EX-5.1 2 ex5_1.htm EXHIBIT 5.1
Exhibit 5.1

 
August 21, 2019

New Residential Investment Corp.
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105


 Re:
New Residential Investment Corp.—Offering of 7.125% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special United States counsel to New Residential Investment Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering by the Company of 10,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s 7.125% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), and up to an additional 1,500,000 shares of the Preferred Stock (the “Option Shares”) at the option of the Underwriters (as defined below). On August 19, 2019, the Underwriters delivered to the Company a written notice (the “Notice of Exercise”) pursuant to Section 2(b) of the Underwriting Agreement of the exercise by the Underwriters of the Underwriters’ option to purchase 1,300,000 of the Option Shares (the “Exercised Option Shares”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

In rendering the opinion stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

(a)          the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-232952) of the Company relating to the Common Stock and other securities of the Company filed on August 1, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under 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”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);
 

New Residential Investment Corp.
August 21, 2019
Page 2

(b)          the prospectus, dated August 1, 2019 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

(c)          the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 8, 2019 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Shares, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

(d)          the prospectus supplement, dated August 8, 2019 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Shares, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

(e)          an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2019 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and between the Company and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Shares;

(f)          an executed copy of a certificate of Cameron D. MacDougall, Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

(g)          a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and in effect immediately prior to the filing of the Certificate of Designations (as defined below) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Charter”), certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of August 8, 2019, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(h)          a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof (the “By-laws”), certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(i)          a copy of resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, dated as of July 29, 2019; and a copy of a written consent of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated as of August 8, 2019;

(j)          an executed certificate evidencing the Shares, registered in the name of Cede & Co (the “Preferred Stock Certificate”);

(k)          a copy of the Certificate of Designations (the “Certificate of Designations”) relating to the Preferred Stock, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of August 15, 2019, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate; and

(l)          an executed copy of the Notice of Exercise.
 

New Residential Investment Corp.
August 21, 2019
Page 3

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, including the facts and conclusions set forth in the Secretary’s Certificate and the factual representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, 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 photocopied copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. 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, including those in the Secretary’s Certificate and the factual representations and warranties set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. We have also assumed that the issuance of the Option Shares does not violate or conflict with any agreement or instrument binding on the Company (except that we do not make this assumption with respect to the Charter and the By-laws and those agreements or instruments expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware or the State of New York which are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement).

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that: (i) the Option Shares have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the DGCL and, when the Option Shares are delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share.
 

New Residential Investment Corp.
August 21, 2019
Page 4

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into 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.

 
Very truly yours,
 
/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

MJS