EX-99.1 24 file024.htm OPINION OF FREEHILLS



26 August 2004                                Our ref   Peter Rowe
                                              Phone     +61 2 9225 5343
                                              Email     peter.rowe@freehills.com
                                              Matter no 80731864

                                              Doc no    Sydney\004679340
Attention: Mr Paul Garvey

ME Portfolio Management Limited
Level 23
360 Collins Street
MELBOURNE  VIC  3000


Dear Sirs

SMHL GLOBAL FUND NO. 7

We have acted in the capacity of Australian solicitors to ME Portfolio
Management Limited (MEPML) in relation to the offering of the SMHL Global Fund
No. 7 Class A Notes (the NOTES) in connection with the SMHL Global Fund No. 7
(the FUND) constituted under the Master Trust Deed dated 4 July 1994 between
Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited (the TRUSTEE) and MEPML (as amended and
restated) and created by a Notice of Creation of Securitisation Fund dated 19
August 2004.

Definitions in the draft Prospectus as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the COMMISSION) under the Securities Act of 1933 of the United
States of America (the PROSPECTUS) apply in this opinion. RELEVANT JURISDICTION
means the Commonwealth of Australia, the State of Victoria or the State of New
South Wales. No assumption or qualification in this opinion limits any other
assumption or qualification in it.

1        DOCUMENTS

We have examined a draft copy of the Prospectus.

2        ASSUMPTIONS

For the purposes of giving this opinion we have assumed that where a document
has been submitted to us in draft form it will be executed in the form of that
draft and have assumed that an action in the United States of America in respect
of an obligation under a Class A Note is an action for enforcement of a promise
to pay money.





3        QUALIFICATIONS

Our opinion is subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to any
laws other than the laws of each Relevant Jurisdiction as in force at the date
of this opinion and, in particular, we express no opinion as to the Laws of the
United Kingdom or the United States of America.

Terms used in this opinion have the meaning ascribed to them under the relevant
laws in the Relevant Jurisdiction.

4        OPINION

Based on the assumptions and subject to the qualification set out above (which,
except where expressly stated, apply equally to each of the opinions below) we
are of the following opinion:

(a)      Any  unsatisfied  final  and  conclusive  judgment  of a court of the
         State of New York, United  States of America  (NEW YORK STATE  COURT),
         or any federal  court of the United States of America,  having
         jurisdiction  recognised  by the Relevant  Jurisdiction,  in respect of
         an obligation under a Class A Note, which is for a fixed sum of money,
         would be  enforceable  by action  between  identical  parties in the
         courts of each  Relevant Jurisdiction  (which  action  complies  with
         rules and  procedures  of the said  Courts) without a  re-examination
         of the merits of the issues  determined by the proceedings in the New
         York  State  Court or any  federal  court of the United  States of
         America  (as applicable) unless:

         (1)      the proceedings in the New York State Court or any federal
                  court of the United States of America (as applicable) involved
                  a denial of the principles of natural justice;

         (2)      the judgment is contrary to the public policy of the Relevant
                  Jurisdiction;

         (3)      the judgment was obtained by fraud or (without limiting
                  paragraph 4(a)(2)) duress;

         (4)      the judgment is a penal or revenue judgment;

         (5)      there has been a prior judgment in another court between the
                  same parties concerning the same issues as are dealt with in
                  the judgment of the New York State Court or any federal court
                  of the United States of America (as applicable); or

         (6)      (arguably and without limiting paragraph 4(a)(2)) the judgment
                  was based on a clear or perverse mistake of fact or
                  application of Australian law or there is a defence or
                  material evidence which was not available before the New York
                  State Court or of any federal court of the United States of
                  America (as applicable).

(b)      Actions in a Relevant Jurisdiction (including as original actions or as
         actions to enforce judgments of a court of the United States of
         America) relating to civil liabilities predicated on securities laws of
         the United States of America may not be enforceable in a Relevant
         Jurisdiction even if the matters set out in paragraph 4(a) are
         otherwise satisfied.

(c)      A judgment by a court in a Relevant Jurisdiction may be given in some
         cases only in Australian dollars and recognition or enforcement may be


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         temporarily stayed in certain circumstances additional to the above
         (such as if there is an appeal in the relevant court of the United
         States of America). Counter claims may be permitted in certain
         circumstances.

We consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement on Form S-11 (the REGISTRATION STATEMENT) filed with the Prospectus,
without admitting that we are "experts" within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933 of the United States of America or the rules and regulations of the
Commission issued under that Act with respect to any part of the Registration
Statement, including this exhibit.

This opinion is given as at the date of this letter. We offer no opinion as to
whether any subsequent change in the law (including but not limited to a
Government instrument or regulation permitted by current Acts of Parliament, or
an Act of Parliament) or judicial interpretation of the law, will affect the law
or its application as outlined above.

Yours faithfully
Freehills


/s/ Peter Rowe
-----------------
Peter Rowe
Partner




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