Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.d688147d8k.htm
EX-1.1 - EX-1.1 - Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.d688147dex11.htm
EX-8.1 - EX-8.1 - Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.d688147dex81.htm

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

Tel 713.758.2222     Fax 713.758.2456

March 10, 2014

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.

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 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the proposed issuance and sale from time to time by the Partnership of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership having an aggregate offering price of up to $300,000,000 (the “Units”), pursuant to that certain Equity Placement Agreement, dated March 10, 2014 (the “Placement Agreement”), relating to the offering and sale of the Units by and among the Partnership, Calumet GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), and the several managers named therein (the “Managers”).

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have examined and relied upon (i) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-188654) with respect to the Units being offered by the Partnership (the “Registration Statement”); (ii) the prospectus dated May 31, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement; (iii) the prospectus supplement dated March 10, 2014 (the “Prospectus Supplement”); (iv) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of January 31, 2006, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”); (v) the Placement Agreement; (vi) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the General Partner dated May 7, 2013 and September 13, 2013; and (vii) 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.

 

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law

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1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, TX 77002-6760

Tel +1.713.758.2222     Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com


 

March 10, 2014             Page 2

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that all Units will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Placement Agreement.

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 the terms of the Placement Agreement and upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, 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 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement).

The opinion expressed herein is qualified in the following respects:

A. We have assumed, without independent investigation or 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. The foregoing opinion is limited in all respects to matters governed by the federal laws of the United States of America, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, in each case as currently in effect and as interpreted by the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States of America. 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 Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. 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 or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.