UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
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| Exact Name of Registrant |
| State or Other Jurisdiction of |
| IRS Employer |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐
Item 8.01 Other Events
On May 7, 2024, SCE Trust VIII, a statutory trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”) by Southern California Edison Company (the “Company”) agreed to sell 14,000,000 of the Trust’s 6.95% Trust Preference Securities, liquidation amount of $25 per such security (the “Trust Preference Securities”), representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust. The Trust Preference Securities are guaranteed by the Company on a subordinated basis (the “Guarantee”). The proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preference Securities, together with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust of its common securities to the Company, were used by the Trust to purchase shares of the Company's Series N Preference Stock (the “Preference Shares”). The offering relates to the registration statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company and the Trust (File No. 333-258266).
The offering is more fully described in the prospectus dated May 7, 2024 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2024.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index below.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
| Description |
1.1 | ||
4.1 | Certificate of Determination of Preferences of the Company’s Series N Preference Stock | |
4.2 | ||
4.3 | ||
4.4 | Specimen Trust Preferred Security Certificate (included in 4.2) | |
5.1 | ||
5.2 | ||
5.3 | ||
8.1 | ||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY | |
(Registrant) | |
/s/ Natalia Woodward | |
Natalia Woodward | |
Vice President and Treasurer | |
Date: May 13, 2024 |
Exhibit 1.1
14,000,000 6.95% Trust Preference Securities
(Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Trust Preference Security)
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by
Southern California Edison Company
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
SCE Trust VIII (the “Trust”), a statutory trust created under the Statutory Trust Act (the “Delaware Act”) of the State of Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. §3801 et seq.), a subsidiary of Southern California Edison Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California (the “Company” and, together with the Trust, the “Offerors”), proposes to sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, 14,000,000 6.95% Trust Preference Securities (Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Trust Preference Security) issued by the Trust (the “Securities”).
The Securities are to be issued under an amended and restated declaration of trust (the “Declaration”), to be dated as of May 13, 2024, among the Company, as sponsor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as institutional trustee (the “Institutional Trustee”), BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”), and three individuals who are officers or employees of the Company, as administrative trustees (the “Administrative Trustees” and, together with the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the “Trustees”), and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Securities will be guaranteed by the Company on a subordinated basis with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation or redemption (the “Guarantee”), to the extent described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, pursuant to a guarantee agreement to be dated as of May 13, 2024 (the “Guarantee Agreement”), entered into by the Company.
The Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities together with the proceeds from the sale of its common securities (the “Common Securities”) to the Company to purchase $350,010,000 aggregate liquidation preference of the Series N Preference Stock (the
“Series N Preference Shares”) issued by the Company pursuant to the certificate of determination of preferences for the Series N Preference Stock, to be dated as of May 13, 2024.
To the extent that there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 21 hereof.
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7
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(z)The Company is a “public utility” as defined in Section 201(e) of the Federal Power Act (Title 16, Chapter 12 of the United States Code) and Section 216 of the Public Utilities Code of the State of California and is regulated in respect of (i) its rates and charges by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission and (ii) the issuance or guarantee of its securities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any Trustee of the Trust and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the
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offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by either the Company or the Trust, as the case may be, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
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Such opinion will also include language to the effect that such counsel has no reason to believe that, as of the Initial Sale Time, the documents included in the Disclosure Package contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Such opinion will also include language to the effect that counsel has no reason to believe that on the Effective Date the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Final Prospectus as of its date and on the Closing Date included or includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent he deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom he believes to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent he deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. Such counsel may render such opinion subject to such exceptions and qualifications as are reasonable or customary under the circumstances and acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters. References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
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If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
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Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at One Liberty Plaza, New York, NY, on the Closing Date.
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(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For the purposes of this Section 15:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
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“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the Initial Sale Time, (ii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, (iii) the Final Term Sheet and (iv) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective.
“Enforceability Exceptions” shall mean bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganizational, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting enforcement of creditor’s rights generally by general equitable principles (whether considered in proceeding at law or in equity).
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Initial Sale Time” shall mean 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Underwriting Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to the Company, any effect that is materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean the preliminary prospectus which describes the Securities and the offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the Final Prospectus.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(A)(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.
“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 433”, “Rule 456” and “Rule 457” refer to such rules under the Act.
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Exhibit 1.1
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Trust, the Company and the several Underwriters.
[AM_ACTIVE 405304485_10]
For themselves and the other several
4,200,000 | |
4,200,000 | |
4,200,000 | |
466,667 | |
466,667 | |
466,666 | |
14,000,000 |

14,000,000 6.95% Trust Preference Securities
(Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Trust Preference Security)
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent described in the related Prospectus, by
Southern California Edison Company
* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling BofA Securities at 1-800-294-1322, RBC Capital Markets at 1-866-375-6829, or Wells Fargo Securities at 1-800-645-3751.
Exhibit 4.1
CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION OF PREFERENCES OF THE
SERIES N PREFERENCE STOCK
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
Pursuant to Section 401 of the Corporations Code of the State of California, the undersigned, being the Vice President and the Assistant Corporate Secretary, respectively, of Southern California Edison Company (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the laws of the State of California, with California entity number C57827, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
FIRST: The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), authorize the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of Preference Stock which may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and authorize the Board of Directors of the Corporation to (i) fix the number of shares of any series of Preference Stock and to determine the designation of any such series, (ii) to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preference Stock, including but not limited to rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions regarding dividends (including provisions specifying dividends at a floating or variable rate or dividends to be determined by reference to an index, formula, auction, bid or other objectively ascertainable criterion), liquidation, conversion, redemption and voting (including provisions specifying no general voting rights or voting rights of more than one vote per share), and, (iii) within the limits and restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.
SECOND: Acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors did duly adopt on May 7, 2024, the following resolutions authorizing and providing for the creation of a series of said shares of Preference Stock to be known as Series N Preference Stock, consisting of 140,004 shares, none of the shares of such series having been issued:
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that 140,004 shares of the presently authorized but unissued Preference Stock, no par value, be and hereby determined to be and shall be of a series of said Preference Stock hereby designated as the “Series N Preference Stock” (the “Series N Shares”); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of Series N Shares of such series be and the same are hereby fixed, respectively, as follows:
| 1. | Dividends |
(a)The holders of record of the Series N Shares (each individually a “Holder,” or collectively the “Holders”) will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or duly authorized committee thereof (the “Board”), in its sole discretion out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative quarterly cash dividends at an annual rate equal to 6.95% of the Liquidation Preference from, and including, the issue date of the Series N Shares through, but excluding, the redemption date of the Series N Shares, if any. When, as and if declared by the Board, the Corporation will pay dividends on the Series N Shares quarterly, in arrears, on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”), commencing September 15, 2024. Such dividends shall be cumulative from the date of issue whether or not declared, and no interest, dividends or sum in lieu thereof shall be payable in respect of the amount of any dividend on the Series N Shares not paid on a Dividend Payment Date and accrued. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day (as defined below), the related dividend (if declared) will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as though paid on the Dividend Payment Date, without any increase to account for the period from such Dividend Payment Date through the date of actual payment. Dividends payable on the Series N Shares for any period from and including a Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Period”) will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months; provided however that dividends payable on the Series N Shares for the initial Dividend Period and any period shorter than a full Dividend Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in the period using 30-day months. “Liquidation Preference” means $2,500.00 per share of the Series N Shares. “Business Day” means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York and is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are closed.
(b)Dividends will be payable to Holders as of the applicable record date, which record date shall be fixed by the Board and shall be a date not exceeding 60 days before the applicable payment date. Dividends not declared with respect to a specific Dividend Payment Date shall be payable to the Holders as of the record date fixed with respect to such dividends when so declared.
(c)So long as any Series N Shares shall be outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, the common stock of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”) or any other stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, junior to the Series N Shares), whether in cash or property, may be paid or declared or set apart, nor may any distribution be made on the Common Stock or such other stock, nor may any shares of Common Stock or such other stock be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for value by the Corporation, unless all dividends on the Series N Shares for the
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then-current quarterly Dividend Period and all past quarterly Dividend Periods shall have been declared and paid or set apart.
(d)The Board may, in its discretion, choose to pay dividends on the Series N Shares without the payment of any dividends on the Common Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the payment of dividends, junior to the Series N Shares).
(e)No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the payment of dividends, equally with the Series N Shares for any period unless full dividends have been declared and paid or set apart for payment on the Series N Shares for the then-current quarterly Dividend Period and all past quarterly Dividend Periods. When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series N Shares and all other classes or series of stock of the Corporation, if any, ranking, as to the payment of dividends, equally with the Series N Shares, all dividends declared upon the Series N Shares and all such other stock of the Corporation will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared for the Series N Shares and all such other stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the Series N Shares and for all such other stock bear to each other (but without, in the case of non-cumulative shares of such other stock, accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior Dividend Periods).
(f)No dividends may be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Series N Shares if at the same time any arrears exist or default exists in the payment of dividends on any outstanding class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the payment of dividends, senior to the Series N Shares.
(g)The Holders will not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash or property, other than as herein provided and will not be entitled to interest or dividends, or any sum in lieu thereof, on or in respect of any dividend payment or other payment on the Series N Shares which may be in arrears.
| 2. | Liquidation Rights |
(a)Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for the liabilities of the Corporation and the expenses of such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, the Holders of outstanding Series N Shares will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof available for distribution to shareholders, before any payment or distribution of assets is made to holders of the Common Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, junior to the Series N Shares), the Liquidation Preference per Share plus an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid dividend (whether or not declared) for the then-current quarterly Dividend Period accrued to but excluding the date of such liquidation payment, plus unpaid dividends on the Series N Shares for all past quarterly Dividend Periods, if any.
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(b)If the assets of the Corporation available for distribution in such event are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate amount payable to Holders of Series N Shares and holders of all other classes or series of stock of the Corporation, if any, ranking, as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, equally with the Series N Shares, the assets will be distributed to the Holders of Series N Shares and holders of all such other stock pro rata, based on the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled (but without, in the case of any non-cumulative shares, accumulation of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods).
(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holders of Series N Shares will not be entitled to be paid any amount in respect of a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation until holders of any classes or series of stock of the Corporation ranking, as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, senior to the Series N Shares have been paid all amounts to which such classes or series are entitled.
(d)Neither the sale, lease nor exchange (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or combination of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or the merger, consolidation or combination of any other corporation or entity into or with the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 2.
(e)After payment to the Holders of Series N Shares of the full amount of the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation to which they are entitled pursuant to this Section 2, such Holders will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Corporation.
| 3. | Voting Rights |
The Series N Shares shall have no voting rights except as set forth in this Section 3 or as otherwise provided by California law:
(a)So long as any Series N Shares are outstanding, the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Series N Shares at the time outstanding, voting as a single class, or voting as a single class together with the holders of any other series of Preference Stock (i) upon which like voting or consent rights have been conferred and (ii) which are similarly affected by the matter to be voted upon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating any one or more of the following:
(i)any amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation which would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions of the Series N Shares; or
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(ii)the authorization or creation, or the increase in the authorized amount, of any stock of any class or any security convertible into stock of any class, ranking senior to the Series N Shares with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
provided, however, that no such consent of the Holders of Series N Shares shall be required if, at or prior to the time when such amendment is to take effect or when the authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of any such senior stock or convertible security is to be made, as the case may be, provision is to be made for the redemption of all Series N Shares at the time outstanding.
| 4. | Redemption |
(a)Subject to the notice provisions set forth in Section 4(c) below and subject to any further limitations which may be imposed by law, the Series N Shares shall be redeemable out of funds legally available therefor (i) at the option of the Corporation at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, on or after May 13, 2029 (an “Optional Redemption”), (ii) at the option of the Corporation exercisable prior to May 13, 2029, if the Holder of all the Series N Shares is SCE Trust VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) or another Delaware statutory trust in which the Corporation owns all of the securities thereof designated as common securities, at any time, in whole but not in part, within 90 days after an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event (each, a “Special Event Redemption”), and (iii) at the option of the Corporation exercisable prior to May 13, 2029 at any time, in whole but not in part, after a Rating Agency Event (a “Rating Agency Redemption”).
