Exhibit 5.1
August 3, 2023
American Battery Technology Company
100 Washington Street, Suite 100
Reno, Nevada 89503
Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to American Battery Technology Company, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-271954) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) (as amended at the time it was declared effective by the Commission, the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is registering for resale by Comstock Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Selling Stockholder”) 9,076,923 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), issued pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of June 30, 2023 (as amended, the “Purchase Agreement”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed or may be implied herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement other than as to the valid issuance of the Shares.
As the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following:
A. | an executed copy of the Registration Statement; | |
B. | a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on October 6, 2011, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment, filed on April 29, 2019, the Certificate of Amendment, filed on October 29, 2019, and the Certificate of Amendment, filed on August 12, 2021, and certified as of a recent date. | |
C. | a copy of the Bylaws of the Company effective as of October 7, 2011, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment to Bylaws effective as of August 26, 2021; |
Location | Mailing Address P.O. Box 8749 Denver, CO 80201-8749 | Contact |
555 17th Street, Suite 3200 Denver, CO 80202-3921 | p: 303.295.8000 | f: 303.295.8261 www.hollandhart.com | |
Holland & Hart LLP Anchorage Aspen Billings Boise Boulder Cheyenne Denver Jackson Hole Las Vegas Reno Salt Lake City Santa Fe Washington, D.C. |
August 3, 2023
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D. | a copy of the unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) effective as of August 1, 2023, which approved, entry into the Purchase Agreement, the issuance of the Shares to the Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the filing of the Registration Statement and the registration for issuance of the Shares; | |
E. | a copy of the Purchase Agreement and all amendments thereto; | |
F. | the certificate of existence with status in good standing covering the Company, issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada as of a recent date (the “Good Standing Certificate”); and | |
G. | a certificate of an officer of the Company representing certain matters related to the subject matter hereof (the “Officer’s Certificate”). |
We have relied upon the foregoing and upon the Officer’s Certificate and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We have assumed for purposes of this opinion: (a) information contained in documents reviewed by us is true, complete and correct; (b) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents; (c) the accuracy and completeness of all documents delivered to us and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (d) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (e) the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; (f) the legal capacity of all natural persons; and (g) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by parties other than the Company.
This opinion is limited to matters governed by the laws of the State of Nevada. We express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We expressly disavow any obligation to advise you with respect to future changes in law or in our knowledge or as to any event or change of condition occurring subsequent to the date of this letter. This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Holland & Hart LLP |