Exhibit 12
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[Debevoise & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Letterhead]
[Dated as of the Closing Date]
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Trust
The General Motors Building
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Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust
The General Motors Building
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Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
dated as of _______ __, 1996
by and between
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Trust,
on behalf of its series,
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Series,
and Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust,
on behalf of its series,
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Trust
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment
Trust, a Delaware business trust ("Investment Trust"), acting on behalf of its
series, Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Series ("Acquiring Fund"), and Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Trust, a
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Trust
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust
2 [Date of the Closing]
Delaware business trust ("Securities Trust"), acting on behalf of its series,
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Trust ("Acquired Fund"), in connection with the proposed
acquisition (the "Reorganization") of all of the assets of Acquired Fund by
Acquiring Fund pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of
_______ __, 1996, by and between Investment Trust, on behalf of Acquiring Fund,
and Securities Trust, on behalf of Acquired Fund (the "Reorganization
Agreement").
In so acting, we have participated in the preparation of the
Reorganization Agreement and the preparation and filing by Acquiring Fund with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on ________ __, 1996 of a Registration
Statement on Form N-14, containing a Proxy Statement and Prospectus relating to
the proposed Reorganization and to the shares of common stock of Acquiring Fund
to be issued to Acquired Fund shareholders in the Reorganization pursuant to the
Reorganization Agreement.
As required by Section 8.5 of the Reorganization Agreement, you have
requested that we render the opinion set forth below. In rendering such
opinion, we have examined and relied upon the accuracy as of the date hereof of
the representations and warranties as to factual matters set forth in the
documents referred to above and the Letters of Representation, dated as of the
date hereof, that you have provided to us, copies of which are attached hereto.
We have also examined the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified
to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates or other
instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to
render the opinions set forth below. We have not, however, undertaken any
independent investigation of any factual matter set forth in any of the
foregoing.
Subject to the foregoing and to the qualifications and limitations set
forth herein, and assuming that the Reorganization is consummated in accordance
with the Reorganization Agreement and as described in the Registration
Statement, we are of the opinion that for United States federal income tax
purposes:
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust
3 [Date of the Closing]
1. The acquisition by Acquiring Fund of all of the assets of Acquired
Fund solely in exchange for the issuance of Acquiring Fund shares to
Acquired Fund and the assumption of all of the Acquired Fund liabilities by
Acquiring Fund, followed by the distribution by Acquired Fund, in complete
liquidation, of the Acquiring Fund shares to Acquired Fund shareholders in
exchange for their Acquired Fund shares, will be treated as a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
2. Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund will each be "a party to the
reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
3. No gain or loss will be recognized by Acquired Fund upon the
transfer of Acquired Fund's assets to Acquiring Fund in exchange for
Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by Acquiring Fund of the
liabilities of Acquired Fund or upon the distribution of Acquiring Fund
shares to Acquired Fund's shareholders.
4. No gain or loss will be recognized by Acquiring Fund upon the
receipt of the assets of Acquired Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund
shares and the assumption by Acquiring Fund of the liabilities of Acquired
Fund.
5. No gain or loss will be recognized by shareholders of Acquired
Fund upon the exchange of their Acquired Fund shares for Acquiring Fund
shares.
6. The aggregate tax basis of the Acquiring Fund shares received by
any Acquired Fund shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization will be the
same as the aggregate tax basis of the Acquired Fund shares held by such
shareholder immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding period
for the Acquiring Fund shares to be received by any Acquired Fund
shareholder will include the period during which the Acquired Fund shares
exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder (provided that the
Acquired Fund
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust
4 [Date of the Closing]
shares are held as capital assets on the date of the Reorganization).
7. The tax basis of Acquired Fund's assets acquired by Acquiring
Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to Acquired Fund
immediately prior to the Reorganization, and the holding period of the
assets of Acquired Fund in the hands of Acquiring Fund will include the
period during which those assets were held by Acquired Fund.
This opinion is limited solely to the federal law of the United States
as in effect on the date hereof and the relevant facts that exist as of the date
hereof. No assurance can be given that the law or facts will not change, and we
have not undertaken to advise you or any other person with respect to any event
subsequent to the date hereof.
We are delivering this opinion to you and, without our prior written
consent, no other persons are entitled to rely on this opinion.
Very truly yours,
[Debevoise & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Letterhead]
March 1 , 1996
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Trust
The General Motors Building
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Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Trust
The General Motors Building
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby consent to the filing of the draft opinion attached hereto as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form N-14, to be filed by Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Invest ment Trust, a Delaware business trust ("Investment Trust"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, containing a Proxy Statement and Prospectus
relating to (i) the proposed acquisition (the "Reorganization") of all of the
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assets of Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Trust ("Acquired Fund"), a series of Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Trust, a Delaware business trust ("Securities Trust") by Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Balanced Series ("Acquiring Fund"), a series of Investment Trust, pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization to be entered into by and between
Investment Trust, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, and Securities Trust, on behalf
of Acquired Fund and (ii) the shares of common stock of Acquiring Fund to be
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issued to Acquired Fund shareholders in the Reorganization. We also hereby
consent to the use of our name under the caption "Information About the
Reorganization -- Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/S/ DEBEVOISE & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
