Exhibit 5.1
[JONES DAY LETTERHEAD]
November 17, 2006
Federated Department Stores, Inc.
Federated Retail Holdings, Inc.
7 West Seventh Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
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Re:
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Issuance of $1,100,000,000 Senior
Notes due 2016 |
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of Federated Retail Holdings,
Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Federated Retail Holdings, Inc., a New York corporation
(Federated Holdings), in connection with its offering of
$1,100,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of Federated Holdings 5.90% senior notes due 2016 (the Debt Securities), which will
be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the Guarantees) by Federated Department Stores, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (Federated), as contemplated by
Federated's and Federated Holdings
Registration Statement No. 333-138376 on Form S-3 to which this opinion is an exhibit (as the same
may be amended from time to time, the Registration Statement). The Debt Securities will be
issued under an indenture, dated as of November 2, 2006 (the Base Indenture), among Federated
Holdings, as issuer, Federated, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the
Trustee), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, to be entered into among Federated
Holdings, Federated and the Trustee (the First Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base
Indenture, the Indenture) relating to the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities and the
Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the Securities.
In rendering this opinion, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we
have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the
limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
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The Debt Securities, when executed by Federated Holdings and authenticated by the
Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, issued and sold in accordance with the Registration
Statement and delivered to the purchaser or purchasers thereof against receipt by Federated
Holdings of such lawful consideration therefor as Federated Holdings Board of Directors (or a
duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of Federated Holdings. |
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Upon the execution, authentication, issuance, sale and delivery of the Debt Securities as
described above, the Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and binding obligations of
Federated. |
We
have assumed that (i) the Base Indenture is, and the First Supplemental Indenture will
be, a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee; (ii) the definitive terms of the Securities
will be established in accordance with (a) applicable law and (b) the provisions of the Indenture
and set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture; and (iii) the First Supplemental Indenture
will be duly executed and delivered by Federated Holdings, Federated and the Trustee.
For purposes of our opinion set forth in paragraph 2, we have assumed that the obligations of
Federated under the Guarantees will be, and would be deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be, in furtherance of its corporate purposes, or necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion
or attainment of the business of Federated and will benefit Federated, directly or indirectly.
Federated Department Stores, Inc.
Federated Retail Holdings, Inc.
November 17, 2006
Page 2
Our opinions are limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer,
conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws, regulations or judicial opinions
of general applicability, including those relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, and
(ii) general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and
considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or at equity.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the federal securities laws of the United States
of America, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, including applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial
decisions interpreting such law, in each case as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as
to the effect of any other law of the State of Delaware or the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption Certain Legal Matters in the prospectus
constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/
Jones Day