Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:
1. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is the legally valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
2. The Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the Company, and when the Debt Securities have been duly established by the Indenture, duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
3. The Preferred Shares have been duly authorized by the Company, and when the Preferred Shares have been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Articles Supplementary defining the rights and preferences of the Preferred Shares, and applicable law, and, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4. The Common Shares have been duly authorized, and upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
5. The Warrant Agreements have been duly authorized and, when the final terms thereof have been duly established, and when duly executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute the legally valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
6. The Securities Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company, and when the final terms thereof have been duly established, and when duly executed and delivered by the Company and countersigned by the applicable Warrant Agent in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, (iii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy, (iv) we express no opinion concerning the enforceability of the waiver of rights or defenses contained in Section 5.14 of the Indenture, and (v) we express no opinion with respect to whether acceleration of Debt Securities may affect the collectability of any portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under the Indenture may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that the Trustee is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Indenture, that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of the Trustee enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms; that the Trustee is in compliance, generally with respect to acting as a trustee under the Indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture.