Edgar Filing: GALLAGHER ARTHUR J & CO

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S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2016

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	6411	36-2151613
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Two Pierce Place

Itasca, Illinois

60143-3141

(630) 773-3800

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

Walter D. Bay, Esq.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Two Pierce Place

Itasca, Illinois

60143-3141

(630) 773-3800

(Name, address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

COPIES TO:

Andrew L. Fabens, Esq.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

(212) 351-4034

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

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

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

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

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

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered	Proposed maximum offering price per share	Proposed maximum aggregate offering price	Amount of registration fee
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)

(1)

The registrant is registering an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant is deferring payment of the entire registration fee.

PROSPECTUS


				Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Common Stock

This prospectus relates to shares of our common stock that we may offer and sell from time to time. We may also use this prospectus from time to time to register shares of our common stock that may be offered and sold by selling stockholders.

Each time we sell shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell our common stock without a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the information we incorporate by reference, before you make your investment decision.

We may sell our common stock on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents or underwriters designated from time to time or through a combination of these methods. For additional information on the method of sale, you should refer to the section of this prospectus entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page 4. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of our common stock. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of our common stock, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names and any applicable commissions or discounts.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AJG.” On November 14, 2016, the closing price of our common stock was $52.12 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risks referenced under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider, as well as the other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, in determining whether to invest in our common stock.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is November 15, 2016.

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CONTENTS


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.			2

RISK FACTORS			3

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			3

USE OF PROCEEDS			6

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS			6

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			7

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			9

TAXATION			12

LEGAL MATTERS			16

EXPERTS			16

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			16

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			17

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Under the shelf registration process, we may from time to time, offer and sell shares of our common stock or use this prospectus to register shares of our common stock that may be offered and sold by selling stockholders from time to time. This prospectus provides a general description of the common stock that we may offer and sell and that may be offered and sold by selling stockholders. Each time we offer and sell our common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the common stock being offered and the manner in which it may be offered. We may add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of one or more prospectus supplements. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Before investing in our common stock, both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” should be carefully reviewed.

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. We will provide, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus upon written or oral request. Direct any such requests to: General Counsel, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Two Pierce Place, Itasca, Illinois 60143-3141 (telephone number (630) 773-3800). To obtain timely delivery, you must request the information no later than five business days before the date that you must make your investment decision.

You should rely only on information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to give you any information or make any representation that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus or in any of the materials that we have incorporated by reference into this document. If anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this prospectus (including the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus) speaks only as of the date of each such document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.

We are engaged in providing insurance brokerage and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to entities in the U.S. and abroad. Throughout 2015 and into 2016, we have expanded, and expect to continue to expand, our international operations through both acquisitions and organic growth. We generated approximately 68% of our revenues for the combined brokerage and risk management segments domestically, with the remaining 32% derived internationally, primarily in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, New Zealand and the U.K. (based on second quarter 2016 revenues).

We have three reportable segments: brokerage, risk management and corporate, which contributed approximately 63%, 12% and 25%, respectively, to revenues during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016. Our major sources of operating revenues are commissions, fees and supplemental and contingent commissions from brokerage operations and fees from risk management operations. Investment income is generated from invested cash and fiduciary funds, clean energy and other investments, and interest income from premium financing.

For more information about our business, please refer to the “Business” section in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and all subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Shares of our common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AJG. We were reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1972. Our executive offices are located at Two Pierce Place, Itasca, Illinois 60143-3141, and our telephone number is (630) 773-3800.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our”, “Gallagher”, and “us” refer to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and/or its subsidiaries, as appropriate. The term “you” refers to a prospective investor.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement as well as under the caption “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict and beyond our control and that involve uncertainties that may materially affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, or the value of our common stock. If any one or more of the risks set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In addition, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment in our common stock.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain certain statements related to future results, or state our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “contemplate,” “forecast,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” and other similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like “could,” “may,” “might,” “see,” “should,” “will” and “would.” You can also identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as: market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends; acquisition strategy; the expected impact of acquisitions and dispositions; the development and performance of our services and products; changes in the composition or level of our revenues or earnings; our cost structure and the outcome of cost-saving or restructuring initiatives; future capital expenditures; future debt levels; future debt to earnings ratios; the outcome of contingencies; dividend policy; pension obligations; cash flow and liquidity; capital structure and financial losses; future actions by regulators; the outcome of existing regulatory actions, investigations, reviews or litigation; the impact of changes in accounting rules; financial markets; interest rates; foreign exchange rates; matters relating to our operations; income taxes; expectations regarding our investments, including our clean energy investments; the financial impact of retention agreements in our international brokerage operations; and integrating recent acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors.

