0001104659-12-036437.txt : 20120511 0001104659-12-036437.hdr.sgml : 20120511 20120511153716 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-12-036437 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 6-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20120511 FILED AS OF DATE: 20120511 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20120511 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DIAGEO PLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000835403 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: BEVERAGES [2080] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: X0 FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 6-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10691 FILM NUMBER: 12834372 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: LAKESIDE DRIVE STREET 2: PARK ROYAL CITY: LONDON STATE: X0 ZIP: NW10 7HQ BUSINESS PHONE: 442089786000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: LAKESIDE DRIVE STREET 2: PARK ROYAL CITY: LONDON STATE: X0 ZIP: NW10 7HQ FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GRAND METROPOLITAN PUBLIC LIMITED CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19971218 6-K 1 a12-11189_76k.htm 6-K

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

May 11, 2012

 

Commission File Number:  001-10691

 

DIAGEO plc

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London NW10 7HQ

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

 

Form 20-F x

 

Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  o

 

THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE FILED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3 (FILE NO. 333-179426) AND TO BE A PART THEREOF FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REPORT IS FURNISHED, TO THE EXTENT NOT SUPERSEDED BY DOCUMENTS OR REPORTS SUBSEQUENTLY FILED OR FURNISHED.

 

 

 



 

Index of Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Officer’s Certificate of Diageo Capital plc and Diageo plc pursuant to Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture, dated as of August 3, 1998, among Diageo Capital plc, Diageo plc and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Officer’s Certificate of Diageo Investment Corporation and Diageo plc pursuant to Sections 102 and 301 of the Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999, among Diageo Investment Corporation, Diageo plc and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of Global Note for the 1.500% Notes due 2017 (included in Exhibit 4.1 hereof).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of Global Note for the 2.875% Notes due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereof).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of Global Note for the 4.250% Notes due 2042 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereof).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to Diageo plc and Diageo Capital plc, as to the validity of the securities.

 

 

 

5.2

 

Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to Diageo plc, Diageo Capital plc and Diageo Investment Corporation, as to the validity of the securities.

 

 

 

5.3

 

Opinion of Morton Fraser LLP, Scottish solicitors to Diageo plc and Diageo Capital plc, as to the validity of the securities.

 

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Diageo plc

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 11, 2012

By:

/s/ David Heginbottom

 

 

Name: David Heginbottom

 

 

Title: Group Treasurer

 

3


EX-4.1 2 a12-11189_7ex4d1.htm OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE OF DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC AND DIAGEO PLC

Exhibit 4.1

 

DIAGEO PLC AND DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC

 

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

 

In connection with the issuance of the 1.500% Notes due 2017 (the “Securities”) by Diageo Capital plc (the “Issuer”) pursuant to the Indenture dated as of August 3, 1998 (the “Indenture”) among the Issuer, Diageo plc (the “Guarantor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Citibank, N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of October 16, 2007 among the Guarantor, the Issuer, Diageo Capital plc, Diageo Finance B.V., Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York) as trustee (section references herein being to the Indenture), and pursuant to the authorizations of (i) the Board of Directors of the Guarantor by Board Resolutions adopted on August 24, 2011 and May 3, 2012, (ii) an authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor by Board Resolutions adopted on September 6, 2011 and (iii) the Board of Directors of the Issuer by Board Resolutions adopted on May 4, 2012, each of the undersigned hereby confirms that the following terms and conditions of the Securities were established in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture:

 

Title of Securities:

 

1.500% Notes due 2017

 

 

 

Issue Price:

 

99.560%

 

 

 

Issue Date:

 

May 11, 2012

 

 

 

Principal Amount of Guaranteed Notes:

 

$1,000,000,000

 

 

 

Form of Securities:

 

The Securities will be issued in the form of global notes that will be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”) on the closing date. The global note will be issued to Cede & Co. as nominee for DTC, and will be executed, authenticated and delivered in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. In certain circumstances described in the Indenture, Securities may be issued in definitive form.

 

 

 

Maturity:

 

May 11, 2017

 

 

 

Interest Rate:

 

1.500% per annum accruing from May 11, 2012

 



 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

On May 11 and November 11 of each year, beginning on November 11, 2012

 

provided that if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next Business Day. “Business Day” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A

 

 

 

Regular Record Dates:

 

April 27 and October 27 of each year

 

 

 

Place of Payment, Paying Agent, Registration of Transfer and Exchange:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon
101 Barclay Street

New York, NY 10286
United States
Attn: Corporate Trust Administration

 

 

 

Notices and Demands to Issuer:

 

Diageo Capital plc
Edinburgh Park
5 Lochside Way
Edinburgh, EH12 9DT
Scotland
Attn: Secretary

 

 

 

Notices and Demands to Guarantor:

 

Diageo plc
Lakeside Drive, Park Royal
London NW10 7HQ
United Kingdom
Attn: Company Secretary

 

or

 

Diageo North America, Inc.
801 Main Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
United States

 

 

 

Tax Redemption Provisions:

 

Optional, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Issuer or the Guarantor, at any time in accordance with Section 1108 of the Indenture, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement

 



 

Optional Make-Whole Redemption Provisions:

 

Optional, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities plus accrued interest to the date of redemption and (2) as determined by the quotation agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Securities (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the adjusted treasury rate, plus 15 basis points, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption

 

 

 

Defeasance and Discharge of Securities (Section 403):

 

Applicable

 

 

 

Additional Amounts:

 

Pursuant to Section 1004 of the Indenture, the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor to pay additional amounts thereunder shall be subject to the additional exceptions specified in the form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A

 

 

 

Other Term of the Securities:

 

The other terms of the Securities shall be substantially as set forth in the Indenture, the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Prospectus dated February 8, 2012 (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Securities and the Prospectus Supplement dated May 8, 2012 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the Prospectus.

 

In connection with the aforementioned issuance, the undersigned hereby certifies to the best of his or her knowledge that:

 

1.               He or she has read the provisions of the Indenture setting forth covenants and conditions to the Trustee’s authentication and delivery of the

 



 

Securities and the Guarantees endorsed thereon by the Guarantor, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.

 

2.               He or she has examined the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, adopted prior to the date hereof relating to the authorization, issuance, authentication and delivery of the Securities and the Guarantees, such other corporate records of the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such other documents deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.

 

3.               In his or her opinion, such examination is sufficient to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether the covenants and conditions referred to above have been complied with.

 

4.               He or she is of the opinion that the covenants and conditions referred to above have been complied with.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto signed his name.

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John Nicholls

 

Name:

John Nicholls

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIAGEO PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heginbottom

 

Name:

David Heginbottom

 

Title:

Authorised Signatory for and on Behalf of Diageo plc

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL REGISTERED SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

IN RELATION TO EACH MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A “RELEVANT MEMBER STATE”) WITH EFFECT FROM AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IS IMPLEMENTED IN THAT MEMBER STATE (THE “RELEVANT IMPLEMENTATION DATE”) THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT RELEVANT MEMBER STATE, OTHER THAN:

 

(A)                              TO ANY LEGAL ENTITY WHICH IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE;

 

(B)                                TO FEWER THAN 100 OR, IF THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE HAS IMPLEMENTED THE RELEVANT PROVISION OF THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE, 150, NATURAL OR LEGAL PERSONS (OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE), AS PERMITTED UNDER THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE, SUBJECT TO OBTAINING THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS; OR

 

(C)                                IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 3(2) OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE,

 

PROVIDED THAT NO SUCH OFFER OF SECURITIES SHALL REQUIRE DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC OR ANY UNDERWRITER TO PUBLISH A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE OR SUPPLEMENT A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 16 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE.

 

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION, THE EXPRESSION AN “OFFER OF THE SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC” IN RELATION TO ANY SECURITIES IN ANY RELEVANT MEMBER STATE MEANS THE COMMUNICATION IN ANY FORM AND BY ANY MEANS OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THE SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED SO AS TO ENABLE AN INVESTOR TO DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE THE SECURITIES, AS THE SAME MAY BE VARIED IN THAT MEMBER STATE BY ANY MEASURE IMPLEMENTING THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IN THAT MEMBER STATE, THE EXPRESSION “PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, INCLUDING THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE) AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN EACH RELEVANT MEMBER STATE AND THE EXPRESSION “2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU.

 



 

DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC

 

1.500% NOTES DUE 2017

 

PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY,

AND INTEREST FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY

DIAGEO PLC

 

$[    ]

 

No. [    ]

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 25243Y AR0

 

 

 

 

ISIN No. US25243YAR09

 

DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Scotland (herein called the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede& Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars on May 11, 2017 and to pay interest thereon from May 11, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 11 and November 11 in each year, commencing November 11, 2012, at the rate of 1.500% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be April 27 or October 27 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 



 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in New York City, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, as defined herein.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed manually or in facsimile.

 

Dated:             May 11, 2012

 

 

DIAGEO CAPITAL PLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Dated:             May 11, 2012

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to Global Note

 



 

(REVERSE)

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of August 3, 1998 (herein called the “Indenture” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Issuer, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein), and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Citibank, N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of October 16, 2007 among the Guarantor, the Issuer, Diageo Investment Corporation, Diageo Finance B.V., Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York) as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any other successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount and (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points, with one basis point being 0.01%, in each case, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

 

The definitions of certain terms used in the paragraph above are set forth below.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury note or bond as displayed by Bloomberg LP (or any successor service) on screens PX1 through PX8 (or any other screens as may replace such screens on such service) that has a remaining term comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 

5



 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means any primary U.S. government securities dealer in or their affiliates and their respective successors in the United States selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by five Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer or the Guarantor, in whole but not in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if (a) as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder of the jurisdiction (or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Issuer or the Guarantor is incorporated (or in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, of the jurisdiction in which such successor Person is organized or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such jurisdiction or such political subdivision or taxing authority (or such other jurisdiction or political subdivision or taxing authority) is a party, which change, execution or amendment becomes effective on or after May 8, 2012 (or, in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, the date on which such successor Person became such pursuant to the applicable provision of the Indenture) or (b) as a result of any delivery or of any requirement to deliver definitive Registered Securities (having used all reasonable efforts to avoid having to issue such definitive Registered Securities), (i) the Issuer or the Guarantor (or such successor Person) is or would be required to pay additional amounts with respect to the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively, on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date as set forth below or in the Guarantee endorsed hereon or (ii) the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor is or would be required to deduct or withhold tax on any payment to the Issuer to enable the Issuer to make any payment of principal or interest in respect of the Securities and, in each case, the payment of such additional amounts in the case of (i) above or such deduction or withholding in the case of (ii) above cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Subsidiary.

 

The Securities may also be redeemed in whole but not in part upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if the Person formed by a consolidation of the Issuer or the Guarantor or into which the Issuer or the Guarantor is merged or to which the Issuer or the Guarantor conveys, transfers or leases its properties and assets substantially as an entirety is required to pay a Holder additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on any such Holder or required to be withheld or deducted from any payment to such Holder as a consequence of such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease.

 

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, all as provided in the Indenture.

 

6



 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

 

If an Interest Payment Date would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue during the period from and after such Interest Payment Date.  If the Stated Maturity (or any redemption or repayment date) would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Stated Maturity or redemption or repayment date. “Business Day”, as used herein, means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York or the City of London.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness on this Security upon compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain conditions set forth thereon, which provisions apply to this Security.

 

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

 

If any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Issuer is incorporated shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Issuer under the Securities, the Issuer will pay to the Holder of this Security, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (i) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (ii) for or on account of:

 

(1)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days

 

7



 

after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

(2)                        any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(3)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, or any interest on, the Securities;

 

(4)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of this Security with a request of the Issuer addressed to the Holder (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(5)                        any withholding or deduction imposed on a payment to an individual which is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26—27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive;

 

(6)                        any withholding or deduction required to be made with respect to a Security presented for payment by or on behalf of a Holder of such Security who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Security to another Paying Agent; or

 

(7)                        any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) above;

 

nor shall additional amounts be paid (i) with respect to any payment in respect of any Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the Holder of such Security or (ii) in the event that the obligation to pay additional amounts is the result of the issuance of definitive Registered Securities to a Holder of a Predecessor Security at such Holder’s request upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at the time payment is made definitive Registered Securities have not been issued in exchange for the entire principal amount of the Predecessor Securities.  The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Issuer is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

8



 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series to waive compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Security of this series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, the Guarantee endorsed hereon, this Security or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal of the Outstanding Securities of this series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

9



 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

10



 

GUARANTEE

 

For value received, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, having its registered office at Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London NW10 7HQ, England (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee on behalf of each such Holder the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund or analogous payments referred to therein, if any, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein.  In case of the failure of Diageo Capital plc (the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under such Indenture), punctually to make any such payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or any sinking fund or analogous payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Issuer.

