EX-5.1 2 exhibit51.htm EXHIBIT 5.1 Exhibit


Exhibit 5.1



August 16, 2018
Matter No.:350676
Doc Ref: 14349107

+1 441 298 7861
robert.alexander@conyersdill.com
Axovant Sciences Ltd.
Suite 1, 3rd Floor
11-12 St. James’s Square
London SW1Y 4LB
United Kingdom



Dear Sirs,

Re: Axovant Sciences Ltd. (the "Company")

We have acted as special Bermuda legal counsel to the Company in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on August 16, 2018 (the “Registration Statement”, which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) of 4,311,522 common shares par value US$0.00001 per share (the “Common Shares”), issuable pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”, which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto).

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined copies of the Registration Statement and the Plan. We have also reviewed the Company’s memorandum of association and the bye-laws of the Company (together, the “Constitutional Documents”), each certified by the Secretary of the Company on August 15, 2017, minutes of a meeting of the Company’s board of directors held on 19 May 2015, a certified extract of minutes of a meeting of the Company’s board of directors held on 1 June 2017 and written resolutions dated 18 March 2015 and 19 May 2015 (together, the “Resolutions”) and such other documents and made such enquiries as to questions of law as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinion set forth below.

We have assumed (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) of all documents examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken; (b) that where a document has been examined by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed in the form of that draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us all changes thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention; (c) the accuracy and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement, the Plan and other documents reviewed by us; (d) that the Resolutions were passed at one or more duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings, or by unanimous written resolutions, remain in full force and effect and have not been rescinded or amended; (e) that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than Bermuda, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; (f) that there is no provision of any “Stock Award Agreement”, “Other Stock Award Agreement”, “Restricted Stock Award Agreement”, or “Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” (as defined in the Plan) which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein; (g) that, upon the issue of any Common Shares, the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof; (h) that on the date of issuance of any of the Common Shares the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued voting ordinary shares; and (i) that the Common Shares will be listed on an appointed stock exchange (as defined in the Companies Act 1981, as amended, which includes the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ).

We have made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda and is limited to and is given on the basis of the current law and practice in Bermuda. This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Common Shares by the Company pursuant to the Plan and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter.


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“Non-assessability” is not a legal concept under Bermuda law, but when we describe the Common Shares herein as being “non-assessable” we mean, subject to any contrary provision in any agreement between the Company and any one of its members holding any of the Common Shares (but only with respect to such member), that no further sums are payable with respect to the issue of such shares and no member shall be bound by an alteration in the Constitutional Documents after the date upon which it became a member if and so far as the alteration requires such member to take or subscribe for additional Common Shares or in any way increases its liability to contribute to the share capital of, or otherwise pay money to, the Company.

On the basis of, and subject to, the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1.
The Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Bermuda in good standing (meaning solely that it has not failed to make any filing with any Bermuda government authority or to pay any Bermuda government fees or tax which would make it liable to be struck off the Register of Companies and thereby cease to exist under the laws of Bermuda).

2.
When issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan the Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (which term means when used herein that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of such shares).

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are 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.


Yours faithfully,



/s/ Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited


Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited



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