Exhibit 5.1
[Jones Day Letterhead]
June 23, 2008
Macys, Inc.
Macys Retail Holdings, Inc.
7 West Seventh Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
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Re: |
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$650,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 of Macys Retail Holdings,
Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for Macys Retail Holdings, Inc., a New York corporation (Macys
Holdings), in connection with the sale of $650,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
Macys Holdings 7.875% senior notes due 2015 (the Debt Securities), which will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed (the Guarantee) by Macys, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Macys),
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2008 (the Underwriting Agreement),
entered into by and among Macys Holdings, Macys and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Banc of
America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., acting as representatives of the several
underwriters named therein. The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of
November 2, 2006 (the Base Indenture), among Macys Holdings, as issuer, Macys, as guarantor,
and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by the Fifth
Supplemental Indenture, to be entered into among Macys Holdings, Macys and the Trustee (the
Fifth Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture) relating to
the Debt Securities.
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and
matters of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of such opinions. Based on the foregoing,
and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of
the opinion that:
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The Debt Securities, when executed by Macys Holdings and authenticated by the Trustee in
accordance with the Indenture and issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment
therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of Macys Holdings. |
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| 2. |
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Upon the execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities as described
above, the Guarantee thereof will constitute a valid and binding obligation of Macys. |
For purposes of the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed that (i) the definitive terms
of the Debt Securities and Guarantee will be established in accordance with the provisions
Macys, Inc.
Macys Retail Holdings, Inc.
June 23, 2008
Page 2
of the Indenture and (ii) the Fifth Supplemental Indenture will be duly executed and delivered
by Macys Holdings and Macys. We also have assumed that the Trustee has authorized, executed and
delivered the Indenture and that the Indenture is the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
the Trustee.
For purposes of our opinion set forth in paragraph 2, we have assumed that the obligations of
Macys under the Guarantee 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 Macys, and will benefit Macys, directly or indirectly.
The opinions expressed herein are limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar
laws and related regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or
affecting creditors rights generally, and by 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 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 Exhibit 5.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K dated the date hereof filed by Macys and incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement on Form S-3, as amended (Reg. No. 333-138376) (the Registration Statement), filed by
Macys and Macys Holdings to effect the registration of the Debt Securities and Guarantee under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act) and to the reference to Jones Day under the captions
Certain Legal Matters and Legal Matters in the prospectus constituting a part of such
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Jones Day