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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. – ‘F-3’ on 9/24/20 – ‘EX-5.1’

On:  Thursday, 9/24/20, at 7:37pm ET   ·   As of:  9/25/20   ·   Accession #:  1193125-20-253649   ·   File #s:  333-235653, 333-249031

Previous ‘F-3’:  ‘F-3/A’ on 3/10/20   ·   Next:  ‘F-3’ on 4/6/21   ·   Latest:  ‘F-3’ on 4/16/24   ·   10 References:   

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 9/25/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP F-3         9/24/20    6:1.1M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA

Registration Statement by a Foreign Issuer – Securities for a Transaction   —   Form F-3
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: F-3         Registration Statement by a Foreign Issuer -        HTML    315K 
                Securities for a Transaction                                     
 2: EX-4.2      Instrument Defining the Rights of Security Holders  HTML    394K 
 3: EX-4.3      Instrument Defining the Rights of Security Holders  HTML     91K 
 4: EX-5.1      Opinion of Counsel re: Legality                     HTML     35K 
 5: EX-23.1     Consent of Expert or Counsel                        HTML      6K 
 6: EX-99.1     Miscellaneous Exhibit                               HTML     33K 


‘EX-5.1’   —   Opinion of Counsel re: Legality


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  EX-5.1  

 

Bermuda Office Appleby (Bermuda) Limited

Canon’s Court

22 Victoria Street

PO Box HM 1179 Hamilton HM EX Bermuda

Tel + 14412952244

Fax + 14412928666

applebyglobal.com

Exhibit 5.1

 

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.

73 Front Street

Hamilton Bermuda

HM 11

  

Email clangley@applebyglobal.com

 

Direct Dial +1 441 298 3202

 

  

Appleby Ref

446547.0002

 

By Email and Courier

24 September 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.

We have acted as legal advisers as to matters of Bermuda law to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P., an exempted limited partnership organized under the laws of the Islands of Bermuda (Partnership). We have been requested to render this opinion in connection with the filing by the Partnership of:

 

1.

a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 dated as of 24 September 2020 (as may be amended, the Registration Statement) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), relating to the issuance by the Partnership or the delivery by the selling unitholder named therein from time to time of the Partnership’s limited partnership units (Units), in each case, in connection with the exchange, redemption or acquisition, as applicable, from time to time of class A subordinate voting shares (Class A Shares) of Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation; and

 

2.

the prospectus, dated as of 24 September 2020, contained in the Registration Statement (as may be amended, the Prospectus).

For the purposes of this opinion we have examined and relied upon the documents listed (which in some cases, are also defined) in the Schedule to this opinion (Documents).

ASSUMPTIONS

In stating our opinion we have assumed:

 

 

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (the Legal

Practice) is a limited liability company

incorporated in Bermuda and

approved and recognised under the

Bermuda Bar (Professional

Companies) Rules 2009. “Partner” is

a title referring to a director,

shareholder or an employee of the

Legal Practice. A list of such persons

can be obtained from your

relationship partner.

 

 

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 


1.

the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original Documents of all Documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, notarised or photostatic copies;

 

2.

the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;

 

3.

the authority, capacity and power of persons signing the Documents;

 

4.

that any representation, warranty or statement of fact or law, other than the laws of Bermuda made in any of the Documents, is true, accurate and complete;

 

5.

that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein;

 

6.

that there are no provisions of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda which would be contravened by any actions taken by the Partnership in connection with the Registration Statement or which would have any implication in relation to the opinion expressed herein and that, in so far as any obligation under, or action to be taken under, the Registration Statement is required to be performed or taken in any jurisdiction outside Bermuda, the performance of such obligation or the taking of such action will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto under the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be illegal by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;

 

7.

the accuracy, completeness and currency of the records and filing systems maintained at the public offices where we have caused the Electronic Extract or enquiries to be conducted, that such search and enquiry did not fail to disclose any information which had been filed with or delivered to the relevant body but had not been processed at the time when the search was conducted and the enquiries were made, and that the information disclosed by the Electronic Extract is accurate and complete in all respects and such information has not been materially altered since the date and time of the Electronic Extract; and

 

8.

any amendment to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is properly authorized by the Partnership and the terms and transactions contemplated by any such amendment adopted would not be inconsistent with the Resolutions and the terms and transactions contemplated by the Prospectus and the Registration Statement as of the date hereof.

 

 

.    

 

 

2

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 


OPINION

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations set out below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

The Partnership is an exempted limited partnership established and existing under the laws of Bermuda. The Partnership possesses the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and is in good standing under the laws of Bermuda. All suits in respect of the business of the Partnership shall be prosecuted by and against Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Limited (BIPL) in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership.

 

2.

When duly authorized, allotted, issued and fully paid for pursuant to the terms of the Resolutions and in accordance with the terms and conditions referred to or summarized in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated by reference therein), the Units to be issued by the Partnership upon exchange, redemption or acquisition, as applicable, of Class A Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable units of the Partnership.

 

3.

When duly authorized, allotted, issued and fully paid for pursuant to the terms of the Resolutions and in accordance with the terms and conditions referred to or summarized in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated by reference therein), the Units to be issued by the Partnership upon the redemption of redeemable partnership units of Brookfield Infrastructure L.P. and delivered by the selling unitholder named in the Registration Statement upon exchange of Class A Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable units of the Partnership.

RESERVATIONS

We have the following reservations:

 

1.

We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the courts of Bermuda at the date hereof.

 

2.

Where an obligation is to be performed in a jurisdiction other than Bermuda, the courts of Bermuda may refuse to enforce it to the extent that such performance would be illegal under the laws of, or contrary to public policy of such other jurisdiction.

 

 

    .

 

 

3

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 


3.

Any reference in this opinion to Units being “non-assessable” shall mean, in relation to fully-paid Units of the Partnership and subject to any contrary provision in any agreement in writing between the Partnership and the holder of Units, that: no holder shall be obliged to contribute further amounts to the capital of the Partnership, either in order to complete payment for their Units, to satisfy claims of creditors of the Partnership, or otherwise.

 

4.

The Limited Partnership Act 1883 (the Act) provides that a limited partner shall be liable as a general partner if he takes part in the management of the partnership.

 

5.

A limited partner is liable to the Partnership, or to its creditors, for any amount in respect of such limited partner’s contribution to the Partnership to the extent such contribution has not been contributed in full, or to the extent such contribution is either released or returned to the limited partner contrary to the restrictions on reductions of capital contained in the Act.

 

6.

A limited partner is liable for damages on account of misrepresentation in respect of false statements contained in the certificate of limited partnership, any supplementary certificates or certificate of cancellation in respect of the Partnership, to the extent a limited partner signed such certificate, or caused another to sign it on his/her behalf, and knew such statement to be false at the time of signature.

 

7.

Every partner of the Partnership who is guilty of any fraud in the affairs of the Partnership shall be liable civilly to the party injured to the extent of his damage and shall be liable for penalties applicable to offences committed against the Act.

 

8.

With respect to opinions 2 and 3, we have relied upon statements and representations made to us in the Secretary’s Certificate provided to us by an authorised officer of the Company for the purposes of this opinion. We have made no independent verification of the matters referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate, and we qualify such opinions to the extent that the statements or representations made in the Secretary’s Certificate are not accurate in any respect.

 

9.

Due to the current situation relating to COVID-19, our protocols prevent us from conducting physical company, partnership or litigation searches or from determining whether any charges are registered against the Partnership. Therefore, for the purposes of giving this opinion we have relied on the Electronic Extract and the Officer’s Certificate re: Searches, the contents of which we have not verified.

 

 

 

 

4

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 


DISCLOSURE

This opinion is addressed to you in connection with the registration of the Units with the SEC and is not to be used, quoted or relied upon for any other purpose. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of the Partnership and further consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement.

This opinion is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with Bermuda law. Further, this opinion speaks as of its date and is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and we assume no obligation to review or update this opinion if applicable law or the existing acts or circumstances should change.

 

Yours faithfully
/s/ Appleby (Bermuda Limited)
Appleby (Bermuda) Limited
 

 

 

5

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich


SCHEDULE

 

1.

An officer’s certificate, in PDF format, signed by an officer of BIPL confirming that, to the best of his knowledge: (i) no court proceedings are pending against BIPL or the Partnership or Brookfield Infrastructure L.P. (BIP, together with the Partnerships); (ii) no petition to wind up BIPL or the Partnerships or application to reorganise their affairs pursuant to a scheme of arrangement or application for the appointment of a receiver has been filed with the Supreme Court of Bermuda; and (iii) no notice of the passing of a resolution of members or creditors to wind up BIPL or the Partnerships or for the appointment of a liquidator or receiver has been given to the Registrar of Companies in respect of BIPL or the Partnerships (Officer’s Certificate re: Searches).

Typically, we would conduct a search of the entries and filings shown and available for inspection in respect of BIPL and the Partnerships in the register of charges and on the file of BIPL and the Partnerships maintained in the register of companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Hamilton, Bermuda (Company Search). However, due to the situation with coronavirus COVID-19, our protocols prevent us from carrying out a Company Search. The Registrar of Companies is providing a company and partnership search extract when a request is submitted via email (Electronic Extract).

Typically, we would conduct a search of the entries and filings shown and available for inspection in respect of BIPL and the Partnerships in the Cause and Judgement Book of the Supreme Court maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court in Hamilton, Bermuda (Litigation Search). However, due to the situation with coronavirus COVID-19, our protocols prevent us from carrying out a Litigation Search.

 

2.

Certified copies of the following documents in respect of the Partnership: Certificate of Registration for a Partnership to be Registered as an Exempted Partnership and Limited Partnership dated 13 June 2007, Certificate of Deposit of Supplementary Certificate (Change of Name) dated 10 July 2007, Certificate of Deposit of Supplementary Certificate (Change of Registered Office) dated 8 December 2011, Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 16 February 2018, First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 12 September 2018, Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 27 February 2020 and Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated 21 September 2020 (collectively, Limited Partnership Documents).

 

 

 

 

6

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 


3.

Certified copies of the following documents in respect of BIPL: Certificate of Incorporation dated 21 May 2007, memorandum of association dated 17 May 2007, Bye-laws adopted on 4 August 2015, Bermuda Monetary Authority Consent and Conditions Dated 18 May 2007, and Tax Assurance Certificate dated 18 December 2012 (collectively, GP Documents, and collectively with Limited Partnership Documents, Constitutional Documents).

 

4.

Copy of the Minutes of the Meetings of the Board of Directors of BIPL of the Partnership held on 22 September 2020 (including the annexures thereto) (Resolutions).

 

5.

Copy of a secretary certificate dated 24 September 2020 and signed by the secretary of BIPL in respect of the Resolutions (Secretary’s Certificate).

 

6.

Certificates of Compliance each dated 23 September 2020 issued by the Registrar of Companies in respect of BIPL and the Partnership.

 

7.

The Registration Statement.

 

8.

The Prospectus.

 

 

 

 

7

Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Jersey London Mauritius Seychelles Shanghai Zurich

 

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘F-3’ Filing    Date    Other Filings
Filed as of:9/25/20None on these Dates
Filed on:9/24/20
 List all Filings 


1 Subsequent Filing that References this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

10/01/20  SEC                               UPLOAD11/03/20    2:39K  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP


9 Previous Filings that this Filing References

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 9/21/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         9/21/20    7:532K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 8/13/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         6/30/20   93:29M                                    Workiva Inc Wde… FA01/FA
 5/13/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         3/31/20    4:7.6M                                   Workiva Inc Wde… FA01/FA
 4/02/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         4/01/20    5:1.2M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/28/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 20-F       12/31/19  177:47M                                    Workiva Inc Wde… FA01/FA
 2/27/20  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         2/27/20    3:63K                                    Toppan Merrill/FA
 9/12/18  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         9/12/18    3:461K                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 2/16/18  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 6-K         2/16/18    3:3.1M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
 7/31/07  Brookfield Infrastructure Par… LP 20FR12B                5:6.8M                                   Bowne - Bot/FA
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