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8-K - 8-K - American Airlines Group Inc.d20339d8k.htm

Exhibit 5.1

 

  

53rd at Third

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022-4834

Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864

www.lw.com

LOGO    FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
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November 25, 2020    Century City    Orange County
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American Airlines Group Inc.

1 Skyview Drive

Fort Worth, Texas 76155

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-236503); Warrants to purchase 14,107,509 shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to American Airlines Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the resale from time to time by the selling stockholder named in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) of warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 14,107,509 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and the 14,107,509 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”). The resale of the Warrants and Warrant Shares is being registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 19, 2020 (Registration No. 333-236503) (the “Registration Statement”), a base prospectus dated February 19, 2020 included in the Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective (the “Base Prospectus”), and a prospectus supplement dated November 25, 2020 filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”).

This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Warrants and Warrant Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the


November 25, 2020

Page 2

 

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General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and, in paragraph 1 of this letter, the internal laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

1. Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, the Warrants are the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

2. Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Warrant Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances and pursuant to the terms contemplated by the Warrants, the issue and sale of the Warrant Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Warrant Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.

Our opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity 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; and (iv) we express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies, or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (f) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (g) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (h) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (i) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (j) grants of setoff rights, (k) proxies, powers and trusts, (l) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property and (m) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

With your consent, we have assumed that the status of the Warrants as legally valid and binding obligations of the Company is not affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.


November 25, 2020

Page 3

 

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This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 25, 2020 and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP