EX-5.1 2 d471918dex51.htm EX-5.1 EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP

2550 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, CA 94304

February 28, 2023

Invitae Corporation

1400 16th Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for Invitae Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-263205) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) relating to the registration of the following securities of the Company having an aggregate initial public offering price of up to $500,000,000: (a) senior or subordinated debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (b) shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), (c) shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”), in one or more series, (d) depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing fractional interests in Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”), (e) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Depositary Shares or any combination thereof (“Warrants”), (f) purchase contracts (“Purchase Contracts”) to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, and (g) purchase units (“ Purchase Units”) each representing ownership of a Purchase Contract and Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, debt obligations of third parties, including the United States of America or agencies or instrumentalities thereof, securing the holder’s obligation to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares under the Purchase Contract. The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Purchase Units collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities shall include any additional amounts of such securities the offer and sale of which are registered pursuant to a registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with one or more offerings contemplated by such Registration Statement. Such Registration Statement, as amended, and including any registration statement related thereto and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be identified in such Indenture (the “Trustee”), together with the board resolutions, an Officer’s Certificate or a Supplemental Indenture in the form to be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement setting forth the terms of a specific series of the Debt Securities (such Indenture, as so modified or supplemented, the “Indenture”).

We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for our opinions set forth in this letter. In such review, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of all agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials submitted to us, the conformity with the originals of all such materials submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified and including facsimiles), the authenticity of the originals of such materials and all materials submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all natural persons.

On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

With respect to any of the Debt Securities, when (a) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering and related matters, (c) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and (d) such Debt Securities have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Indenture, such Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

2.

With respect to the Common Stock, when the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such Board (such Board of Directors or committee being referred to herein as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the offering of shares of the Common Stock and related matters and when such shares have been issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such shares of Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


Invitae Corporation

February 28, 2023

Page 2

 

3.

With respect to the Preferred Stock, when the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of any particular series of Preferred Stock, the offering thereof and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding such series of Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and when shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, such shares of such series of Preferred Stock (including any shares of such series of Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or the instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board) will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

4.

With respect to any of the Depositary Shares, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the series of Preferred Stock to be issued in connection therewith, the offering of such Depositary Shares in such series of Preferred Stock, and related matters, including the filing of a certificate of designations conforming to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware regarding the Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,(b) a deposit agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a bank or trust company to be selected by the Company, as depositary (a “Deposit Agreement”), which Deposit Agreement establishes the terms of the Depositary Shares and their issuance and sale, (c) the shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been deposited with such depositary in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, (d) such shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Board action, and (e) receipts (“Receipts”) evidencing Depositary Shares are duly issued against the deposit of such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with such Deposit Agreement, such Depositary Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and such Receipts will be duly authorized and validly issued and entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Deposit Agreement.

 

5.

With respect to any of the Purchase Contracts, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a Purchase contract agent (a “Purchase Contract Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Purchase Contracts, the terms of the offering of such Purchase Contracts, and related matters, (c) such Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of such Purchase Contract Agreement, and (d) such Purchase Contracts have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

6.

With respect to any of the Purchase Units, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a Purchase unit agent (a “Purchase Unit Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Purchase Units, the terms of the offering of such Purchase Units, and related matters, (c) such Purchase Units have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the appropriate Purchase Unit Agreement, and (d) such Purchase Units have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Purchase Unit Agreement, such Purchase Units will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

7.

With respect to any of the Warrants, when (a) one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions thereof has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and a warrant agent (a “Warrant Agreement”), (b) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of such Warrants, the terms of the offering of such Warrants, and related matters, (c) the Warrant certificates have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Warrant Agreement, and (d) such Warrants have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and in accordance with such Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 1 and 5 through 7 above are subject to and limited by the effect of (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium and other similar laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (c) requirements of reasonableness, good faith, materiality and fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which any matter may be brought.

 


Invitae Corporation

February 28, 2023

Page 3

 

In connection with our opinions set forth above, we have assumed that (a) at or prior to the time of the delivery of any of the Securities the Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, will be or have been declared effective under the Act and a supplement to the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement applicable to the offer and sale of such Securities will have been prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, (b) at or prior to the time of the issuance of any of the Securities, the Board shall not have rescinded or otherwise modified the authorization of such Securities, (c) in the case of the issuance of shares of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock, the Company will have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares thereof under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company at the time of such issuance, and (d) neither the establishment of any terms of any of the Securities after the date hereof nor the issuance and delivery of, or the performance of the Company’s obligations under, such Securities will (i) require any authorization, consent, approval or license of or exemption from, or registration or filing with, or report or notice to, any governmental unit, agency, commission, department or other authority (a “Governmental Approval”) or (ii) violate or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party or by which the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties may be bound, (B) any Governmental Approval that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties, (C) any order, decision, judgment or decree that may be applicable to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their respective properties or (D) any applicable law (other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York in each case as in effect on the date hereof).

Our opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the law of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplement thereto. 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 or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP