EXHIBIT 5.1
[LETTERHEAD OF ALSTON & BIRD LLP APPEARS HERE]
Mark F. McElreath Direct Dial: 404-881-7378 E-mail: mmcelreath@alston.com
June 10, 1999
Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC
AGY Capital Corp.
2556 Wagener Road
Aiken, South Carolina 29801
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-72305)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as legal counsel to Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC and AGY
Capital Corp., a Delaware limited liability operating company and a Delaware
corporation respectively (collectively, the "Companies"), in connection with the
filing of the above-referenced Registration Statement (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), $150,000,000
principal amount of the Companies' 9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009
(the "Exchange Notes") to be issued under that certain Indenture dated as of
January 21, 1999 (the "Indenture") between the Companies and the Bank of New
York, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), in exchange for the identical principal amount
of any and all of the Companies' outstanding 9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2009 (the "Old Notes"). This opinion letter is rendered pursuant to Item 21
of Form S-4 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.
We have examined the Certificate of Formation and the Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC
and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of AGY Capital Corp.; records of
proceedings of the Board of Directors, or committees thereof, the members of
Advanced Glassfiber
Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC
AGY Capital Corp.
June 10, 1999
Yarns LLC and the shareholders of AGY Capital Corp. deemed by us to be relevant
to this opinion letter; the proposed form of Exchange Note; the Indenture, and
the Registration Statement. We also have examined originals or copies, certified
or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other corporate records and
documents of the Companies, such certificates of officers of the Companies and
public officials, and such other records and documents as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal
capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity and completeness of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic or facsimile
copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, and we have
assumed all certificates of public officials to have been properly given and to
be accurate.
As to certain factual matters relevant to this opinion letter, we have
relied upon the representations and warranties contained in the above-referenced
certificates of officers of the Companies and public officials. Except to the
extent expressly set forth herein, we have made no independent investigations
with regard thereto, and, accordingly, we do not express any opinion as to
matters that might have been disclosed by independent verification.
Our opinion set forth below is limited to the laws of the State of Georgia,
the laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the
federal securities laws, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning
any other laws.
On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the limitations set forth
herein, we are of the opinion that, upon due execution of the Exchange Notes by
the Companies, due authentication thereof by the Trustee in accordance with the
Indenture and issuance and delivery thereof against exchange of the Old Notes as
provided by the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, the Exchange
Notes will be validly issued and will constitute legally binding obligations of
the Companies entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against
the Companies in accordance with their terms except to the extent that (a)
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting the rights
and remedies of creditors generally, and (b) the remedy of specific performance
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to certain defenses and to
the discretion of the court before which proceedings may be brought (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus constituting a part thereof. In giving such consent,
we do not thereby admit that we are
Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC
AGY Capital Corp.
June 10, 1999
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
This opinion letter is being furnished by us to the Companies and the
Commission solely for the benefit of the Companies and the Commission in
connection with the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated,
quoted or otherwise relied upon by any other person, or by the Companies or the
Commission for any other purpose, without our express written consent. The only
opinion rendered by us consists of those matters set forth in the fifth
paragraph hereof, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond those
expressly stated. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we
have no obligation to update this opinion letter.
Sincerely,
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
By: /s/ Mark F. McElreath
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Mark F. McElreath, Partner