Exhibit 5.8
[RUSSELL McVEAGH LETTERHEAD]
[PARTNERS LETTERHEAD]
10 July 2003
Burns Philp (New Zealand) Limited
54 Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby
AUCKLAND
New Zealand Food Industries Limited
54 Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby
AUCKLAND
BURNS PHILP (NEW ZEALAND) LIMITED AND NEW ZEALAND FOOD INDUSTRIES LIMITED, AS
GUARANTORS OF BURNS PHILP CAPITAL PTY LIMITED US$400 MILLION SENIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES DUE 2012
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 This opinion is issued in connection with:
(a) the guarantee of US$400 million in aggregate principal amount of
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the "GUARANTY") by Burns Philp
(New Zealand) Limited and New Zealand Food Industries Limited
(together the "COMPANIES"), pursuant to the Indenture (together with
the Guaranty included therein, the "Indenture") dated 21 June 2002
among the Issuer, the guarantors named therein (the "GUARANTORS")
and Bank of New York, as trustee;
(b) the filing of an exchange registration statement on form F-4 (file
number 333-98141) ("REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in respect of certain
Exchange Notes ("NOTES") issued pursuant to the Indenture; and
(c) the prospectus ("PROSPECTUS") issued in respect of those Notes being
registered under the U.S. Securities Act 1933, as amended, as
contained in the Registration Statement.
1.2 Expressions defined in the Indenture have the same meanings in this
opinion.
1.3 We have taken instructions solely from Dewey Ballantine LLP and we have
assumed that those instructions reflect the instructions given by the
Companies.
ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CENTRE 48 SHORTLAND STREET PO BOX 8 AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND
PHONE 64 9 367 8000 FAX 64 9 367 8163
DX CX10085 www.russellmcveagh.com ALSO AT WELLINGTON
RUSSELL McVEAGH 2
2. JURISDICTION
2.1 This opinion relates only to the laws of New Zealand in force and
effective as at the date of this opinion and is given on the basis that it
will be construed in accordance with those laws. We have made no
investigation of, and express no opinion as to, the laws of any other
jurisdiction.
3. DOCUMENTATION
3.1 For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the following:
(a) A copy of an executed copy of the Indenture.
(b) Two certificates each dated 27 November 2002 ("DIRECTOR'S
CERTIFICATES"), one given by a director of each Company.
(c) The public records:
(i) on file at the office of the Registrar of Companies at
Auckland, carried out on 10 July 2003; and
(ii) of the Registrar of the High Court at Auckland (being the
office of the Court at which a statement of claim for the
liquidation of the Company would be required to be filed under
the High Court Rules), carried out on 10 July 2003. However,
it is possible that a statement of claim for the liquidation
of the Company would be accepted by a High Court Registrar
other than at Auckland.
(d) Copies, each certified as true and correct by Allen Hugli, of two
powers of attorney each dated 14 June 2002 ("POWERS OF ATTORNEY"),
one given by each Company to the persons named therein for the
purposes specified therein.
(e) Two certificates of non-revocation, one relating to each of the two
Powers of Attorney, each dated 21 June 2002.
(f) The originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such certificates and other documents as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render our opinion.
4. ASSUMPTIONS
4.1 We have made the following assumptions:
(a) All signatures on the Indenture are genuine.
(b) All documents provided to us are:
(i) if originals, authentic and in full force and effect; and
(ii) if copies, true copies of original documents, that are in full
force and effect.
RUSSELL McVEAGH 3
(c) All facts provided to us by or on behalf of any person, including
those set out in any document or certificate, are correct.
(d) All necessary directors' and shareholders' resolutions of each of
the Companies remain in full force and effect without modification
as at the date of this opinion.
(e) The records of the Registrar of Companies and the Registrar of the
High Court referred to in paragraph 3.1(c) are complete, accurate
and up to date. We note that records disclosed by the search
referred to in paragraph 3.1(c)(i) may not be complete or up to date
and that an application to liquidate a company, or notice of a
liquidation order or resolution for the appointment of a receiver or
for the liquidation of a company, may not be filed with the
Registrar of Companies immediately or, even if filed, may not be
available for public inspection.
5. OPINION
5.1 In our opinion:
(a) The Companies are registered under the Companies Act 1993.
(b) The Companies have:
(i) corporate power to enter into and perform their obligations
under the Indenture and to undertake all matters required to
be undertaken by them under, in respect of, and for the
purposes of implementing, the transactions contemplated by
that Indenture; and
(ii) taken all necessary corporate action to authorise the entry
into, and execution of, the Indenture and the performance of
its obligations thereunder and the undertaking by them of all
matters required to be undertaken by them under, or in respect
of, the transactions contemplated by that Indenture.
(c) The Indenture has been executed by the Companies in accordance with
the Companies Act 1993.
(d) The execution of the Indenture by the Companies does not violate any
law of New Zealand by which the Companies are bound or any provision
of their constitutions.
6. BENEFIT
6.1 This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated herein and does not
apply by implication to any other matter or matters.
6.2 We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.8 to the
Registration Statement and to the reference made to this firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do
not thereby admit that we are included within the category of persons
whose
RUSSELL McVEAGH 4
consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act, or the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully
RUSSELL MCVEAGH
/s/ Laurie Mayne /s/ Jonathan Lagan
- -----------------------------------
Laurie Mayne / Jonathan Lagan
Partner / Solicitor
Direct phone: 64 9 367 8227 / 8156
Direct fax: 64 9 367 8097
Email: laurie.mayne@russellmcveagh.com
jonathan.lagan@russellmcveagh.com