In so acting, we have prepared or examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Merger Agreement; (iii) the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation; (iv) the Company’s proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation following the Business Combination; and (v) the bylaws of the Company. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of such officers and representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all questions of fact material to these opinions that have not been independently established, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company and upon the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Merger Agreement.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares will be, upon issuance, duly authorized; and, when the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Act by order of the Commission, and if and when the Shares have been issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement and the Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the corporate laws of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the use of this letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to any and all references to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP