Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
S-1/A - FORM S-1/A - Hicks Acquisition CO II, Inc. | d73962a3sv1za.htm |
EX-1.1 - EX-1.1 - Hicks Acquisition CO II, Inc. | d73962a3exv1w1.htm |
EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - Hicks Acquisition CO II, Inc. | d73962a3exv23w1.htm |
EX-10.4 - EX-10.4 - Hicks Acquisition CO II, Inc. | d73962a3exv10w4.htm |
Exhibit 5.1
September 20, 2010
Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc.
100 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
100 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
Re:
|
Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc. | |
Registration Statement on Form S-1 | ||
(File Number 333-167809) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission of a registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File Number 333-167809)
(the Registration Statement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act). The
Registration Statement relates to an underwritten public offering by the Company of up to
23,000,000 Units of the Company (the Units) (including up to 3,000,000 Units subject to the
Underwriters (as defined below) over-allotment option), each Unit consisting of:
(i) | one share of the Companys common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Units, the Shares), for an aggregate of up to 23,000,000 Shares (including up to 3,000,000 Shares included in the Units subject to the Underwriters over-allotment option), and | ||
(ii) | one warrant (each, a Warrant) to purchase one share of Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to 23,000,000 Warrants (including up to 3,000,000 Warrants included in the Units subject to the Underwriters over-allotment option) to be issued under a Warrant Agreement (the Warrant Agreement) to be entered into by the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, |
pursuant to the terms of an underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) to be executed by
the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representative of the
Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc.
September 20, 2010
Page 2
September 20, 2010
Page 2
underwriters named therein (the Underwriters). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and
other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials, and others as we
have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies
submitted to us as conformed, certified, or reproduced copies. We have also assumed that (i) upon
sale and delivery of the Units, the Shares, and the Warrants, the certificates representing such
Units, Shares, and Warrants will conform to the specimens thereof filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement and will have been duly countersigned by the transfer agent and duly
registered by the registrar or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of
the Units, the Shares, and the Warrants in uncertificated form will have been duly made in the
register of the Company and (ii) at the time of execution, countersigning, issuance, and delivery
of the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of the Warrant Agent,
enforceable against the Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms. In addition, in providing the opinions herein, we have
relied, with respect to matters related to the Companys existence, upon the certificates referenced above.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications, and
limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. When the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement have been duly executed and
delivered and the Units, the Shares, and the Warrants have been issued and delivered in accordance
with the Underwriting Agreement against payment in full of the consideration payable therefor as
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof and as
contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Units and the Shares and Warrants included in the
Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. When the Warrant Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement have been duly executed and
delivered by the respective parties thereto and the Warrants have been duly executed by the Company
and duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement
and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting
Agreement, the Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms.
Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc.
September 20, 2010
Page 3
September 20, 2010
Page 3
The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to
the following:
A. | We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws of the State of New York and (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. As used herein, the term General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware includes the statutory provisions contained therein and all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws. | |
B. | The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally; and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). | |
C. | This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinions expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
and to the use of our name in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement under the
caption Legal Matters. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.
/s/ Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.