 

The Guarantor hereby further agrees, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, that if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, then the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of a Security such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to the Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment, or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (i) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (ii) for or on account of:

 

(1)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days

 

11



 

after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

(2)                        any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(3)                        any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities;

 

(4)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of a Security with a request of the Issuer or the Guarantor addressed to the Holder (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(5)                        any withholding or deduction imposed on a payment to an individual which is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26—27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive;

 

(6)                        any withholding or deduction required to be made with respect to a Security presented for payment by or on behalf of a Holder of such Security who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Security to another Paying Agent; or

 

(7)                        any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) above;

 

nor shall additional interest be paid (i) with respect to any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional interest had it been the Holder of the Security or (ii) in the event that the obligation to pay additional amounts is the result of the issuance of definitive Registered Securities to a Holder of a Predecessor Security at such Holder’s request upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at the time payment is made definitive Registered Securities have not been issued in exchange for the entire principal amount of the Predecessor Securities.  The foregoing provision

 

12



 

shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges or whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute, full and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Issuer with respect thereto, by the Holder of such Security or the Trustee or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 of such Indenture.  The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any sinking fund or analogous payment required under such Security and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of such Security and the Trustee against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities of the same series issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in full.

 

No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and any sinking fund or analogous payments with respect to, the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed.

 

This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication of such Security shall have been manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.

 

All terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in such Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.

 

The Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

13



 

Executed and dated the date on the face hereof.

 

 

DIAGEO PLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Signature Page to Guarantee

 


EX-4.2 3 a12-11189_7ex4d2.htm OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE OF DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND DIAGEO PLC

Exhibit 4.2

 

DIAGEO PLC AND DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

 

In connection with the issuance of the 2.875% Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) and the 4.250% Notes due 2042 (the “2042 Notes” and, together with the 2022 Notes, the “Securities”) by Diageo Investment Corporation (the “Issuer”) pursuant to the Indenture dated as of June 1, 1999 (the “Indenture”) among the Issuer, Diageo plc (the “Guarantor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Citibank, N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of October 16, 2007 among the Guarantor, the Issuer, Diageo Capital plc, Diageo Finance B.V., Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York) as trustee (section references herein being to the Indenture), and pursuant to the authorizations of (i) the Board of Directors of the Guarantor by Resolutions adopted on August 24, 2011 and May 3, 2012, (ii) an authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor by Board Resolutions adopted on September 6, 2011 and (iii) the Board of Directors of the Issuer by Board Resolutions adopted on August 29, 2011, each of the undersigned hereby confirms that the following terms and conditions of the Securities were established in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture:

 

Title of Securities:

 

2.875% Notes due 2022

4.250% Notes due 2042

 

 

 

Issue Price:

 

99.638% for the 2022 Notes

99.395% for the 2042 Notes

 

 

 

Issue Date:

 

May 11, 2012 for the Securities

 

 

 

Principal Amount of Guaranteed Notes:

 

$1,000,000,000 for the 2022 Notes

$500,000,000 for the 2042 Notes

 

 

 

Form of Securities:

 

The Securities will be issued in the form of one or more global notes that will be deposited with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”) on the closing date. The global note will be issued to Cede & Co. as nominee for DTC, and will be executed, authenticated and delivered in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. In certain circumstances described in the Indenture, Securities may be issued in definitive form.

 



 

Maturity:

 

May 11, 2022 for the 2022 Notes

May 11, 2042 for the 2042 Notes

 

 

 

Interest Rate:

 

2.875% per annum accruing from May 11, 2012 for the 2022 Notes

 

4.250% per annum accruing from May 11, 2012 for the 2042 Notes

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

On May 11 and November 11 of each year, beginning on November 11, 2012 for the Securities

 

provided that if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next Business Day. “Business Day” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A

 

 

 

Regular Record Dates:

 

April 27 and October 27 of each year

 

 

 

Place of Payment, Paying Agent, Registration of Transfer and Exchange:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon
101 Barclay Street
New York, NY 10286
United States
Attn: Corporate Trust Administration

 

 

 

Notices and Demands to Issuer:

 

Diageo Investment Corporation
6 Landmark Square
Stamford, CT 06901-2704
United States
Attn: Secretary

 



 

Notices and Demands to Guarantor:

 

Diageo plc
Lakeside Drive, Park Royal
London NW10 7HQ
United Kingdom
Attn: Company Secretary

 

or

 

Diageo North America, Inc.
801 Main Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06851
United States

 

 

 

Tax Redemption Provisions:

 

Optional, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Issuer or the Guarantor, at any time in accordance with Section 1108 of the Indenture, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement

 

 

 

Optional Make-Whole Redemption Provisions:

 

Optional, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities plus accrued interest to the date of redemption and (2) as determined by the quotation agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Securities (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the adjusted treasury rate, plus 20 basis points, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption

 

 

 

Defeasance and Discharge of Securities (Section 403):

 

Applicable

 



 

Additional Amounts:

 

Pursuant to Section 1004 of the Indenture, the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor to pay additional amounts thereunder shall be subject to the additional exceptions specified in the form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A

 

 

 

Other Term of the Securities:

 

The other terms of the Securities shall be substantially as set forth in the Indenture, the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Prospectus dated February 8, 2012 (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Securities and the Prospectus Supplement dated May 8, 2012 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the Prospectus.

 

In connection with the aforementioned issuance, the undersigned hereby certifies to the best of his or her knowledge that:

 

1.               He or she has read the provisions of the Indenture setting forth covenants and conditions to the Trustee’s authentication and delivery of the Securities and the Guarantees endorsed thereon by the Guarantor, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto.

 

2.               He or she has examined the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, adopted prior to the date hereof relating to the authorization, issuance, authentication and delivery of the Securities and the Guarantees, such other corporate records of the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such other documents deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.

 

3.               In his or her opinion, such examination is sufficient to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether the covenants and conditions referred to above have been complied with.

 

4.               He or she is of the opinion that the covenants and conditions referred to above have been complied with.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto signed his name.

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gabriel Bisio

 

Name:

Gabriel Bisio

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIAGEO PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Heginbottom

 

Name:

David Heginbottom

 

Title:

Authorised Signatory for and on Behalf of Diageo plc

 

 

 

 

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Cherise Chamberlain

 

Name:

Cherise Chamberlain

 

Title:

Secretary

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL REGISTERED SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

IN RELATION TO EACH MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A “RELEVANT MEMBER STATE”) WITH EFFECT FROM AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IS IMPLEMENTED IN THAT MEMBER STATE (THE “RELEVANT IMPLEMENTATION DATE”) THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT RELEVANT MEMBER STATE, OTHER THAN:

 

(A)          TO ANY LEGAL ENTITY WHICH IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE;

 

(B)          TO FEWER THAN 100 OR, IF THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE HAS IMPLEMENTED THE RELEVANT PROVISION OF THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE, 150, NATURAL OR LEGAL PERSONS (OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE), AS PERMITTED UNDER THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE, SUBJECT TO OBTAINING THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS; OR

 

(C)          IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 3(2) OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE,

 

PROVIDED THAT NO SUCH OFFER OF SECURITIES SHALL REQUIRE DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION OR ANY UNDERWRITER TO PUBLISH A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE OR SUPPLEMENT A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 16 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE.

 

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION, THE EXPRESSION AN “OFFER OF THE SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC” IN RELATION TO ANY SECURITIES IN ANY RELEVANT MEMBER STATE MEANS THE COMMUNICATION IN ANY FORM AND BY ANY MEANS OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THE SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED SO AS TO ENABLE AN INVESTOR TO DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE THE SECURITIES, AS THE SAME MAY BE VARIED IN THAT MEMBER STATE BY ANY MEASURE IMPLEMENTING THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IN THAT MEMBER STATE, THE EXPRESSION “PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, INCLUDING THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE) AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN EACH RELEVANT MEMBER STATE AND THE EXPRESSION “2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU.

 



 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

2.875% NOTES DUE 2022

 

PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY,

AND INTEREST FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY

DIAGEO PLC

 

No. [    ]

$[    ]

 

CUSIP No. 25245B AB3

ISIN No. US25245BAB36

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars on May 11, 2022 and to pay interest thereon from May 11, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 11 and November 11 in each year, commencing November 11, 2012, at the rate of 2.875% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be April 27 or October 27 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in New York City, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

All terms used in this Security, which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, as defined herein.

 



 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed manually or in facsimile.

 

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

 

 

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Attested:

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Signature Page to Global Note

 



 

(REVERSE)

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999 (herein called the “Indenture” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Issuer, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein), and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Citibank, N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of October 16, 2007 among the Guarantor, the Issuer, Diageo Capital plc, Diageo Finance B.V., Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any other successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount and (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, with one basis point being 0.01%, in each case, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

 

The definitions of certain terms used in the paragraph above are set forth below.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury note or bond as displayed by Bloomberg LP (or any successor service) on screens PX1 through PX8 (or any other screens as may replace such screens on such service) that has a remaining term comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 



 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means any primary U.S. government securities dealer in or their affiliates and their respective successors in the United States selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by five Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer or the Guarantor, in whole but not in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder of the jurisdiction (or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Issuer or the Guarantor is incorporated (or in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, of the jurisdiction in which such successor Person is organized or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such jurisdiction or such political subdivision or taxing authority (or such other jurisdiction or political subdivision or taxing authority) is a party, which change, execution or amendment becomes effective on or after May 8, 2012 (or, in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, the date on which such successor Person became such pursuant to the applicable provision of the Indenture), (i) the Issuer or the Guarantor (or such successor Person) is or would be required to pay additional amounts with respect to the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively, on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date as set forth below or in the Guarantee endorsed hereon or (ii) the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor is or would be required to deduct or withhold tax on any payment to the Issuer to enable the Issuer to make any payment of principal or interest in respect of the Securities and, in each case, the payment of such additional amounts in the case of (i) above or such deduction or withholding in the case of (ii) above cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Subsidiary.

 

The Securities may also be redeemed in whole but not in part upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if the Person into which the Guarantor is merged or to which the Guarantor conveys, transfers or leases its properties and assets substantially as an entirety has been or would be required to pay a Holder additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on any such Holder or required to be withheld or deducted from any payment to such Holder as a consequence of such merger, conveyance, transfer or lease.

 

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, all as provided in the Indenture.

 



 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

 

If an Interest Payment Date would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue during the period from and after such Interest Payment Date. If the Stated Maturity (or any redemption or repayment date) would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Stated Maturity or redemption or repayment date. “‘Business Day”, as used herein, means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York or the City of London.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, which provisions apply to this Security.

 

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

 

The Issuer will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay to the Holder of this Security who is a United States Alien (as defined below) such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary so that every net payment on this Security, after deduction or other withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge of whatever nature imposed upon or as a result of such payment by the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), will not be less than the amount provided in this Security to be then due and payable.  However, the Issuer will not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:  (a)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been so imposed but for the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or a person holding a power over, (i) such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member, shareholder or person holding a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident thereof, or being or having been engaged in a trade or business or present therein, or having or having had a permanent establishment therein, (ii) the presentation by the Holder of any Instrument or any Receipt or any Coupon for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof was duly provided for, whichever occurred later, or (iii) such Holders present or former status as a personal holding company, a foreign personal holding company or a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax exempt organization or a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid United States Federal income tax;  (b)  any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, wealth, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;  (c)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment on a Security;  (d)  any tax,

 



 

assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any Paying Agent from any payment on this Security if such payment can be made without such withholding by any other Paying agent;  (e)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for a failure to comply with any applicable certification, information, identification, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or beneficial owner of a Security if, without regard to any tax treaties, such compliance is required as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;  (f)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed as a result of the receipt of interest by a person described in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto);  (g)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on any payment on this Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent a beneficiary or settler with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such partnership or the beneficial owner would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settler, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of this Security;  (h)  any combination of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, for purposes of this Security:  (a)  United States person” means (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantive decisions of the trust; and (b)  United States Alien” means any person who is not a United States person.   The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Security of this series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, the Guarantee endorsed hereon, this Security or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the

 



 

Outstanding Securities of this series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal of the Outstanding Securities of this series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for the purposes specified in the Indenture, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


 


 

GUARANTEE

 

For value received, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, having its registered office at Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London NW10 7HQ, England (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee, on behalf of each such Holder the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund or analogous payments referred to therein, if any, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein.  In case of the failure of Diageo Investment Corporation (the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under such Indenture), punctually to make any such payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or any sinking fund or analogous payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Issuer.

 

The Guarantor hereby further agrees, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, that if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, then the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of a Security such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to the Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment, or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (i) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (ii) for or on account of:

 

(1)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

(2)                          any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 



 

(3)                          any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities;

 

(4)                          any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of a Security with a request of the Issuer or the Guarantor addressed to the Holder (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(5)                        any withholding or deduction imposed on a payment to an individual which is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26-27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive;

 

(6)                        any withholding or deduction required to be made with respect to a Security presented for payment by or on behalf of a Holder of such Security who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Security to another Paying Agent; or;

 

(7)                        any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) above.

 

nor shall additional interest be paid (i) with respect to any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional interest had it been the Holder of the Security or (ii) in the event that the obligation to pay additional amounts is the result of the issuance of definitive Registered Securities to a Holder of a Predecessor Security at such Holder’s request upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at the time payment is made definitive Registered Securities have not been issued in exchange for the entire principal amount of the Predecessor Securities. The foregoing provision shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges or whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute, full and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Issuer with respect thereto, by the Holder of

 



 

such Security or the Trustee or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 of such Indenture.  The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any sinking fund or analogous payment required under such Security and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of such Security and the Trustee against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities of the same series issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in full.

 

No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and any sinking fund or analogous payments with respect to, the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed.

 

This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication of such Security shall have been manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.

 

All terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in such Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.

 

The Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 



 

Executed and dated the date on the face hereof.

 

 

 

DIAGEO PLC

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Signature Page to Guarantee

 


 


 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL REGISTERED SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

IN RELATION TO EACH MEMBER STATE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A “RELEVANT MEMBER STATE”) WITH EFFECT FROM AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IS IMPLEMENTED IN THAT MEMBER STATE (THE “RELEVANT IMPLEMENTATION DATE”) THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT RELEVANT MEMBER STATE, OTHER THAN:

 

(A)          TO ANY LEGAL ENTITY WHICH IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE;

 

(B)           TO FEWER THAN 100 OR, IF THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE HAS IMPLEMENTED THE RELEVANT PROVISION OF THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE, 150, NATURAL OR LEGAL PERSONS (OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS AS DEFINED IN THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE), AS PERMITTED UNDER THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE, SUBJECT TO OBTAINING THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS; OR

 

(C)           IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 3(2) OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE,

 

PROVIDED THAT NO SUCH OFFER OF SECURITIES SHALL REQUIRE DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION OR ANY UNDERWRITER TO PUBLISH A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE OR SUPPLEMENT A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 16 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE.

 

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION, THE EXPRESSION AN “OFFER OF THE SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC” IN RELATION TO ANY SECURITIES IN ANY RELEVANT MEMBER STATE MEANS THE COMMUNICATION IN ANY FORM AND BY ANY MEANS OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TERMS OF THE OFFER AND THE SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED SO AS TO ENABLE AN INVESTOR TO DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE THE SECURITIES, AS THE SAME MAY BE VARIED IN THAT MEMBER STATE BY ANY MEASURE IMPLEMENTING THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE IN THAT MEMBER STATE, THE EXPRESSION “PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, INCLUDING THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE) AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN EACH RELEVANT MEMBER STATE AND THE EXPRESSION “2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE” MEANS DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU.

 



 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

4.250% NOTES DUE 2042

 

PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY,

AND INTEREST FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY

DIAGEO PLC

 

No. [   ]

 

$[   ]

 

CUSIP No. 25245B AA5

ISIN No. US25245BAA52

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars on May 11, 2042 and to pay interest thereon from May 11, 2012 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 11 and November 11 in each year, commencing November 11, 2012, at the rate of 4.250% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be April 27 or October 27 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in New York City, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

All terms used in this Security, which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, as defined herein.

 



 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed manually or in facsimile.

 

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

 

 

DIAGEO INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

Attested:

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Dated: May 11, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

 

 

As Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Global Note

 



 

(REVERSE)

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999 (herein called the “Indenture” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), among the Issuer, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein), and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Citibank, N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation, Appointment and Acceptance dated as of October 16, 2007 among the Guarantor, the Issuer, Diageo Capital plc, Diageo Finance B.V., Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any other successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount and (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, with one basis point being 0.01%, in each case, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

 

The definitions of certain terms used in the paragraph above are set forth below.

 

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury note or bond as displayed by Bloomberg LP (or any successor service) on screens PX1 through PX8 (or any other screens as may replace such screens on such service) that has a remaining term comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

 

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 



 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means any primary U.S. government securities dealer in or their affiliates and their respective successors in the United States selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Issuer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by five Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

The Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer or the Guarantor, in whole but not in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder of the jurisdiction (or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Issuer or the Guarantor is incorporated (or in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, of the jurisdiction in which such successor Person is organized or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application or interpretation of, or any execution of or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which such jurisdiction or such political subdivision or taxing authority (or such other jurisdiction or political subdivision or taxing authority) is a party, which change, execution or amendment becomes effective on or after May 8, 2012 (or, in the case of a successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor, the date on which such successor Person became such pursuant to the applicable provision of the Indenture), (i) the Issuer or the Guarantor (or such successor Person) is or would be required to pay additional amounts with respect to the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively, on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date as set forth below or in the Guarantee endorsed hereon or (ii) the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor is or would be required to deduct or withhold tax on any payment to the Issuer to enable the Issuer to make any payment of principal or interest in respect of the Securities and, in each case, the payment of such additional amounts in the case of (i) above or such deduction or withholding in the case of (ii) above cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Subsidiary.

 

The Securities may also be redeemed in whole but not in part upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption if the Person into which the Guarantor is merged or to which the Guarantor conveys, transfers or leases its properties and assets substantially as an entirety has been or would be required to pay a Holder additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on any such Holder or required to be withheld or deducted from any payment to such Holder as a consequence of such merger, conveyance, transfer or lease.

 

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, all as provided in the Indenture.

 



 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

 

If an Interest Payment Date would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue during the period from and after such Interest Payment Date. If the Stated Maturity (or any redemption or repayment date) would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Stated Maturity or redemption or repayment date. “‘Business Day”, as used herein, means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York or the City of London.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, which provisions apply to this Security.

 

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

 

The Issuer will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay to the Holder of this Security who is a United States Alien (as defined below) such additional amounts (AAdditional Amounts@) as may be necessary so that every net payment on this Security, after deduction or other withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge of whatever nature imposed upon or as a result of such payment by the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), will not be less than the amount provided in this Security to be then due and payable.  However, the Issuer will not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:  (a)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been so imposed but for the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or a person holding a power over, (i) such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settler, beneficiary, member, shareholder or person holding a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident thereof, or being or having been engaged in a trade or business or present therein, or having or having had a permanent establishment therein, (ii) the presentation by the Holder of any Instrument or any Receipt or any Coupon for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof was duly provided for, whichever occurred later, or (iii) such Holder=s present or former status as a personal holding company, a foreign personal holding company or a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax exempt organization or a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid United States Federal income tax;  (b)  any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, wealth, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;  (c)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from a payment on a Security;  (d)  any tax,

 



 

assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any Paying Agent from any payment on this Security if such payment can be made without such withholding by any other Paying agent;  (e)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for a failure to comply with any applicable certification, information, identification, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or beneficial owner of a Security if, without regard to any tax treaties, such compliance is required as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;  (f)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed as a result of the receipt of interest by a person described in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto);  (g)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on any payment on this Security to a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent a beneficiary or settler with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such partnership or the beneficial owner would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settler, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of this Security;  (h)  any combination of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, for purposes of this Security:  (a)  United States person” means (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantive decisions of the trust; and  (b)  United States Alien” means any person who is not a United States person.   The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Issuer or the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Issuer or the Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Security of this series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, the Guarantee endorsed hereon, this Security or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the

 



 

Outstanding Securities of this series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal of the Outstanding Securities of this series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for the purposes specified in the Indenture, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 



 

GUARANTEE

 

For value received, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, having its registered office at Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London NW10 7HQ, England (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee, on behalf of each such Holder the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund or analogous payments referred to therein, if any, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein.  In case of the failure of Diageo Investment Corporation (the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under such Indenture), punctually to make any such payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest or any sinking fund or analogous payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Issuer.

 

The Guarantor hereby further agrees, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, that if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, then the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of a Security such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to the Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment, or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (i) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (ii) for or on account of:

 

(1)                        any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

(2)                          any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 



 

(3)                          any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities;

 

(4)                          any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of a Security with a request of the Issuer or the Guarantor addressed to the Holder (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirement, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(5)                        any withholding or deduction imposed on a payment to an individual which is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26-27, 2000 on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive;

 

(6)                        any withholding or deduction required to be made with respect to a Security presented for payment by or on behalf of a Holder of such Security who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Security to another Paying Agent; or;

 

(7)                        any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) above.

 

nor shall additional interest be paid (i) with respect to any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional interest had it been the Holder of the Security or (ii) in the event that the obligation to pay additional amounts is the result of the issuance of definitive Registered Securities to a Holder of a Predecessor Security at such Holder’s request upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at the time payment is made definitive Registered Securities have not been issued in exchange for the entire principal amount of the Predecessor Securities. The foregoing provision shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges or whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute, full and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Issuer with respect thereto, by the Holder of

 



 

such Security or the Trustee or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or alter the Stated Maturity thereof, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 of such Indenture.  The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any sinking fund or analogous payment required under such Security and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of such Security and the Trustee against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities of the same series issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in full.

 

No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and any sinking fund or analogous payments with respect to, the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed.

 

This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication of such Security shall have been manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.

 

All terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in such Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.

 

The Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 



 

Executed and dated the date on the face hereof.

 

 

 

 

DIAGEO PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Guarantee

 


EX-5.1 4 a12-11189_7ex5d1.htm OPINION OF SLAUGHTER AND MAY

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

11 May 2012

 

 

Diageo Capital plc

Your reference

Edinburgh Park

 

5 Lochside Way

Our reference

Edinburgh EH12 9DT

SRBP/JJV

United Kingdom

 

 

Direct line

and

020 7090 4749

 

 

Diageo Investment Corporation

 

801 Main Avenue

Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

United States of America

 

and

 

Diageo plc

Lakeside Drive

Park Royal

London NW10 7HQ

United Kingdom

 

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Issue of U.S. $1,000,000,000 1.500% notes due 2017 by Diageo Capital plc (the “Diageo Capital Securities”) and the issue of U.S. $1,000,000,000 2.875% guaranteed notes due 2022 and U.S. $500,000,000 4.250% guaranteed notes due 2042 (the “Diageo Investment Securities” and together with the Diageo Capital Securities, the “Securities”) by Diageo Investment Corporation (together with Diageo Capital plc, the “Issuers”), guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by Diageo plc (the “Guarantor”)

 

We have acted as English legal advisers to the Guarantor in connection with the issue of the Securities and have taken instructions solely from the Guarantor.

 

This opinion is delivered in connection with the prospectus supplement in respect of the Securities of the Issuers and the Guarantor filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or around 8 May 2012 (together with the registration statement filed on Form F-3 on 8 February 2012, the “Registration Statement”).  We have not been concerned with investigating or verifying the facts set out in the Registration Statement.

 

For the purpose of this opinion, we have examined copies or drafts of the following documents:

 



 

1.                                      the indenture dated 3 August 1998 between Diageo Capital plc, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in the interest to Citibank N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation,  Appointment and Acceptance dated 16 October 2007) (the “Diageo Capital Indenture”), including the form of guarantees to be given by the Guarantor (the “Diageo Capital Guarantees”);

 

2.                                      the indenture dated 1 June 1999 between the Diageo Investment Corporation, the Guarantor and the Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in the interest to Citibank N.A. by virtue of the Agreement of Resignation,  Appointment and Acceptance dated 16 October 2007) (the “Diageo Investment Indenture” and together with the Diageo Capital Indenture, the “Indentures”) including the form of guarantees to be given by the Guarantor (the “Diageo Investment Guarantees” and together with the Diageo Capital Guarantees the “Guarantees”);

 

3.                                      a copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 14 December 2000 attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

4.                                      a copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the standing committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 11 November 2003 attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

5.                                      a copy of an extract from the minutes of meetings of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 24 August 2011 and 3 May 2012 attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

6.                                      a copy of an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee of the Guarantor held on 6 September 2011 attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

7.                                      a copy of an extract from the minutes of meetings of the Finance Committee of the board of directors of the Guarantor held on 30 April 2012 and 4 May 2012 attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

8.                                     a copy of the memorandum and articles of association (together with certain resolutions filed at Companies House) of the Guarantor certified as true by the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate referred to in paragraph 9 below;

 

9.                                      the deputy secretary’s certificate dated 11 May 2012 in respect of the Guarantor (the “Deputy Secretary’s Certificate”); and

 

10.                                entries shown on CH Direct print outs obtained by us from the Companies House database at 2.34 p.m. on 10 May 2012 of the file of the Guarantor maintained at Companies House (the “Company Searches”).

