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EXHIBIT 5.1
[O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP LETTERHEAD]
August 3, 2000
Versicor Inc.
34790 Ardentech Court
Fremont, California 94555
RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-1
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by you with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 22, 2000 (Registration
No. 333-33022, as amended) (the "Registration Statement"), in connection with
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 4,600,000 shares of your Common
Stock, par value $0.001 and an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters
of the offering to purchase up to 690,000 shares from you (collectively, the
"Shares"). We understand that the Shares are to be sold to the underwriters of
the offering for resale to the public as described in the Registration
Statement.
We have examined all instruments, documents and records that we deemed
relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when
issued and sold in the manner described in the Registration Statement and in
accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus constituting a part thereof and
any amendments thereto.
Very truly yours,
/s/ O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
