Exhibit 8.2
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom llp
One Manhattan West
New York, NY 10001
TEL: (212) 735-3000
FAX: (212) 735-2000
WWW.SKADDEN.COM
FIRM/AFFILIATE
BOSTON CHICAGO HOUSTON LOS ANGELES PALO ALTO WASHINGTON, D.C. WILMINGTON
BEIJING BRUSSELS FRANKFURT HONG KONG LONDON MUNICH PARIS SÃO PAULO SEOUL SHANGHAI SINGAPORE TOKYO TORONTO |
August 3, 2023
Â鶹app 12300 Â鶹app Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112
|
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special tax counsel to Â鶹app Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Â鶹app”), in connection with specified aspects of the amendment and restatement of Â鶹app’s certificate of incorporation, pursuant to which (i) Â鶹app’s existing Â鶹app SiriusXM common stock (“Old Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock”) and Â鶹app Formula One common stock (“Old Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock”) will be reclassified into three new tracking stocks to be designated as Â鶹app SiriusXM common stock (“New Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock”), Â鶹app Formula One common stock (“New Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock”), and Â鶹app Live common stock (“Â鶹app Live Common Stock”) and, in connection therewith, provide for the attribution of the businesses, assets, and liabilities of Â鶹app’s existing Â鶹app SiriusXM Group and Formula One Group among Â鶹app’s newly created Â鶹app SiriusXM Group, Formula One Group, and Â鶹app Live Group; (ii) each outstanding share of Old Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock will be reclassified into one newly issued share of the corresponding series of New Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock and 0.2500 of a newly issued share of the corresponding series of Â鶹app Live Common Stock; and (iii) each outstanding share of Old Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock will be reclassified into one newly issued share of the corresponding series of New Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock and 0.0428 of a newly issued share of the corresponding series of Â鶹app Live Common Stock (collectively, the “Reclassification”). Â鶹app has requested our opinion (the “Opinion”) regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reclassification.1
In rendering this Opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the existing certificate of incorporation of Â鶹app that will be in effect immediately before the Reclassification; (ii) the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Â鶹app that will be in effect immediately after the Reclassification; (iii) the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-268921) filed by Â鶹app with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 20, 2022, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus that forms a part thereof and the exhibits attached thereto, as amended through the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”); (iv) all other submissions to the SEC related to the Registration Statement; (v) the officer’s certificate furnished to us by Â鶹app, dated as of the date hereof, together with the exhibits attached thereto (the “Â鶹app Officer’s Certificate”); and (vi) such other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for this Opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, electronic, or facsimile copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such documents.
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1 Unless otherwise indicated, all “section” references in this Opinion are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
Â鶹app
August 3, 2023
Page 2
As to certain facts material to this Opinion, we have relied upon the statements and representations set forth in the Â鶹app Officer’s Certificate. We have assumed that such statements and representations are true, correct, and complete as of the date hereof and will continue to be true, correct, and complete without regard to any qualification as to knowledge, belief, or otherwise. We have also assumed that the Reclassification will be consummated in accordance with its terms and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and that none of the material terms or conditions contained therein will be waived or modified in any respect. This Opinion is expressly conditioned upon, among other things, the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, information, covenants, representations, and warranties set forth in the documents referred to above, including those contained in the Â鶹app Officer’s Certificate. Any change or inaccuracy in or to such facts, information, covenants, representations, or warranties (including on account of events occurring after the consummation of the Reclassification) could affect one or more of the conclusions stated herein.
This Opinion is based on the Code, the Treasury Department regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, published rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), and such other authorities as we have considered relevant, all as in effect on the date hereof. It should be noted that the authorities upon which this Opinion is based are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change in such authorities could affect one or more of the conclusions expressed herein. Moreover, an opinion of counsel represents counsel’s best judgment as to the outcome on the merits with respect to the matters addressed therein. Opinions of counsel are not binding on courts or the Service, and there can be no assurance that this Opinion will be accepted by the Service or, if challenged, by a court.
Â鶹app
August 3, 2023
Page 3
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the conditions, limitations, assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, under current U.S. federal income tax law:
1. | The Reclassification will qualify as a reorganization under section 368(a). |
2. | The New Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock, New Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock, and Â鶹app Live Common Stock will be treated as stock of Â鶹app for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
3. | No income, gain or loss will be recognized by Â鶹app as a result of the Reclassification. |
4. | Except with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Â鶹app Live Common Stock, holders of Old Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock and holders of Old Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock will not recognize income, gain, or loss as a result of the Reclassification. |
5. | The New Â鶹app SiriusXM Common Stock, New Â鶹app Formula One Common Stock, and Â鶹app Live Common Stock will not constitute “section 306 stock” within the meaning of section 306(c). |
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Â鶹app
August 3, 2023
Page 4
Except as set forth above, we express no opinion or other views regarding the tax consequences of the Reclassification or any other transactions. This Opinion relates solely to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reclassification, and no opinion is expressed as to the tax consequences of the Reclassification under any state, local, or foreign tax laws or under any U.S. federal tax laws other than those pertaining to income taxation. This Opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise this Opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters or changes arising after the date hereof.
We are furnishing this Opinion to Â鶹app solely in connection with the Reclassification and the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Registration Statement and to the filing of this Opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |