Exhibit 5.1
October 25, 2007
Cognos Incorporated
3755 Riverside Drive
P.O. Box 9707, Station T
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 4K9
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Cognos Incorporated (the “Company”) – Acquisition of Applix Inc. (“Applix”)
We have acted as Canadian counsel to the company in connection with its indirect arm’s length acquisition of Applix. Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition, the Company agreed to assume Applix options (the “Options”) under which the Company could be required by optionholders to issue up to 342,856 common shares of the Company (the “Shares”).
We have made such investigations and examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such certificates of public officials and of such other certificates, documents and records as we have considered necessary or relevant for the purposes of the opinions set forth below, including:
a) | a certified copy of the articles and by-laws of the Company; |
b) | a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Company; and |
c) | a certificate of compliance dated October 23, 2007 in respect of the company pursuant to theCanada Business Corporations Act(the “Certificate of Compliance”). |
For the purposes of this opinion, we have assumed, with respect to all documents examined by us, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, notarial, conformed, telecopied or photostactic copies. We have also assumed that the Certificate of Compliance and the certificates of public officials and others referred to above continue to be accurate as at the date hereof with respect to factual matters contained therein and we have not performed any independent check or verification of such factual matters. In expressing the opinion in paragraph 1 below, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon the Certificate of Compliance.
The opinions set forth below are limited to the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
October 25, 2007
Page Two
Based on and relying upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The Company is incorporated and existing under the laws of Canada. |
2. | The shares to be issued pursuant to the terms of the Options have been conditionally allotted for issuance to the holders of the Options. Upon the exercise of the Options in accordance with the terms thereof and receipt of the consideration therefore by the Company, the Shares will be validly issued and will be outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable common shares of the Company. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 proposed to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof.
Yours truly,
/s/ Bennett Jones LLP