(b) The redemption price for the Series N Shares being redeemed shall be, (i) in the event of an Optional Redemption, the Liquidation Preference per Series N Share being redeemed, (ii) in the event of a Special Event Redemption, 101% of the Liquidation Preference per Series N Share being redeemed; and (iii) in the event of a Rating Agency Redemption, 102% of the Liquidation Preference per Series N Share being redeemed, plus in each case an amount equal to the amount of the accrued and unpaid dividend (whether or not declared) for the then-current quarterly Dividend Period to but excluding the redemption date, plus unpaid dividends on the Series N Shares being redeemed for all past quarterly Dividend Periods, if any. If less than all of the outstanding Series N Shares are to be redeemed in an Optional Redemption, the Corporation will select the Series N Shares to be redeemed from the outstanding Series N Shares not previously called for redemption by lot or pro rata.
(c)In the event the Corporation shall redeem any or all of the Series N Shares as aforesaid, the Corporation will give notice of any such redemption to Holders neither more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to the date fixed by the Board for such
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redemption. Failure to give notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of Series N Shares of any other Holder being redeemed.
(d)Notice having been given as herein provided, from and after the redemption date, dividends on the Series N Shares called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Series N Shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed outstanding, and all rights of the Holders thereof will cease.
(e)The Series N Shares will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. In addition, Holders will have no right to require redemption of any Series N Shares.
(f)Any Series N Shares which are converted, redeemed or retired shall thereafter have the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preference Stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series, and may thereafter be reissued by the Board in the same manner as any other authorized and unissued shares of Preference Stock.
(g)If the Corporation shall deposit on or prior to any date fixed for redemption of the Series N Shares, with any bank or trust company having a capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least five million dollars ($5,000,000), as a trust fund, funds sufficient to redeem the Series N Shares called for redemption, with irrevocable instructions and authority to such bank or trust company to pay on and after the date fixed for redemption or such earlier date as the Board may determine, to the respective Holders of such Series N Shares, the redemption price thereof, then from and after the date of such deposit (although prior to the date fixed for redemption) such Series N Shares so called shall be deemed to be redeemed and dividends thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date fixed for redemption and such deposit shall be deemed to constitute full payment of said Series N Shares to the Holders thereof and thereafter said Series N Shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and the Holders thereof shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such Series N Shares, and shall have no rights with respect thereto except only the right to receive from said bank or trust company payment of the redemption price of such Series N Shares without interest.
(h) Any moneys deposited by the Corporation pursuant to Section 4(g) which shall not be required for the redemption because of the exercise of any such right of conversion or exchange subsequent to the date of the deposit shall be repaid to the Corporation forthwith.
(i)For purposes of this Certificate of Determination of Preferences, “Investment Company Event,” “Tax Event” and “Rating Agency Event” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, to be dated as of May 13, 2024, by and among Southern California Edison Company, as Sponsor, the Trustees identified therein and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, as may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is available without charge upon request by writing or calling the Corporate Governance Department at the Corporation’s principal place of business.
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| 5. | Rank |
The Series N Shares shall rank, with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate in Rosemead, California on May 8, 2024.
/s/ Natalia Woodward
Natalia Woodward
Vice President and Treasurer
/s/ Michael A. Henry
Michael A. Henry
Assistant Corporate Secretary
Each of the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury that the matters contained in the foregoing certificate are true of their own knowledge. Executed in Rosemead, California on May 8, 2024.
/s/ Natalia Woodward
Natalia Woodward
Vice President and Treasurer
/s/ Michael A. Henry
Michael A. Henry
Assistant Corporate Secretary
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Exhibit 4.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION
OF TRUST
SCE TRUST VIII
Dated as of May 13, 2024
22782635.4
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS |
ARTICLE II | [RESERVED] |
ARTICLE III | ORGANIZATION |
ARTICLE IV | SPONSOR |
ARTICLE V | TRUSTEES |
| -i- | |
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE VI | DISTRIBUTIONS |
ARTICLE VII | ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES |
ARTICLE VIII | TERMINATION OF TRUST |
ARTICLE IX | TRANSFER OF INTERESTS |
ARTICLE X | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS |
ARTICLE XI | ACCOUNTING |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE XII | AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS |
ARTICLE XIII | REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE |
ARTICLE XIV | MISCELLANEOUS |
ANNEXES AND EXHIBITS
ANNEX ITerms of 6.95% Trust Preference Securities and Common Securities
EXHIBIT A-1Form of Trust Preference Security Certificate
EXHIBIT A-2Form of Common Security Certificate
EXHIBIT BUnderwriting Agreement
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AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
SCE TRUST VIII
May 13, 2024
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST (“Declaration of Trust”) dated and effective as of May 13, 2024, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration of Trust (“Holders of Securities”);
WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Sponsor established SCE TRUST VIII (the “Trust”), a trust under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein) pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated as of June 9, 2017, (the “Existing Declaration”), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 12, 2017, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in those certain Series N Preference Shares (as hereinafter defined) of Southern California Edison Company;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto, by this Declaration of Trust, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Existing Declaration; and
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration of Trust constitute the governing instrument of such statutory trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
“Administrative Trustee”: has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(b).
“Affiliate”: has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
“Articles of Incorporation”: means the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Series N Preference Share Issuer as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of California, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time in accordance therewith and with the CGCL.
“Applicable Rating Agency”: means any Rating Agency that (i) (a) published a rating for the Series N Preference Share Issuer on the date of original issuance of the Trust Preference Securities and (b) publishes a rating for the Series N Preference Share Issuer at such time as a Rating Agency Event occurs, or (ii) any successor to a Rating Agency described in the preceding clause (i).
“Authorized Officer”: of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind such Person.
“Book-Entry Interest”: means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate, ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 9.4.
“Business Day”: means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York and is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are closed.
“Certificate”: means a Common Security Certificate or a Trust Preference Security Certificate.
“Certificate of Determination”: means the Certificate of Determination of Preferences of the Series N Preference Stock of Southern California Edison Company filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of California on May 8, 2024.
“CGCL”: means the General Corporation Law of the State of California as in effect from time to time.
“Change in 1940 Act Law”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
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“Clearing Agency”: means an organization registered as a “Clearing Agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depositary for the Trust Preference Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of that organization shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall undertake to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Trust Preference Securities.
“Clearing Agency Participant”: means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing Agency effects book entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.
“Closing Date”: means May 13, 2024.
“Code”: means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Commission”: means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Security”: has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
“Common Security Certificate”: means a definitive certificate in fully registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
“Company Indemnified Person”: means (a) any Administrative Trustee; (b) any Affiliate of any Administrative Trustee; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrative Trustee; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
“Corporate Trust Office”: means an office of the Institutional Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular time, be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Declaration of Trust is located at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B, Mailbox #44, Chicago, IL 60606, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Sponsor, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Institutional Trustee (or such other address as such successor Institutional Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Sponsor).
“Covered Person”: means: (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust’s Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
“Definitive Trust Preference Security Certificates”: has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
“Delaware Trustee”: has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).
“Distribution”: has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
“Distribution Payment Period”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
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“Distribution Rate”: has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I.
“DTC”: means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency.
“Electronic Means” means the following communications methods: e-mail, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Institutional Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.
“Exchange Act”: means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
“Fiduciary Indemnified Person”: has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(b).
“Fiscal Year”: has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.
“Global Certificate”: has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
“Holder”: means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust Act.
“Indemnified Person”: means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary Indemnified Person.
“Institutional Trustee”: means the Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 5.3.
“Institutional Trustee Account”: has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(c).
“Investment Company”: means an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act.
“Investment Company Act”: means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
“Investment Company Event”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Legal Action”: has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).
“Liquidation Distribution”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities”: means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Trust Preference Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of an aggregate liquidation amount representing more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption or liquidation, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities or all outstanding Securities of the relevant class, as the case may be.
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“Officers’ Certificate”: means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:
“Paying Agent”: means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 3.16 and shall initially be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
“Payment Amount”: has the meaning specified in Section 6.1.
“Person”: means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust (whether statutory or common law trust), unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Quorum”: means any one Administrative Trustee or, if there is only one Administrative Trustee, such Administrative Trustee.
“Rating Agency”: means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).
“Rating Agency Event”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Redemption/Distribution Notice”: has the meaning specified in Annex I hereto.
“Redemption Price”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Registrar”: has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
“Related Party”: means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding common stock of the Sponsor.
“Responsible Officer”: means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Declaration of Trust and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
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trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Rule 3a-5”: means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
“Securities”: means the Common Securities and the Trust Preference Securities.
“Securities Act”: means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
“Series N Preference Shares”: means the shares of Series N Preference Stock to be issued by the Series N Preference Share Issuer pursuant to the Certificate of Determination and to be registered in the name of the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of Securities as provided herein.
“Series N Preference Share Issuer”: means Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation, in its capacity as issuer of the Series N Preference Shares.
“Series N Preference Share Issuer Governing Documents”: shall mean the Articles of Incorporation and the Certificate of Determination.
“Special Event:” shall have the meaning specified in Annex I hereto.
“Sponsor”: means Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation, or any successor entity thereto pursuant to a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.
“Sponsor Affiliated Holder”: has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“Statutory Trust Act”: means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code §3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
“Subscription Agreement”: means that certain subscription agreement dated as of May 13, 2024, by and among the Trust and the Series N Preference Share Issuer regarding the purchase and sale of the Common Securities and the Series N Preference Shares.
“Successor Delaware Trustee”: has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
“Successor Entity”: has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Successor Institutional Trustee”: has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
“Successor Securities”: has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Super Majority”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Tax Event”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
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“10% in liquidation amount of the Securities”: means, except as provided in the terms of the Trust Preference Securities, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Trust Preference Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of an aggregate liquidation amount representing 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
“Treasury Regulations”: means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.
“Trust Distribution Payment Date”: has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
“Trustee” or “Trustees”: means each Person who has signed this Declaration of Trust as a trustee, until such Person shall have died, resigned or been removed in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
“Trust Preference Securities Guarantee”: means the guarantee agreement dated as of May 13, 2024 of the Sponsor in respect of the Trust Preference Securities.
“Trust Preference Security”: has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
“Trust Preference Security Beneficial Owner”: means, with respect to a Book-Entry Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Interest, as reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
“Trust Preference Security Certificate”: means a certificate representing a Trust Preference Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
“Underwriting Agreement”: means the Underwriting Agreement for the offering and sale of Trust Preference Securities in the form of Exhibit B.
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provided, that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interests of Holders;
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The Administrative Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Administrative Trustees shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in Section 3.3.
Subject to this Section 3.6, the Administrative Trustees shall have none of the powers or the authority of the Institutional Trustee set forth in Section 3.8.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that the Administrative Trustees will have no powers that would cause them to be deemed fiduciaries with respect to any assets of the Trust for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Any expenses incurred by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor.
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The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall have no power to and shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3.
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provided, that if the Institutional Trustee has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, then the Institutional Trustee shall also be the Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11 shall have no application.
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Natalia Woodward
Michael A. Henry
Aaron Moss
The initial Delaware Trustee shall be:
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware
The initial Institutional Trustee shall be:
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
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then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide or protected purchaser, any Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 9.8, the Administrative Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
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the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration of Trust or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at law or in equity or otherwise.
| (a) | (i) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the |
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| right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. |
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SCE TRUST VIII
Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Attention: Corporate Governance
[email protected]
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
[email protected]
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The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6200B
Chicago, IL 60606
Attn: Corporate Trust Administration
[email protected]
Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Attention: Corporate Governance
[email protected]
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, sent via email with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
The Institutional Trustee shall have the right to accept instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Declaration of Trust and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the party providing such Instructions shall provide to the Institutional Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the such party whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If a party elects to give the Institutional Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Institutional Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Institutional Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The parties hereto understand and agree that the Institutional Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Institutional Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Institutional Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The other parties hereto shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Institutional Trustee and that such parties and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by such parties. The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Institutional Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such
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Instructions notwithstanding such directions that conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. Each party hereto agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Institutional Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Institutional Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Institutional Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by such party; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Institutional Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or any Security, where this Declaration of Trust or any Security provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a holder of a Global Certificate (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Clearing Agency (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Clearing Agency or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Clearing Agency.
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THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER OR TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE HOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS DECLARATION AND THE TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITIES GUARANTEE, AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITIES GUARANTEE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS DECLARATION SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Aaron D. Moss
Name: Aaron D. Moss
Title:Administrative Trustee
/s/ Natalia Woodward
Name: Natalia Woodward
Title:Administrative Trustee
/s/ Michael A Henry
Name: Michael A. Henry
Title:Administrative Trustee
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as Delaware Trustee
By:/s/ Dawn Plows
Name: Dawn Plows
Title: Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Institutional Trustee
By:/s/ Terence Rawlins
Name: Terence Rawlins
Title: Vice President
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY,
as Sponsor
By:/s/ Natalia Woodward
Name:Natalia Woodward
Title:Vice President and Treasurer
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ANNEX I
TERMS OF
6.95 % TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITIES
COMMON SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of SCE TRUST VIII, dated as of May 13, 2024 (as amended from time to time, the “Declaration of Trust”), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Trust Preference Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration of Trust:
1.Designation and Number.
(a)Trust Preference Securities. 14,000,000 Trust Preference Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of three hundred and fifty million dollars ($350,000,000), and a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25.00 per trust preference security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as “6.95 % Trust Preference Securities” (the “Trust Preference Securities”). The Trust Preference Security Certificates evidencing the Trust Preference Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration of Trust, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Trust Preference Securities are listed, if any.
(b)Common Securities. 400 Common Securities of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25.00 per common security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as “Common Securities” (the “Common Securities”). The Common Security Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration of Trust, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.
2.Distributions.
(a)Subject to Article VII of the Declaration of Trust, Distributions payable on each Security will be payable from dividends when, as, and if declared and paid on the Series N Preference Shares held by the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Holders. The distribution rate on the Securities is an annual rate equal to 6.95% of the stated liquidation amount of $25.00 per Security from and including May 13, 2024, to, but excluding, the redemption date of the Securities, if any. The rate set forth in the immediately preceding sentence is referred to as the “Distribution Rate,” such rate being equal to the dividend rate payable on the Series N Preference Shares held by the Institutional Trustee. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Series N Preference Shares held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Trust has
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funds available therefor. Distributions from dividends paid on the Series N Preference Shares payable on the Securities for any period from but including a Trust Distribution Payment Date to but excluding the next succeeding Trust Distribution Payment Date (each, a “Distribution Payment Period”) will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months; provided, however that the amount of such Distributions payable on the Securities for the initial Distribution Payment Period and any period less than a full Distribution Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in the period using 30-day months.
(b)Distributions from dividends paid on the Series N Preference Shares payable on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from and including May 13, 2024, and will be payable quarterly, in arrears, to the extent of amounts paid on the Series N Preference Shares on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year (each a “Trust Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on September 15, 2024, at the Distribution Rate. As a consequence of the failure or the inability of the Series N Preference Share Issuer to declare and pay quarterly dividends on the Series N Preference Shares, quarterly Distributions will also not be made to the Holders of the Securities. No interest, dividends or sum in lieu thereof shall be payable in respect of the amount of any Distribution on the Securities not paid on a Trust Distribution Payment Date and accrued.
(c)Quarterly Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust at the close of business on the relevant record dates. While the Trust Preference Securities remain in book-entry only form, the relevant record dates shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant Trust Distribution Payment Dates. The relevant record date for the Common Securities for any Trust Distribution Payment Date shall be the same record date as for the Trust Preference Securities for such Trust Distribution Payment Date. If the Trust Preference Securities shall not continue to remain in book-entry only form, the relevant record dates for quarterly Distributions on the Trust Preference Securities shall be the first day of the month in which the relevant Trust Distribution Date occurs, which Trust Distribution Payment Dates shall correspond to the “Dividend Payment Dates” for the Series N Preference Shares. Quarterly Distributions that are not paid on a particular Trust Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Series N Preference Share Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Series N Preference Shares, will be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the record date applicable to (x) the Trust Distribution Payment Date on which such Distributions are paid or (y) the date of a Liquidation Distribution or the payment of the Redemption Price, as applicable. If any Trust Distribution Payment Date is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any increase to account for the period from such Trust Distribution Payment Date through the date of actual payment.
(d)In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Common Securities.
3.Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.
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(a)In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, the Holders of the Securities on the date of the dissolution will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of Securities after satisfaction of liabilities, claims upon and obligations of the Trust pursuant to § 3808 of the Statutory Trust Act, distributions in an amount equal to the stated liquidation amount of $25.00 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to but excluding the date of payment (such amount being the “Liquidation Distribution”), unless (i) such dissolution was in accordance with Section 8.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration of Trust, or (ii) in connection with such dissolution, as determined by the Sponsor, Series N Preference Shares in an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with a dividend rate equal to the Distribution Rate, and bearing accrued and unpaid dividends in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such Securities outstanding at such time, have been distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities except as provided by clause (c) below.
(b)If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Securities shall first be paid on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities, then, to the extent of any remaining assets, on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Common Securities.
(c)On and from the date fixed by the Administrative Trustees for any distribution of the Series N Preference Shares upon the dissolution of the Trust: (i) the Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the record Holder of the Trust Preference Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Series N Preference Shares to be delivered upon such distribution, (iii) DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) shall distribute the interests in the Series N Preference Shares to the Holders of Securities entitled thereto and (iv) any certificates representing Securities, except for certificates representing Trust Preference Securities held by DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in the Series N Preference Shares having an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with a dividend rate identical to the Distribution Rate of, and accrued and unpaid dividends equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Securities until such certificates are presented to the Series N Preference Share Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissue; provided however that, with respect to the distribution of any fractional interest in a Series N Preference Share, the Administrative Trustees shall redeem such fractions of Series N Preference Shares for cash at a price equal to the aggregate liquidation preference represented by such fractional interest plus any accrued and unpaid Distributions attributable to such fractional interests, provided, further that, notwithstanding the above, the Administrative Trustees, at their sole discretion, may choose to effect such dissolution distribution by means of depositary receipts on terms to be established by the Administrative Trustees. The Administrative Trustees shall be empowered to take such actions as are necessary and proper to accomplish the ends of the preceding sentence, including but not limited to procuring new CUSIPs or other identifying numbers, and taking such actions as DTC or any successor Clearing Agency may require in order to maintain and permit ownership and book-entry transfers of the Series N Preference Shares through the facilities of DTC or any successor Clearing Agency, filing any necessary registration statements or amendments thereto, or such other acts as the Administrative Trustees may deem necessary.
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4.Redemption and Distribution.
(a) Upon the redemption of the Series N Preference Shares either (i) at the option of the Series N Preference Share Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on or after May 13, 2029 (an “Optional Redemption”) or (ii) in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to May 13, 2029 (a) within 90 days after an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event (a “Special Event Redemption”) and (b) after the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event (a “Rating Agency Event Redemption”), the proceeds from such redemption shall be simultaneously applied to redeem Trust Preference Securities, on a proportionate basis, having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Series N Preference Shares so redeemed at a redemption price equal to: (1) in the case of an Optional Redemption, the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities so redeemed; (2) in the case of a Special Event Redemption, 101% of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities so redeemed; and (3) in the case of a Rating Agency Event Redemption, 102% of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities so redeemed, plus, in each case, an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions to but excluding the date of redemption, payable in cash (the “Redemption Price”). Holders shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice of any redemption of Securities by the Institutional Trustee who must receive such amount of prior notice of redemption of Series N Preference Shares from the Series N Preference Share Issuer. If the Trust Preference Securities are redeemed in whole, the Series N Preference Share Issuer may cause the Issuer to also redeem the Common Securities in whole at the option of the Series N Preference Share Issuer.
(b)If fewer than all the outstanding Trust Preference Securities are to be so redeemed, the Securities will be redeemed as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below.
(c)The Series N Preference Share Issuer shall have the right at any time, or from time to time, on or after May 13, 2029 to redeem the Series N Preference Shares at its option, in whole or in part, for cash in the amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of Series N Preference Shares to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to but excluding the date of redemption.
(d)Under the terms of the Series N Preference Shares, the Series N Preference Share Issuer may elect to redeem the Series N Preference Shares, in whole, but not in part, for cash if, at any time prior to May 13, 2029, (i) an Investment Company Event or Tax Event (each as defined below, and each a “Special Event”) shall occur and be continuing, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event and (ii) a Rating Agency Event shall occur, and, following such redemption, Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the Series N Preference Shares so redeemed shall be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price; provided, however, that if at the time there is available to the Series N Preference Share Issuer or the Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within such 90-day period, the Special Event by taking some ministerial action, such as filing a form or making an election or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that will have no adverse effect on the Trust, the Series N Preference Share Issuer or the Holders of the Securities, then the Series N Preference Share Issuer or the Trust will pursue such measure in lieu of redemption.
“Investment Company Event” means the receipt by the Series N Preference Share Issuer of an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters to the
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effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a “Change in 1940 Act Law”), there is a more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is, or within 90 days of the date of that opinion will be, considered an Investment Company that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law has become effective on or after May 7, 2024.
“Tax Event” means the receipt by the Series N Preference Share Issuer of an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change in the laws or regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein that is enacted or becomes effective on or after May 7, 2024, any proposed change in the laws or regulations enumerated in the preceding clause that is announced after May 7, 2024, or any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying the laws or regulations enumerated in the first preceding clause that is announced after May 7, 2024, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, subject to more than a de minimis amount of taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges; or (ii) the Trust is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not be, a domestic grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
“Rating Agency Event” means a change to the methodology or criteria that were employed by an Applicable Rating Agency for purposes of assigning equity credit to securities with features similar to either the Series N Preference Shares or the Trust Preference Securities on the date of original issuance of the Trust Preference Securities (the “current methodology”), which change either (i) shortens the period of time during which equity credit pertaining to either the Series N Preference Shares or the Trust Preference Securities would have been in effect had the current methodology not been changed, or (ii) reduces the amount of equity credit assigned to either the Series N Preference Shares or the Trust Preference Securities as compared with the amount of equity credit that such Rating Agency had assigned to the Series N Preference Shares or the Trust Preference Securities, as applicable, as of its date of original issuance.
(e)The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Securities for all Distribution Payment Periods terminating on or before the date of redemption.
(f)Redemption or Distribution procedures will be as follows:
(i)Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of Series N Preference Shares or depositary shares in lieu thereof in exchange for the Securities (a “Redemption/Distribution Notice”) will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Series N Preference Shares. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage
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prepaid, to the Holders of the Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of the Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing in the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing of either thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
(ii)In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the Trust Preference Securities to be redeemed shall first be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Trust Preference Securities, it being understood that, in respect of Trust Preference Securities registered in the name of and held of record by DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), the distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to each Clearing Agency Participant (or Person on whose behalf such nominee holds such securities) in accordance with the procedures applied by such agency or nominee. If the Trust Preference Securities are redeemed in full, then the Common Securities may also be redeemed in full by the Issuer at the direction of the Series N Preference Share Issuer.