Potential factors that could impact results include:

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Failure to successfully and cost-effectively integrate recently acquired businesses and their operations or fully realize synergies from such acquisitions in the expected time frame;

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Volatility or declines in premiums or other adverse trends in the insurance industry;

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An economic downturn;

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Competitive pressures in each of our businesses;

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Risks that could negatively affect the success of our acquisition strategy, including continuing consolidation in our industry and growing interest in acquiring insurance brokers on the part of private equity firms, which could make it more difficult to identify targets and could make them more expensive, the risk that we may not receive timely regulatory approval of desired transactions, execution risks, integration risks, the risk of post-acquisition deterioration leading to intangible asset impairment charges, and the risk we could incur or assume unanticipated regulatory liabilities such as those relating to violations of anti-corruption and sanctions laws;

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Our failure to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel;

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Risks arising from our growing international operations, including the risks posed by political and economic uncertainty in certain countries (including the risks posed by protectionist local governments and underdeveloped or evolving legal systems), risks related to maintaining regulatory and legal compliance across multiple jurisdictions (such as those relating to violations of anti-corruption, sanctions and privacy laws), and risks arising from the complexity of managing businesses across different time zones, geographies, cultures and legal regimes;

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Risks particular to our risk management segment, including that the trend toward outsourcing claims administration will slow, and that of concentration of large amounts of revenue with certain clients;

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The lower level of predictability inherent in contingent and supplemental commissions versus standard commissions;

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Sustained increases in the cost of employee benefits;

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Our failure to apply technology effectively in driving value for our clients through technology-based solutions, or failure to gain internal efficiencies and effective internal controls through the application of technology and related tools;

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Our inability to recover successfully should we experience a disaster, cybersecurity attack or other significant disruption to business continuity;

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Damage to our reputation;

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Our failure to comply with regulatory requirements, including those related to governance and control requirements in particular jurisdictions, international sanctions, or a change in regulations or enforcement policies that adversely affects our operations (for example, relating to insurance broker compensation methods or the failure of state and local governments to follow through on agreed-upon income tax credits or other related incentives, relating to our planned new corporate headquarters);

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Violations or alleged violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 or other anti-corruption laws and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, (which we refer to as FATCA);

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The outcome of any existing or future investigation, review, regulatory action or litigation;

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Our failure to adapt our services to changes resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act;

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Unfavorable determinations related to contingencies and legal proceedings;

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Improper disclosure of confidential, personal or proprietary data;

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Significant changes in foreign exchange rates;

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Changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions;

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Risks related to our clean energy investments, including the risk of intellectual property claims, utilities switching from coal to natural gas, environmental and product liability claims, and environmental compliance costs;

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Disallowance of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as IRC) Section 29 or IRC Section 45 tax credits;

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The risk that our outstanding debt adversely affects our financial flexibility and restrictions and limitations in the agreements and instruments governing our debt;

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The risk we may not be able to receive dividends or other distributions from subsidiaries;

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The risk of share ownership dilution when we issue common stock as consideration for acquisitions and for other reasons;

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Volatility of the price of our common stock; and

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Risks related to the vote in the U.K. to leave the European Union.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk factors referred to above. Our future performance and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of, and are based on information available to us on, the date of the applicable document. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any such statements or release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law or regulation.

A detailed discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our published expectations is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016, and any other reports we file with the SEC in the future, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of our common stock to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, acquisitions, repayment or retirement of debt, capital expenditures, investments in our subsidiaries and other business opportunities. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock offered for sale in connection with this prospectus by selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from those sales.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

Information about selling stockholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which are incorporated by reference herein.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description of our capital stock is only a summary. For more complete information, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws and any amendments thereto, which we have filed with the SEC. In addition, you should refer to the Delaware General Corporation Law, which also governs our structure, management and activities.

Common Stock

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors, which we refer to as our board, is authorized to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of common stock. The holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive such dividends as our board may declare from time to time, provided that any and all preferred dividends on our preferred stock for the then current quarter have been set aside or paid, and all prior quarterly dividends on our preferred stock have been paid in full. Upon our liquidation, the holders of our common stock will receive ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held, all of our net assets remaining after the payment of any liquidation preference payable with respect to any preferred stock that may then be outstanding. Our common stock is not subject to redemption or retirement. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of such stock standing in his or her name on the books of the corporation. The holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. No holder of our common stock has preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares of any class of our stock.

