EX-5.1 3 a2216928zex-5_1.htm EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

Nelson

Mullins

 

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
104 South Main Street / Ninth Floor / Greenville, SC 29601
Tel: 864.250.2300 Fax: 864.232.2925
www.nelsonmullins.com

 

October 8, 2013

 

First Community Corporation

5455 Sunset Blvd.

Lexington, South Carolina 29072

 

Re: Registration Statement

 

Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to First Community Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), relating to the registration of up to 1,597,320 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, to be exchanged for shares of common stock of Savannah River Financial Corporation (“Savannah River”)  in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Company, Savannah River, and SRMS, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, dated as of August 13, 2013.  This opinion is furnished pursuant to the requirement of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

We have examined the articles of incorporation filed by the Company with the South Carolina Secretary of State, the bylaws of the Company, minutes of meetings of its board of directors, and such other corporate records of the Company and other documents and have made such examinations of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.

 

Based on and subject to the foregoing and to the additional qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that the Shares that are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, when issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters” and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  The consent shall not be deemed to be an admission that this firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act.

 

With offices in the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia

 



 

Our opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws other than the South Carolina Business Corporation Act (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the South Carolina Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws).

 

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the issuance and sale of the Shares.

 

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the South Carolina Business Corporation Act be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

 

This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and the benefit of the shareholders of Savannah River in connection with the transaction described above and may not be used or relied upon by any other person without prior written consent in each instance.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH, L.L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ JOHN M. JENNINGS

 

 

John M. Jennings

 

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