Exhibit 5.1
Trinity Biotech plc
IDA Business Park
Bray
Co. Wicklow
Ireland
Private and Confidential
Dear Trinity Biotech plc
Prospectus Supplement to Registration Statement on Form F-3
We have acted as Irish counsel to Trinity Biotech plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (company number 183476) (the "Company") in connection with a prospectus supplement filed on 28 August 2024 (the "Prospectus Supplement") which supplements the prospectus included in the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-280391)(the "Registration Statement") under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated 12 July 2024. The Prospectus Supplement relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to US$1,870,000 in aggregate amount of American Depositary Shares (the "Placement ADSs"), each representing 20 A Ordinary Shares of $0.0109 each in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") pursuant to an at the market offering agreement, dated 12 July 2024 (the "ATM Agreement"), by and between the Company and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC.
In connection with this Opinion, we have reviewed and relied upon the corporate resolutions, records and other documents and Searches listed in Schedule 1 to this Opinion (the "Documents") and such corporate resolutions, records and other documents as referred to in any of the Documents.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualification and limitations set out in Schedule 2, Schedule 3 and elsewhere in this Opinion, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | the Company is a public limited company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Ireland; and |
| 2. | the Ordinary Shares, when issued in accordance with all necessary corporate action of the Company (including a valid resolution of the board of directors of the Company or a duly appointed committee thereof) and the provisions of the Company's constitution, and subject to receipt by the Company of the full consideration payable therefor, will be validly issued, fully- paid and non-assessable ("non-assessable" is a phrase which has no defined meaning under Irish law, but, for the purposes of this Opinion, shall mean that the registered holders of shares are not subject to calls for additional payments on such shares). |
This Opinion is based upon, and limited to, the laws of Ireland in effect on the date hereof and is based on legislation published and cases fully reported before that date and our knowledge of the facts relevant to the opinions contained herein. We have assumed, without enquiry, that there is nothing in the laws of any jurisdiction other than Ireland which would, or might, affect our opinions as stated herein. We have made no investigations of, and we express no opinion on, the laws of any jurisdiction other than Ireland, or the effect thereof. This Opinion is expressed as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update this Opinion.
This Opinion is furnished to you and the persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act strictly for use in connection with the Prospectus Supplement and may not be relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent. This Opinion is confined strictly to the matters expressly stated herein and is not to be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any other matter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as an exhibit to the Company's report on Form 6-K, dated as of the date hereof and to the reference to Matheson LLP under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
This Opinion and the opinions given in it are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Ireland.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Matheson LLP
MATHESON LLP
Schedule 1
Documents
| 1. | A certificate executed by Mr. John Gillard, the secretary of the Company, dated the same date as this Opinion Letter as to certain matters to be relied on by us (the "Corporate Certificate"). |
| 2. | The Registration Statement, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on 21 June 2024. |
| 3. | The prospectus supplement, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on 12 July 2023. |
| 4. | The Prospectus Supplement, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof. |
| 5. | Searches carried out by independent law researchers on our behalf against Trinity Biotech plc on 28 August 2024 in (i) the Index of Petitions and Winding-up Notices maintained at the Central Office of the High Court of Ireland, (ii) the Judgments' Office of the Central Office of the High Court of Ireland and (iii) the Companies Registration Office (the "Searches"). |
| 6. | A copy of written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 20 June 2024. |
| 7. | A copy of written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 12 July 2024. |
Assumptions
For the purposes of this Opinion, we have assumed:
| 1. | The truth and accuracy of the contents of the Documents as to factual matters, but have made no independent investigation regarding such factual matters. |
| 2. | All signatures (including, for the avoidance of doubt, electronic signatures), initials, seals and stamps contained in, or on, the Documents submitted to us are genuine. |
| 3. | Any electronic signature inserted on a Document was inserted by the signatory in question and not by another person and, where attested by a witness, was inserted in the physical presence of the witness, and each other party to any Document which has been executed using an electronic signature has consented to the execution by the Company of that Document by way of electronic signature. |
| 4. | All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete and all Documents submitted to us as copies (including without limitation any document submitted to us as a .pdf, or any other format, attachment to an email) are complete and conform to the originals of such Documents, and the originals of such Documents are authentic and complete. |
| 5. | Any Document furnished to us in unsigned or unexecuted form will be duly signed or executed (as the case may be) in substantially the same form as that reviewed by us for the purposes of this Opinion. |
| 6. | The copy produced to us of the written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 20 June 2024 and 12 July 2024 are true copies of the written resolutions duly passed and approved, by the directors acting bona fide in the interests of the Company and in accordance with the provisions contained in the Companies Act 2014 (the "Companies Act") and / or the Company's constitution. |
| 7. | The filing of the Prospectus Supplement with the Commission has been authorised by all necessary actions under all applicable laws other than Irish law. |
| 8. | There are no contractual or similar restrictions or other arrangements binding on the Company which could affect the conclusions in this Opinion. |
| 9. | Any power of attorney granted by the Company in respect of the allotment and issue of the Ordinary Shares or the issuance of the Placement ADSs shall have been duly granted, approved and executed in accordance with the Company's constitution, the Companies Act, the Powers of Attorney Act, 1996 and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
| 10. | The Corporate Certificate is accurate in all respects (other than in relation to any matter of Irish law on which we expressly opine). |
| 11. | Each party to the Documents (other than the Company) had (when it entered into), and continues to have, the due and requisite capacity, power and authority to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under the Documents, and the Documents are, and will not become, subject to avoidance by any person under all applicable laws in any applicable jurisdictions (other than, in the case of the Company, the laws of Ireland and the jurisdiction of Ireland). |