Exhibit 5.1
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| 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, New York 10112-4498
TEL +1 212.408.2500 FAX +1 212.408.2501 BakerBotts.com | AUSTIN BEIJING BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HONG KONG HOUSTON | LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIYADH SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON |
February 28, 2019
GCI Liberty, Inc.
12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Re: GCI Liberty, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is being furnished in connection with the filing by GCI Liberty, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has requested our opinion concerning the status under Delaware law of the 500,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Series B common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Series B Common Stock"), included in the Registration Statement, that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the GCI Liberty, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
For purposes of our opinion, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents:
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1. | Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect; |
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2. | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect; |
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3. | Resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act; and |
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. We have also assumed that: (i) all of the Shares will be issued for the consideration permitted under the Plan as currently in effect, and none of such Shares will be issued for less than $0.01 per share; (ii) all actions required to be taken under the Plan by the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee thereof) have been or will be taken by the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee thereof); and (iii) at the time of issuance of the Shares under the Plan, the Company shall continue to have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Series B Common Stock reserved for issuance thereunder.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
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1. | The Shares are duly authorized for issuance. |
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2. | If and when any Shares are issued in accordance with the requirements of the Plan, such Shares will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable. |
This opinion is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In so doing, we do not admit 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 Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.
BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
