TAX OPINION OF NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP
Published on November 7, 2024
Exhibit 8.1
![]() |
NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW |
|
301 South College Street / 23rd Floor Charlotte, NC 28202-6041 T: 704.417.3000 F: 704.377.4814 nelsonmullins.com |
November 7, 2024
Coincheck Group B.V.
Hoogoorddreef 15, 1101 BA
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Re: | Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-279165) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Thunder Bridge Capital Partners IV, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Thunder Bridge”), in connection with the preparation of the registration statement on Form F-4 (and together with the Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed therewith, the “Registration Statement”) (Registration No. 333-279165) initially filed with the Commission on May 7, 2024, and as amended or supplemented through the date hereof under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement is being filed in connection with the transactions (the “Business Combination”) contemplated by the parties, including Thunder Bridge; Coincheck Group B.V., a Dutch limited liability company (“PubCo”); Coincheck Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo; M1 Co G.K., a Japanese limited liability company (“HoldCo”); and Coincheck, Inc., a Japanese joint stock company (the “Company”) pursuant to an Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2022 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Thunder Bridge, PubCo, HoldCo, Merger Sub, and the Company. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
You have requested our opinion concerning the tax consequences of the transactions to the parties to the Business Combination and the discussion of the Merger as set forth in the section entitled “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF THE REDEMPTION RIGHTS AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION – Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination – U.S. Holders – U.S. Holders Exchanging Only Thunder Bridge Common Stock for PubCo Ordinary Shares” in the Registration Statement.
California | Colorado | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Maryland | Massachusetts
Minnesota | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | West Virginia
Coincheck Group B.V.
November 7, 2024
Page 2
Representations and Assumptions
In providing this opinion, we have assumed (without any independent investigation or review thereof) that all original documents submitted to us (including signatures thereto) are authentic, all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the original documents, all such documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof, and all parties to such documents had or will have, as applicable, the requisite corporate powers and authority to enter into such documents and to undertake and consummate the Business Combination; all factual representations, warranties, and statements made or agreed to by the parties to the Business Combination Agreement and related agreements (collectively, the “Agreements” and, together with the Registration Statement, the “Documents”), are true, correct, and complete as of the date hereof and will remain true, correct, and complete through the consummation of Transactions (as defined below), in each case without regard to any qualification as to knowledge, belief, materiality, or otherwise; the descriptions of Thunder Bridge and Coincheck Group B.V. in the Registration Statement, the public filings filed in connection with Thunder Bridge’s and Coincheck Group B.V.’s listing on Nasdaq, and Thunder Bridge’s and Coincheck Group B.V.’s other public filings are true, accurate, and complete; the description of the Merger and other transactions related to the Merger (together, the “Transactions”) in the Registration Statement is and will remain true, accurate, and complete, the Merger will be consummated in accordance with such description and with the Business Combination Agreement and the other Agreements, without any waiver or breach of any material provision thereof, and the Merger will be effective under applicable corporate law as described in the Business Combination Agreement and the other Agreements; the Documents represent the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the Merger and other Transactions, there are no other written or oral agreements regarding the Transactions other than the Agreements, and none of the material terms and conditions thereof have been or will be waived or modified; the Parties will treat the Merger for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a manner consistent with the opinion set forth below; and all applicable reporting requirements have been or will be satisfied.
The opinion set forth below is based on the Code, administrative rulings, judicial decisions, Treasury regulations and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the effective date of the Registration Statement. The statutory provisions, regulations, and interpretations upon which our opinion is based are subject to change, and such changes could apply retroactively. Any change in law or the facts regarding the Business Combination, or any of the transactions related thereto, or any inaccuracy in the facts or assumptions on which we relied, could affect the continuing validity of the opinion set forth below. We assume no responsibility to inform you of any such changes or inaccuracy that may occur or come to our attention. Moreover, there can be no assurance that our opinion will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service or, if challenged, by a court.
Coincheck Group B.V.
November 7, 2024
Page 3
Opinions
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth herein, in the Registration Statement, and Section 367(a) of the Code, the transfer by U.S. holders of their Thunder Bridge Common Stock to PubCo pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement should qualify as a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code. We are unable to provide an opinion on whether the Business Combination could be treated as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and our opinion does not address (i) the application of Code Section 367(a) to the Business Combination, or (ii) any matter arising in connection with Section 7874 of the Code.
We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and to the filing of a copy of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion speaks as of its date, and we undertake no (and hereby disclaim any) obligation to update this opinion.
We express our opinion herein only as to those matters specifically set forth above and no opinion should be inferred as to the tax consequences of the Business Combination under any state, local or foreign law, or with respect to other areas of U.S. federal taxation. We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the federal law of the United States.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP | |
NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP |