EXHIBIT 8.1
[Shearman & Sterling LLP Letterhead]
February 24, 2017
Coca-Cola West Company, Limited
7-9-66 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku
Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8650
Japan
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as U.S. tax counsel to Coca-Cola West Company, Limited, a joint-stock company incorporated under the laws of Japan (“CCW”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form F-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), shares of common stock of CCW to be delivered in a share exchange between CCW and the shareholders of Coca-Cola East Japan Co., Ltd., a joint-stock company incorporated under the laws of Japan (“CCEJ”), under the Companies Act of Japan (the “Share Exchange”) pursuant to a share exchange agreement dated as of April 26, 2016 between CCW and CCEJ (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) and the integration agreement dated September 30, 2016 between CCW and CCEJ (the “Integration Agreement”). Any defined term used and not defined herein has the meaning given to it in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”).
For purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have, with the consent of CCW and CCEJ, relied upon the accuracy of the description of the transactions contained in the Registration Statement, the Share Exchange Agreement, the Integration Agreement, and the Prospectus.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, revenue rulings and revenue procedures of the Internal Revenue Service, and other administrative pronouncements, all as of the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it is our opinion that:
Subject to the limitations set forth therein, the discussion contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” is our opinion as to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Share Exchange to U.S. Holders (as such term is defined in “Taxation”) under currently applicable law.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Our opinion is based on current U.S. federal income tax law and administrative practice, and we do not undertake to advise you as to any future changes in U.S. federal income tax law or administrative practice that may affect our opinion unless we are specifically retained to do so. Further, legal opinions are not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service and there can be no assurance that contrary positions may not be asserted by the Internal Revenue Service.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us in the Prospectus under “Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP