Exhibit 5.1
SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP
BEIJING 787 SEVENTH AVENUE LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
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CHICAGO www.sidley.com SAN FRANCISCO
DALLAS FOUNDED 1866 SHANGHAI
GENEVA SINGAPORE
HONG KONG TOKYO
LONDON WASHINGTON, D.C.
December 15, 2005
Hartford Life Insurance Company
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, Connecticut 06089
Re: Hartford Life Global Funding Trusts 2005-147, 2005-148 and 2005-149
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IncomeNotes(sm)
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion letter is delivered to you in connection with:
1. the issuance by Hartford Life Global Funding Trust 2005-147 (the
"2005-147 Trust") of $6,487,000 aggregate principal amount of the
2005-147 Trust's 5.25% Callable IncomeNotes(sm) due 2011 (the
"2005-147 Notes") related to funding agreement No. FA-405147 (the
"2005-147 Funding Agreement") executed by Hartford Life Insurance
Company, a Connecticut life insurance company ("Hartford Life");
2. the issuance by Hartford Life Global Funding Trust 2005-148 (the
"2005-148 Trust") of $2,998,000 aggregate principal amount of the
2005-148 Trust's 5.50% Callable IncomeNotes(sm) due 2013 (the
"2005-148 Notes") related to funding agreement No. FA-405148 (the
"2005-148 Funding Agreement") executed by Hartford Life; and
3. the issuance by Hartford Life Global Funding Trust 2005-149 (the
"2005-149 Trust") of $13,417,000 aggregate principal amount of
the 2005-149 Trust's 5.75% Callable IncomeNotes(sm) due 2015 (the
"2005-149 Notes") related to funding agreement No. FA-405149 (the
"2005-149 Funding Agreement") executed by Hartford Life.
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SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP NEW YORK
Hartford Life Insurance Company
December 15, 2005
Page 2
The 2005-147 Trust, the 2005-148 Trust and the 2005-149 Trust are referred to
collectively herein as the "Trusts"; the 2005-147 Notes, the 2005-148 Notes and
the 2005-149 Notes are referred to collectively herein as the "Notes"; and the
2005-147 Funding Agreement, the 2005-148 Funding Agreement and the 2005-149
Funding Agreement are referred to collectively herein as the "Funding
Agreements." The Trusts were formed on December 12, 2005 (the "Formation Date")
and the Notes will be issued on December 15, 2005 (the "Issuance Date").
We have acted as special counsel to Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. in connection
with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), by
Hartford Life, of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-123441)
filed with the Commission on March 18, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed
with the Commission on April 12, 2005 (the "Registration Statement"), including
a prospectus (the "Prospectus") relating to secured notes to be issued by newly
formed statutory trusts formed under the laws of the State of Delaware and a
prospectus supplement relating to Hartford Life IncomeNotes(sm) to be issued by
the trusts (the "Retail Prospectus Supplement"). The Registration Statement
provides for: (i) the registration of up to $5,000,000,000, or the equivalent
amount in one or more foreign currencies, aggregate principal amount of notes to
be issued by the trusts and (ii) the registration of up to $5,000,000,000, or
the equivalent amount in one or more foreign currencies, of Hartford Life's
funding agreements to be sold to the trusts in connection with the sale of
notes.
In furnishing this letter, we have reviewed: (i) the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and the Retail Prospectus Supplement, and each of the
pricing supplements related to the Notes, each such pricing supplement dated as
of the Formation Date, (ii) each of the trust agreements, dated as of the
Formation Date (the "Trust Agreements"), between Wilmington Trust Company, as
trustee, and AMACAR Pacific Corp., as trust beneficial owner, which adopt and
incorporate the standard trust terms dated March 18, 2005, (iii) each of the
indentures, dated as of the Issuance Date (the "Indentures"), between JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), and the
relevant Trust, which adopt and incorporate the standard indenture terms dated
March 18, 2005, (iv) each of the distribution agreements, dated as of the
Formation Date (the "Distribution Agreements"), between Hartford Life, Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc., on behalf of itself and each of the other agents, and the
relevant Trust, which adopt and incorporate the standard distribution agreement
terms dated March 18, 2005, (v) each of the omnibus instruments, dated as of the
Formation Date, which include the relevant Trust Agreement, Indenture and
Distribution Agreement executed in connection with the creation of the Trusts
and the issuance by the Trusts of the Notes, (vi) each of the closing
instruments, dated as of the Issuance Date, related to each relevant Trust,
(vii) the Notes and (viii) each of the Funding Agreements.
We have also reviewed the trust action of the relevant Trust in connection
with the issuance of the Notes, and have examined, and have relied as to matters
of fact upon, originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such records, agreements,
SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP NEW YORK
Hartford Life Insurance Company
December 15, 2005
Page 3
documents, and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents
of public officials and of officers and representatives of the relevant Trust,
and have made such other further investigations as we have deemed relevant and
necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In such
examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us
as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies
submitted to us for our examination. We have relied as to factual matters upon,
and have assumed the accuracy of, representations, statements and certificates
of or from public officials and of or from officers and representatives of all
persons whom we have deemed appropriate.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and
limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that upon the execution,
issuance, authentication and delivery of the Notes, the relevant Notes will be
the valid and binding obligations of the relevant Trust, enforceable against
such Trust in accordance with their terms.
The above opinion with regard to the enforceability of the Notes is
qualified by the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such principles are considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect. The letter speaks as of
the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or supplement this letter
to reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention
with respect to the opinion and statements set forth above, including any
changes in applicable law which may hereafter occur.
We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Hartford Life in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Notes, incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP