Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
8-K - FORM 8-K - Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. | h85098e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 5.1
October 13, 2011
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.
2780 Waterfront Pkwy E. Drive
Suite 200
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214
2780 Waterfront Pkwy E. Drive
Suite 200
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the Partnership), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with
the registration by the Partnership under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), of the offer and sale by the Partnership of up to 750,000 common units
representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the Units) pursuant to that
certain Underwriting Agreement, dated September 8, 2011 (the Underwriting Agreement),
relating to the offering and sale of the Units by and among the Partnership, Calumet GP, LLC (the
General Partner) and the several underwriters named therein (the Underwriters).
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have examined and relied upon (i) the
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-170390) with respect to the Units being sold by
the Partnership (the Registration Statement); (ii) the prospectus dated November 22, 2010
(the Prospectus) included in the Registration Statement; (iii) the prospectus supplement
dated September 8, 2011 (the Prospectus Supplement); (iv) the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of January 31, 2006, as amended; (v)
the Underwriting Agreement; (vii) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the General Partner
dated November 2, 2010 and the pricing committee thereof dated September 8, 2011; and (vi) such
other certificates, statutes and other instruments and documents as we consider appropriate for
purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed. In addition, we have reviewed certain certificates of
public officials, and we have relied on such certificates with respect to certain factual matters
that we have not independently established.
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that all Units will be issued and
sold in compliance in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable
Prospectus.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, limitations and
qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Units have been issued and
delivered in accordance with terms of the Underwriting Agreement, then the Units will be validly
issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and except as described in the Prospectus
Supplement and the Prospectus).
The opinion expressed herein is qualified in the following respects:
A. We have assumed, without independent verification, that the certificates for the Units will
conform to the specimens thereof examined by us and will have been duly countersigned by a transfer
agent and duly registered by a registrar of the Units.
B. We have assumed that (i) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete,
each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to
an authentic original and all signatures on each such document are genuine and (ii) each
certificate from governmental officials reviewed by us is accurate, complete and authentic, and all
official public records are accurate and complete.
C. This opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States, the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, as
interpreted by the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States. We are expressing no
opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by
reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the reference to our
Firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus. In giving
this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours, |
||||
/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P. | ||||
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. | ||||