(iii)If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Series N Preference Shares are redeemed as set out in this Section 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then (A) while the Trust Preference Securities are in book-entry only form, with respect to the Trust Preference Securities, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided that the Series N Preference Share Issuer has paid to the Institutional Trustee a sufficient amount of funds in connection with the related redemption of the Series N Preference Shares, the Institutional Trustee will deposit irrevocably with DTC or its nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price with respect to the Trust Preference Securities and will give DTC (or any successor Clearing Agency) irrevocable instructions and authority to pay such Redemption Price to the Trust Preference Security Beneficial Owners, and (B) with respect to Trust Preference Securities issued in definitive form and Common Securities, provided, that the Series N Preference Share Issuer has paid the Institutional Trustee a sufficient amount of funds in connection with the related redemption of the Series N Preference Shares, the Paying Agent will pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of such Securities, upon surrender thereof, by check mailed to the address of the relevant Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the applicable record date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required, if applicable, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of the Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. Neither the Administrative Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities that have been so called for redemption. If the Trust Preference Securities remain in book-entry only form at the time of such redemption, the record date for such payment shall be one Business Day prior to the redemption date. If the Trust Preference Securities shall not remain in book-entry only form at the time of such redemption, the relevant record date shall be the first day of the
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month in which the redemption date occurs. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the applicable Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay and no Distributions or other payment will accumulate or accrue as a result of the delay).
(iv)Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Trust Preference Securities, DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if the Global Certificates have been issued or, if Definitive Trust Preference Security Certificates have been issued, to the Holder thereof and (B) in respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof.
(v)Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), a Sponsor Affiliated Holder may at any time or from time to time purchase outstanding Trust Preference Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
5.Voting Rights—Trust Preference Securities.
(a)Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration of Trust, the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities will have no voting rights.
(b)Subject to the requirements set forth in this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Preference Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration of Trust in respect of its rights as the holder of the Series N Preference Shares, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Series N Preference Shares, to consent to any amendment or modification of the Certificate of Determination or the Series N Preference Shares, any amendment or modification of the Articles of Incorporation or any other matter with respect to the Certificate of Determination or the Series N Preference Shares, where such consent shall be required by the Series N Preference Share Issuer Governing Documents and/or the CGCL; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Series N Preference Share Issuer Governing Documents and/or the CGCL would require the consent or act of each holder of each Preference Share affected thereby, such consent or action shall not be effective until each Holder of Trust Preference Securities shall have consented to such action or provided such consent. The Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Series N Preference Shares, shall not take any of the actions described in the prior sentence unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that as a result of such action, the Trust will not fail to be classified as a domestic grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. The Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Series N Preference Shares, to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee, any Holder of Trust Preference Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding against the Series N Preference Share Issuer to enforce that Holder’s proportionate share of the Institutional
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Trustee’s rights under the Series N Preference Shares without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person or entity. Any required approval or direction of Holders of Trust Preference Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Trust Preference Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities or pursuant to written consent or by electronic transmission. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Trust Preference Securities are entitled to vote to be mailed to each Holder of record of Trust Preference Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date and time of such meeting, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Trust Preference Securities or to distribute the Series N Preference Shares or depositary shares in lieu thereof in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the terms of the Securities.
Notwithstanding that Holders of Trust Preference Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Trust Preference Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, with regard to the purposes of California Corporations Code Section 703, the Institutional Trustee shall be treated as a fiduciary holding and voting the Series N Preference Shares on behalf of the beneficial owners of the Securities, and shall be deemed by the provisions of this Section 5 to receive binding instructions from the Holders of the Securities as to how to vote such shares.
6.Voting Rights - Common Securities.
(a)Except as provided under Sections 6(b), (c) and 7 as otherwise required by law and the Declaration of Trust, the Holders of the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
(b)The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with and subject to Article V of the Declaration of Trust, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Trustee or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees.
(c)Subject to Section 5(b), the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration of Trust, provided that, where a consent or action under the Series N Preference Share Issuer Governing Documents would require the consent or act of the Holders of greater than a majority in liquidation preference of Series N Preference Shares affected thereby (a “Super Majority”), the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Series N Preference Shares outstanding. Pursuant to this Section 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously
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authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or the Series N Preference Share Issuer as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Common Securities under this paragraph unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel to the effect that as a result of such action, the Trust will not fail to be classified as a domestic grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration of Trust, to the fullest extent permitted by law any Holder of Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee’s rights under the Series N Preference Shares, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities or pursuant to written consent or by electronic transmission. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote to be mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date and time of such meeting, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Series N Preference Shares in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and the terms of the Securities.
7.Pro Rata.
A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution or treatment as being “Pro Rata” shall mean pro rata to each Holder of Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding and “Pro Rata” as to Holders of a Trust Preference Securities or Common Securities shall mean pro rata to each Holder of Trust Preference Securities or Common Securities, as the case may be, according to the liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities of such class outstanding.
8.Ranking.
The Trust Preference Securities rank pari passu and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of payments upon liquidation and redemption are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Trust Preference Securities.
9.Acceptance of Trust Preference Securities Guarantee and Certificate of Determination.
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Each Holder of Trust Preference Securities and Common Securities, by the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee, including the ranking provisions therein and to the provisions of the Certificate of Determination.
10.No Preemptive Rights.
The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities.
11.Miscellaneous.
These terms constitute a part of the Declaration of Trust.
The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration of Trust or the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee, and the Certificate of Determination to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
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EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY CERTIFICATE
THIS TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY TRUST PREFERENCE SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
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_______ _______ Trust Preference Securities
CUSIP NO. 80620A 208
Certificate Evidencing Trust Preference Securities
of
SCE TRUST VIII
6.95 % Trust Preference Securities
(Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Trust Preference Security)
SCE TRUST VIII, a statutory trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that _______ (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of _______ (_______) Trust Preference Securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the 6.95% Trust Preference Securities (the “Trust Preference Securities”). The Trust Preference Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Trust Preference Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Trust Preference Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of May 13, 2024, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration of Trust”), including the designation of the terms of the Trust Preference Securities as set forth in Annex I thereto. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration of Trust. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration of Trust, the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee and the Certificate of Determination to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
The Holder of this certificate, by accepting this certificate, is deemed to have (i) agreed to the terms of the Series N Preference Shares and (ii) agreed to the terms of the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee, including that the Trust Preference Securities Guarantee is subordinate and junior in right of payment to all outstanding cumulative preferred stock and all secured and unsecured indebtedness of the Series N Preference Share Issuer.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Series N Preference Shares as equity and the Trust Preference Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Series N Preference Shares.
