EX-8.1 3 a2242414zex-8_1.htm EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

September 25, 2020

To: Enterprise Financial Services Corp

150 North Meramec

Clayton, MO 631105

Re: Tax Opinion regarding the Merger of Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings into Enterprise Financial Services Corp

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 20, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Enterprise Financial Services Corp, a Delaware corporation (“Enterprise”), Enterprise Bank & Trust, a Missouri state-chartered trust company with banking powers and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enterprise (“EB&T”), Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings, a California corporation (“Seacoast”), and Seacoast Commerce Bank, a California chartered commercial bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Seacoast (“Seacoast Bank”), Seacoast will merge with and into Enterprise with Enterprise surviving (the “Merger”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this opinion have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.

We have acted as special counsel to Enterprise in connection with the Merger. We are providing certain opinions regarding the material United States federal income tax consequences of the Merger pursuant to Section 6.01(e) of the Merger Agreement. Immediately following the Merger, or as promptly as practicable thereafter, Seacoast Bank will be merged with and into EB&T upon the terms and with the effect set forth in the Plan of Bank Merger (the “Bank Merger”). This opinion does not address the United States federal income tax consequences of the Bank Merger, but we have taken the Bank Merger into account in rendering our opinion with respect to the United States federal income tax consequences of the Merger set forth below and affirm that consummation of the Bank Merger would not alter such opinion. For the purpose of rendering our opinion, we have examined and are relying (without any independent investigation or review thereof), with your permission, upon the truth and accuracy, at all relevant times, of the statements, covenants, representations and warranties contained in the following documents (the “Documents”):

1. The Merger Agreement;

2. The registration statement of Enterprise on Form S-4, filed on September 11, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), with respect to the Enterprise Common Stock to be issued to the common stockholders of Seacoast in connection with the Merger (the “Registration Statement”), and the proxy statement/prospectus of Seacoast and Enterprise, respectively, included in the Registration Statement (the “Proxy Statement/ Prospectus”);

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3. The representations made to us by Enterprise in its letter to us dated September 25, 2020;

4. The representations made to us by Seacoast in its letter to us dated September 25, 2020; and

5. Such instruments and documents related to the formation, organization and operation of Enterprise and Seacoast and to the consummation of the Merger as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of our opinion.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed, with your permission and without independent investigation, (i) that the Merger will be consummated in the manner contemplated by the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and in accordance with the provisions of the Merger Agreement without the waiver of any material conditions to any party’s obligation to effect the Merger or the waiver of any conditions to any party’s obligation to effect the Merger that could adversely affect the qualification of the Merger as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (ii) that original documents (including signatures) are authentic, (iii) that documents submitted to us as copies conform to the original documents, (iv) that there has been (or will be by the date of the Merger) due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness of those documents, (v) the accuracy of the statements and representations contained in the Documents, (vi) that the covenants and warranties set forth in the Documents will be complied with, (vii) that the Merger will be effective under applicable state law, and (viii) any representation or statement made in any Document “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification.

Subject to the foregoing and any other assumptions, limitations and qualifications specified herein, it is our opinion that for United States federal income tax purposes, the Merger will be treated as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and each of Enterprise and Seacoast will be a “party to the reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. The foregoing opinion is limited to the United States federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any state, locality or foreign country.

This opinion is rendered as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update, supplement, modify or revise the opinion expressed herein after the date of this letter to reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention or which may result from any changes in laws or regulations which may hereafter occur.

Our opinion expressed herein is based upon the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service and other applicable authorities, administrative pronouncements and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date hereof. It represents our best legal judgment as to the matters addressed herein, but is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the opinion expressed herein, if contested, would be sustained by a court. Furthermore, the authorities upon which we rely may be changed at any time, potentially with retroactive effect. No assurances can be given as to the effect of any such changes on the conclusions expressed in this opinion. If

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any of the facts and assumptions pertinent to the United States federal income tax treatment of the Merger specified herein or any of the statements, covenants, representations or warranties contained in the Documents are, or later become, inaccurate, such inaccuracy may adversely affect the conclusions expressed in this opinion.

We are furnishing this opinion to you solely in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and this opinion is not to be relied upon for any other purpose or by any other person or entity without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the references therein to us. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

| Sincerely yours,
| /s/ Holland & Knight LLP
| HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP

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