Exhibit 5.2
[Letterhead of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP]
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Three Commercial Place
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
| | Re: | Norfolk Southern Corporation |
| | | Automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Norfolk Southern Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company of the following securities of the Company: (i) shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of preferred stock, without par value, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) to be issued in one or more series, which may also be issued in the form of depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) evidenced by depositary receipts pursuant to one or more deposit agreements (each, a “Deposit Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and one or more depositaries to be named, (iii) debt securities representing unsecured obligations of the Company (the “Senior Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to a senior indenture (the “Senior Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, and subordinated debt securities (“Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to a subordinated indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, (iv) warrants representing the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities or securities of third parties or
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February 17, 2012
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other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing (collectively, the “Warrants”), which may be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), proposed to be entered into with one or more warrant agents to be named, (v) the Company’s stock purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares at a future date or dates (the “Stock Purchase Contracts”), which may be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements, (vi) the Company’s stock purchase units (the “Stock Purchase Units”), each consisting of a Stock Purchase Contract and either Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing a holder’s obligation to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares under the Stock Purchase Contracts, and (vii) such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Depositary Shares as may be issuable upon conversion, exchange, settlement or exercise of any Warrants, Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Senior Indenture; and (iii) the Subordinated Indenture. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto, including the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, and, except as to the Company with respect to the Debt Securities as to which we express our opinion herein, the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties. We have
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also assumed that (i) the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and that the Company has complied and will comply with all aspects of applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the United States of America and the State of New York in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Indentures and the Registration Statement, (ii) the choice of New York law to govern the Indentures is a valid and legal provision, and (iii) the Indentures will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the respective trustees thereunder, in the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, and any Debt Securities that may be issued thereunder will be duly authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indentures. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.
We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-Opined on Law on the opinions herein stated. The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and the opinions expressed herein are based on the laws, including the Rules and Regulations, in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
With respect to any series of Debt Securities (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and
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appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities or Warrants), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies and (d) waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indentures or Offered Debt Securities which may be unenforceable.
In rendering the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indentures and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder do not and will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Company or its properties is subject, except for those agreements and instruments that are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement. We do not express any opinion, however, as to whether the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indentures and any Offered Debt Securities, and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any covenant, restriction or provision with respect to financial ratios or tests or any aspect of the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
William A. Galanko, Vice President – Law of the Company, may rely on this opinion, subject to the limitations and assumptions set forth in this opinion, as if it were addressed to him in rendering his opinion dated the date hereof, which is to be filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.
| | Very truly yours, |
| | |
| | /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
