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Board of Directors UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | | - 2 - | | March 28, 2023 |
For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that (i) U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture, dated as of February 4, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”), has all requisite power and authority under all applicable law and governing documents to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture and has complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to the Trustee’s right to enforce the Indenture against the Company, (ii) the Trustee has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Indenture, (iii) the Trustee is validly existing and in good standing in all necessary jurisdictions, (iv) the Indenture constitutes a valid and binding obligation, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms, (v) there has been no material mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding or fraud, duress or undue influence in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of the Indenture, and the conduct of all parties to the Indenture has complied with any requirements of good faith, fair dealing and conscionability, and (vi) there are and have been no agreements or understandings among the parties, written or oral, and there is and has been no usage of trade or course of prior dealing among the parties (and no act or omission of any party) that would, in any such case, define, supplement or qualify the terms of the Indenture. We also have assumed the validity and constitutionality of each relevant statute, rule, regulation and agency action covered by this opinion letter.
This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of the following, as currently in effect: (i) the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and (ii) the laws of the State of New York (but not including any laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any political subdivision below the state level). We express no opinion herein as to any other statutes, rules or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such other statutes, rules or regulations may have on the opinion expressed herein). Insofar as the opinion expressed herein relates to or is dependent upon matters governed by Minnesota law, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon, and our opinion expressed herein is subject to all of the qualifications, assumptions and limitations expressed in, the opinion dated March 3, 2023 of Faraz A. Choudhry, Deputy General Counsel of the Company, filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Debt Securities have been duly authorized on behalf of the Company and that, following (i) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor specified in the Pricing Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement and (ii) the due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
The opinion expressed above with respect to the valid and binding nature of obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other law regarding fraudulent conveyances and fraudulent, preferential or voidable transfers) and by the exercise of judicial discretion and the application of principles of equity, good faith, fair dealing, reasonableness, conscionability and materiality (regardless of whether the Debt Securities are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, principles limiting the availability of specific performance and injunctive relief.