 



 

This letter sets out our opinion on certain matters of the law of England and Wales as at today’s date.  We have not made an investigation of, and do not express any opinion on, any other law.  This letter is to be construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

 

For the purposes of this letter we have assumed:

 

(i)                                    the copy (including electronic copy) and draft documents examined by us are complete and accurate as at today’s date and conform to the originals and that the copy of the memorandum and articles of association of the Guarantor examined by us (which is attached to the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate) is complete and up to date and conforms to the original and would, if issued today, comply, as respects the articles of association, with section 36 of the Companies Act 2006;

 

(ii)                                 the Indentures, the Guarantees and the Securities are valid and binding on the parties under the laws of the State of New York (“New York law”) by which the Indentures, the Guarantees and the Securities are expressed to be governed;

 

(iii)                              that the Securities will be duly issued, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indentures;

 

(iv)                             the capacity, power and authority of each of the parties (other than the Guarantor) to execute, deliver and exercise its rights and perform its obligations under the Indentures, the Guarantees and the Securities;

 

(v)                                that no law of any jurisdiction outside England and Wales would render such execution, delivery or issue illegal or ineffective and that, insofar as any obligation under the Indentures, the Guarantees or the Securities is performed in, or is otherwise subject to, any jurisdiction other than England and Wales, its performance will not be illegal or ineffective by virtue of the law of that jurisdiction;

 

(vi)                             that each Security will be in the form set out in Article Two of the Indentures and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Indentures;

 

(vii)                         that the terms and conditions applicable to the Securities will not be inconsistent with the Registration Statement;

 

(viii)                       that (1) the information disclosed by the Company Searches and by our telephone search on 10 May 2012 at 2.14 p.m. at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions in relation to the Guarantor (together the “Searches”) was then complete, up-to-date and accurate and has not since then been altered or added to and (2) the Searches did not fail to disclose any information relevant for the purposes of this opinion;

 

(ix)                               that (i) no proposal for a voluntary arrangement, and no moratorium has been obtained, in relation to the Issuers under Part I of the Insolvency Act 1986, (ii) the Guarantor has not

 



 

given any notice in relation to or passed any winding-up resolution, (iii) no application has been made or petition presented to a court, and no order has been made by a court, for the winding-up or administration of the Guarantor, and no step has been taken to strike off or to dissolve the Guarantor, (iv) no liquidator, administrator, receiver, administrative receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or similar officer has been appointed in relation to the Guarantor or any of its assets or revenues, and no notice has been given or filed in relation to the appointment of such an officer, and (v) no insolvency proceedings or analogous procedures have been commenced in any jurisdiction outside England and Wales in relation to the Guarantor or any of its assets or revenues;

 

(x)                                  that the minutes referred to in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 above are a true record of the proceedings described therein of duly convened, constituted and conducted meetings of the Guarantor’s board of directors (and of the Finance Committee and Standing Committee thereof) acting in the interests and for a proper purpose of the Guarantor and that the relevant meeting was duly held and that the authorisations given and resolutions passed thereat have not subsequently been amended, revoked or superseded and that, in making any subsequent decision, the directors of the Guarantor and any committee or person to whom they have delegated any such decision will act in accordance with their duties as directors;

 

(xi)                               that the Indentures and the Guarantees are entered into by the Guarantor in good faith and in furtherance of its objects under its memorandum and articles;

 

(xii)                            that the Indentures and the Guarantees are in the best interests and to the advantage of the Guarantor and likely to promote the success of the Guarantor;

 

(xiii)                         the accuracy and completeness of the statements made in the Deputy Secretary’s Certificate as at today’s date;

 

(xiv)                        that, for United Kingdom tax purposes, the Guarantor is resident in, and only in, the United Kingdom and that interest and other amounts payable by Diageo Investment Corporation on the Diageo Investment Securities do not and will not have a UK source;

 

(xv)                           that, for United Kingdom tax purposes, Diageo Investment Corporation is resident in the United States, is not, and has never been, resident in the United Kingdom and does not have a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom;

 

(xvi)                        that each of the Securities represents “loan capital” for the purposes of section 79 of the Finance Act 1986 and none of the Securities is or includes interests in, or in dividends or other rights arising out of, or rights to allotments of or to subscribe for, or options to acquire, stocks, shares or loan capital which are paired with shares issued by a body corporate incorporated in the United Kingdom;

 



 

(xvii)                     that the Indentures, the Guarantees and the Securities have the same meaning and effect as if they were governed by English law;

 

(xviii)                  since 3 August 1998, no amendments have been made to the Diageo Capital Indenture which continues in full force and effect as at the date hereof; and

 

(xix)                          since 1 June 1999, no amendments have been made to the Diageo Investment Indenture which continues in full force and effect as at the date hereof

 

Based on and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations mentioned below and to any matters of fact not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.                                    The Guarantor is a public limited company duly incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and is a validly existing company.

 

2.                                    The Indentures have been duly authorised by the Guarantor.  The Indentures have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor.

 

3.                                    On the assumption that the Indentures do create valid and binding obligations of the parties under New York law, English law will not prevent any provisions of the Indentures from being valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor.

 

4.                                    The statements in the Registration Statement in the eighth sentence of the section headed “Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities”, in the last paragraph of the section headed “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees - Payment of Additional Amounts” and in the section headed “United Kingdom Taxation of Debt Securities”, in each case as amended or supplemented by the prospectus supplement, and also the section headed “Taxation” in the prospectus supplement, insofar as they are summaries of United Kingdom tax considerations or refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, in all material respects present fairly the information shown.

 

Our reservations are as follows:

 

I.                                    Undertakings, covenants and indemnities contained in the Indentures or the Guarantees may not be enforceable before an English court insofar as they purport to require payment or reimbursement of (a) the costs of any unsuccessful litigation brought before an English court or (b) any stamp duties.

 

II.                                Insofar as any obligation under the Indentures, the Guarantees or the Securities is to be performed in any jurisdiction other than England and Wales, an English court may have to have regard to the law of that jurisdiction in relation to the manner of performance and the steps to be taken in the event of defective performance.

 



 

III.                            We express no opinion as to whether specific performance, injunctive relief or any other form of equitable remedy would be available in respect of any obligation of the Guarantor under or in respect of the Indentures, the Guarantees or the Securities.

 

IV.                            The obligations of the Guarantor under or in respect of the Indentures, the Guarantees and the Securities will be subject to any law from time to time in force relating to liquidation or administration or any other law or legal procedure affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights.

 

V.                                In our opinion under English law there is doubt as to the enforceability in the United Kingdom, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the United States Federal or State securities laws.

 

VI.                            The Searches are not conclusive as to whether or not insolvency proceedings have been commenced in relation to the Guarantor or any of its assets. For example, information required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies or the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions is not in all cases required to be filed immediately (and may not be filed at all or on time); once filed, the information may not be made publicly available immediately (or at all); information filed with a District Registry or County Court may not, and in the case of administrations will not, become publicly available at the Central Registry; and the Searches may not reveal whether insolvency proceedings or analogous procedures have been commenced in jurisdictions outside England and Wales.

