EX-8.2 3 e618308_ex8-2.htm

 

 

SEALSQ Corp

Avenue Louis-Casaï 58
1216 Cointrin
Switzerland

 

Homburger AG

Prime Tower

Hardstrasse 201

CH-8005 Zürich

 

homburger.ch
T +41 43 222 10 00

 

   
   
Zurich, March 10, 2023  
   
   
   
SEALSQ Corp – Registration Statement on Form F-1 – Exhibit 8.2

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special Swiss counsel to SEALSQ Corp, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and having its principal executive offices in Cointrin, Switzerland (the Company), in connection with its filing of a registration statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. [333-■]) (the Registration Statement), including the preliminary prospectus contained therein (the Prospectus), to be filed on the date hereof with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of distributing 20% of the Company's outstanding ordinary shares, USD 0.01 par value per share (the Ordinary Shares), corresponding to 1,500,300 Ordinary Shares, to holders of registered shares, par value CHF 0.5 per share (Class B Shares) and holders of registered shares, par value CHF 0.01 per, of WISeKey International Holding AG (WISeKey), and to holders of WISeKey's American Depositary Shares representing Class B Shares, in each case as a partial spin-off distribution in the form of a dividend in kind to such holders. WISeKey will initially retain 100% ownership of SEALSQ’s Class F Shares, par value of USD 0.05 per share, and 80% of Ordinary Shares.

 

As such counsel, we have been requested to give our opinion as to certain tax matters of Swiss law.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

 

 

 

I.Basis of Opinion

 

This opinion is confined to and given on the basis of the laws of Switzerland in force at the date hereof. Such laws and the interpretation thereof are subject to change. In the absence of explicit statutory law, we base our opinion solely on our independent professional judgment. This opinion is also confined to the matters stated herein and is not to be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any document referred to in the Registration Statement or any other matter.

 

For purposes of this opinion, we have not conducted any due diligence or similar investigation as to factual circumstances, which are or may be referred to in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, and we express no opinion as to the accuracy of representations and warranties of facts set out in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or the factual background assumed therein.

 

For purposes of this opinion, we have only reviewed an electronic copy of the Registration Statement.

 

No documents other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus have been reviewed by us in connection with this opinion. Accordingly, we limit our opinion to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and its legal implications under Swiss law.

 

In this opinion, Swiss legal concepts are expressed in English terms and not in their original language. These concepts may not be identical to the concepts described by the same English terms as they exist under the laws of other jurisdictions.

 

II.Assumptions

 

In rendering the opinion below, we have assumed the following:

 

(a)all documents produced to us as originals are authentic and complete, and all documents produced to us as copies (including, without limitation, fax and electronic copies) conform to the original;

 

(b)the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, has been duly authorized by the Company, and the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, has been duly filed with the SEC by the Company;

 

(c)the distribution of the Ordinary Shares will be conducted in the manner, in accordance with and subject to the authorizations and limitations referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and

 

(d)to the extent relevant for purposes of this opinion, all factual information contained in, or material statements given in connection with, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are true, complete and accurate.

 

 

 

 

III.Opinion

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that as of the date hereof, the statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Material Tax Considerations – Swiss Tax Considerations," insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of Swiss tax laws, constitutes a fair summary thereof in all material respects.

 

IV.Qualification

 

The above opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

 

(a)The lawyers of our firm are members of the Zurich bar and do not hold themselves out to be experts in any laws other than the laws of Switzerland. Accordingly, we are opining herein as to Swiss law only and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability or the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction to or on the matters covered herein.

 

(b)Other than the opinion expressed herein as regards tax matters, we express no opinion as to any other matter.

 

(c)Except as expressly stated herein, we express no opinion as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

* * *

 

We have rendered this opinion as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to advise you on changes relevant to this opinion that may thereafter be brought to our attention.

 

We hereby consent to the filing 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.

 

This opinion shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

/s/ Homburger AG

 

Homburger AG