EXHIBIT 5.1 |
Glen Y. Sato
+1 650 843 5502
gsato@cooley.com
June 8, 2018
Dynavax Technologies Corporation
2929 Seventh Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on FormS-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of an aggregate of 13,217,869 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), including (a) 600,000 Shares that are issuable pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2014 ESPP”), (b) 12,617,869 Shares that are or that may become issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 EIP”) and (c) the preferred stock purchase rights (the “Rights”) associated with the Shares pursuant to that certain Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated November 5, 2008, between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”)).
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and related prospectus, (b) the 2018 EIP, (c) the 2014 ESPP and (d) the Rights Agreement, the Company’s Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as currently in effect and (d) the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such other records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not sought independently to verify such matters.
We have also assumed that the Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Rights Agent and that the members of the Board of Directors of the Company have acted in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties as required under applicable law in adopting the Rights Agreement. This opinion does not address whether the Board of Directors of the Company may be required to redeem or terminate, or take other action with respect to, the Rights in the future based on the facts and circumstances then existing. Moreover, this opinion addresses corporate procedures in connection with the issuance of the Rights associated with the Shares, and not any particular provision of the Rights or the Rights Agreement. It should be understood that it is not settled whether the invalidity of any particular provision of a rights agreement or purchase rights issued thereunder would invalidate such rights in their entirety.
Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.
Cooley LLP 3175 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304-1130
t: (650) 843-5000 f: (650) 849-7400 cooley.com
June 8, 2018
Page Two
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares and the associated Rights, when sold and issued in accordance with the 2018 EIP, 2014 ESPP, the Registration Statement and related prospectus, will be validly issued, and the Shares will be fully paid, and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
COOLEY LLP | ||
By: | /s/ Glen Y. Sato | |
Glen Y. Sato |
Cooley LLP 3175 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304-1130
t: (650) 843-5000 f: (650) 849-7400 cooley.com