Exhibit 5.1
[Form of Kirkland & Ellis LLP Opinion]
To Call Writer Directly:
(212) 446-4800
, 2004
Alliance Laundry Holdings Inc.
P.O. Box 990
Ripon, WI 54971-0990
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special counsel to Alliance Laundry Holdings Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and its subsidiary Alliance Laundry Systems
LLC (the "Guarantor"), in connection with the proposed registration by the
Company of (i) shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Shares"), (ii) of its % Senior Subordinated Notes due
2014 (the "Notes") and (iii) Income Deposit Securities, (the "IDSs"),
each representing one Share and one Note, pursuant to a Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-114420), originally filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on April 13, 2004 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). Such Registration Statement, as
amended or supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the "Registration
Statement." The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the Indenture (as amended
and supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture"), dated as of ,
2004 by and among the Company, the Guarantor and , as trustee. The
obligations of the Company under the Notes will be guaranteed by the Guarantor.
In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records
and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this
opinion, including (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Restated Charter") of the Company in the form filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the
Registration Statement; (ii) the By-laws (the "By-laws") of the Company in the
form filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement; (iii) the form of
underwriting agreement attached as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"); (iv) the form of Indenture attached as Exhibit
4.1 to the Registration Statement; (v) a form of the stock certificate for
common stock attached as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement; (vi) a form
of global IDS certificate attached as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement;
(vii) a form of Senior Subordinated Note attached as Exhibit 4.2 to the
Registration Statement; (viii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors and
shareholders of the Company (the "Resolutions"); and (ix) the Registration
Statement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of
all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all
documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of
such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company and
the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties
thereto other than the Company. As to any facts material to the opinions
expressed herein which we have not independently established or verified, we
have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other
representatives of the Company, the Guarantor and others.
Our opinions expressed below are subject to the qualifications that we
express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i)
any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principals of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and
(iii) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to
obtain certain remedies.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and
limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion
that:
(i) the Shares will be duly authorized, and, when the Registration
Statement becomes effective under the Act, when the Board of Directors of the
Company has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and sale of the
Shares and when appropriate certificates representing the Shares are duly
countersigned and registered by the Company's transfer agent/registrar and
delivered to the Company's underwriters against payment of the agreed
consideration therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Shares
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(ii) the Notes and the Guarantee (in the forms examined by us) will be
validly issued and binding obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor,
respectively, when the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Act,
the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, and the Notes and the Guarantee (in the forms examined by us) have been
duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture and duly delivered to the holders thereof.
(iii) the IDSs will be duly authorized, and when the Registration
Statement becomes effective under the Act, when the Board of the Directors of
the Company has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and sale of
the IDSs and when appropriate certificates representing the IDSs are duly
countersigned and registered by the Company's transfer agent/registrar and
delivered to the Company's underwriters against payment of the agreed
consideration therefore and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture, the IDSs will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement. In
giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission.
We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and
accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities
or "Blue Sky" laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Shares.
This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no
opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We
assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action,
judicial decision or otherwise. This opinion is furnished to you in connection
with the filing of the Registration Statement, and is not to be used,
circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purposes.
Yours very truly,