Exhibit 5.1
May 18, 2015
Cott Corporation
5519 West Idlewild Avenue
Tampa, Florida, 33634
United States
Re: Cott Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-3D
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Cott Corporation (the “Company”) in the Province of Ontario (the “Province”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3D (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof in connection with the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 4,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (the “Shares”) that may be issued by the Company from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan adopted by the Company effective May 18, 2015 (the “Plan”).
1. | Examinations |
In connection with our opinion set out herein, we have examined executed originals or copies identified to our satisfaction of the following documents and records:
a) | the Registration Statement; |
b) | the articles of amalgamation, articles of amendment and by-laws of the Company; |
c) | a certificate of compliance for the Company dated as of May 8, 2015, issued by Industry Canada (the “Compliance Certificate”); and |
d) | the Plan. |
We have also made such investigations and examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such certificates of directors, officers and public officials and of such other certificates, documents and records as we have considered necessary or relevant for the purposes of the opinions hereinafter expressed. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions rendered herein, we have relied exclusively and without independent verification upon certificates and correspondence of public officials, a certificate of an officer of the Company dated the date of this opinion letter (the “Officer’s Certificate”) and the Compliance Certificate. We have considered such questions of law and made such other investigations, as we have deemed relevant or necessary as a basis for the opinion expressed below in this opinion letter.
2. | Assumptions and Reliance |
In connection with our opinions set out herein, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal power, capacity and authority of individuals executing documents, the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, scanned or photostatic copies or facsimiles, no change in status of the Company from the date of the Compliance Certificate, any issuance of Shares will be consistent with the
procedures and terms set out in the Plan, and in accordance with the Company’s constating documents, the resolutions of the board of directors attached to the Officer’s Certificate, applicable laws and the rules and regulations of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the accuracy of all factual matters in the Officer’s Certificate and the attachments thereto. We have also relied upon the accuracy and authenticity of the documents examined or otherwise provided.
3. | Jurisdiction |
We are solicitors qualified to practice law only in the Province. We have not made an examination of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the Province and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein and we do not express or imply any opinion in respect of the laws or any matters governed by any laws other than the laws of the Province and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
4. | Opinion |
Based and relying upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set out in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that the Shares, upon issuance, delivery and payment pursuant to the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable common shares in the capital of the Company.
5. | Limitation |
We undertake no duty to amend any of the opinions set forth herein following the date of this opinion letter with respect to changes in matters of law or fact which may occur following the date hereof, and reliance on this opinion letter after the date of this opinion letter must be made with the assumption that there has been no change in the relevant law or facts insofar as they may affect the subject matter of this opinion 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 of 1933. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the above-referenced Registration Statement. In giving this consent we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Yours very truly,
/s/ Goodmans |
“Goodmans” |