Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that (1) the Ordinary Shares, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company and, if applicable, the Board and/or the chief executive officer (directeur général), have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the issuance of, and establish the terms of, the offering of the Ordinary Shares and related matters and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board and/or the chief executive officer (directeur général), as the case may be, upon payment of the consideration provided therein to the Company and issuance of the depositary certificate (certificat du dépositaire) in respect thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and (2) the Warrants, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company and, if applicable, the Board and/or the chief executive officer (directeur géneral) of the Company, have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the issuance of and establish the terms and conditions of such Warrants and the terms of the offering of the Warrants and related matters, and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive subscription, purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board and/or the chief executive officer as the case may be, and upon payment of the consideration provided therein, the Warrants will be validly issued.
The term “non-assessable”, which has no recognized meaning in French law, for the purposes of this opinion means that no present or future holder of ordinary shares will be subject to personal liability, by reason of being such a holder, for additional payments or calls for further funds by the Company or any other person after the issuance of the ordinary shares.
We do not undertake or accept any obligation to update this opinion to reflect subsequent changes in French law or factual matters arising after the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
This opinion is subject to any limitation arising from ad hoc mandate (mandat ad hoc), conciliation (conciliation), accelerated safeguard (sauvegarde accélérée), accelerated financial safeguard (sauvegarde financière accélérée), safeguard (sauvegarde), judicial reorganisation (redressement judiciaire), judicial liquidation (liquidation judiciaire) (including a provision that creditors’ proofs of debts denominated in foreign currencies would be converted into euros at the rate applicable on the date of the court decision instituting the accelerated safeguard (sauvegarde accélérée), the accelerated financial safeguard (sauvegarde financière accélérée), the safeguard (sauvegarde), the judicial reorganisation (redressement judiciaire) and the judicial liquidation (liquidation judiciaire) proceedings), insolvency, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights of creditors.
We are members of the Paris bar and this opinion is limited to the laws of the Republic of France. This opinion is subject to the sovereign power of the French courts to interpret agreements and assess the facts and circumstances of any adjudication. This opinion is given on the basis that it is to be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Republic of France.
This opinion is addressed to you solely for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement. It is not to be transmitted to anyone else nor is it to be relied upon by anyone else or for any other purpose, or quoted or referred to in any public document (other than the Registration Statement) or filed with anyone without our prior written express consent.
We hereby consent to the filing with the Commission of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby 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.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.