QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this documentExhibit 5.1
[ ], 2003 | | 1675 Broadway New York, New York 10019-5820 |
| | Main Tel (212) 506-2500 Main Fax (212) 262-1910 www.mayerbrownrowe.com
|
To: | Persons listed on Annex A hereto |
| ARMS II Global Fund I |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Australian Mortgage Securities Ltd. (the "Servicer") and Australian Securitisation Management Pty Limited (the "Trust Manager") in connection with the issuance by Permanent Custodians Limited (the "Issuer Trustee"), in its capacity as trustee of the ARMS II Global Fund I (the "Fund"), of the Class A Mortgage Backed Floating Rate Bonds ("Class A Bonds") and the Class B Mortgage Backed Floating Rate Bonds (the "Class B Bonds"). The Fund will be created pursuant to the Amended and Restated Master Trust Deed, dated [ ] between the Issuer Trustee, the Trust Manager and the Servicer (the "Master Trust Deed") and the Deed of Variation of Master Trust Deed dated [ ], 2003 (the "Deed of Variation") among the Issuer Trustee, the Servicer and the Trust Manager, pursuant to which the Trust Manager was appointed as trust manager of the Fund. The Bond Trust Deed, dated [ ], 2003, among the Issuer Trustee, The Bank of New York (the "Bond Trustee"), and the Trust Manager (the "Bond Trust Deed") provides for the issuance of the Class A Bonds in accordance with the terms and conditions attached thereto. The Class A Bonds will be secured by the assets of the Fund, which will consist primarily of a pool of variable and fixed rate residential housing loans originated by the Servicer (the "Housing Loans") secured by mortgaged properties located in the Commonwealth of Australia.
This opinion is being rendered pursuant to Section [6(g)] of the Underwriting Agreement (as defined herein).
The Trust Manager has caused the Issuer Trustee to sell the Class A Bonds to each of ABN AMRO Incorporated and Deutsche Bank Securities (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated [ ], 2003, among the Servicer, the Trust Manager, the Issuer Trustee and the Underwriters (the "Underwriting Agreement", and together with the Master Trust Deed, the Deed of Variation, the Security Trust Deed, the Paying Agency Agreement, the Bond Trust Deed, the form of the Class A Bonds, the Currency Swap, the Fixed-Floating Rate Swap, and the mortgage insurance policies issued by PMI Indemnity Limited, GE Capital Mortgage Insurance Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Commonwealth of Australia and PMI Mortgage Insurance Ltd. (collectively, the "Agreements"). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Agreements.
The Trust Manager has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), a registration statement (No. 333-104969) on Form S-11 for the registration of the Class A Bonds, which registration statement has become effective, and a copy of which, as amended to the date hereof, has heretofore been delivered to the Underwriters. The Trust Manager has filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act a prospectus dated [ ], 2003 (the "Final Prospectus), which contains the information previously omitted from the preliminary prospectus dated May 9, 2003 (the "Preliminary Prospectus" and, together with the Final Prospectus, the "Prospectus") pursuant to Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act,
relating to the Class A Bonds and the method of distribution thereof. Such registration statement, as amended at the date hereof, is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement".
In connection with rendering this opinion letter, we have examined the Agreements, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such other documents as we have deemed necessary. As to matters of fact, we have examined and relied upon the accuracy of the representations of parties to the Agreements contained therein and, where we have deemed appropriate, separate additional oral or written statements, representations or certifications of parties to the Agreements, their respective officers and representatives or public officials. In rendering this opinion letter, we have also assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, (ii) the due authorization, execution and delivery, and the necessary power with respect thereto, and the enforceability of such documents, (iii) the conformity to the requirements of the Agreements, of the mortgages, certificates of title and other documents contained in the housing loan packets held by the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer Trustee, (iv) the performance by all parties to the Agreements in accordance with their covenants and agreements made therein and (v) that there is not any other agreement that materially supplements or otherwise modifies the agreements expressed in the Agreements.
In rendering this opinion letter, we do not express any opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, nor do we express any opinion concerning the application of the "doing business" laws or the securities laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal securities laws of the United States and, in each case, as in existence on the date hereof. In rendering the opinion set forth below, as to matters governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia or the laws of any of the States or Territories thereof or other laws that may be applicable to the Servicer or the Trust Manager, we have relied without independent investigation on the opinion letter of Allens Arthur Robinson dated the date hereof, Australian counsel to the Servicer and the Trust Manager and as to matters governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia or the laws of any of the States or Territories thereof or other laws that may be applicable to the Issuer Trustee, we have relied without independent investigation on the opinion letter of Mallesons Stephen Jaques dated the date hereof, Australian counsel to the Issuer Trustee. A copy of each such opinion is annexed hereto. To the extent that we have relied on the foregoing opinion letters, the opinions set forth below are subject to the same assumptions, qualifications, exceptions and other limitations set forth therein. We do not express any opinion on any issue not expressly addressed below.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
- i.
- The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued or threatened under Section 8(d) of the Securities Act.
- ii.
- The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of their respective effective or issue date, other than financial or statistical information contained therein, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
- iii.
- To the best of our knowledge, there are no material contracts, indentures, or other documents of a character required to be described or referred to under either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto.
- iv.
- The statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Description of the Class A Bonds" and "Description of the Transaction Documents" insofar as they purport to summarize certain
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The foregoing opinions are subject to the following assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations:
(a) Our opinions above are subject to (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, equitable subordination, readjustment of debt, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors generally, and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance and injunctive relief), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, by public policy considerations, which, among other things, limit the enforceability of penalties, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(b) Our opinions in paragraph (viii) above are based upon our review of those statutes, rules and regulations which in our experience are normally applicable to or normally relevant in connection with transactions of the type provided for in the Agreements and the Underwriting Agreement.
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(c) We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of the waiver of rights or defenses set forth in the Underwriting Agreement to the extent such rights or defenses may not be waived under applicable law.
(d) We note that the enforceability of the Underwriting Agreement in favor of any party may be limited if such party fails to act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner in seeking to exercise their rights and remedies thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we note that a court might hold that a technical and nonmaterial default under the Underwriting Agreement does not give rise to a right of any party to exercise certain remedies including, without limitation, termination.
The opinions rendered herein are limited in all respects to the laws and facts existing on the date hereof. By rendering this opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such laws or facts or in the interpretations of such laws which may occur after the date hereof.
This opinion letter is rendered for the sole benefit of each addressee hereof, and no other person or entity is entitled to rely hereon. Copies of this opinion letter may not be furnished to any other person or entity, nor may any portion of this opinion letter be quoted, circulated or referred to in any other document.
Very truly yours,
MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW
DC/JMM/DHP
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Annex A
Australian Securitisation Management Pty Limited
Australian Mortgage Securities Limited
The Directors, Permanent Custodians Limited
Permanent Custodians Limited
ABN AMRO Incorporated
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc
Moody's Investor Services Inc.
Standard & Poor's (Australia) Pty Limited
Fitch Australia Pty Limited
The Bank of New York, New York branch
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Annex B
OPINION OF ALLENS ARTHUR ROBINSON
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Annex C
OPINION OF MALLESONS STEPHEN JAQUES
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