companies at office of the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by a search on January 29 2004 (the "Company Search").

3,
The entries and filings shown in respect of the Company in the Supreme Court Causes Book maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court in Hamilton, Bermuda, as revealed by a search on January 29 2004 in respect of the Company (the "Litigation Search").

4.
Originals of the Memorandum of Association and the revised Bye-laws for the Company (collectively, "the Constitutional Documents").

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SCHEDULE

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

December 4, 2003

 

among

 

WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.,

 

WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED,

 

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

and

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED,
as Administrative Agent

 

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

and

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,

 

as Joint Lead Arrangers

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

Definitions

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01.

Defined Terms

 

SECTION 1.02.

Classification of Loans and Borrowings

 

SECTION 1.03.

Terms Generally

 

SECTION 1.04.

Accounting Terms; GAAP

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

The Credits

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01.

Commitments

 

SECTION 2.02.

Loans and Borrowings

 

SECTION 2.03.

Requests for Borrowings

 

SECTION 2.04.

Funding of Borrowings

 

SECTION 2.05.

Interest Elections

 

SECTION 2.06.

Termination and Reduction of Commitments

 

SECTION 2.07.

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

 

SECTION 2.08.

Amortization of Term Loans

 

SECTION 2.09.

Prepayment of Loans

 

SECTION 2.10.

Fees

 

SECTION 2.11.

Interest

 

SECTION 2.12.

Alternate Rate of Interest; Market Disruption

 

SECTION 2.13.

Increased Costs

 

SECTION 2.14.

Break Funding Payments

 

SECTION 2.15.

Taxes

 

SECTION 2.16.

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

 

SECTION 2.17.

Additional Reserve Costs

 

SECTION 2.18.

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

 

SECTION 2.19.

Redenomination of Certain Designated Foreign Currencies

 

SECTION 2.20.

Assigned Dollar Value

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01.

Organization; Powers

 

SECTION 3.02.

Authorization; Enforceability

 

SECTION 3.03.

Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

 

SECTION 3.04.

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

 

SECTION 3.05.

Properties

 

SECTION 3.06.

Litigation and Environmental Matters

 

SECTION 3.07.

Compliance with Laws; Absence of Default

 

SECTION 3.08.

Investment and Holding Company Status

 

SECTION 3.09.

Taxes

 

SECTION 3.10.

ERISA

 

SECTION 3.11.

Disclosure

 

SECTION 3.12.

Subsidiaries

 

SECTION 3.13.

Solvency

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

Conditions

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01.

Effective Date

 

SECTION 4.02.

Each Credit Event

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01.

Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information

 

SECTION 5.02.

Notices of Material Events

 

SECTION 5.03.

Existence; Conduct of Business

 

SECTION 5.04.

Payment of Taxes

 

SECTION 5.05.

Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

 

SECTION 5.06.

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

 

SECTION 5.07.

Compliance with Laws

 

SECTION 5.08.

Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

Negative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01.

Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

SECTION 6.02.

Liens

 

SECTION 6.03.

Fundamental Changes

 

 

ii

 

SECTION 6.04.

Asset Sales

 

SECTION 6.05.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

 

SECTION 6.06.

Leverage Ratio

 

SECTION 6.07.

Interest Coverage Ratio

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

Events of Default

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

The Administrative Agent

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01.

Notices

 

SECTION 9.02.

Waivers; Amendments

 

SECTION 9.03.

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

 

SECTION 9.04.

Successors and Assigns

 

SECTION 9.05.

Survival

 

SECTION 9.06.

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

 

SECTION 9.07.

Severability

 

SECTION 9.08.

Right of Setoff

 

SECTION 9.09.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

 

SECTION 9.10.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

SECTION 9.11.

Judgment Currency

 

SECTION 9.12.

Headings

 

SECTION 9.13.

Confidentiality

 

SECTION 9.14.

Interest Rate Limitation

 

 

iii

 

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 1.01 —Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Schedule 2.01 — Commitments

 

Schedule 3.06 — Disclosed Matters

 

Schedule 3.12 — Subsidiaries

 

Schedule 6.02 — Existing Liens

 

Schedule 6.05 — Specified Properties

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A — Form of Guarantee Agreement

Exhibit B — Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit C-1 — Form of Opinion of Counsel to U.S. Loan Parties

Exhibit C-2 — Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Parent

Exhibit C-3 — Form of Opinion of Counsel to U.K. Loan Parties

Exhibit D — Form of Determination of Mandatory Costs Rate

 

iv

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003
among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP
HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS party hereto, and BANC
OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

“Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business (any of the foregoing, a “Pro Forma Entity”) for any period, the portion of Consolidated Net Income for such period attributable to such Pro Forma Entity plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such portion of Consolidated Net Income for such Pro Forma Entity, the sum of (i) consolidated interest expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) any extraordinary losses and non-recurring charges for such period, (v) any non-cash charges (including the non-cash portion of pension expense) for such period, (vi) losses on asset sales outside the ordinary course of business for such period, (vii) restructuring charges or provisions for such period, (viii) any expenses or charges incurred in connection with any issuance of debt or equity securities for such period and (ix) any deduction for minority interest expense for such period with respect to a Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Parent (provided, that the Indebtedness and interest expense of such Subsidiary are included in the calculation of Net Indebtedness and Consolidated Net Interest Expense to the same extent as would be required if such Subsidiary were wholly owned by the Parent), and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such portion of Consolidated Net Income, (i) any extraordinary gains and non-recurring gains for such period, (ii) any non-cash gains for such period and (iii) any gains on asset sales outside the ordinary course of business for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis for such Pro Forma Entity in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

 

“Adjusted EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Loan denominated in Euro for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the EURIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

 

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Loan (other than a Loan denominated in Euro) for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

“Administrative Agent” means Banc of America Securities Limited, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

“Alternative Currency” means Sterling, Euro and any other currency (other than Dollars) approved by all Revolving Lenders.

 

“Alternative Currency Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing comprised of Alternative Currency Loans.

 

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, with respect to an amount in Dollars on any date in relation to a specified Alternative Currency, the amount of such specified Alternative Currency that may be purchased with such amount of Dollars at the Spot Exchange Rate with respect to such Alternative Currency on such date.

 

“Alternative Currency Loan” means any Revolving Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below, based upon the Leverage Ratio and Interest Coverage Ratio (and, if applicable, the ratings by S&P and Moody’s applicable to the Index Debt) as of the most recent determination date; provided, however, that until the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the “Applicable Rate” shall be 0.95%.

 

LEVERAGE RATIO LESS THAN 1.25 TO 1.00

 

Interest Coverage Ratio:

 

Applicable Rate:

 

less than 8.0 to 1.0

 

1.125

%

greater than or equal to 8.0 to 1.0 but less than 10.0 to 1.0

 

0.95

%

greater than or equal to 10.0 to 1.0

 

0.85

%

greater than or equal to 10.0 to 1.0 and the S&P and Moody’s ratings applicable to the Index Debt are BBB+ and Baa1, respectively, or greater

 

0.75

%

 

2

 

LEVERAGE RATIO GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO
1.25 TO 1.00

 

Interest Coverage Ratio:

 

Applicable Rate:

 

less than 6.0 to 1.0

 

1.50

%

greater than or equal to 6.0 to 1.0 but less than 8.0 to 1.0

 

1.25

%

greater than or equal to 8.0 to 1.0

 

1.125

%

 

For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the Leverage Ratio and Interest Coverage Ratio shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Parent based upon the Parent’s consolidated financial statements and a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Parent, each delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, (ii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by S&P and Moody’s for the Index Debt shall be changed such that the Applicable Rate is affected (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of S&P or Moody’s), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise.  Each   change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio or Interest Coverage Ratio shall apply during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of the consolidated financial statements and a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Parent indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.  Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the ratings of the Index Debt shall apply during the period commencing on and including the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.  To the extent required, if the rating system of S&P or Moody’s shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

 

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

“Arrangers” means Banc of America Securities Limited, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, JPMorgan Securities Inc. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, each in its capacity as joint lead arranger in respect of the credit facility established hereunder.

 

“Assigned Dollar Value” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

 

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“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, as of the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the implicit interest rate for such sale and leaseback transaction, compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).

 

 “Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

“Borrower” means Willis North America Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class (and in the case of Revolving Loans, the same currency), made or continued on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City and London are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, that (i) when used in connection with a Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency other than Euro, “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks in the principal financial center of the country of the applicable currency are authorized or required by law to remain closed and (ii) when used in connection with a Loan denominated in Euro, “Business Day” shall also exclude any day that is not a TARGET Day.

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

 “Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P. or its Affiliates, of Equity Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Parent by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the

 

4

 

board of directors of the Borrower or the Parent nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the failure of the Parent to own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower.

 

“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Sections 2.13(b) or 2.18, by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

 

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Term Loans and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Commitment” means a Revolving Commitment or Term Loan Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) consolidated interest expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) any extraordinary losses and non-recurring charges for such period, (v) any non-cash charges (including the non-cash portion of pension expense) for such period, (vi) losses on asset sales outside the ordinary course of business for such period, (vii) restructuring charges or provisions for such period, (viii) any expenses or charges incurred in connection with any issuance of debt or equity securities for such period and (ix) any deduction for minority interest expense for such period with respect to a Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Parent (provided, that the Indebtedness and interest expense of such Subsidiary are included in the calculation of Net Indebtedness and Consolidated Net Interest Expense to the same extent as would be required if such Subsidiary were wholly owned by the Parent) and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, (i) any extraordinary gains and non-recurring gains for such period, (ii) any non-cash gains for such period and (iii) any gains on asset sales outside the ordinary course of business for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, that for purposes of determining the Leverage Ratio only, (A) there shall be included in determining the Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired outside the ordinary course of business during such period by the Parent or a Subsidiary, to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Parent or a Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not

 

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subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (B) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of outside the ordinary course of business by the Parent or any Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income or loss of the Parent and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income or loss the income or loss of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Parent or any Subsidiary or the date that such Person’s assets are acquired by the Parent or any Subsidiary.

 

“Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations) of the Parent and the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) the sum of (i) interest income of the Parent and the Subsidiaries for such period (excluding any interest on investments related to Insurance Broking Account Assets or fiduciary assets), determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (iii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period.

 

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

“Cost of Funds Rate” means, as of any day, the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be representative of its or the applicable Lenders’ cost of funds, as applicable, to extend credit under this Agreement on such day.

 

“Currency Equivalent” means the Dollar Equivalent or the Alternative Currency Equivalent, as the case may be.

 

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

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“Denomination Date” means, in relation to any Alternative Currency Borrowing, the date that is three Business Days before the date such Borrowing is made.

 

“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

 

“Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to an amount of any Alternative Currency on any date, the amount of Dollars that may be purchased with such amount of the Alternative Currency at the Spot Exchange Rate with respect to the Alternative Currency on such date.

 

“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

 

“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.

 

“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Parent or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Parent, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

“EURIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Revolving Borrowing denominated in Euro for any Interest Period, the Euro interbank offered rate per annum determined by reference to the Banking Federation of the European Union for deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period denominated in Euro, as reflected on the applicable Telerate Screen (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to deposits in Euro in the European interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on the Quotation Day for such Borrowing.  In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “EURIBO Rate” with respect to such Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the average of the Quoted Rates supplied to the Administrative Agent by the Reference Banks in accordance with Section 2.12.

 

“Euro” means the single currency of the Participating Member States of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty on European Union and as referred to in the EMU Legislation.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction  in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign

 

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Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 22, 1998, as amended and restated as of February 19, 1999 and as further amended or otherwise modified, among the Borrower, the Parent, Trinity Acquisition Limited, the several lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

 

“Existing Subordinated Debt” means the 9% Subordinated Notes due 2009 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of February 2, 1999, between the Borrower, the Parent  and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, outstanding as of the Effective Date.

 

 “Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

“Financial Officer” means, with respect to the Parent or the Borrower, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller thereof, as applicable.

 

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located.  For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

“Granting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e).

 

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“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, among the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

 

“Guarantors” means (a) the Parent and each of the Subsidiaries identified on Schedule 1.01, (b) each Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) that is not identified on Schedule 1.01 and that has Guaranteed the Existing Subordinated Debt and (c) each other Subsidiary that, at the option of the Parent, becomes a party to the Guarantee Agreement as a Guarantor thereunder; provided that the Subsidiaries that are Guarantors solely by reason of clause (b) above will cease to be Guarantors, and will be released from their Guarantees under the Guarantee Agreement, when the Existing Subordinated Debt has been fully redeemed and is no longer outstanding.

 

“Hazardous Materials”  means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of

 

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such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

“Index Debt” means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of any Loan Party that is not guaranteed by any other Person (other than a Loan Party) or subject to any other credit enhancement.

 

“Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated October 28, 2003 relating to the Borrower, the Parent and the Transactions.

 

“Insurance Broking Account Assets” means the sum of amounts owing from insurance broking transaction debtors, bank balances designated “insurance broking accounts” and approved assets designated “insurance broking assets” at their net realization value.

 

“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent ended on such date to (b) Consolidated Net Interest Expense for such period.

 

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to continue a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to any Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

 

“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (or such other period agreed to by each Lender participating in such Borrowing) or, in the case of a Term Borrowing, any other period of less than six months that ends on a date on which a scheduled payment of principal is due pursuant to Section 2.08(a), in each case, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period with a duration measured in months that commences on the

 

11

 

last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent continuation of such Borrowing.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.11.

 

“Judgment Currency Conversion Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.11.

 

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

“Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Net Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent ended on such date.

 

“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate per annum determined by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period denominated in the currency in which such Borrowing is denominated as reflected on the applicable Telerate Screen (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to deposits in the currency in which such Borrowing is denominated in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for the currency in which such Borrowing is denominated.  In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the average of the Quoted Rates supplied to the Administrative Agent by the Reference Banks in accordance with Section 2.12.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

“Loan” means any loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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“Loan Parties” means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

“Loan Document” means this Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement.

 

“Local Time” means (a) with respect to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in Dollars, New York City time and (b) with respect to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in any Alternative Currency, London time (or such other time as the Administrative Agent may designate in respect of the applicable currency).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole or (b) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans) of any one or more of the Parent and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000.

 

“Material Swap Obligations” means obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements of any one or more of the Parent and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000.  For purposes of this definition, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Parent or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Parent or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

“Maturity Date” means December 4, 2008.

 

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

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

“Net Indebtedness” means, as of any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Parent and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of obligations for borrowed money that are outstanding as of such date of Persons other than the Parent and its Subsidiaries, to the extent Guaranteed by the Parent or any of the Subsidiaries, minus (c) the aggregate amount of cash of the Parent and the Subsidiaries that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) any such cash subject to Liens, (ii) any such cash related to Insurance Broking Account Assets and (iii) any such cash that represents fiduciary funds.

 

“Net Worth” means, as of any date, (a) the amount of total assets of the Parent and the Subsidiaries minus (b) the amount of total liabilities of the Parent and the

 

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Subsidiaries, in each case, that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Obligation Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.11.

 

“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future  stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property  taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Guarantee Agreement.

 

“Parent” means Willis Group Holdings Limited, an exempted company under the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda.

 

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

 

(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Parent or any Subsidiary;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

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“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

“Plan”  means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

“Quotation Day” in respect of the determination of the LIBO Rate or EURIBO Rate for any Interest Period (a) for any Borrowing in Dollars or any Alternative Currency (other than Sterling), means the day on which quotations would normally be given by prime banks in the London interbank market for deposits in the currency in which such Borrowing is denominated for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period; provided, that if quotations would normally be given on more than one date, the Quotation Day for such Interest Period shall be the last of such dates and (b) for any Borrowing denominated in Sterling, means the first day of such Interest Period.

 

“Quoted Rate” means, with respect to any Borrowing, the rate at which Dollar deposits of $5,000,000 (or in the case of Borrowings denominated in an Alternative Currency, deposits with a Dollar Equivalent of $5,000,000) and for a maturity comparable to the Interest Period for the applicable Borrowing are offered by a Reference Bank in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at 11:00 a.m., London time (in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency other than Euro) or the European interbank market at 11:00 a.m., Brussels time (in the case of Borrowings denominated in Euro), as applicable, in each case, on the Quotation Day for the currency in which such Borrowing is denominated prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

“Reference Banks” means Bank of America, N.A., Citibank N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.

 

“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Relocation Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations, in connection with the relocation of the Parent’s principal offices in London, England, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof.

 

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the

 

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sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at such time.

 

“Revaluation Date” means, with respect to an Alternative Currency Borrowing, (a) the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such Borrowing and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period and (b) if the Borrower elects a new Interest Period prior to the end of the existing Interest Period with respect to such Borrowing, the date of commencement of such new Interest Period.

 

“Revolving Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

 

‘Revolving Borrowing” means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.

 

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $150,000,000.

 

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans denominated in Dollars at such time, plus (b) the Assigned Dollar Value of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Alternative Currency Loans at such time.

 

“Revolving Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s.

 

“Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”.

 

“Spot Exchange Rate” means, on any day, (a) with respect to any Alternative Currency in relation to Dollars, the spot rate at which Dollars are offered on

 

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such day for such Alternative Currency which appears on page FXFX of the Reuters Screen at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time (and if such spot rate is not available on the applicable page of the Reuters Screen, such spot rate as is quoted by Bank of America, N.A., London branch, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time) and (b) with respect to Dollars in relation to any specified Alternative Currency, the spot rate at which such specified Alternative Currency is offered on such day for Dollars which appears on page FXFX of the Reuters Screen at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time (and if such spot rate is not available on the applicable page of the Reuters Screen, such spot rate as is quoted by Bank of America N.A., London branch, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time).  For purposes of determining the Spot Exchange Rate in connection with an Alternative Currency Borrowing, such Spot Exchange Rate shall be determined as of the Denomination Date for such Borrowing with respect to the transactions in the applicable Alternative Currency that will settle on the date of such Borrowing.

 

“SPC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e).

 

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which Bank of America, N.A. is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.  Loans made hereunder shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

“Sterling” or “£” means lawful money of the United Kingdom.

 

“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

 

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Parent, including the Borrower.

 

“Supermajority Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 662/3%

 

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of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at such time.

 

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Parent or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

“TARGET” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system.

 

“TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

 

“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes (including value added taxes), levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

“Term Borrowing” means a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

 

“Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01.

 

“Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Term Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of Term Loans to be made by such Lender, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Term Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Term Loan Commitments is $450,000,000.

 

“Term Loan Funding Period” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date that is 180 days after the Effective Date.

 

“Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

 

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

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“USA Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act) of 2001.

 

“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Term Loan” or a “Revolving Borrowing”).

 

SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 1.04.  Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Parent or the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that it requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent or the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision  amended in accordance herewith.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01.  Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees (a) to make Term Loans (in Dollars) to the Borrower from time to time during the Term Loan Funding Period in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding its Term Loan Commitment (provided that the Lenders shall not be required to make Term Loans to the Borrower on more than five occasions during the Term Loan Funding Period) and (b) to make Revolving Loans (in Dollars or in any Alternative Currency) to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.  Amounts repaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings.  (a)  Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

 

(b)  Each Borrowing shall be comprised of Loans that bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate.  Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)  At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent, if applicable).  Borrowings of more than one Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five Term Borrowings and ten Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

 

(d)  Loans made pursuant to any Alternative Currency Borrowing shall be made in the Alternative Currency specified in the applicable Borrowing Request in an aggregate amount equal to the Alternative Currency Equivalent of the Dollar amount specified in such Borrowing Request; provided, that for purposes of the Borrowing amounts specified in paragraph (c), each Alternative Currency Borrowing shall be deemed to be in a principal amount equal to its Assigned Dollar Value.

 

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(e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03.  Requests for Borrowings.  To request a Term Borrowing or Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such request not later than 11:00 a.m., London time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile to the Administrative Agent in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.  Each such Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Term Borrowing or Revolving Borrowing;

 

(ii) the aggregate amount (expressed in Dollars) and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, currency (which must be Dollars or an Alternative Currency) of such Borrowing;

 

(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iv) the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.04.

