the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof. In addition, we assume that all representations made to the knowledge of any person or entity or with similar qualification are, and will be as of the Effective Time, true and correct as if made without such qualification and that neither the Company nor Parent will notify us at or before the Effective Time that any statement or representation made in a Certificate is no longer complete and accurate. In addition, we assume that any Dissenting Shareholder, as of the Effective Time, will receive, pursuant to statutory procedures, an amount per Dissenting Share that will not materially exceed the value of the Cash Consideration. Finally, we assume that none of the parties to the Agreement will waive any of the conditions to closing set forth in Section 7 of the Agreement. All assumptions described above have been made with your permission.
Subject to the foregoing and any other assumptions, limitations, and qualifications specified herein, (i) it is our opinion that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Merger should qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ii) the discussion contained in the Registration Statement under the caption “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES,” subject to the limitations, qualifications, and assumptions described therein, is our opinion regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences that are material to a U.S. holder of Company common shares that holds such shares as a capital asset.
Our opinion is limited to the foregoing U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger, which are the only matters as to which you have requested our opinion. We do not address any other U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger or other matters of federal law and have not considered matters (including state or local tax consequences) arising under the laws of any jurisdiction other than matters of federal law arising under the laws of the United States.
Our opinion is based on our understanding that the relevant facts are, and will be as of the Effective Time, as described above. If this understanding is incorrect or incomplete in any respect, our opinion may be affected. Our opinion also is based on the Code, the Treasury Department regulations promulgated thereunder, case law, and rulings of the IRS as they now exist. These authorities are all subject to change, and such change may be made with retroactive effect. We can give no assurance that, after any such change, our opinion would not be different. Our opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and no ruling has been, or will be, requested from the IRS as to any federal income tax consequence described above.
The opinion expressed herein is furnished specifically for you and your shareholders, and may not be relied upon, assigned, quoted, or otherwise used in any manner or for any purpose by any other person or entity without our specific prior written consent. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement under the captions “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES” and “LEGAL MATTERS.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we fall within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Respectfully,
/s/ Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP