Exhibit 5.1
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
525 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-3693
312.902.5200 tel
312.902.1061 fax
March 11, 2011
Diamond Resorts Corporation
10600 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89135
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Re: | | $425,000,000 Diamond Resorts Corporation 12% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Diamond Resorts Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), Diamond Resorts Holdings, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Holdings”), Diamond Resorts Parent, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Parent”), each of the direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries of the Company guaranteeing the repayment of the Exchange Securities, as indicated onSchedule 1 (and, together with Parent and Holdings, each, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and the Guarantors listed in the Registration Statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) relating to the proposed public offering of up to $425,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 12% Senior Secured Exchange Notes due 2018 (the “Exchange Securities”) in exchange for up to $425,000,0000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 12% Senior Secured Notes due 2018, and the related guarantees of payment included in Article X of that certain Indenture (defined below) by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”). The Exchange Securities and the Guarantees will be issued under an Indenture dated as of August 13, 2010 (the “Indenture”) among the Company, Parent, Holdings, the other Guarantors named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee and Collateral Agent (“Trustee”).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Indenture.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined copies or forms of each of the following documents (the “Transaction Documents”), each dated, unless otherwise noted, as of the date hereof:
| 1. | | the Registration Statement; and |
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| 2. | | the Indenture and the Guarantees contained therein. |
Diamond Resorts Corporation
March 11, 2011
Page 2
We have also examined the original or certified copies of those limited liability company, partnership, corporate and other records, agreements and instruments of the Company and the Guarantors, certificates of public officials and of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors, and such other documents and records, and those matters of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. The partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements, certificates, articles of incorporation, by-laws and other organizational documents of the Company and Guarantors are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Organizational Documents.” As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established by us, relied upon the representations and warranties of the Company and Guarantors contained in the Transaction Documents.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligations of the Trustee.
We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, the Limited Liability Company Act as in effect in the State of Delaware, the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act as in effect in the State of Delaware, and federal statutes of the United States (collectively, the “Subject Laws”). As to all matters regarding the existence and good standing of the Company and Guarantors organized under the laws of the States of Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Maryland, Missouri and Washington, we have relied upon the applicable Organizational Documents of the Company and such Guarantor. As to all matters regarding the laws of the States of Maryland, California, Arizona and Nevada, we have relied exclusively, without further investigation, upon the opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP, dated as of the date hereof. As to all matters regarding the laws of the States of Florida and Washington, we have relied exclusively, without further investigation, upon the opinions of Holland & Knight, dated as of the date hereof. As to all matters regarding the laws of the State of Hawaii, we have relied exclusively, without further investigation, upon the opinion of Imanaka Kudo & Fujimoto, dated as of the date hereof. As to all matters regarding the laws of the State of Missouri, we have relied exclusively, without further investigation, upon the opinion of Summers Compton Wells PC, dated as of the date hereof.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the comments and qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | | The Company is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland. Each of Parent and Holdings is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing |
Diamond Resorts Corporation
March 11, 2011
Page 3
| | | under the laws of the State of Nevada. Each other Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of formation. Each of the Company and each Guarantor has all necessary corporate, partnership or limited liability power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. |
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| 2. | | The execution and delivery by the Company and each Guarantor of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations thereunder do not (a) violate the Organizational Documents of such Company or Guarantor, (b) violate any law, rule or regulation of the United States of America, the State of New York or the respective jurisdiction of organization of each of the Company and each Guarantor that we, in the exercise of customary professional diligence, would reasonably recognize as being directly applicable to the Company, the Guarantors or the Transaction, or generally applicable to transactions similar to the Transaction, or (c) to our knowledge, result in a breach of or a default under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing indebtedness, or any other agreement or instrument to which such Company or Guarantor is a party or by which any of its assets are bound. |
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| 3. | | The Transaction Documents have each been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor that is a party thereto. Each of the Transaction Documents constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and each Guarantor that is a party thereto, enforceable against such Company Party in accordance with its terms, subject in each case to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. |
| (a) | | The Guarantee with respect to the Exchange Securities of each Guarantor has been duly authorized by such Guarantor; and, when issued, will have been duly executed, and delivered, by each such Guarantor. When the Exchange Securities have been issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Guarantee of each Guarantor with respect thereto will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of such Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms. |
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| (b) | | The Exchange Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors, and when the Exchange Securities are issued, executed |
Diamond Resorts Corporation
March 11, 2011
Page 4
| | | and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Exchange Securities will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
This opinion has been rendered solely for your benefit and each of your respective successors and assigns, in connection with the Exchange Securities and the Transaction and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our prior written consent, and is rendered solely as of the date hereof and no responsibility is undertaken for any future changes or development in any statutes, regulations, judicial decisions or other law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
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| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | |
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| KATTEN MUCHIN ROSENMAN LLP | |
SCHEDULE 1
GUARANTORS
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Entity Name | | Jurisdiction of Organization |
1. Diamond Resorts Parent, LLC | | DE |
2. Diamond Resorts Holdings, LLC | | DE |
3. AKGI-St. Maarten N.V. | | DE |
4. Chestnut Farms, LLC | | NV |
5. Cumberland Gate, LLC | | DE |
6. Diamond Resorts California Collection Development, LLC | | DE |
7. Diamond Resorts Centralized Services Company | | DE |
8. Diamond Resorts Citrus Share Holding, LLC | | DE |
9. Diamond Resorts Coral Sands Development, LLC | | DE |
10. Diamond Resorts Cypress Pointe I Development, LLC | | DE |
11. Diamond Resorts Cypress Pointe II Development, LLC | | DE |
12. Diamond Resorts Cypress Pointe III Development, LLC | | DE |
13. Diamond Resorts Daytona Development, LLC | | DE |
14. Diamond Resorts Developer and Sales Holding Company | | DE |
15. Diamond Resorts Epic Mortgage Holdings, LLC | | DE |
16. Diamond Resorts Fall Creek Development, LLC | | DE |
17. Diamond Resorts Finance Holding Company | | DE |
18. Diamond Resorts Financial Services, Inc. | | NV |
19. Diamond Resorts Grand Beach I Development, LLC | | DE |
20. Diamond Resorts Grand Beach II Development, LLC | | DE |
21. Diamond Resorts Greensprings Development, LLC | | DE |
22. Diamond Resorts Hawaii Collection Development, LLC | | DE |
23. Diamond Resorts Hilton Head Development, LLC | | DE |
24. Diamond Resorts International Club, Inc. | | FL |
| | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction of Organization |
25. Diamond Resorts International Marketing, Inc. | | CA |
26. Diamond Resorts Las Vegas Development, LLC | | DE |
27. Diamond Resorts Management & Exchange Holding Company | | DE |
28. Diamond Resorts Management, Inc. | | AZ |
29. Diamond Resorts Mortgage Holdings, LLC | | DE |
30. Diamond Resorts Palm Springs Development, LLC | | DE |
31. Diamond Resorts Poco Diablo Development, LLC | | DE |
32. Diamond Resorts Poipu Development, LLC | | DE |
33. Diamond Resorts Polo Development, LLC | | NV |
34. Diamond Resorts Port Royal Development, LLC | | DE |
35. Diamond Resorts Powhatan Development, LLC | | DE |
36. Diamond Resorts Residual Assets Development, LLC | | DE |
37. Diamond Resorts Residual Assets Finance, LLC | | DE |
38. Diamond Resorts Residual Assets M&E, LLC | | DE |
39. Diamond Resorts Ridge on Sedona Development, LLC | | DE |
40. Diamond Resorts Ridge Pointe Development, LLC | | DE |
41. Diamond Resorts San Luis Bay Development, LLC | | DE |
42. Diamond Resorts Santa Fe Development, LLC | | DE |
43. Diamond Resorts Scottsdale Development, LLC | | DE |
44. Diamond Resorts Sedona Springs Development, LLC | | DE |
45. Diamond Resorts Sedona Summit Development, LLC | | DE |
46. Diamond Resorts St. Croix Development, LLC | | DE |
47. Diamond Resorts Steamboat Development, LLC | | DE |
48. Diamond Resorts Tahoe Beach & Ski Development, LLC | | DE |
49. Diamond Resorts U.S. Collection Development, LLC | | DE |
50. Diamond Resorts Villa Mirage Development, LLC | | DE |
51. Diamond Resorts Villas of Sedona Development, LLC | | DE |
52. Diamond Resorts West Maui Development, LLC | | DE |
| | |
Entity Name | | Jurisdiction of Organization |
53. Foster Shores, LLC | | MO |
54. George Acquisition Subsidiary, Inc. | | NV |
55. Ginger Creek, LLC | | DE |
56. Grand Escapes, LLC | | DE |
57. International Timeshares Marketing, LLC | | DE |
58. Lake Tahoe Resort Partners, LLC | | CA |
59. Mazatlan Development Inc. | | WA |
60. MMG Development Corp. | | FL |
61. Poipu Resort Partners, L.P. | | HI |
62. Resort Management International, Inc. | | CA |
63. Resorts Development International, Inc. | | NV |
64. Walsham Lake, LLC | | MO |
65. West Maui Resort Partners, L.P. | | DE |