EXHIBIT 5.1
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ONE SHELL PLAZA 910 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4995 TEL +1 713.229.1234 FAX +1 713.229.1522 www.bakerbotts.com |
AUSTIN DALLAS DUBAI HONG KONG HOUSTON LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK RIYADH WASHINGTON |
April 11, 2006
001349.0334
ConocoPhillips
600 North Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas 77079
600 North Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas 77079
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the issuance by (i) ConocoPhillips, a Delaware corporation
(ConocoPhillips), of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes due
April 11, 2007 (the ConocoPhillips Notes), guaranteed by ConocoPhillips Company, a Delaware
corporation (CPCo) (the ConocoPhillips Guarantees); and (ii) ConocoPhillips Australia Funding
Company, a Delaware corporation (Funding), of $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
Floating Rate Notes due April 9, 2009 (the 2009 Notes) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 5.50% Notes due 2013 (the 2013 Notes and, together with the 2009 Notes, the
Funding Notes; the ConocoPhillips Notes and the Funding Notes are collectively referred to herein
as the Notes), in each case guaranteed by ConocoPhillips and CPCo (the Funding Guarantees; the
ConocoPhillips Guarantees and the Funding Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the
Guarantees), pursuant to (a) the Registration Statement of ConocoPhillips, Funding and CPCo on
Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 333-133035, 333-133035-01 and 333-133035-02) (the Registration
Statement), which was filed by ConocoPhillips, Funding and CPCo with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), and (b) the
related prospectus dated April 6, 2006, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement relating to
the sale of the Notes dated April 6, 2006 (as so supplemented, the Prospectus), as filed by
ConocoPhillips, Funding and CPCo with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, certain
legal matters with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees are being passed upon for you by us. At
your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current
Report of ConocoPhillips on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof (the Form
8-K).
The ConocoPhillips Notes and the related ConocoPhillips Guarantees are to be issued pursuant
to the Indenture, dated as of October 9, 2002, among ConocoPhillips, as issuer, CPCo, as guarantor,
and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the ConocoPhillips Indenture); and each
series of the Funding Notes and the related Funding Guarantees are to be issued pursuant to an
Indenture, to be dated as of April 11, 2006, between Funding, as issuer, ConocoPhillips and CPCo,
as guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Funding Indenture and,
together with the ConocoPhillips Indenture, the Indentures). The terms of the Notes of each
series (including the form of Note) are to be established pursuant to resolutions duly adopted by
the Board of Directors of ConocoPhillips and Funding, as applicable.
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In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined
originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of (i) ConocoPhillips Restated Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws, CPCos Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws and
Fundings Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, in each case as amended to date; (ii) the
Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) incorporated by reference into the Terms
Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2006 (the Terms Agreement), among ConocoPhillips, Funding and the
several Underwriters named in Schedule A to the Terms Agreement (the Underwriters), relating to
the issuance and sale of the Notes; (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (iv) the
ConocoPhillips Indenture and the form of Funding Indenture, together with the forms of the terms of
the Notes (the Terms of Notes) of each series, in each case as filed as exhibits to the Form 8-K;
and (v) the corporate records of ConocoPhillips, CPCo and Funding, including minute books of
ConocoPhillips, CPCo and Funding as furnished to us by them, certificates of public officials and
of representatives of ConocoPhillips, CPCo and Funding, statutes and other instruments and
documents as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In giving such opinions, we have
relied upon certificates of officers of each of ConocoPhillips, CPCo and Funding and of public
officials with respect to the accuracy of the material factual matters contained in such
certificates. In giving the opinions below, we have assumed that the signatures on all documents
examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are accurate and
complete, that all documents submitted to us as copies are true and correct copies of the originals
thereof and that all information submitted to us was accurate and complete.
On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications
hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:
(i) The ConocoPhillips Notes and the related ConocoPhillips Guarantees will, when duly
executed, issued and delivered by ConocoPhillips, executed, endorsed and delivered by CPCo
and authenticated and delivered by the applicable trustee in accordance with the terms of
the ConocoPhillips Indenture and the Terms of Notes for the ConocoPhillips Notes and duly
purchased and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Terms
Agreement (including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated by reference
in the Terms Agreement), constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of ConocoPhillips
and CPCo, respectively, enforceable against ConocoPhillips and CPCo, respectively, in
accordance with their terms, except as that enforcement is subject to any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or
other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, and general principles of
equity (regardless of whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law).
(ii) The Funding Notes and the related Funding Guarantees will, when duly executed,
issued and delivered by Funding, executed, endorsed and delivered by ConocoPhillips and CPCo
and authenticated and delivered by the applicable trustee in accordance with the terms of
the Funding Indenture and the Terms of Notes for the Funding Notes and duly purchased and
paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with
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the terms of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of the Underwriting
Agreement incorporated by reference in the Terms Agreement), constitute legal, valid and
binding obligations of Funding, ConocoPhillips and CPCo, respectively, enforceable against
Funding, ConocoPhillips and CPCo, respectively, in accordance with their terms, except as
that enforcement is subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting
creditors rights generally, and general principles of equity (regardless of whether that
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of the contract law of the
State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and applicable federal law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Form 8-K. We
also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus. In
giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
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| /s/ Baker Botts L.L.P. | ||||