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Exhibit
5.1
Gross,
Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co.
December
8, 2009
Nova
Measuring Instruments Ltd.
Weizmann
Science Park
Building
22, 2nd Floor
Ness-Ziona
76100
Israel
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., a company limited
by shares organized under the laws of the State of Israel (the “Company”), in
connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration
Statement”), to be filed by the Company on or about the date hereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The
Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer and sale by the Company
from time to time, as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement (the “Prospectus”) and as
shall be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus
Supplement”), of up to an $20,000,000 aggregate amount of any or all of
the following securities (the “Securities”): (i)
ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”);
(ii) debt securities, which may be senior (“Senior Debt
Securities”) or subordinated (“Subordinated Debt
Securities” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”);
(iii) warrants to purchase debt or equity securities (the “Warrants”); (iv)
subscription rights to purchase Ordinary Shares (“Subscription
Rights”); and (v) units comprised of one or more of the Ordinary Shares,
Debt Securities Warrants and Subscription Rights in any combination (the “Units”).
Each
series of Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture, substantially in
one of the forms filed as exhibit to the Registration Statement (the” Indenture”) between
the Company and a trustee named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (each, a
“Trustee”). The
Warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”)
between the Company and a warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”). The
Subscription Rights will be issued under a subscription rights agreement (the
“Subscription Rights
Agreement”) between the Company and a rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).The
Units will be issued under a unit agreement (the “Unit Agreement”)
between the Company and a unit agent (the “Unit
Agent”).
In
connection herewith, we have examined and relied without investigation as to
matters of fact upon the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto,
including the form of Indenture, and such certificates, statements and results
of inquiries of public officials and officers and representatives of the Company
and originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction,
of such other documents, corporate records, certificates and instruments as we
have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions
expressed herein. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all
documents examined by us, the legal competence and capacity of natural persons,
the authenticity of documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity
with authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as
copies.
We
also have assumed that: (1) at the time of execution, authentication, issuance
and delivery of each series of Debt Securities, the related Indenture will be
the valid and legally binding obligation of the applicable Trustee, enforceable
against such party in accordance with its terms; (2) at the time of execution,
issuance and delivery of any Warrants, the related Warrant Agreement will be the
valid and legally binding obligation of the Warrant Agent, enforceable against
such party in accordance with its terms; (3) at the time of execution, issuance
and delivery of any Subscription Rights, the related Subscription Rights
Agreement will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Rights Agent,
enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; and (4) at the time
of the execution, issuance and delivery of the Units, the related Unit Agreement
will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Unit Agent, enforceable
against such party in accordance with its terms.
We
have assumed further that: (1) at the time of execution, authentication,
issuance and delivery of each series of Debt Securities, the related Indenture
will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the
applicable Trustee; (2) at the time of execution, issuance and delivery of any
Warrants, the related Warrant Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent; (3) at the time of
execution, issuance and delivery of any Subscription Rights, the related
Subscription Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and the Rights Agent; (4) at the time of execution,
issuance and delivery of the Units, the Unit Agreement will have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Unit Agent; and (5) at
the time of the issuance and sale of any of the Securities, the terms of the
Securities, and their issuance and sale, will have been established so as not to
violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any
agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any
requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Company.
For
the purpose of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed further that after
the issuance of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, the
total number of issued Ordinary Shares, together with the total number of
Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise, exchange or conversion,
as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security
then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized share capital
under the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Association.
Based
upon the foregoing, in reliance thereon and subject to the assumptions,
comments, qualifications, limitations and exceptions stated herein and the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act, we are of the opinion
that:
1.
With respect to the Ordinary Shares, assuming the taking of all necessary
corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of any Ordinary Shares,
the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, upon payment of the
consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase,
underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and
otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable convertible
Securities, if any, such Ordinary Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
2.
With respect to the Debt Securities, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary
corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Debt
Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due
execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of such Debt Securities upon
payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive
purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors
and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture,
such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
the Company.
3.
With respect to the Warrants, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate
action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Warrants, the
terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution,
authentication, issuance and delivery of such Warrants upon payment of the
consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase,
underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and
otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement,
such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Company.
4. With
respect to the Subscription Rights, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary
corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any
Subscription Rights, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and
(b) due execution, countersignature (where applicable), authentication, issuance
and delivery of such Subscription Rights upon payment of the consideration
therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or
similar agreement approved by the board of directors and otherwise in accordance
with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement, such
Subscription Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
Company.
5.
With respect to the Units, assuming the (a) taking of all necessary corporate
action to authorize and approve the issuance and the terms of the Units, the
related Unit Agreement and any Securities which are components of the Units, the
terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) due execution,
countersignature (where applicable), authentication, issuance and delivery of
the Units and the Securities that are components of such Units in each case upon
the payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable
definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of
directors, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable (i)
Indenture, in the case of Debt Securities; (ii) Warrant Agreement, in the case
of Warrants; and (iii) Subscription Rights Agreement, in case of Subscription
Rights, such Units will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof
to the rights specified in the Unit Agreements.
In
addition to the assumptions, comments, qualifications, limitations and
exceptions set forth above, the opinions set forth herein are further limited
by, subject to and based upon the following assumptions, comments,
qualifications, limitations and exceptions:
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a)
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We
are members of the Israel Bar and we express no opinion as to any matter
relating to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State
of Israel and have not, for the purpose of giving this opinion, made any
investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction than the State of
Israel. The opinions set forth herein are made as of the date hereof and
are subject to, and may be limited by, future changes in the factual
matters set forth herein, and we undertake no duty to advise you of the
same. The opinions expressed herein are based upon the law in effect (and
published or otherwise generally available) on the date hereof, and we
assume no obligation to revise or supplement these opinions should such
law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise. In
rendering our opinions, we have not considered, and hereby disclaim any
opinion as to, the application or impact of any laws, cases, decisions,
rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, court or administrative
agency. This opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above,
and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any
other matters.
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b)
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Our
opinions herein are subject to and may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other
similar laws affecting or relating to the rights and remedies of creditors
generally including, without limitation, laws relative to fraudulent
conveyances, preference and equitable subordination, (ii) general
principles or equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing, (iv) requirements that a claim with respect to any Securities
denominated other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated
other than in United States dollars with respect to such a claim) be
converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a
date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (v) governmental authority
to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United
States or in foreign currency or composite
currency.
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c)
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Our
opinions are further subject to the effect of generally applicable rules
of law arising from statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and
the rules and regulations of governmental authorities that: (i) limit or
affect the enforcement of provisions of a contract that purport to require
waiver of the obligations of good faith, fair dealing, diligence and
reasonableness; (ii) limit the availability of a remedy under certain
circumstances where another remedy has been elected; (iii) limit the
enforceability of provisions releasing, exculpating or exempting a party
from, or requiring indemnification of a party for, liability for its own
action or inaction, to the extent the action or inaction involves
negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct; (iv)
may, where less than all of the contract may be unenforceable, limit the
enforceability of the balance of the contract to circumstances in which
the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange
and (v) govern and afford judicial discretion regarding the determination
of damages and entitlement to attorneys'
fees.
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d)
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We
express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision in any Senior
Indenture, Subordinated Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Subscription Rights
Agreement, Unit Agreement or other agreement purporting or attempting to
(A) confer exclusive jurisdiction and/or venue upon certain courts or
otherwise waive the defenses of forum non conveniens or improper venue,
(B) confer subject matter jurisdiction on a court not having independent
grounds therefor, (C) modify or waive the requirements for effective
service of process for any action that may be brought, (D) waive the right
of the Company or any other person to a trial by jury, (E) provide that
remedies are cumulative or that decisions by a party are conclusive, or
(F) modify or waive the rights to notice, legal defenses, statutes of
limitations or other benefits that cannot be waived under applicable
law.
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e)
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We
express no opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to
indemnification or contribution provided for in any Senior Indenture,
Subordinated Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Subscription Rights Agreement,
Unit Agreement or other agreement which are violative of public policy
underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state
securities law, rule or regulation) or the legality of such
rights.
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f)
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You
have informed us that you intend to issue the Securities from time to time
on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws,
including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof. We
understand that prior to issuing any Securities you will afford us an
opportunity to review the operative documents pursuant to which such
Securities are to be issued (including the applicable prospectus
supplement) and will file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if
any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate by reason of
the terms of such Securities.
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We
hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the
Prospectus. We also consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement with agencies of such states as you deem necessary
in the course of complying with the laws of such states regarding the offering
and sale of the Securities. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
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Very
truly yours,
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/s/
Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg &
Co.
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