Exhibit 8
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10005-2072
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(212) 732-3200
FAX (212) 732-3232
July 17, 2000
Avnet, Inc.
2211 South 47th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Re: Form S-3 Registration Statement
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Avnet, Inc. (the "Company"), in connection with
the proposed offer and sale of up to 388,186 shares of Common Stock of the
Company (the "Shares") in connection with the Company's acquisition by merger,
on July 3, 2000, of Savoir Technology Group, Inc. ("Savoir"). The offer and sale
of the Shares are the subject of Post-Effective Amendment No.1 (the "Amendment")
to the Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-36970) filed by the Company
for the acquisition of Savoir.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of all such agreements, certificates and other statements of
corporate officers and other representatives of the Company as we have deemed
necessary as a basis for this opinion. In such examination we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted
to us as copies.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
section entitled "Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the Amendment contains
an accurate general description, under currently applicable law, of the
principal United States federal income tax considerations that apply to
purchasers of the Shares.
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We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Amendment. In
giving this consent we do not acknowledge that we come within the category of
persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Carter, Ledyard & Milburn
