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EXHIBIT 5.1
[LETTERHEAD OF PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO]
August 4, 2000
Tvia, Inc.
4001 Burton Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for Tvia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, all of which are authorized but
heretofore unissued shares to be offered and sold by the Company (including
750,000 shares subject to the underwriters' over-allotment option). In this
regard we have participated in the preparation of a Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-34024) relating to such 5,750,000 shares of
Common Stock. (Such Registration Statement, as amended, is herein referred to as
the "Registration Statement.")
We are of the opinion that the shares of Common Stock to be offered and
sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold by the
Company 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 issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus included therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
