EX-8.1 3 file3.htm OP OF MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW LLP W/RESP TO TAX

Exhibit 8.1




 

 

 

April 25, 2007

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606-4637

Main Tel (312) 782-0600
Main Fax (312) 701-7711

www.mayerbrownrowe.com

 

CDF Funding, Inc.

5595 Trillium Boulevard

Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60192

Re:

CDF Funding, Inc.—

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as tax counsel to CDF Funding, Inc. (the “Registrant”), a Delaware corporation, in connection with (a) the preparation of a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to asset-backed notes (Registration No. 333-130782, the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 21, 2006 pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (b) the related base prospectus for Series 2007-1 dated April 18, 2007 (the “2007-1 Base Prospectus”) and the related prospectus supplement dated April 19, 2007 (the “2007-1 Prospectus Supplement” and together with the 2007-1 Base Prospectus, the “2007-1 Prospectus”), filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) relating to the issuance of the Class A Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-1 (the “Series 2007-1 Class A Notes”), the Class B Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-1 (the “Series 2007-1 Class B Notes”), and the Class C Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-1 (the “Series 2007-1 Class C Notes” and together with the Series 2007-1 Class A Notes and the Series 2007-1 Class B Notes, the “Notes”).

The Notes will be issued pursuant to a master indenture (as may be amended, modified or supplemented, the “Master Indenture”), between GE Dealer Floorplan Master Note Trust (the “Trust”) and Wilmington Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), as supplemented by a Series 2007-1 Indenture Supplement dated on or about April 26, 2007 (the “Indenture Supplement” and together with the Master Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Trust and the Indenture Trustee.

We generally are familiar with the proceedings required to be taken in connection with the proposed authorization and issuance of the Notes and have examined copies of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, including the Registration Statement and, in each case as filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (i) the Receivables Purchase and Contribution Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, between the Registrant, as



 

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seller, and the Trust, as buyer, (ii) the Amended and Restated Servicing Agreement between the Trust and General Electric Capital Corporation, as master servicer, (iii) the Indenture (including the form of Notes included as exhibits thereto), (iv) the Trust Agreement with The Bank of New York as Owner Trustee and (v) the Receivables Sale Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, between certain seller parties thereto, and the Registrant, as buyer (collectively, the “Operative Documents”).

As special tax counsel to the Registrant, we have advised the Registrant with respect to certain federal income tax aspects of the proposed issuance of the Notes after the date hereof as described in the Registration Statement. Such advice has formed the basis for the description of selected federal income tax consequences for holders of the Notes that appears under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the 2007-1 Base Prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement and the heading “Structural Summary — Tax Status” in the 2007-1 Prospectus Supplement forming a part of the Registration Statement.  Such description does not purport to discuss all possible income tax ramifications of the proposed issuance of the Notes, but with respect to those federal income tax consequences that are discussed, in our opinion, the description is accurate.

The opinion set forth above is based on relevant provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations thereunder, and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, administrative determinations, and legislative history as of the date hereof. These provisions and interpretations are subject to change, which may or may not be retroactive in effect, that might result in modifications of our opinion.

This opinion is furnished by us as special counsel for the Registrant and may be relied upon by you only in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents. It may not be used or relied upon by you for any other purpose, nor may copies be delivered to any other person, without in each instance our prior written consent. This opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters. We assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that arise after the date of this opinion and come to our attention, or any future changes in laws.

This opinion letter is based on the facts and circumstances set forth in the 2007-1 Base Prospectus and the 2007-1 Prospectus Supplement and in the other documents reviewed by us.  Our opinion as to the matters set forth herein only relates to the Notes and to no other series of notes that may be otherwise issued by the Registrant.  As the Registration Statement contemplates series of notes with numerous different characteristics and the base prospectus, form of prospectus supplement and the Operative Documents related thereto do not relate to a specific transaction, the particular characteristics of each series of notes must be considered in determining the applicability of this opinion to a particular series of notes and such opinion may require modification in the context of any actual transaction.



 

 

 





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We consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated of even date herewith and to the use of our name therein, without admitting that we are “experts” within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion.

Respectfully submitted,


/S/ MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW LLP


MAYER, BROWN, ROWE & MAW LLP


JBO/WAL/MLK/BES