 

If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each participating Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04.  Funding of Borrowings.  (a)  Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower  (i) in New York City, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars or (ii) in London (or such other city as the Administrative Agent may designate in respect of the applicable currency), in the case of Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency, in each case designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

 

(b)  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the

 

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Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from (and including) the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to (but excluding) the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the Cost of Funds Rate plus the Applicable Rate in respect of the applicable Borrowing.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Interest Elections.  (a)  Each Term Borrowing and Revolving Borrowing shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in the applicable Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect Interest Periods therefor as provided in this Section.  The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

(b)  To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election in writing by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile to the Administrative Agent in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

 

(c)  Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clause (iii) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day; and

 

(iii) the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

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If any such Interest Election Request does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d)  Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each participating Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)  If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to continue such Borrowing for an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing, the Borrower may not elect any Interest Period with a duration longer than one month.

 

SECTION 2.06.  Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a)  Unless previously terminated, the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate at the end of the Term Loan Funding Period and the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)  A Lender’s Term Loan Commitment shall be reduced on the date of each Term Loan Borrowing by the amount of the Term Loan funded by such Lender on such date.

 

(c)  The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of either Class; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.09, the total Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the total Revolving Commitments.

 

(d)  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments of either Class under paragraph (c) of this Section at least five Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.  Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of either Class shall be permanent.  Each reduction of the Commitments of either Class

 

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shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class.

 

SECTION 2.07.  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  (a)  The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Loan Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan as provided in Section 2.08.

 

(b)  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(c)  The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d)  The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e)  Any Lender may request that Loans of either Class made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by such Lender and the Administrative Agent.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

SECTION 2.08.  Amortization of Term Loans.  (a)  Subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section, the Borrower shall repay Term Borrowings in three equal installments of $150,000,000, each payable on each of the third anniversary of the Effective Date, the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date and the Maturity Date.

 

(b)  If (i) the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ initial Term Loan Commitments exceeds the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans made during the Term Loan Funding Period or (ii) the Borrower prepays any Term Borrowing in

 

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accordance with Section 2.09, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of the manner in which it elects such excess, in the case of clause (i), or such prepayment amount, in the case of clause (ii), to be applied to the scheduled amortization set forth in paragraph (a).  If the Borrower does not so notify the Administrative Agent by the end of the Term Loan Funding Period or on the date of  prepayment, as applicable, the Administrative Agent shall request that the Borrower promptly provide such notice.  If the Borrower does not provide such notice within five days of receiving such request from the Administrative Agent, then the excess, in the case of clause (i) above, or the prepayment amount, in the case of clause (ii) above, shall be applied ratably to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of the Term Borrowings to be made pursuant to this Section.

 

(c)  Prior to any repayment of any Term Borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid and shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such selection not later than 11:00 a.m., London time, three Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment.  Each repayment of a Term Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Term Loans included in the repaid Term Borrowing.  Repayments of Term Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid.

 

SECTION 2.09.  Prepayment of Loans.  (a)  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (other than payments required by Section 2.14 if prepayment is on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period), subject to the requirements of this Section.

 

(b)  If, at any time, the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the total amount of the Revolving Commitments, then the Borrower shall, not later than the date that is four Business Days after the Borrower receives notice thereof from the Administrative Agent, prepay one or more Revolving Borrowings in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce the total Revolving Credit Exposures to an amount not exceeding the total Revolving Commitments.

 

(c)  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any prepayment hereunder not later than 11:00 a.m., London time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders participating in the relevant Borrowing or Borrowings of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to comply with a mandatory prepayment pursuant to paragraph (b) above.  Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied

 

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ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount prepaid.

 

SECTION 2.10.  Fees.  (a)  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at a rate equal to (i) in the case of a Term Loan Commitment, 0.25% per annum for the period commencing on (and including) the Effective Date and ending on (but excluding) the date that is 90 days after the Effective Date, and 40% of the Applicable Rate thereafter, on the daily amount of the Term Loan Commitment of such Lender and (ii) 40% of the Applicable Rate on the average daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender, in each case, during the period commencing on (and including) the Effective Date and ending on (but excluding) the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates.  Accrued commitment fees with respect to either Class of Commitment shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments of such Class terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(b)  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)  All fees payable hereunder shall be paid in Dollars on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of commitment fees, to the Lenders.  Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.11.  Interest.  (a)   The Loans comprising each Borrowing (other than Alternative Currency Loans denominated in Euro) shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.  The Alternative Currency Loans comprising each Revolving Borrowing denominated in Euro shall bear interest at the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of or interest on any Loan, 2.5% plus the Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate (as applicable) then applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part or (ii) in the case of any fee or other amount, 2.5% plus the Cost of Funds Rate.

 

(c)  Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to

 

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paragraph (b) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of a change in the Interest Period with respect to any Borrowing prior to the end of the then current Interest Period for such Borrowing, accrued interest on the amount of each Loan comprising such Borrowing shall be payable on the effective date of such change.

 

(d)  All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed on Revolving Borrowings denominated in Sterling shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate and the Cost of Funds Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and each such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders thereof.

 

SECTION 2.12.  Alternate Rate of Interest; Market Disruption.  (a)  If the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that the screen rate used to determine the LIBO Rate or the EURIBO Rate for any Borrowing, as applicable, will not be available on a Quotation Day, the Administrative Agent shall promptly request that each Reference Bank supply it with its Quoted Rate, and the LIBO Rate or EURIBO Rate, as applicable, to be used to determine the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing shall be the average of the Quoted Rates supplied to the Administrative Agent by the Reference Banks. If the Administrative Agent makes such request and one or more Reference Banks fails to supply its Quoted Rate to the Administrative Agent by 11:30 a.m., London time, on a Quotation Day, the applicable LIBO Rate or EURIBO Rate shall (subject to paragraph (b) below) be determined on the basis of the Quoted Rates supplied by the remaining Reference Banks.

 

(b)  If, with respect to any Borrowing for which the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate is to be determined by reference to the Quoted Rates supplied to the Administrative Agent by each Reference Bank, (i) only one Reference Bank supplies the Administrative Agent with a Quoted Rate, (ii) no Reference Bank supplies the Administrative Agent with a Quoted Rate, or (iii) prior to the close of business on the Quotation Day, the Administrative Agent receives notification from Lenders whose participation in such Borrowing exceeds 35% of the amount of such Borrowing that the cost to such Lenders of obtaining matching deposits in the London interbank market (in the case of Borrowings comprised of Loans denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency other than Euro) or the European interbank market (in the case of Borrowings comprised of Loans denominated in Euro) would be in excess of the LIBO Rate or the EURIBO Rate, as applicable, for the relevant Interest Period (each such event described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “Market Disruption Event”), then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Parent, the Borrower and the Lenders in writing as promptly as practicable thereafter, and the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing shall be the Cost of Funds Rate plus the Applicable Rate in respect of

 

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such Borrowing.  If a Market Disruption Event occurs, at the request of the Administrative Agent, the Parent or the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Parent and the Borrower shall enter into negotiations for a period of no more than 30 days for the purpose of agreeing to a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest to be applied to the applicable Borrowing (and, to the extent required, any future Borrowings).  Any substitute basis agreed upon shall be, with the consent of the participating Lenders (if such substitute basis is only to apply to a particular Borrowing) or all Lenders (if such substitute basis is to apply to any future Borrowing), be binding on all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.13.  Increased Costs.  (a)  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate); or
 
(ii) impose on any Lender, the London interbank market or the European interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender;
 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a

 

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Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.14.  Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the change of the Interest Period of a Loan other than on the last day of the existing Interest Period, (c) the failure to borrow, continue or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate (or, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing denominated in Euro, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate) that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the applicable currency and of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.  A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.15.  Taxes.  (a)  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)  In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(c)  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)  As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall, at the written request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

 

(f)  If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.15 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

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SECTION 2.16.  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.  (a)  The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, Local time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to such account as the Administrative Agent shall from time to time specify in a notice delivered to the Borrower, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments of principal or interest in respect of any Loan (or of any amount payable under Section 2.14 or 2.17 or, at the request of the applicable Lender, Section 2.13 or 2.15 in respect of any Loan) shall be made in the currency in which such Loan is denominated.  All other payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars, except as otherwise expressly provided.

 

(b)  If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest, fees and expenses then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest, fees and expenses then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest, fees and expenses then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

(c)  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).  The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant

 

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to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(d)  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(e)  If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(b) or 2.16(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

SECTION 2.17.  Additional Reserve Costs.  (a)  If and so long as any Lender is required to make special deposits with the Financial Services Authority or the Bank of England or to maintain reserve asset ratios or pay fees (other than deposits or reserves reflected in the determination of the Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate, as the case may be), in each case in respect of any of Loan made by such Lender hereunder, such Lender may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on such Loan, additional interest on such Loan at a rate per annum equal to the Mandatory Costs Rate, as defined in (and calculated in accordance with the formula and in the manner set forth in) Exhibit D.

 

(b)  If and so long as any Lender is required to comply with reserve assets, liquidity, cash margin or other requirements of any monetary or other authority (including any such requirement imposed by the European Central Bank or the European System of Central Banks, but excluding requirements reflected in the Statutory Reserve Rate or the Mandatory Costs Rate) in respect of any Loan made by such Lender hereunder, such Lender may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on such Loan, additional interest on such Loan at a rate per annum determined by such Lender to be the cost to such Lender of complying with such requirements in relation to such Loan.

 

(c)  Any additional interest owed pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above shall be determined by the relevant Lender, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and notified to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative

 

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Agent) at least five Business Days before each date on which interest is payable for the relevant Loan, and such additional interest so notified to the relevant Borrower by such Lender shall be payable to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender on each date on which interest is payable for such Loan.

 

SECTION 2.18.  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.  (a)  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13 or 2.17, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13, 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13 or 2.17, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13 or 2.17 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

SECTION 2.19.  Redenomination of Certain Designated Foreign Currencies.  (a)  Each obligation of any party to this Agreement to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation).  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any

 

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convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing denominated in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

 

(b)  Without prejudice and in addition to any method of conversion or rounding prescribed by any EMU Legislation and (i) without limiting the liability of the Borrower for any amount due under this Agreement and (ii) without increasing any Commitment of any Lender, all references in this Agreement to minimum amounts (or integral multiples thereof) denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall, immediately upon such adoption, be replaced by references to such minimum amounts (or integral multiples thereof) as shall be specified herein with respect to Borrowings denominated in Euro.

 

(c)  Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower) may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

 

SECTION 2.20.  Assigned Dollar Value.  (a) With respect to each Alternative Currency Borrowing, its “Assigned Dollar Value” shall mean the following:

 

(i) the Dollar amount specified in the Borrowing Request therefor unless and until adjusted pursuant to the following clause (ii), and
 
(ii) as of each Revaluation Date with respect to such Alternative Currency Borrowing, the “Assigned Dollar Value” of such Borrowing shall be adjusted to be the Dollar Equivalent thereof (as determined by the Administrative Agent based upon the applicable Spot Exchange Rate, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), subject to further adjustment in accordance with this clause (ii) thereafter.
 

(b)  The Assigned Dollar Value of an Alternative Currency Loan shall equal the Assigned Dollar Value of the Alternative Currency Borrowing of which such Loan is a part multiplied by the percentage of such Borrowing represented by such Loan.

 

(c)  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of any change in the Assigned Dollar Value of any Alternative Currency Borrowing promptly following determination of such change.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Each of the Parent and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers.  Each of the Parent and the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Authorization; Enforceability.  The Transactions to be entered into by each Loan Party are within such Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Parent and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Parent, the Borrower or such other Loan Party (as the case may be), enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any material applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of  the Parent or any Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other material instrument binding upon the Parent or any Subsidiary or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Parent or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of such material indenture, agreement or other material instrument.

 

SECTION 3.04.  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.  (a)  The Parent has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, certified by its chief financial officer.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries as of such dates

 

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and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b)  Since December 31, 2002, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

SECTION 3.05.  Properties.  (a)  Each of the Parent and the Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such good title or valid leasehold interests, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)  Each of the Parent and the Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Parent and the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental Matters.  (a)  There are no actions, suits or proceedings (including investigative proceedings) by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Parent or the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary, that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters).

 

(b)  Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability or (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability.

 

SECTION 3.07.  Compliance with Laws; Absence of Default.  Each of the Parent and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.08.  Investment and Holding Company Status.  Neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary is (a) an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940 or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

 

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SECTION 3.09.  Taxes.  Each of the Parent and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Parent or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.10.  ERISA.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans, in each case, by an amount that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11.  Disclosure.  Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered on or prior to the Effective Date hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Parent and Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

SECTION 3.12.  Subsidiaries.  Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of organization of, and the direct or indirect ownership interest of the Parent in, each Subsidiary, and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, in each case as of the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 3.13.  Solvency.  Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (a) the fair value of the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) each Loan Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; (d) each Loan Party will not have unreasonably small capital with

 

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which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date; (e) no Loan Party, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has commenced or intends to commence negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its Indebtedness; and (f) no moratorium has been declared and, in the opinion of the Parent and the Borrower, no moratorium is reasonably likely to be declared in the foreseeable future, in each case, in respect of any Indebtedness of any Loan Party.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01.  Effective Date.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

 

(a)  The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) the Guarantee Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each of the Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

(b)  The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) William P. Bowden, Jr., in-house counsel to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1, (ii) Appleby Spurling & Kempe, local counsel to the Parent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 and (iii) Oliver Goodinge, in-house counsel to the Loan Parties organized or existing under the laws of the United Kingdom, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-3, and, in the case of each such opinion required by this paragraph (b), covering such other matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request.  The Parent and the Borrower hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinions.

 

(c)  The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Loan Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

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(d)  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02

 

(e)  The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

 

(f)  The Borrower shall have made arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the termination of all commitments under, payment of all amounts accrued and owing under, and the release and termination of all Liens securing obligations under, the Existing Credit Agreement, in each case substantially simultaneous with the initial Borrowing hereunder on the Effective Date.

