Attached files

file filename
8-K - MISSISSIPPI POWER COms2012areopen8k.htm
EX-8 - MISSISSIPPI POWER COx8.htm
EX-1.3 - MISSISSIPPI POWER COex1-3.htm
EX-12.1 - MISSISSIPPI POWER COex12-1.htm
Exhibit 5.1
 
 
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
Attorneys at Law
Bank of America Plaza
600 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 5200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216
404.885.3000 telephone
404.885.3900 facsimile
troutmansanders.com
 
 
 
 
August 21, 2012





Mississippi Power Company
2992 West Beach Boulevard
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
 
Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
We have acted as counsel to Mississippi Power Company (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-161168), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), relating to $200,000,000 additional aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Series 2012A 4.25% Senior Notes due March 15, 2042 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture dated as of May 1, 1998 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor Trustee (the “Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented, including by a Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 9, 2012 (collectively, the “Indenture”).
 
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  We have also examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have made such other and further investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein.  As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.
 
In rendering the opinions set forth below, 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 duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We have also assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
 
ATLANTA    BEIJING    CHICAGO    HONG KONG    NEW YORK   NEWARK   NORFOLK   ORANGE COUNTY   PORTLAND
RALEIGH     RICHMOND     SAN DIEGO     SHANGHAI     TYSONS CORNER     VIRGINIA BEACH     WASHINGTON, DC
 
 
 

 
 
Mississippi Power Company
August 21, 2012
Page 2

 
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.  In rendering the foregoing opinion, with respect to matters of New York law, we have relied on the opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP attached hereto as Annex I and, with respect to matters of Mississippi law, we have relied on the opinion of Balch & Bingham LLP attached hereto as Annex II.
 
The attorneys in this firm that are rendering this opinion are members of the State Bar of Georgia, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the federal law of the United States and, to the extent set forth herein, the laws of the States of Mississippi and New York.
 
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  This opinion may not be relied upon, furnished or quoted by you for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.
 
Very truly yours,
 
/s/ Troutman Sanders LLP

Troutman Sanders LLP
 
 
 
 

 
Annex I
Hunton&
Williams
 
HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP
200 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY  10166-0005
 
 
TEL           212 • 309 • 1000
FAX           212 • 309 • 1100
 
 
 
 
FILE NO: 79445.000003
 
 
August 21, 2012
 
 
 
 
Troutman Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 5200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
 
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
We have acted as counsel to the underwriters in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-161168), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), relating to $200,000,000 additional aggregate principal amount of Mississippi Power Company’s (the “Company”) Series 2012A 4.25% Senior Notes due March 15, 2042 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture dated as of May 1, 1998 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor trustee (the “Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented, including by a Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 9, 2012 (collectively, the “Indenture”).
 
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  We have also examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have made such other and further investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein.  As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.
 
In rendering the opinions set forth below, 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 duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We have also assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
 
 
ATLANTA   AUSTIN   BANGKOK   BEIJING   BRUSSELS   CHARLOTTE   DALLAS   HOUSTON   LONDON   LOS ANGELES
McLEAN   MIAMI   NEW YORK   NORFOLK   RALEIGH   RICHMOND   SAN FRANCISCO   TOKYO   WASHINGTON
www.hunton.com
 
 
 

 
 
 
Hunton&
Williams
Troutman Sanders LLP
August 21, 2012
Page 2 
 
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.
 
We do not express any opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York.
 
           This opinion is furnished for your benefit in connection with your rendering an opinion to the Company to be filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and we hereby consent to your attaching this opinion as an annex to such opinion.  In addition, Balch & Bingham LLP may rely on this opinion with respect to matters of New York law in connection with the delivery of its opinion to be attached as an annex to your opinion.  In giving our consent to your attaching this opinion to the opinion being rendered by you, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.  This opinion may not be relied upon, furnished or quoted by you for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.
 
 
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
                      /s/Hunton & Williams LLP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
ANNEX II
1310 Twenty-Fifth Avenue . P.O. Box 130 (39502) . Gulfport, MS 39501-1931   www.balch.com
 
 
   

 

August 21, 2012
Troutman Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 5200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308


 
Re:
Registration Statement on Form S-3
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
We have acted as counsel to Mississippi Power Company (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-161168), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), relating to $200,000,000 additional aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Series 2012A 4.25% Senior Notes due March 15, 2042 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture dated as of May 1, 1998 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor trustee (the “Trustee”), as heretofore supplemented, including by a Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 9, 2012 (collectively, the “Indenture”).
 
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  We have also examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have made such other and further investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein.  As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.
 
In rendering the opinions set forth below, 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 duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We have also assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
 
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
 
 
 
ALABAMA  |  GEORGIA  |  MISSISSIPPI  |  WASHINGTON, DC
 
 
 

 
 
 
moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.  In rendering the foregoing opinion, with respect to matters of New York law, we have relied on the opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP attached to your opinion as Annex I.
 
The attorneys in this firm that are rendering this opinion are members of the State Bar of Mississippi, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the laws of the State of Mississippi, and, to the extent set forth herein, the law of the State of New York.
 
This opinion is furnished for your benefit in connection with your rendering an opinion to the Company to be filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and we hereby consent to your attaching this opinion as an annex to such opinion.  In giving our consent to your attaching this opinion to the opinion being rendered by you, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.  This opinion may not be relied upon, furnished or quoted by you for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.


Yours very truly,
 
 
/s/Balch & Bingham LLP