Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - KOHLS Corpkss8k.htm
EX-4.3 - FORM OF $150,000,000 4.000% NOTE DUE 2021 - KOHLS Corpexh43.htm
EX-4.2 - FORM OF $500,000,000 4.000% NOTE DUE 2021 - KOHLS Corpexh42.htm
EX-4.1 - FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE - KOHLS Corpexh41.htm
EX-1.1 - UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT - KOHLS Corpexh11.htm

Exhibit 5.1

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780 North Water Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202-3590

TEL 414-273-3500

Fax 414-273-5198

www.gklaw.com




October 17, 2011

Kohl’s Corporation

N56 W17000 Ridgewood Drive

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin  53051

RE:

4.000% Notes due 2021
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Registration No. 333-177252

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Kohl’s Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the issuance and sale of $650,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.000% Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”) pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 1, 1995, as amended (the “Basic Indenture”), as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 17, 2011 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Basic Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as trustee.  In accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-177252) (the “Registration Statement”), including a base prospectus dated October 12, 2011 (the “Base Prospectus”), the prospectus supplement dated October 12, 2011 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and the final prospectus supplement dated October 14, 2011 (the “Final Prospectus Supplement” and, collectively with the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”), filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

In such capacity, we have examined:  (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Prospectus; (iii) the form of the Notes; (iv) certain resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors and the Pricing Committee thereof; (v) the Indenture; and (vi) such other proceedings, documents and records as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion.

OFFICES IN MILWAUKEE, MADISON, WAUKESHA, GREEN BAY AND APPLETON, WI, WASHINGTON DC, AND SHANGHAI PRC

GODFREY & KAHN IS A MEMBER OF TERRALEX®, A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT LAW FIRMS




Kohl’s Corporation

October 17, 2011

Page 2

In all such investigations and examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Based upon and subject to limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes, when delivered and sold as contemplated by the Prospectus, were duly authorized and validly issued and constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, receivership, conservatorship and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Wisconsin and the laws of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other law.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act, or within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of said Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.