As of November 11, 2016, there were 178,112,404 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

Preferred Stock

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board is authorized to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, and for such consideration as our board may determine. Our board is authorized to determine the voting power of each series of preferred stock, which may range from no voting power to a maximum of one vote per share. If our board does not explicitly provide the voting power of any series of our preferred stock in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series, the holders of that series of preferred stock have no voting power with respect to any matter. Our board is also authorized to fix the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and relative, participating, optional or other special rights thereof, as provided for in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such shares of preferred stock.

All shares of one series of preferred stock must be of equal rank and identical in all respects. No dividend may be paid or declared on any particular series of preferred stock unless dividends are to be paid or declared pro rata on all shares of preferred stock that rank equally as to dividends with such particular series, and are outstanding at such time.

Shares of our preferred stock that are redeemed, converted, exchanged, purchased, retired or surrendered to us, or that have been issued and reacquired in any manner, shall, upon compliance with any applicable provisions of The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, have the status of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock and may be reissued by our board as part of the series of which they were originally a part, or may be reclassified into and reissued as part of a new series or as part of any other series. No holder of our preferred stock has preemptive or other rights to subscribe for additional shares of any class of our stock.

As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of our preferred stock are issued and outstanding.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action may be taken only at annual or special meetings of stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may not act upon any matter except at a duly called meeting of stockholders.

Actions to Increase or Decrease Amount of Authorized Shares

Subject to the rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock, any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that may increase or decrease the authorized capital stock of any class or classes may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our voting stock.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus may be offered for resale from time to time by selling stockholders that received such common stock from us or one of our subsidiaries, in transactions not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). With our consent, and if we file an applicable prospectus supplement with the SEC, this prospectus may be used by selling stockholders described in such prospectus supplement who may wish to sell such shares of common stock. As used in this prospectus, “selling stockholders” may include donees and pledgees selling common stock received from a named selling stockholder. We may limit our consent to a specified time period and subject our consent to certain limitations and conditions, which may vary by agreement.

The shares of our common stock being offered by this prospectus may be sold by us or by a selling stockholder:

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through agents;

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to or through underwriters;

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through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);

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directly by us or a selling stockholder to purchasers, through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise;

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through a combination of any such methods of sale; or

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through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

The distribution of our common stock may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where our common stock may be traded. Our common stock may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling our common stock. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of our common stock. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of our common stock may be deemed underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of our common stock may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase our common stock. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our common stock and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment and pursuant to a written agreement with us. Any agent selling our common stock covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of our common stock.

We may make sales of our common stock to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents in at-the-market offerings and will do so pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement between the underwriters, dealers or agents and us. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to a distribution agreement, we will issue and sell shares of our common stock to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such distribution agreement, we may sell shares on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters, dealers or agent. The distribution agreement may provide that any shares of our common stock sold will be sold at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding net proceeds to us or commissions to be paid are impossible to determine and will be described in a prospectus supplement. Pursuant

to the terms of the distribution agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters, dealers or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock. The terms of each such distribution agreement will be set forth in more detail in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. To the extent that any named underwriter, dealer or agent acts as principal pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, or if we offer to sell shares of our common stock through another dealer acting as underwriter, then such named underwriter may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock. We will describe any such activities in the prospectus supplement relating to the transaction. To the extent that any named dealer or agent acts as agent on a best efforts basis pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, such dealer or agent will not engage in any such stabilization transactions.

If underwriters are used in a sale, our common stock will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Our common stock may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of our common stock, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of our common stock, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell our common stock.

If a dealer is used in the sale of our common stock, we, a selling stockholder, or an underwriter will sell our common stock to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell our common stock to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

We or a selling stockholder may directly solicit offers to purchase our common stock and we or a selling stockholder may make sales of our common stock directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of our common stock. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, creditors of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or be holders of our outstanding debt.

Under the securities laws of some states, our common stock offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Act, Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement.

TAXATION

THE SUMMARY OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES SET OUT BELOW IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS AND ANY OTHER UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX LAWS.