 

This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement.

 

We consent to the references to our name and opinion under the captions “Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities”, “Taxation - United Kingdom Taxation” and “Validity of Securities” in the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required within section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ SLAUGHTER AND MAY

 

 


EX-5.2 5 a12-11189_7ex5d2.htm OPINION OF SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

May 11, 2012

 

Diageo plc,

Lakeside Drive,

Park Royal,

London, NW10 7HQ,

England.

 

Diageo Capital plc,

Edinburgh Park,

5 Lochside Way,

Edinburgh EH12 9DT

Scotland.

 

Diageo Investment Corporation,

801 Main Avenue,

Norwalk, Connecticut 06851,

United States.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) of (1) $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 1.500% Notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”) of Diageo Capital plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Scotland (“Diageo Capital”), fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the guarantees (the “2017 Guarantees”) of Diageo plc (the

 



 

“Guarantor”), and issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of August 3, 1998 (the “Diageo Capital Indenture”), between Diageo Capital and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), on the other hand, (2) $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.875% Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) of Diageo Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Diageo Investment”), and $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.250% Notes due 2042 (the “2042 Notes”, and, together with the 2017 Notes and the 2022 Notes, the “Securities”) of Diageo Investment, each fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the guarantees (together with the 2017 Guarantees, the “Guarantees”) of the Guarantor and issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1999 (the “Diageo Investment Indenture,” and each of the Diageo Capital Indenture and the Diageo Investment Indenture an “Indenture”), between Diageo Investment and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Trustee, on the other hand, and (3) the related Guarantees of the Securities of the Guarantor, we, as your United States counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

 

Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion, (1) assuming the 2017 Notes have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered by Diageo Capital insofar as the laws of Scotland are concerned, the 2017 Notes constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Diageo Capital, (2) the 2022 Notes and the 2042 Notes constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Diageo Investment and

 

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(3) assuming the Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor insofar as the laws of England and Wales are concerned, the Guarantees constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantor, subject, in each case, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.  For purposes of our opinion, we have, with your approval, assumed that (1) Diageo Capital has been duly incorporated and is an existing company under the laws of Scotland, (2) the Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is an existing company under the laws of England and Wales, (3) the Diageo Capital Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Diageo Capital insofar as the laws of Scotland are concerned and by the Guarantor insofar as the laws of England and Wales are concerned and (4) the Diageo Investment Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor insofar as the laws of England and Wales are concerned.  With respect to all matters of Scottish law, we note that you are being provided with the opinion, dated the date hereof, of Morton Fraser, Scottish counsel to Diageo Capital.  With respect to all matters of English law, we note that you are being provided with the

 

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opinion, dated the date hereof, of Slaughter and May, English counsel to Diageo Capital and the Guarantor.

 

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in the Registration Statement or any related prospectus or other offering material regarding Diageo Capital, Diageo Investment, the Guarantor or the Securities, the Guarantees or their offering and sale.

 

Also, we have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of Diageo Capital, Diageo Investment and the Guarantor and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed that each Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Securities conform to the specimens thereof examined by us, that the Trustee’s certificates of authentication of the Securities have been manually signed by one of the Trustee’s authorized officers, and that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, assumptions which we have not independently verified.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement relating to the Securities and the Guarantees under cover of Form 6-K and to the references to us under the heading “Validity of Securities” in the prospectus dated February 8, 2012, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated May 8, 2012.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

 

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EX-5.3 6 a12-11189_7ex5d3.htm OPINION OF MORTON FRASER LLP

Exhibit 5.3

 

11 May 2012

 

PG4/AEB/DI360 X426

 

Diageo plc

Lakeside Drive

Park Royal

London

NW10 7HQ

England

 

and

 

Diageo Capital plc

Edinburgh Park

5 Lochside Way

Edinburgh

EH12 9DT

Scotland

 

Dear Sirs

 

Diageo Capital plc

Up to $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 1.500% notes due 2017 (the “Securities”) guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by Diageo plc

 

We have been requested in our capacity as Scottish solicitors to provide the following opinion in relation to the proposed issuance and sale by Diageo Capital plc, a public limited company incorporated in Scotland (registered number SC040795) and having its registered office at Edinburgh Park, 5 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT, Scotland (the “Company”), of the Securities.

 

The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture (the “Indenture”) among the Company, Diageo plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered number 23307) and having its registered office at Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NEW10 7HQ, England (the “Guarantor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee.

 

The Securities are to be unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the Guarantor.

 

In connection with this opinion, we have examined drafts, identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate including the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) on Form F-3 dated 8 February 2012, covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act 1933 (the “Act”) of the United States of America and a copy of (1) the Indenture and (2) drafts of the form of the Securities.  We have also examined a search prepared by Millar & Bryce, in the Register of Charges and Company File of the Company maintained by the Registrar of Companies in Scotland dated 10 May 2012 and brought down to 8 May 2012, which search discloses no charges relevant to this transaction over any part of the Company’s assets and undertaking, and no notices of liquidation, receivership, appointment of an administrator, winding up or striking off and a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies in Scotland on 9 May 2012.

 

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:-

 



 

1                                         the Company is a public limited company duly incorporated, validly existing and registered under the laws of Scotland and has full corporate power and authority in due course to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture and the Securities;

 

2                                         on the assumption that the Indenture creates valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto under New York law, Scottish law will not prevent any provision of the Indenture from being a valid and binding obligation of the Company subject to all limitations resulting from bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, administration or reorganisation of the Company and court schemes, moratoria and similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights;

 

3                                         that the Securities have been duly authorised, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company and, on the assumption that the Securities will create valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto under New York law, Scottish law will not prevent any provision of the Securities from being a valid and binding obligation of the Company, subject to all limitations resulting from bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, administration or reorganisation of the Company and court schemes, moratoria and similar laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights applicable to the Company;

 

4                                         the choice of law of the State of New York to govern the Indenture and the Securities is competent in terms of Scottish law and will be recognised and under New York law, will be effective, in so far as the laws of Scotland are concerned to confer valid jurisdiction over the Company; and

 

5                                         the Company has the power to submit to and, in due course, to take all necessary corporate action to submit to the jurisdiction of any New York Court.

 

We are a firm of solicitors qualified to practise as such in Scotland and we are regulated by The Law Society of Scotland.  Accordingly we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the laws operative for the time being in Scotland.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the headings “Enforceability of Certain Civil Liabilities” and “Validity of the Securities and Guarantees” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under the Act.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

/s/ MORTON FRASER LLP

 

For Morton Fraser LLP

 

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