EXHIBIT 5.1
June 28, 2024
Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
22722 29th Drive SE, Suite 100
Bothell, WA 98021
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As counsel to Achieve Life Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about June 28, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the offering and sale from time to time of up to $200,000,000 aggregate offering amount of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) one or more series of debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) issuable pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”) by and between the Company and a financial institution to be identified therein as trustee (the “Trustee”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), (v) subscription rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities (the “Subscription Rights”), and/or (vi) units consisting of any combination of such foregoing securities described in clauses (i) through (v) above (the “Units”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Subscription Rights and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be sold from time to time by the Company as set forth in the Registration Statement, the base prospectus contained within the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) and supplements to the Prospectus. The Company has informed us that the Company intends to issue the Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
As to matters of fact relevant to the opinions rendered herein, we have examined such documents, certificates and other instruments which we have deemed necessary or advisable, including a certificate addressed to us and dated the date hereof executed by the Company (the “Opinion Certificate”). We have not undertaken any independent investigation to verify the accuracy of any such information, representations or warranties or to determine the existence or absence of any fact, and no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of any fact should be drawn from our representation of the Company or the rendering of the opinions set forth below. We have not considered parol evidence in connection with any of the agreements or instruments reviewed by us in connection with this letter.
In our examination of documents for purposes of this letter, we have assumed, and express no opinion as to, the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, that each document is what it purports to be, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or facsimile copies, the absence of any termination, modification or waiver of or amendment to any document reviewed by us (other than as has been disclosed to us), the legal competence or capacity of all persons or entities (other than the Company) executing the same and (other than the Company) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by each party thereto. We have also assumed the conformity of the documents filed with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), except for required EDGAR formatting changes, to physical copies submitted for our examination.
Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
June 28, 2024
Page 2
The opinions in this letter are limited to the existing General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware now in effect and, as to the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights and Units constituting valid and binding obligations of the Company, the existing internal laws of the State of New York now in effect (the “Applicable Laws”). We express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
In connection with our opinions expressed below, we have assumed that, (i) at or prior to the time of the delivery of any of the Securities there will not have occurred any change in the law or the facts affecting the validity of the Securities, (ii) the Registration Statement and any amendments (including any necessary post-effective amendments) will have been declared effective under the Securities Act, (iii) at the time of the offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, no stop order suspending the Registration Statement’s effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect, (iv) no future amendments will be made to the Company’s current certificate of incorporation (as amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or the Company’s Sixth Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws” and, together with the Certificate of Incorporation, the “Charter Documents”) that would be in conflict with or inconsistent with the Company’s right and ability to issue the Securities, (v) at the time of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company will be validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and (vi) at the time of each offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Company will have a sufficient number of authorized and unissued and unreserved shares of the applicable class or series of its capital stock included in (or purchasable upon exercise or conversion of) the Securities, so issued and sold (after taking into account all other outstanding securities of the Company which may require the Company to issue shares of such applicable class or series) to be able to issue all such shares.
This opinion is qualified by, and is subject to, and we render no opinion with respect to, the following limitations and exceptions to the enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Subscription Rights and the Units:
We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of any waiver or stay, extension or of unknown future rights. Further, we express no opinion regarding the effect of provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to federal or state securities laws or public policy.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and exceptions contained herein, we are of the following opinion:
Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
June 28, 2024
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Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
June 28, 2024
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In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that each of the Debt Securities and the Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Subscription Rights Agreement and Unit Agreement governing such Securities are legally valid and binding obligations of each party thereto other than the Company.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus constituting part thereof and any amendments thereto. In giving this consent we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
June 28, 2024
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This opinion is intended solely for use in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities subject to the Registration Statement and is not to be relied upon for any other purpose. In providing this letter, we are opining only as to the specific legal issues expressly set forth above, and no opinion shall be inferred as to any other matter or matters. This opinion is rendered on, and speaks only as of, the date of this letter first written above, is based solely on our understanding of facts in existence as of such date after the aforementioned examination and does not address any potential changes in facts, circumstance or law that may occur after the date of this opinion letter. We assume no obligation to advise you of any fact, circumstance, event or change in the law or the facts that may hereafter be brought to our attention, whether or not such occurrence would affect or modify any of the opinions expressed herein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Fenwick & West LLP
FENWICK & WEST LLP