The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock. This discussion is not a complete analysis of all of the potential United States federal income tax consequences relating thereto, and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, it does not address any estate and gift tax consequences or any tax consequences arising under any state, local or foreign tax laws, or any other United States federal tax laws. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities may change, possibly retroactively, resulting in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.

The discussion does not cover all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to, or the actual tax effect that any of the matters described herein will have on, the acquisition, ownership or disposition of shares of our common stock by particular investors, and does not address state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, or any aspect of U.S. federal tax law other than income taxation (such as the estate and gift tax). In particular, this summary does not discuss all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to certain types of investors subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (such as financial institutions, insurance companies, investors liable for the alternative minimum tax, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships and other pass-through entities, dealers or traders in securities or currencies, investors that will hold the common stock as part of straddles, hedging transactions, conversion transactions or other integrated transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes or investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). This discussion is limited to holders who purchase shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus and who hold the shares of our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment).

If a partnership (or other entity taxed as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, upon the activities of the partnership, and upon certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific United States federal income tax consequences to them.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of shares of our common stock who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state or in the District of Columbia; (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 United States court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or if the trust has a valid election in place to be treated as a United States person.

A “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. Holder” nor an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

Distributions on Shares of Our Common Stock. A distribution of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our common stock or rights to acquire our common stock) in respect of a share of our common stock owned by a U.S. Holder generally will be treated as a dividend to the extent it is paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). If the amount of such distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess generally will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such share of our common stock, and then as capital gain (which will be treated in the manner described below under “Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Shares of Our Common Stock”). In the case of certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, any distribution on our common stock treated as a dividend generally will be eligible for a reduced tax rate so long as certain holding period and other requirements are met. Corporate U.S. Holders may be able to claim a dividends received deduction for a portion of any distribution on our common stock treated as a dividend so long as certain holding period and other requirements are met.

Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Shares of Our Common Stock. Upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale, exchange or other disposition and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such common stock. Any gain or loss so recognized on such common stock generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if such U.S. Holder has held such common stock for more than one year at the time of such sale, exchange or other disposition. Net long-term capital gain of certain non-corporate U.S. Holders generally is subject to preferential rates of tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Information reporting will generally apply to non-corporate U.S. Holders with respect to payments of dividends on shares of our common stock and to certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of shares of our common stock. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to U.S. backup withholding on payments of dividends on shares of our common stock and certain payments of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of shares of our common stock unless the beneficial owner of shares of our common stock furnishes the payor or its agent with a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, and certain other information, or otherwise establishes, in the manner prescribed by law, an exemption from backup withholding.

U.S. backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, which may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the U.S. Holder timely furnishes the required information to the IRS.

Medicare Tax. A U.S. person that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into the special classes of trusts that are exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. person’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. person’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000 depending on the individual’s circumstances). Net investment income generally includes dividends, and net gains from the disposition of common stock, unless such income or gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). A U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust should consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in our common stock.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

Distributions on Shares of Our Common Stock. If we make a distribution of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our common stock or rights to acquire our common stock) in respect of a

share of our common stock, the distribution generally will be treated as a dividend to the extent it is paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). If the amount of such distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess generally will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such share of our common stock, and then as capital gain (which will be treated in the manner described below under “Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Shares of Our Common Stock”). Distributions treated as dividends on our common stock that are paid to or for the account of a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or at a lower rate if provided by an applicable tax treaty and the Non-U.S. Holder provides the documentation (generally, IRS Form W-8BEN) required to claim benefits under such tax treaty to the applicable withholding agent.

If, however, a dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by a Non-U.S. Holder, such dividend generally will not be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax if such Non-U.S. Holder provides the appropriate documentation (generally, IRS Form W-8ECI) to the applicable withholding agent. Instead, such Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such dividend in substantially the same manner as a U.S. Holder (except as provided by an applicable tax treaty). In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate if provided by an applicable tax treaty) on its effectively connected income for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.

The foregoing discussion is subject to the discussion below under “Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting” and “Additional Withholding Tax Related to Foreign Accounts.”

Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Shares of Our Common Stock. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock unless:

such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by such Non-U.S. Holder, in which event such Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain in substantially the same manner as a U.S. Holder (except as provided by an applicable tax treaty) and, if it is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate if provided by an applicable tax treaty);

ii.

such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of such sale, exchange or disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which event such gain (net of certain U.S. source losses) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (except as provided by an applicable tax treaty); or

iii.

we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of (x) the five-year period ending on the date of such sale, exchange or other disposition and (y) such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period with respect to such common stock, and certain other conditions are met.

