Exhibit 5.2-A
{Letterhead of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.}
May 1, 2001
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
c/o Gulf Power Company
500 Bayfront Parkway
Pensacola, Florida 32501
Re: Gulf Power Capital Trust III
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Gulf Power
Company, a Maine corporation (the "Company"), and Gulf Power Capital Trust III,
a Delaware business trust (the "Trust" ), in connection with the matters set
forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated November 26, 1997 as
filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the
"Secretary of State") on November 26, 1997;
(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of November 26, 1997
between the Company and the trustees of the Trust named therein;
(c) The Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form
S-3, including a preliminary prospectus with respect to the Trust (the
"Prospectus"), relating to the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust
representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
(each, a "Preferred Security" and collectively, the "Preferred Securities"),
filed by the Company and the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on or about May 1, 2001;
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
May 1, 2001
Page 2
(d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Trust, to be
entered into between the Company, the trustees of the Trust named therein, and
the holders, from time to time, of the undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E thereto) (the "Trust
Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and
(e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated May 1, 2001,
obtained from the Secretary of State.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any
documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above.
In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents
listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above) that is referred to in or
incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed
that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is
inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent
factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the
foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the
additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be
true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed
(i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals,
(ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as
copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
Gulf Power Capital Trust III
May 1, 2001
Page 3
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the
Trust Agreement and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and
have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below,
the due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence
in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of
the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii) the
legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by
us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power
and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such
documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties
thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom
a Preferred Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Preferred
Security Holders") of a certificate for such Preferred Security in the form
prescribed by the Trust Agreement and the payment for such Preferred Security,
in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (vii)
that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred Security
Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement.
We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware
(excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not
considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction,
including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions
are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and
orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such
questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered
necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications,
limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in
good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act.
2. The Preferred Securities of the Trust will represent valid
and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid
and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
3. The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the
Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby
consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the
Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby 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. Except as stated above, without
our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or
relied upon by, any other person for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
/s/Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
CDK