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1701 Market Street MORGAN, LEWIS
Philadelphia, PA 19103 & BOCKIUS LLP
(215)963-5000 COUNSELORS AT LAW
Fax: (215)963-5299
September 27, 2000
Flag Investors Equity Partners Fund, Inc.
One South Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Re: Opinion of Counsel regarding Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the
Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of
1933 (File No. 33-86832)
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Flag Investors Equity Partners Fund, Inc.,
(the "Fund") a Maryland corporation, in connection with the above-referenced
Registration Statement which relates to the Fund's shares of common stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Shares"). This opinion is being delivered to you in
connection with the Fund's filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the
Registration Statement (the "Amendment") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933.
With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have
been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part,
except to the extent otherwise expressly stated, and we express no opinion with
respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or items relied
upon.
In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things,
executed copies of the following documents:
(a) a certificate of the State of Maryland to the existence and
good standing of the Fund dated September 11, 2000;
(b) the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund and all amendments
and supplements thereto (the "Articles of Incorporation");
(c) a certificate executed by Amy M. Olmert, the Secretary of the
Fund, certifying as to the Fund's Articles of Incorporation
and By-Laws and certain resolutions
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adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund authorizing the
issuance of the shares; and
(d) a printer's proof of the Amendment.
In our capacity as counsel to the Fund, we have examined the originals,
or certified, conformed or reproduced copies, of all records, agreements,
instruments and documents as we have deemed relevant or necessary as the basis
for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In all such examinations, we have assumed
the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness
of all signatures, the authenticity of all original or certified copies, and the
conformity to original or certified copies of all copies submitted to us as
conformed or reproduced copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to such
opinion, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral
or written statements of public officials and officers or representatives of the
Fund. We have assumed that the Amendment, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of the printer's proof
referred to in paragraph (d) above.
Based upon, and subject to, the limitations set forth herein, we are of
the opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, and for the consideration described in
the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable
under the laws of the State of Maryland.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not concede that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933
Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
