Fitch rates Willis notes BBB-

Fitch Ratings said it assigned BBB- ratings to Willis Group Holdings plc's $300 million of 4.125% senior notes due 2016 and $500 million of 5.75% senior notes due 2021.

The outlook is stable.

The company intends to use the proceeds to repurchase or redeem any and all of the $500 million of its 12.875% senior notes due 2016 and for general corporate purposes.

Fitch affirmed Willis, Willis North America Inc. and Trinity Acquisition Ltd.'s BBB- issuer default ratings as well as Willis North's $362 million of 5.625% senior notes due 2015, $600 million of 6.2% senior notes due 2017 and $300 million of 7% senior notes due 2019 at BBB-.

Trinity's $500 million of 12.875% senior notes due 2016 were affirmed at BBB-.

The ratings reflect that the company faces contingent risks as an occasional target of litigation and that its insurance brokerage operations have outperformed those of its closest competitors for several years and the expectation that it will continue to do so in the near term, Fitch said.

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