Exhibit 5.1
May 24, 2012
Applied Materials, Inc.
3050 Bowers Avenue
P.O. Box 58039
Santa Clara, California 95052-8039
| Re: | Form S-8 Registration Statement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At your request, we are rendering this opinion in connection with the proposed issuance of $40,000,000 in aggregate amount of deferred compensation obligations (the “Obligations”) of Applied Materials, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the Applied Materials, Inc. 2005 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). The Obligations are unsecured obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
We have examined instruments, documents, and records which we deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination, we have assumed the following: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed.
Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the $40,000,000 of Obligations to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan are binding obligations of the Company, and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) and to the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not consider that we are “experts” within the meaning of such term as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI,
Professional Corporation