Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number Description
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5.1 Opinion of Counsel of the Company regarding legality
of the securities to be registered
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.2 Consent of Counsel of the Company (included in
opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration
Statement)
24.1 Powers of Attorney
EXHIBIT 5.1
June 23, 1999
Southwest Gas Corporation
P.O. Box 98510
Las Vegas, NV 89193-8510
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As counsel for Southwest Gas Corporation (the "Company"), I have
examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 300,000 shares of the Company's $1
par value Common Stock (the "Stock") pursuant to the provisions of the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. I also have examined the steps
taken by the Company and its Board of Directors in connection with the
authorization and proposed issuance and sale of the Stock, and I am familiar
with resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company in connection
therewith. I am also familiar with the application filed by the Company with the
California Public Utilities Commission for authority to issue the Stock, and the
order issued by said Commission authorizing the issuance of same.
Based on the foregoing and upon such other matters as I deem relevant
in the circumstances, it is my opinion that the Company has received all
required authorizations from state regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over
the issuance of the Stock by the Company, and that, subject to the actions
authorized by the Company's Board of Directors being taken, the Stock, upon
issuance and sale thereof in the manner specified in the Registration Statement,
will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable
outstanding Stock of the Company.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and I further consent to the use of my name under the
caption "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus which forms a part thereof.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Johnson
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our report dated March 26, 1999
incorporated by reference in Southwest Gas Corporation's Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998 and to all references to our Firm included in this
registration statement.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
June 22, 1999
EXHIBIT 24.1
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE AND SELL COMMON STOCK
THROUGH THE
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
WHEREAS, The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Southwest
Gas Corporation (the "Corporation") has determined that it is in the best
interests of this Corporation to issue and sell up to 300,000 shares of its $1
par value common stock (the "Shares") pursuant to the provisions of its Dividend
Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the "DRSPP"); and
WHEREAS, This Corporation has existing authorization from the
California Public Utilities Commission to issue and sell the contemplated level
of additional shares of common stock through the DRSPP.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the
Board of Directors of this Corporation authorizes the issuance and sale of up to
300,000 additional Shares to be sold from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of the DRSPP, subject to first obtaining all required governmental
authorizations therefor and compliance with other terms and conditions as are
hereinafter specified in these resolutions; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the President and Chief Executive Officer; the
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary; the Vice
President and Treasurer; the Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting
Officer; and the Assistant Corporate Secretary (collectively, the "Authorized
Officers" which term shall include such officers, attorneys, agents, and
employees as they may respectively specify) are, and each of them hereby is,
authorized to take such actions and execute such instruments as they deem
necessary and suitable in order to carry out the intent and purpose of these
resolutions and the execution by any such Authorized Officer of any such
instrument, or the undertaking by any of them of any such action, in connection
with the matters specified in these resolutions shall conclusively establish
their authority therefor from this Corporation and the approval and ratification
by this Corporation thereof; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Authorized Officers are, and each of them
hereby is, authorized and directed, to prepare, execute and cause to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") any required registration
statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto, for the purpose of
registering under the federal securities laws, not to exceed 300,000 Shares for
issuance pursuant to the provisions of the DRSPP; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That Michael O. Maffie and George C. Biehl, or each
of them, be and they hereby is, authorized to act severally as attorneys in fact
for and on behalf of this Corporation to execute and file registration
statements on the applicable form or forms and on behalf of this Corporation to
execute and file any and all amendments and/or supplements thereto to be filed
by this Corporation with the SEC under the federal securities laws, for the
purpose of registering not to exceed 300,000 additional Shares for issuance
under the DRSPP; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Authorized Officers are, and each of them
hereby is, authorized in the name and on behalf of this Corporation to prepare
and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, applications for listing the Shares
on the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, and/or any other
stock exchange or exchanges that any of the Authorized Officers deems
appropriate if listing of the Shares is deemed advisable by any Authorized
Officer; and that the Authorized Officers are, and each of them hereby is,
authorized in the name and on behalf of this Corporation to execute and deliver
such applications and any listing agreements or documents required by any such
exchange in connection therewith, and to make such changes in any of the same as
may be necessary or appropriate to conform with the requirements for listing,
and to communicate with and to appear (if requested) before the officials of any
such exchange, and to file, or cause to be filed, amendments or supplements to
any of the foregoing documents and take such other action that any Authorized
Officer deems appropriate; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Shares shall be executed on behalf of this
Corporation by any one or more of the Authorized Officers, under the corporate
seal of this Corporation reproduced or otherwise imprinted thereon, and shall be
attested by this Corporation's Secretary or any of its Assistant Secretaries;
that the signature of each or both of such officers on the Shares may be manual
or facsimile; that the Shares bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at the time the proper officers of this Corporation shall
bind this Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have
ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of the
Shares or did not hold such offices at the dates of issuance of such Shares; and
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RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Authorized Officers are, and each of them
hereby is, authorized to pay any and all expenses and fees arising in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Shares, including, without limitation,
qualification under the Exchange Act or under securities or Blue Sky laws of any
state or other jurisdiction in which such Shares are offered, any listings of
the Shares on any exchange and otherwise in connection with matters contemplated
by these resolutions; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Authorized Officers are, and each of them
hereby is, authorized in the name and on behalf of this Corporation to make all
such arrangements, to do and perform all such acts and things, and to execute
and deliver all such officers' certificates, financing documents, and such other
instruments and documents as any Authorized Officer deems necessary or
appropriate in order to fully effectuate the purposes of the foregoing
resolutions and any action taken by this Board; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Authorized Officers are, and each of them
hereby is, authorized and directed on behalf of this Corporation to execute and
deliver, or to cause to be executed and delivered, any and all agreements and
documents necessary to effectuate the foregoing resolutions, with such terms and
such changes therein as the Authorized Officers executing the same approve, with
such approval being conclusively determined by the execution thereof; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That each of the Authorized Officers is hereby
authorized and directed on behalf of this Corporation to make, or cause to be
made, such filings and to take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may
be necessary to effectuate the foregoing resolutions; and
RESOLVED FURTHER, That all acts previously taken by each of the
Authorized Officers in order to effectuate the purposes of these resolutions are
hereby confirmed and ratified.
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