EX-99.12 5 f53412exv99w12.htm EX-99.12 exv99w12
Exhibit 12
[FORM OF OPINION]
                          ,2009
Board of Trustees
Laudus Trust
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Board of Trustees
Schwab Capital Trust
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Re:   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated                           , 2009 (the “Plan”), by and between Laudus Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of its Laudus Rosenberg International Equity Fund (the “Acquired Fund”), and Schwab Capital Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of its Schwab International Core Equity Fund (the “Surviving Fund”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
          You have requested our opinions as to certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the reorganization of the Acquired Fund and the Surviving Fund that will consist of: (i) the transfer of all of the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Surviving Fund in exchange solely for shares of the Surviving Fund (“Surviving Fund Shares”), (ii) the assumption by the Surviving Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, and (iii) the distribution of the Surviving Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan (the “Reorganization”).
          In rendering our opinions, we have reviewed and relied upon (a) the Plan, (b) certain representations concerning the Reorganization made to us by Laudus Trust on behalf of its Laudus Rosenberg International Equity Fund, and by Schwab Capital Trust on behalf of its Schwab International Core Equity Fund, in a letter dated                           , 2009 (the “Representation Letter”), (c) all other documents, financial and other reports and corporate minutes that we deemed relevant or appropriate, and (d) such statutes, regulations, rulings and decisions as we deemed material with respect to this opinion. All terms used herein, unless otherwise defined, are used as defined in the Plan.
          For purposes of our opinions, we have assumed that the Acquired Fund and the Surviving Fund, as of the Closing Date of the Reorganization, each satisfy and, following the Reorganization, the Surviving Fund will continue to satisfy, the requirements of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company (“RIC”).
          Based on the foregoing, and provided the Reorganization is carried out in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Plan and the Representation Letter, it is our opinion that:
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Boards of Trustees
Laudus Trust
Schwab Capital Trust
                          , 2009
Page 2
     1. The Reorganization will constitute a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Acquired Fund and the Surviving Fund will each be a “party to the reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
     2. No gain or loss will be recognized by the Surviving Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Acquired Fund solely in exchange for Surviving Fund Shares and the assumption by the Surviving Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, pursuant to Section 1032(a) of the Code.
     3. No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of all of its assets to the Surviving Fund solely in exchange for Surviving Fund Shares and the assumption by the Surviving Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund or upon the distribution of Surviving Fund Shares to shareholders of the Acquired Fund, pursuant to Sections 361(a) and (c) and 357(a) of the Code.
     4. No gain or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund upon the exchange of their shares of the Acquired Fund for Surviving Fund Shares (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled), pursuant to Section 354(a) of the Code.
     5. The aggregate tax basis of Surviving Fund Shares received by each shareholder of the Acquired Fund (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled) will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Acquired Fund shares exchanged therefor, pursuant to Section 358(a)(1) of the Code.
     6. The holding period of the Surviving Fund Shares received by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund (including fractional shares to which they may be entitled) will include the holding period of the Acquired Fund shares surrendered in exchange therefor, provided that the Acquired Fund shares were held as a capital asset as of the Closing Date of the Reorganization, pursuant to Section 1223(1) of the Code.
     7. The tax basis of the assets of the Acquired Fund received by the Surviving Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the exchange, pursuant to Section 362(b) of the Code.
     8. The holding period of the assets of the Acquired Fund received by the Surviving Fund will include the period during which such assets were held by the Acquired Fund, pursuant to Section 1223(2) of the Code.
     9. The Surviving Fund will succeed to and take into account, as of the date of the transfer (as defined in Section 1.381(b)-1(b) of the Treasury Regulations), the items of the Acquired Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381(b) and (c), 382, 383 and 384 of the Code.

 

 

Boards of Trustees
Laudus Trust
Schwab Capital Trust
                          , 2009
Page 3
          Notwithstanding the foregoing opinions, no opinion is expressed as to the effect of the Reorganization on (i) the Acquired Fund or the Surviving Fund with respect to any asset as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination or transfer thereof) under a mark-to-market system of accounting and (ii) any shareholder of the Acquired Fund that is required to recognize unrealized gains and losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes under a mark-to-market system of accounting.
          Our opinions are limited solely to the Reorganization. This opinion letter expresses our views only as to U.S. federal income tax laws in effect as of the date hereof. It represents our best legal judgment as to the matters addressed herein, but is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the opinions and analysis expressed herein, if contested, would be sustained by a court. Our opinion is based upon the Code, the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the present position of the Internal Revenue Service as set forth in published revenue rulings and revenue procedures, present administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service, and existing judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. We do not undertake to make any continuing analysis of the facts or relevant law following the date of this letter.
          Our opinions are conditioned upon the performance by Schwab Capital Trust and Laudus Trust, on behalf of the Surviving Fund and the Acquired Fund, respectively, of their undertakings in the Plan and the Representation Letter.
          Our opinions are being rendered to Schwab Capital Trust and Laudus Trust on behalf of the Surviving Fund and the Acquired Fund, respectively, and may be relied upon only by Schwab Capital Trust and Laudus Trust, their respective Board of Trustees, the Acquired Fund, the Surviving Fund and the shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the Surviving Fund.
Very truly yours,