Form: S-8

Initial registration statement for securities to be offered to employees pursuant to employee benefit plans

July 3, 2014

EXHIBIT 5.1

 

July 3, 2014

 

 

 

ATA Inc.

DIRECT LINE:

(852) 2842 9552

8th Floor

E-MAIL: junko.shiokawa@conyersdill.com

East Building,

OUR REF:

JS/cy/8204865

6 Jian Guo Men Nei Gong Yuan Xi Jie,

YOUR REF:

 

Beijing

 

China 100005

 

 

Dear Sirs

 

ATA Inc. (the “Company”)

 

We have acted as special Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Company in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 3, 2014 (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 of an aggregate of 336,307 shares, par value US$0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Shares”) to be issued pursuant to the ATA Inc. 2008 Employee Share 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 and relied upon copies of the following documents:

 

(i)                                     the Registration Statement; and

 

(ii)                                  the Plan.

 

We have also reviewed and relied upon (1) the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, (2) copies of the written resolutions of all the members of the Company and the directors of the Company both passed on January 7, 2008 (the “Resolutions”), (3) a certificate of good standing of the Company dated 30 June, 2014 (the “Certificate Date”) and (4) 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 of documents (whether or not certified) examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken, (b) the accuracy and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement, the Plan and other documents reviewed by us, (c) 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, (d) that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than the Cayman Islands, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein, and (e) that upon issue of any shares to be sold by the Company the Company will receive consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof; (f) the validity and binding effect under the laws of the United States of America of the Registration Statement and that the Registration Statement will be duly filed with the Commission; (g) that on the date of issuance of any of the Common Shares, the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued Common Shares, and (h) that on the date of issuance of any award under the Plan, the Company will be able to pay its liabilities as they become due.

 

We express no opinion with respect to the issuance of Common Shares pursuant to any provision of the Plan that purports to obligate the Company to issue Common Shares following the commencement of a winding up or liquidation.  We have made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands.  This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and is limited to and is given on the basis of the current law and practice in the Cayman Islands.  This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Shares by the Company and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter.

 

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

 

1.                                      As at the Certificate Date, the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands in good standing (meaning solely that it has not failed to make any filing with any Cayman Islands government authority or to pay any Cayman Islands 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 the Cayman Islands).

 

2.                                      The Common Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Plan, 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 or holding of such shares).

 

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

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

/s/Conyers Dill & Pearman (Cayman) Limited

 

Conyers Dill & Pearman (Cayman) Limited