 

(g)  The Lenders shall have received the consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Parent (i) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants and (ii) as of and for each fiscal quarter ended at least 30 days prior to the date hereof, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii)).  Such financial statements shall not be materially inconsistent with any other financial statements or forecasts provided to the Lenders prior to the date hereof.

 

(h)  To the extent requested, the Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date hereof (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

 

SECTION 4.02.  Each Credit Event.  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)  The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing.

 

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(b)  At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Parent and the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Parent and the Borrower covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information.  The Parent will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)  as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any material qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(b)  as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)  concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Parent (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the Leverage Ratio and the

 

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Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of the period covered by such financial statements and demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.06 and 6.07 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 that would be relevant in the calculation of the Leverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

 

(d)  concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a report from the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements, stating that (i) the financial information in the certificate prepared by a Financial Officer of the Parent pursuant to clause (c) above has been accurately extracted from the sources identified therein and, where applicable, agrees with the underlying accounting records, (ii) the calculations of the Leverage Ratio and the Interest Coverage Ratio set forth in such certificate are arithmetically correct and (iii) the financial information set forth in such certificate is, as to elements and composition, presented in accordance with the relevant accounting definitions set forth in Section 1.01;

 

(e)  promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Parent or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Parent to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

 

(f)  promptly after Moody’s or S&P shall have announced a change in the rating established or deemed to have been established for the Index Debt, written notice of such rating change;

 

(g)  promptly following a request by any Lender, all documentation and other information that such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act; and

 

(h)  promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

Any financial statement, report, proxy statement or other material required to be delivered pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (e) of this Section shall be deemed to have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and each Lender on the date that the Parent notifies the Administrative Agent that such financial statement, report, proxy statement or other material is posted on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Parent’s website at www.willis.com; provided, that the Administrative Agent will promptly inform the Lenders of any such notification by the

 

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Parent; provided, further, that the Parent will furnish paper copies of such financial statement, report, proxy statement or material to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests, by notice to the Parent, that the Parent do so, until the Parent receives notice from the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to cease delivering such paper copies.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events.  The Parent or the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)  the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)  the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)  the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(d)  any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Parent or the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Existence; Conduct of Business.  (a)   The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Loan Parties to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

 

(b)  The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Subsidiaries to, continue to engage (including after giving effect to any acquisition) only in a business of the type that does not represent a fundamental change in the character of the business of the Parent and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, conducted by the Parent and the Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement, and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 5.04.  Payment of Taxes.  The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Subsidiaries to, pay its Tax liabilities before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Parent or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance

 

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with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.05.  Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.  The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain in full force and effect, with insurance companies that the Parent and the Borrower believe (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Parent and the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance (including professional indemnity coverage) in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business.

 

SECTION 5.06.  Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made in all material respects of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Parent will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

 

SECTION 5.07.  Compliance with Laws.  The Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the other Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans will be used for such general corporate purposes as may be permitted under applicable law, including to refinance Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and to redeem the Existing Subordinated Debt.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Parent and the Borrower covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01.  Subsidiary Indebtedness.  The Parent will not permit any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any

 

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Indebtedness (including pursuant to any Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent or another Subsidiary), except:

 

(a)  Indebtedness owing to the Parent or another Subsidiary;

 

(b)  Guarantees of Indebtedness of another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted by this Section 6.01;

 

(c)  Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by the Parent or any other Subsidiary, except Indebtedness that, in the aggregate, but without duplication, does not exceed $25,000,000 may be Guaranteed;

 

(d)  Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (d) that is not Relocation Indebtedness shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(e)  Indebtedness incurred in relation to arrangements made in the ordinary course of business to facilitate the operation of bank accounts on a net balance basis;

 

(f)  short term Indebtedness from banks incurred in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a facility required in order to comply with rules and regulations issued from time to time by regulatory authorities, provided, that such compliance is required for the applicable Subsidiary to remain licensed to conduct its business; and

 

(g)  other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (for all such Subsidiaries combined, but without duplication) not exceeding $75,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.02.  Liens.  The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)  Permitted Encumbrances;

 

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(b)  any Lien on any property or asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(c)  any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Parent or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(d)  Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Parent or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure only Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of such assets) and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Parent or any Subsidiary;

 

(e)  charges or Liens in favor of a regulatory authority or a third party, in each case, as contemplated by the rules or regulations issued by a regulatory authority and with which the applicable Subsidiary is required to comply in order to remain licensed to conduct its business;

 

(f)  Liens over credit balances created in favor of any bank in order to facilitate the operation of bank accounts on a net balance basis or in connection with any BACS facility used in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)  Liens comprised by escrow arrangements entered into in connection with asset sales, transfers or other dispositions permitted by Section 6.04; and

 

(h)  other Liens, provided, that the sum of the aggregate amount of obligations secured by such Liens plus the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt

 

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in respect of sale and leaseback transactions permitted by clause (c) of Section 6.05 shall not, at any time, exceed 7½ % of Net Worth.

 

SECTION 6.03.  Fundamental Changes.  The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Loan Party to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) any Person may merge with or into the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party in a transaction in which the Parent, the Borrower or such Loan Party, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, provided that (i) the Parent and the Borrower will not merge with or into each other and (ii) if the Parent or the Borrower merges with or into any other Loan Party, the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, must be the surviving entity, (b) any Person (other than the Parent or the Borrower) may merge with or into a Loan Party (other than the Parent or the Borrower) in a transaction in which the surviving entity is not a Subsidiary, and (c) any Person may merge with or into the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party in a transaction in which the Parent, the Borrower or such Loan Party, as the case may be, is not the surviving entity, provided, that (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation shall be a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or, in the case of a merger or consolidation involving the Parent, the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Parent is organized (such Person being herein referred to as the “Successor Entity”), (ii) the Successor Entity shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Parent, the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, under the Loan Documents to which the Parent, the Borrower or such Loan Party, as applicable, is a party, pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) if such merger or consolidation involves the Borrower, then each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee Agreement confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply at all to the Successor Entity’s obligations under this Agreement, (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the effect that the applicable Loan Documents are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Successor Entity and (v) this clause (c) shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to merge with or into the Parent.  In the case of any such merger of the Parent or the Borrower in accordance with clause (c) above, the Successor Entity shall be deemed to be the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, for all purposes of the Loan Documents.  The Parent will not engage, and will not permit the Borrower to engage, in any transaction that would reduce the percentage of Equity Interests owned by the Parent in the Borrower, except for (x) sales, transfers and other disposals of such Equity Interests to directors, officers or employees of the Borrower pursuant to any employee stock ownership plan or similar plan for the benefit of directors, officers or employees of the Borrower and (y) the issuance of such Equity Interests as consideration for any acquisition from a third party; provided, that following any such issuance of Equity Interests to a third party, the majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower shall be occupied by Persons nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower or the Parent or appointed by directors so nominated.

 

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SECTION 6.04.  Asset Sales.  The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, except:

 

(a)  sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)  sales, transfers and other dispositions to the Parent or a Subsidiary;

 

(c)  sales or transfers pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions permitted by clause (a) Section 6.05; and

 

(d)  sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section; provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of during any fiscal year of the Parent in reliance upon this clause (d) shall not exceed 5% of the total amount of assets that would be reflected on a balance sheet of the Parent and the Subsidiaries prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year;

 

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by clause (a) or (b) above) shall be made for full fair value and on an arm’s length basis, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Parent or the Borrower,  taking into account all relevant considerations.  Any merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary with or into any other Person that results in such Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary or the Parent owning a reduced percentage of the Equity Interests in such Subsidiary shall, in each case, be treated as a sale of such Subsidiary (or the relevant portion thereof) for purposes of this Section 6.04.

 

SECTION 6.05.  Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any other Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except:

 

(a)  any such sale of any fixed or capital assets that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the cost of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 180 days after the Parent or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset;

 

(b)  any such sale of the property listed on Schedule 6.05; and

 

(c)  any other such sale if, after giving effect thereto, the Attributable Debt in respect of the applicable sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by clause (h) of Section 6.02.

 

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SECTION 6.06.  Leverage Ratio.  The Parent will not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to exceed 2.5 to 1.0.

 

SECTION 6.07.  Interest Coverage Ratio.  The Parent will not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 5.0 to 1.0.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a)  the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)  the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

 

(c)  any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Parent, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)  the Parent or the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the existence of the Parent or the Borrower) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

 

(e)  any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and, if such failure is capable of remedy, such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

(f)  the Parent or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness or Material Swap Obligations, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

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(g)  any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(h)  an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Parent or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)  the Parent or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)  the Parent or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)  one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $30,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance provided by a carrier that is not disputing coverage) shall be rendered against the Parent, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any formal legal process has been commenced by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any material assets of the Parent or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)  an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(m)  a Change in Control shall occur; or

 

(n)  there shall be a change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Parent and the Subsidiaries that has had or, in the opinion of the Supermajority Lenders, will have, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Parent or the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Parent or the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

The Administrative Agent

 

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Parent or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the

 

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Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Parent or any of the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Parent, the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for a Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation, the Required

 

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Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor.  If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or London, England or an Affiliate of any such bank.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder.  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that the Arrangers (in their capacity as such) do not have any duties or responsibilities under any of the Loan Documents and will not be subject to liability thereunder to any of the Loan Parties for any reason.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01.  Notices.  (a)  Subject to paragraph (b) below, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

 

(i) if to the Parent or the Borrower, to it at Ten Trinity Square, London EC3P 3AX, United Kingdom, Attention of Ian Warner, Group Treasurer (Facsimile No. 44 20 7481 7154);

 

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(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to Banc of America Securities Limited, Bank of America House, 5 Canada Square, London E14 5AQ, United Kingdom, Attention of Loans Agency (Facsimile No. 44 20 8313 2149); and
 
(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
 

(b)  Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent, the Parent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(c)  Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

SECTION 9.02.  Waivers; Amendments.  (a)    No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under each Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b)  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Parent, the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Parent, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party that is a party thereto with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase  the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the final maturity of any Loan, or any scheduled date of payment of the

 

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principal amount of any Term Loan under Section 2.08, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.16(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) release any Guarantor from its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement, or limit its liability in respect of such Guarantee, without the written consent of Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 75% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments, (vii) change any provisions of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders holding Loans of one Class differently than those holding Loans of the other Class, without the written consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of each affected Class or (vii) modify the protections afforded to an SPC pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.04(e) without the written consent of such SPC; provided further that (A) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification of any Loan Document that by its terms affects the rights or duties under such Loan Document of the Revolving Lenders (but not the Term Loan Lenders) or the Term Loan Lenders (but not the Revolving Lenders) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Parent, the Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Parent, the Borrower, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent if (i) by the terms of such agreement the Commitment of each Lender not consenting to the amendments provided for therein shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such amendment and (ii) at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 9.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a)  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges

 

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and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

 

(b)  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Parent or any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Parent or any of the Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

(c)  To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or an Arranger under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to indemnify and pay to the Administrative Agent or such Arranger, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or such Arranger in its capacity as such.  For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at the time.

 

(d)  To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

(e)  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

 

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SECTION 9.04.  Successors and Assigns.  (a)  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) neither the Parent nor the Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Parent or the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void), provided, that a merger or consolidation that complies with Section 6.03 shall not be construed as an assignment or transfer for purposes of this clause (i), and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, the Arrangers, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)  (i)  Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)  the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

 

(B)  the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of (1) a Revolving Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender with a Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment or (2) a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(ii)  Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
 

(A)  except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $2,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(B)  each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

 

(C)  the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $1,500; and

 

(D)  the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

For purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

 

“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(iii)  Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
 
(iv)  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Parent, the

 

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Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)  Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
 

(c)  (i)  Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Parent, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant.  Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Parent and the Borrower agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.16(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

(ii)  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e) as though it were a Lender.
 

(d)  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender,

 

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including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof.  The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender).  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

SECTION 9.05.  Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall

 

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survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

SECTION 9.06.  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.07.  Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08.  Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Parent or the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower then due and owing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement.  The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

SECTION 9.09.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a)  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(b)  Each of the Parent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from

 

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any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Parent, the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c)  Each of the Parent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)  The Parent hereby irrevocably appoints William P. Bowden, Jr. (c/o Willis North America Inc., 7 Hanover Square, New York, New York 10004), and the Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints CT Corporation, in each case, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Parent or the Borrower, as applicable, by the person serving the same in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such party in any such suit or proceeding.  Each of the Parent and the Borrower further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agents in full force and effect from the date of this Agreement until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full.  Each other party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 9.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN  ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO

 

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ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 9.11.  Judgment Currency.  (a)  The obligations hereunder of the Borrower to make payments in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency, as the case may be (the “Obligation Currency”), shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or converted into any currency other than the Obligation Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery results in the effective receipt by the Administrative Agent or a Lender of the full amount of the Obligation Currency expressed to be payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.  If, for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party in any court or in any jurisdiction, it becomes necessary to convert into or from any currency other than the Obligation Currency (such other currency being thereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in the Obligation Currency, the conversion shall be made, at the Currency Equivalent of such amount, as of the date immediately preceding the day on which the judgment is given (such Business Day being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Currency Conversion Date”).

 

(b)  If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Judgment Currency Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, covenants and agrees to pay, or cause to be paid, such additional amounts, if any (but in any event not a lesser amount), as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of the Obligation Currency which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial award at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Judgment Currency Conversion Date.

 

(c)  For purposes of determining the Currency Equivalent under this Section 9.11, such amounts shall include any premium and costs payable in connection with the purchase of the Obligation Currency.

