Exhibit 8.1
November 29, 2018
Sentinel Energy Services Inc.
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 2700
Houston, Texas 77002
Re: United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Sentinel Energy Services Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) that will change its jurisdiction of incorporation by discontinuing as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands and continuing and domesticating as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Domestication”). The continuing entity following the Domestication will continue to be named Sentinel Energy Services Inc. (“Sentinel Delaware”). This opinion is being delivered in connection with the Registration Statement of the Company on Form S-4, which was initially filed on November 14, 2018 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as amended and supplemented through the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”).
In preparing the opinion set forth below, we have examined and reviewed originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the form of Certificate of Incorporation of Sentinel Delaware to be effective upon the Domestication (the “Certificate of Incorporation”); (iii) the form of Bylaws of Sentinel Delaware to be effective upon the Domestication (the “Bylaws”); and (iv) such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for our opinion. In our examination, 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 certified, conformed, photostatic or electronic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or examination thereof, that (i) the Domestication will be consummated in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and will be effective under applicable state law, and that none of the terms or conditions contained therein will be waived or modified and (ii) the Registration Statement accurately and completely reflect the facts relating to the Domestication. Our opinion assumes and is expressly conditioned on, among other things, the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, information, covenants, representations and warranties set forth in the documents referred to above.
Our opinion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), and such other authorities as we have considered relevant, all as in effect on the date of this opinion and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. A change in the authorities upon which our opinion is based could affect the conclusions expressed herein. Moreover, there can be no assurance that positions contrary to our opinion will not be taken by the Service or, if challenged, by a court.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth herein and in the Registration Statement, the discussion set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as it expresses conclusions as to the application of United States federal income tax law, is our opinion as to the material United States federal income tax consequences generally applicable to the Domestication.
Except as expressly set forth above, we express no other opinion. This opinion has been prepared solely in connection with the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
This opinion is being delivered prior to the consummation of the Domestication and therefore is prospective and dependent on future events. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments, any factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof, or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record, statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that becomes incorrect or untrue.
In accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(23) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the use of our name under the headings “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
| | Very truly yours, |
| | | |
| | | /s/ Winston & Strawn LLP |
