HELLER EHRMAN LETTERHEAD]
EXHIBIT 8.1
[XXXXXX XXXXXX LETTERHEAD]
September , 2005
Xxxxxx International Inc.
Xxxxx 0000, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Xxxxx 0000, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is being delivered to you in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of September ___, 2005 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Xxxxxx International Inc., a
Massachusetts trust organized under the laws of Washington (“Mercer”), Mercer Delaware Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“Transition Co.”), and Xxxxxx International Regco Inc., a Washington
corporation (“Amalgamated Mercer”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the registration
statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as amended at any time to
and including the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), Mercer will merge with and into
Transition Co., followed immediately thereafter by Transition Co. merging with and into
Amalgamated Mercer (collectively, the “Conversion”).
Except as otherwise provided, capitalized terms used but not defined in this opinion have the
meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement and the Registration Statement. All section references,
unless otherwise indicated, are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
You have requested our opinion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
Conversion described in the Registration Statement. In delivering this opinion, we have reviewed
and relied upon (without any independent investigation) the facts, statements, descriptions and
representations set forth in the Merger Agreement (including exhibits thereto), the Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto), and such other documents pertaining to the Conversion as we
have deemed necessary or appropriate. We also have relied upon (without any independent
investigation) a certificate setting forth certain representations executed by an officer of Mercer
(the “Tax Representation Letter”).
In connection with rendering this opinion, we have assumed (without any independent
investigation) that:
1. Original documents (including signatures) are authentic, documents submitted to us as
copies conform to the original documents, and there has been (or will be by the Effective Time of
the Conversion) due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are
prerequisites to effectiveness thereof.
Xxxxxx International Inc.
September , 2005
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September , 2005
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2. Any representation or statement in any document referred to above made “to the knowledge
of,” “to the best of the knowledge” or otherwise similarly qualified is correct without such
qualification. As to all matters in which a person or entity making a representation in any
document referred to above has represented that such person or entity either is not a party to,
does not have, or is not aware of, any plan, intention, understanding or agreement, there is in
fact no such plan, intention, understanding or agreement.
3. All statements, descriptions and representations contained in any of the documents referred
to herein or otherwise made to us are true and correct in all material respects and will continue
to be true and correct in all material respects as of the Effective Time of the Conversion and all
other relevant times, and no actions have been (or will be) taken which are inconsistent with such
representations.
4. The Conversion will be reported by Mercer, Transition Co. and Amalgamated Mercer for
federal and state income tax purposes in a manner consistent with the treatment of the Conversion
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
5. The Conversion will be consummated in accordance with the Merger Agreement (and without any
waiver, breach or amendment of any of the provisions thereof), and the Registration Statement, and
will be effective under the applicable state laws.
Based on our examination of the foregoing items and subject to the assumptions, exceptions,
limitations and qualifications set forth herein and in the Registration Statement, (i) we are of
the opinion that the Conversion will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ii) the disclosure in the
Registration Statement under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Conversion,” constitutes our opinion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
Conversion, subject to the limitations set forth therein.
This opinion represents and is based upon our best judgment regarding the application of
federal income tax laws arising under the Code, existing judicial decisions, administrative
regulations and published rulings and procedures, all as in effect as of the date of this opinion.
Our opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and there is no
assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully assert a contrary position.
Furthermore, no assurance can be given that future legislative, judicial or administrative changes,
on either a prospective or retroactive basis, would not adversely affect the accuracy of the
conclusions stated herein. Nevertheless, we undertake no responsibility to advise you of any new
developments in the application or interpretation of the federal income tax laws.
Xxxxxx International Inc.
September , 2005
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This opinion is limited to the qualification of the Conversion as a reorganization and the
material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Conversion, and does not address any other
federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences that may result from the Conversion or any other
transaction (including any transaction undertaken in connection with the Conversion, other than the
Proposed Delaware Reincorporation and the Proposed Washington Reincorporation).
No opinion is expressed as to any transaction other than the Conversion as described in the
Merger Agreement and the Registration Statement or to any transaction whatsoever, including the
Conversion, if all the transactions described in the Merger Agreement and the Registration
Statement are not consummated in accordance with the terms of such Agreement and the Registration
Statement and without waiver or breach of any material provision thereof or if all of the
representations, warranties, statements and assumptions upon which we relied are not true and
accurate at all relevant times.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to
references to this opinion in the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or that we are experts with
respect to any portions of the S-4 Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts”
as used in the Securities Act, or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. The filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the S-4 Registration Statement and the references to the opinion and
our firm therein are not intended to create liability under applicable state law to any person
other than Mercer, our client.
Very truly yours,
XXXXXX XXXXXX LLP