Generally, a corporation is a “United States real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business (all as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We do not believe that we are, and we do not presently anticipate that we will become, a United States real property holding corporation.

The foregoing discussion is subject to the discussion below under “Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting” and “Additional Withholding Tax Related to Foreign Accounts.”

Federal Estate Tax Consequences. Common stock held by an individual Non-U.S. Holder at the time of death will be included in such holder’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, and may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting. We must report annually to each Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock and to the IRS the amount of payments on the shares of our common stock paid to such Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of any tax withheld with respect to those payments. These information reporting requirements apply even if no withholding was required because the payments were effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a United States trade or business, or withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. This information also may be made available under a specific treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established. Backup withholding, however, generally will not apply to distribution payments to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax Relating to Foreign Accounts. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (including dividends as well as gross proceeds from sales of stock giving rise to such dividends) made to a foreign entity if such entity fails to satisfy certain new disclosure and reporting rules. FATCA will apply unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. The United States Department of the Treasury is also in the process of signing Intergovernmental Agreements with other countries to implement the exchange of information required under FATCA, and foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that enter into such an Intergovernmental Agreement with the United States may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and a recent IRS Notice, withholding under FATCA generally will apply to payments of dividends on our common stock made on or after July 1, 2014 and to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such stock on or after January 1, 2017. Investors that invest in us through an account maintained at a non-U.S. financial institution are strongly encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the potential application and impact of FATCA and any Intergovernmental Agreement between the United States and their home jurisdiction in connection with FATCA compliance.

LEGAL MATTERS

Seth Diehl, Esq., our Senior Counsel, Corporate & Securities, has rendered an opinion with respect to the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

With respect to the unaudited consolidated interim financial information of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015; the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015 and the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, Ernst & Young LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports dated May 2, 2016; July 29, 2016 and October 28, 2016, included in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.‘s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2016, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein, state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Ernst & Young LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because the reports are not a “report” or a “part” of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by Ernst & Young LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may access and read our SEC filings, including the complete registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and all of the exhibits to it, through commercial document retrieval services, which are available to the public, and also on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. This site contains reports and other information that we file electronically with the SEC. This registration statement, our other filings or other information can be inspected, and copies may be obtained, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room of the SEC may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

We have filed a registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and related exhibits with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus, filed as part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules.

Statements in this prospectus about the contents of any contract, agreement or other documents are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of such contract, agreement or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, with each such statement being qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE THAT ARE NOT PRESENTED IN OR DELIVERED WITH THIS PROSPECTUS. YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OR IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.

We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents, which have been separately filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus and prior to the date this offering is terminated or we issue all of the shares of common stock under this prospectus:

•

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed on February 10, 2016 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders incorporated by reference therein);

•

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016, filed on May 2, 2016, July 29, 2016 and October 28, 2016, respectively;

•

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2016, April 11, 2016, May 17, 2016 and June 2, 2016; and

•

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-188651).

Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished, but not filed, with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 of Form 8-K (or included as an exhibit) in any past or future current report on Form 8-K that we may file with the SEC), unless otherwise specified in such current report or in a particular prospectus supplement.

Information in this prospectus supersedes related information in the documents listed above and information in subsequently filed documents supersedes related information in both this prospectus and the incorporated documents.

You may request orally or in writing, and we will provide you with, a copy of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at (630) 773-3800 or by writing to us at the following address:

General Counsel

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Two Pierce Place

Itasca, Illinois 60143-3141

In order to ensure timely delivery of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any request should be made no later than five business days prior to the date on which you plan to make a final investment decision. These filings and reports can also be found on our website, located at http://www.ajg.com, by following the links to “Investor Relations” and “SEC Filings.” Additionally, you may obtain copies of any of these through the SEC or through the SEC’s website: http://www.sec.gov.

The information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses (other than underwriting compensation) to be incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of our common stock being registered hereby are:


Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee	$	*
Accounting fees and expenses		**
Legal fees and expenses		**
Printing fees		**
Miscellaneous		**
Total expenses	$	**

*	Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.

Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of our common stock under this registration statement. An estimate of the various expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of our common stock being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Gallagher is incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted under standards similar to those discussed above, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith;

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and that indemnification provided for by Section 145 of the DGCL shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may provide a provision that eliminates or limits the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provisions shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL; or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring before the date when such provision becomes effective.