 

SECTION 9.12.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.13.  Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent

 

62

 

required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Parent or any Subsidiary and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Parent or the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Parent or the Borrower.  For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Parent or the Borrower relating to the Parent or the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Parent or the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Parent or the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be permitted to disclose to any other Person its U.S. Federal income tax treatment and the U.S. Federal income tax structure of the Transactions and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that such tax treatment and tax structure shall not include the identity of any party to this Agreement (or any Affiliate of such party); provided, further, that no such Person shall disclose any information relating to such tax treatment or tax structure to the extent nondisclosure is reasonably necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws.

 

SECTION 9.14.  Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

63

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC.,

 

 

 

by

/s/ Mary E. Carazzo

 

 

 

Name: Mary E. Carazzo

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED,

 

 

 

by

/s/ Thomas Colraine

 

 

 

Name: Thomas Colraine

 

 

Title: Group Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED,

 

 

 

 

 

by

/s/ Charles R. Bingham

 

 

 

Name: Charles R. Bingham

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

ABN Amro Bank N.V.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Nancy W. Lanzoni

 

 

Name: Nancy W. Lanzoni

 

 

Title: Group Vice President

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael DeMarco

 

 

Name: Michael DeMarco

 

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

ALLIED IRISH BANKS plc

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Evin Cusack

/s/ Declan Fitzgerald

 

 

Name:

Evin Cusack

Declan Fitzgerald

 

 

Title:

Vice-President

Head of Investment Grade

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jim Miller

 

 

Name:

Jim Miller

 

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., NY Branch

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Spencer Hughes

 

 

Name:

Spencer Hughes

 

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Bank One, NA

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Victoria Firth

 

 

Name:

Victoria Firth

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chris Lee

 

 

Name:

CHRIS LEE

 

 

 

Title:

MANAGER

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Citicorp USA, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter Heidinger

 

 

Name:

Peter Heidinger

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Comerica Bank

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Aurora Battaglia

 

 

Name:

Aurora Battaglia

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Danske Bank A/S

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan Pettigrew

/s/ Simon Easton

 

 

Name:

Alan Pettigrew

Simon Easton

 

 

Title:

Senior Manager

Senior Manager

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

ING CAPITAL LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark R. Newsome

 

 

Name:

Mark R. Newsome

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Helen L. Newcomb

 

 

Name:

Helen L. Newcomb

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Matthew S.R. Tuck

 

 

Name:

MATTHEW S.R. TUCK

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

Financial Institutions, USA

 

 

T020

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Candice Beato

 

 

Name:

CANDICE BEATO

 

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

 

Financial Institutions, USA

 

 

B059

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Morgan Stanley Bank

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jaap L. Tonckens

 

 

Name:

Jaap L. Tonckens

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley Bank

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Freeman

 

 

Name:

J Freeman

 

 

 

Title:

Corporate Director,

Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

SANPAOLO IMI S.p.A.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Cathy R. Lesse

 

 

Name:

Cathy R. Lesse

 

 

 

Title:

General Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Renato Carducci

 

 

Name:

Renato Carducci

 

 

Title:

General Manager

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

SUNTRUST BANK

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Frank Baker

 

 

Name:

Frank Baker

 

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, ACTING THROUGH ITS CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jay Chall

/s/ Bill O'Daly

 

 

Name:

JAY CHALL

BILL O'DALY

 

 

Title:

DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December   , 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

UBS Loan Finance LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Wilfred V. Saint

 

 

Name:

Wilfred V. Saint

 

 

 

Title:

Associate Director

 

 

 

Banking Products Services, US

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Janice L. Randolph

 

 

Name:

Janice L. Randolph

 

 

Title:

Associate Director

 

 

Banking Products Services, US

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

U.S. Bank, N.A.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian H. Gallagher

 

 

Name:

Brian H. Gallagher

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 4, 2003, among WILLIS NORTH AMERICA INC., WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED, the LENDERS from time to time party thereto and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED, as Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institution:

Wachovia Bank National Association

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Greg Wilcox

 

 

Name:

Greg Wilcox

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 



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Exhibit 12


COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 
    
   Years ended December 31,
  
(millions except ratios)
   Nine months ended
September30, 2003
  
  2002
   2001
   2000
   1999
   1998
  
Income before income taxes, equity in net income of associates and minority interest   $ 388   $ 354   $ 79   $ 65   $ (104 ) $ (44 )
Add back fixed charges:                                      
  Total fixed charges     55     86     101     109     108     46  
Dividends from associates     4     3     4     5     4     4  
Minority interest     (6 )   (18 )   (11 )   (3 )   (8 )   (6 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Income as adjusted   $ 441   $ 425   $ 173   $ 176   $ —   $ —  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fixed charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Interest expense   $ 40   $ 65   $ 82   $ 89   $ 89   $ 30  
  Portion of rents representative of interest factor     15     21     19     20     19     16  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total fixed charges   $ 55   $ 86   $ 101   $ 109   $ 108   $ 46  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges     8.0     4.9     1.7     1.6     —     —  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 


COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENS

 
    
   Years ended December 31,
  
(millions except ratios)
   Nine months ended
September30, 2003
  
  2002
   2001
   2000
   1999
   1998
  
Income before income taxes, equity in net income of associates and minority interest   $ 388   $ 354   $ 79   $ 65   $ (104 ) $ (44 )
Add back fixed charges:                                      
  Total fixed charges     55     86     101     109     108     46  
Dividends from associates     4     3     4     5     4     4  
Minority interest     (6 )   (18 )   (11 )   (3 )   (8 )   (6 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Income as adjusted   $ 441   $ 425   $ 173   $ 176   $ —   $ —  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fixed charges and preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Interest expense   $ 40   $ 65   $ 82   $ 89   $ 89   $ 30  
  Portion of rents representative of interest factor     15     21     19     20     19     16  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total fixed charges   $ 55   $ 86   $ 101   $ 109   $ 108   $ 46  
  Preferred stock dividends     —     —     19     35     35     11  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends   $ 55   $ 86   $ 120   $ 144   $ 143   $ 57  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends     8.0     4.9     1.4     1.2     —     —  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 


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COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENS

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Exhibit 23.3


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Willis Group Holdings Limited on Form S-3, which Registration Statement also constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-104439), of our report dated February 5, 2003, except for Notes 20 and 21, as to which the date is April 16, 2003 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company's adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets"), appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 2003 of Willis Group Holdings Limited and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

London, England
January 30, 2004



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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

 

EXHIBIT 24.3

 

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

 

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Joseph J Plumeri whose signature appears below hereby constitute and appoint William P Bowden Jr., Mary E Caiazzo and Michael Chitty and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, in connection with any registration statement, proxy statement, report or other document required to be filed with or delivered to the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory organization, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange on behalf of Willis Group Holdings Limited or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including to sign and file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as director or officer of Willis Group Holdings Limited or any such subsidiary or affiliate any such document and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and things requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed

/s/ Joseph J Plumeri

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

21 February 2003