Mayer, Brown, ROWE & MAW
Exhibit 8
Mayer, Brown, XXXX & MAW
000 XXXXX XX XXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX 00000-0000
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Main Telephone |
May 29, 2002
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in
Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement dated May 21, 2002
Sears, Xxxxxxx and Co.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Sears Xxxxxxx Acceptance Corp.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
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Re: |
Sears Xxxxxxx Acceptance Corp. $1,000,000,000 of 7.00% Notes Due |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special tax counsel to Sears Xxxxxxx Acceptance Corp., a Delaware corporation ("SRAC"), in connection with the issuance by SRAC of $1,000,000,000 of registered 7.00% Notes due June 1, 2032 (the "Notes") as described in the Prospectus Supplement dated May 21, 2002 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Prospectus dated May 21, 2002 (the "Prospectus"). The several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement (as defined below) are purchasing the Notes to be sold to the public in accordance with the terms of (i) the Pricing Agreement dated May 21, 2002 among SRAC, Sears, Xxxxxxx & Co. ("Sears") and the several Underwriters (the "Pricing Agreement"), and (ii) the Underwriting Agreement dated May 21, 2002 among SRAC, Sears and the several Underwriters (the "Underwriting Agreement"). This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 8(j) of the
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Brussels Charlotte Chicago Cologne Frankfurt Houston
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MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW |
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Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
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Underwriting Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
In preparing our opinion we have reviewed the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Underwriting Agreement and such other documents as we believe necessary for purposes of delivering this opinion. Our opinion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applicable Treasury regulations (the "Regulations"), and public administrative and judicial interpretations of the Code and the Regulations, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the discussion included in the Prospectus Supplement "United States Tax Considerations" (the "Discussion") is a fair and accurate description of the material United States federal income and estate tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the Notes and is correct as of the date hereof, subject to the conditions, limitations, and assumptions described therein.
The Discussion does not cover all aspects of United States federal income and estate taxation that may be relevant to, or the actual tax effect that matters described therein will have on, any particular holder, and it does not address foreign, state, or local tax consequences. The Discussion does not cover the tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which (such as dealers in securities, insurance companies, individual retirement and other tax-deferred accounts, and other tax-exempt entities) may be subject to special rules.
Our opinion may change if (i) the applicable law changes, (ii) any of the facts with respect to the Notes as included in the Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or Underwriting Agreement, change, or (iii) if the conduct of the parties is materially inconsistent with the facts reflected in the Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or Underwriting Agreement.
Our opinion represents only our legal judgment based on current law and the facts as described above. Our opinion has no binding effect on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. The Internal Revenue Service may take a position contrary to our opinion, and if the matter is litigated, a court may reach a decision contrary to our opinion.
This opinion is solely for the special benefit of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement, Sears and SRAC. This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent.
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MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW |
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Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
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We hereby consent to the use of our opinion as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement and the reference to our firm in the Prospectus Supplement. We also consent to the filing of our opinion as part of SRAC's current report on Form 8-K dated on or about May 30, 2002.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee, may rely on this opinion as if it were addressed to them.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw
MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW
JRB
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