Exhibit 5.2
November 4, 1997
Tevecap S.A.
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US$15,368,000 12 5/8% Senior Notes due 2004
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Exchange Offer
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States counsel for (i) Tevecap S.A., a Brazilian
corporation (the "Company"), and (ii) TVA Sistema de Televisao S.A., TVA
Communications, Ltd., Galaxy Brasil S.A., TVA Sul Participacoes S.A., Commercial
Cabo TV Sao Paulo Ltda., TVA Parana Ltda., TVA Alfa Cabo Ltda., CCS Camboriu
Cable Systems de Telecommunicacoes Ltda., TCC TVA Cabo Ltda., TVA Sul Santa
Catarina Ltda. and TVA Foz do Iguacu Ltda. (collectively, the "Subsidiary
Guarantors"), in connection with the filing by the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form F-4 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the proposed issuance, in
exchange for US$15,368,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 12 5/8%
Senior Notes due 2004 (the "Old Notes"), together with the Subsidiary Guarantees
of the Old Notes (such Subsidiary Guarantees, together with the Old Notes, the
"Old Securities") of US$15,368,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's
12 5/8% Senior Notes due 2004 (the "Exchange Notes"), together with the
Subsidiary Guarantees of the Exchange Notes (such Subsidiary Guarantees,
together with the Exchange Notes, the "Exchange Securities"). The Exchange
Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Exchange and Registration Agreement dated
September 17, 1997 (the "Exchange and Registration Agreement") among Tevecap,
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited, Chase Manhattan International
Limited, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporate, Phoenix Multi-Sector
Fund, Inc. and Phoenix Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund. Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto
in the Exchange and Registration Agreement.
In that connection, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records
and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of
this opinion, including the indenture dated as of November 26, 1996 (the
"Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, The Chase Manhattan
Bank, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee") and Chase Trust Bank, as principal paying
agent (the "Principal Paying Agent"), the Exchange and Registration Agreement,
the forms of the Exchange Securities and the Registration Statement.
In rendering the opinions contained herein, we have assumed (a) the due
authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Indenture, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Exchange Securities by each of the parties thereto,
(b) that each of such parties has the legal power to act in the respective
capacity or capacities in which it is to act thereunder, (c) the authenticity of
all documents submitted to us as originals, (d) the conformity to the original
documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and (e) the genuineness of
all signatures on all documents submitted to us.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the Subsidiary
Guarantees, upon the execution of the Exchange Notes with the Subsidiary
Guarantees, endorsed thereon in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
and when the Exchange Notes with the Subsidiary Guarantees endorsed thereon are
delivered in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange and
Registration Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Subsidiary Guarantors enforceable against the Subsidiary Guarantors in
accordance with their terms (subject in each case to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to
general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of
materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (ii) the Exchange Notes,
when duly issued and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture and delivered in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange
and Registration Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject
in each case to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including,
without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
We are admitted to practice in the State of New York and we do not express
any opinion with respect to matters governed by any laws other than the laws of
the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America. To
the extent that the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil or the British
Virgin Islands are relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied
exclusively on the opinions of Basch & Rameh, Brazilian counsel for the Company
and the Subsidiary Guarantors incorporated under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Brazil, and Harney, Westwood & Riegels, British Virgin Islands
counsel for TVA Communications, Ltd., which are being delivered to you and filed
with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
We know that we may be referred to as counsel who has passed upon the
legality of the issuance of the Exchange Notes on behalf of the Company in the
Registration Statement filed
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with the Commission, and we hereby consent to such use of our name in said
Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion with said Registration
Statement, as Exhibit 5.2 thereto.
Very truly yours,
/s/ MAYER, BROWN & PLATT
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Mayer, Brown & Platt
Tevecap, S.A.
TVA Sistema de Televisao S.A.
TVA Communications, Ltd.
Galaxy Brasil S.A.
TVA Sul Participacoes S.A.
Commercial Cabo TV Sao Paulo Ltda.
TVA Parana Ltda.
TVA Alpha Cabo Ltda.
CCS Camboriu Cable Systems de Telecommunicacoes Ltda.
TCC TVA Cabo Ltda.
TVA Sul Santa Catarina Ltda.
TVA Foz do Iguacu Ltda.
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