Article Seven of Gallagher’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide for the indemnification of each of Gallagher’s directors, officers, employees or agents to the full extent permitted by applicable law, including, without limitation, the DGCL.

Article Seven of Gallagher’s Amended and Restated By-laws provides that Gallagher shall indemnify any person in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought or threatened by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of Gallagher’s directors, officers, employees or agents, or is or was serving at Gallagher’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, against all costs actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to Gallagher’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is permitted to be provided to such persons in connection with an action or suit by Gallagher or in Gallagher’s right, and provided further that such person shall not have been adjudged liable to Gallagher, unless, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the court in which the action or suit was brought determines that such person despite the adjudication of liability is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.

Article Twelve of Gallagher’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the liability of Gallagher’s directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except where a director breaches his or her duty of loyalty to Gallagher or its stockholders, fails to act in good faith or engages in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, authorizes the payment of a dividend or stock repurchase that is illegal under Section 174 of the DGCL, or obtains an improper personal benefit.

Gallagher also maintains and pays premiums on a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy and has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors and officers. The provisions of each indemnity agreement alter or clarify the statutory indemnification in the following respects: (1) indemnity will be explicitly provided for settlements in derivative actions; (2) prompt payment of litigation expenses will be provided in advance of indemnification; (3) prompt indemnification of advances of expenses will be provided unless a determination is made that the director or officer has not met the required standard; (4) the director or officer will be permitted to petition a court to determine whether his or her actions meet the standards required; and (5) partial indemnification will be permitted in the event that the director or officer is not entitled to full indemnification. In addition, each indemnity agreement specifically includes indemnification with respect to actions, suits or proceedings brought under and/or predicated upon the Securities Act and/or the Securities Exchange Act.

The preceding summary is qualified in its entirety by Gallagher’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws, and the indemnity agreements described above.

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Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) See Exhibit Index attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are either not required under the related instructions, are inapplicable or not material, or the information called for thereby is otherwise included in the financial statements incorporated by reference and therefore has been omitted.

Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(1)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(2)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(3)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(b)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(d)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(1)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(2)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of

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the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date

(3)

each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(1)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(2)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(3)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(4)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(f)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(g)

In connection with offerings of securities at competitive bids: (a) to use its best efforts to distribute prior to the opening of bids, to prospective bidders, underwriters, and dealers, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus which at that time meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Act, and relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, as contained in the registration statement,

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together with any supplements thereto, and (b) to file an amendment to the registration statement reflecting the results of bidding, the terms of the reoffering and related matters to the extent required by the applicable form, not later than the first use, authorized by the issuer after the opening of bids, of a prospectus relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, unless no further public offering of such securities by the issuer and no reoffering of such securities by the purchasers is proposed to be made.

(h)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(i)

That:

(1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Itasca, State of Illinois, on the 15th day of November, 2016.


ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO.

By:		/s/ J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.
		J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.
		Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

We, the undersigned directors and officers, do hereby constitute and appoint Walter D. Bay and Douglas K. Howell, and each of them severally, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and re-substitution for us and in our name, place, and stead, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys-in-fact and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this registration statement on Form S-3, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us, in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including pre- and post-effective amendments) hereto and any related registration statement and amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith; and we do each hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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


Signatures	Title	Date

/s/ J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr. J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	November 15, 2016

/s/ Douglas K. Howell Douglas K. Howell	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	November 15, 2016

/s/ Richard C. Cary Richard C. Cary	Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	November 15, 2016

/s/ Sherry S. Barrat Sherry S. Barrat	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ William L. Bax William L. Bax	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ D. John Coldman D. John Coldman	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ Frank E. English, Jr. Frank E. English, Jr.	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ Elbert O. Hand Elbert O. Hand	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ David S. Johnson David S. Johnson	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ Kay W. McCurdy Kay W. McCurdy	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti Ralph J. Nicoletti	Director	November 15, 2016

/s/ Norman L. Rosenthal Norman L. Rosenthal	Director	November 15, 2016

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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description

4.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, File No. 1-09761).

4.2		Amended and Restated By-Laws of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K Current Report dated October 23, 2015, File No. 1-09761).

*5.1		Opinion of Seth Diehl, Esq.

*15.1		Letter of Acknowledgement from Ernst & Young LLP concerning unaudited interim financial information.

*23.1		Consent of Seth Diehl, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

*23.2		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

*24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement).

*	Filed herewith.

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