This Certificate shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this _______ day of _______, _______.
______________________________
Name:
Title: Administrative Trustee
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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This certificate represents the Trust Preference Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration of Trust.
Dated: _______, _______
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
as Institutional Trustee
By:____________________________
Authorized Signatory
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ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Trust Preference Security Certificate to:
Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
as agent to transfer this Trust Preference Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: ________________________
Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Trust Preference Security Certificate)
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EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DECLARATION REFERRED TO BELOW.
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_______ _______ Common Securities
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
SCE TRUST VIII
Common Securities
(Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Common Security)
SCE TRUST VIII, a statutory trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that _______ (the “Holder”), is the registered owner of _______ (_______) common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the Common Securities (the “Common Securities”). The Common Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer and satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in the Declaration of Trust (as defined below), including, without limitation, Section 9.1 thereof. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of May 13, 2024, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration of Trust”), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I thereto. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration of Trust. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the Certificate of Determination to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
The Holder of this certificate, by accepting this certificate, is deemed to have agreed to the terms of the Series N Preference Shares.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Series N Preference Shares as equity and the Common Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Series N Preference Shares.
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This Certificate shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this _______ day of _______, _______.
_____________________________
Name:
Title: Administrative Trustee
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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This certificate represents the Common Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration of Trust.
Dated: _______, _______
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Institutional Trustee
By:_________________________
Authorized Signatory
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ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to:
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints as agent to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: _____________________
Signature: __________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate)
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Exhibit 4.3
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 13, 2024
By
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY, as Guarantor
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the “Guarantee”), dated as of May 13, 2024, is executed and delivered by SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY, a California corporation (the “Guarantor”), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Securities (as defined herein) of SCE TRUST VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust (as defined herein), the Trust may issue $350,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of trust preference securities, having a liquidation amount of $25.00 per security and designated the “6.95% Trust Preference Securities” of the Trust (the “Trust Preference Securities”), and $10,000 aggregate liquidation amount of common securities, having a liquidation amount of $25.00 per security and designated the “Common Securities” of the Trust (the “Common Securities” and, together with the Trust Preference Securities, the “Securities”); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other agreements on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
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“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
“Common Securities” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Declaration of Trust” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of the date hereof, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, among the trustees of the Trust named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the Holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust.
“Distributions” has the meaning specified in the Declaration of Trust.
“Guarantee Payments” means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are required to be paid on such Securities (other than upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust) to the extent the Trust has sufficient funds available therefor at the time, (ii) the redemption price, plus all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption, with respect to any Securities called for redemption by the Trust, to the extent the Trust shall have sufficient funds available therefor at the time or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection with a redemption or the distribution of Series N Preference Shares or depositary shares to the Holders in exchange for Securities as provided in the Declaration of Trust), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust has sufficient funds available therefor and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the “Liquidation Distribution”).
“Holder” means any holder of Securities, as registered on the books and records of the Trust; provided, however, that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Trust Preference Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Trust Preference Securities.
“Majority in Liquidation Amount” means Holder(s) of outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, who are the record owners of an aggregate liquidation amount representing more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption or liquidation, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Securities have voted, Securities that are owned by the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the Securities shall be disregarded for the purpose of any such determination.
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“Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust (whether statutory or common law trust), unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
“Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in the Declaration of Trust.
“Securities” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Series N Preference Shares” has the meaning specified in the Declaration of Trust.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Trust or the Guarantor), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of setoff or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands, and any right to require that any action on this Guarantee be brought first against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding directly against the Guarantor. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor waives any and all rights and defenses, including without limitation any rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution, described in subdivision (a) of Section 2856 of the California Civil Code, including any rights and defenses that are or may become available to the Guarantor by reason of Sections 2787 to 2855 thereof, inclusive.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional and shall remain in full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of all outstanding Securities shall have been paid and such obligation shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any event, including, without limitation, the following, whether or not with notice to, or the consent of, the Guarantor:
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There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor or any other Person with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation, or any defense of any kind or nature that the Guarantor has or may have against any Holder shall be available hereunder to the Guarantor against such Holder to reduce the payments to it under this Guarantee.
If the Guarantor fails to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor for enforcement of the Guarantee for such payment to such Holder, and the amount of the payment will be based on the Holder’s pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Securities.
This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
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The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holder against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in Section 2.3(a) through Section 2.3(g), inclusive, hereof.
So long as any Securities remain outstanding, if the Guarantor shall have failed to make any Guarantee Payment when due, until such Guarantee Payment is made, the Guarantor shall not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s capital stock that ranks, as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Guarantor, equal or junior to the Series N Preference Shares (other than (a) dividends or distributions in the Guarantor’s capital stock, (b) payments under this Guarantee, (c) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, and (d) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of its directors, officers, employees or consultants).
The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all indebtedness and other liabilities of the Guarantor and all capital stock of the Guarantor that by its terms ranks senior to the Series N Preference Shares as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Guarantor; equal in right of payment to the Series N Preference Shares and other capital stock of the Guarantor that by its terms ranks equal in right of payment to the Series N Preference Shares as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Guarantor and to any similar
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guarantee that the Guarantor issues on behalf of the holders of securities issued by any statutory trust the assets of which consist of capital stock of the Guarantor that ranks equal in right of payment to the Series N Preference Shares as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Guarantor; and senior in right of payment to the common stock of the Guarantor and all other securities of the Guarantor that by their terms rank junior in right of payment to the Series N Preference Shares as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Guarantor.
This Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Securities, (ii) distribution of the Series N Preference Shares or depositary shares to the Holders of all the Securities in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration of Trust upon liquidation of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Securities or under this Guarantee.
The Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Holder has the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Guarantor for enforcement of the rights of a holder of Series N Preference Shares to the extent of an interest in Series N Preference Shares corresponding to the aggregate liquidation amount of such Holder’s Securities (such right, a “right of direct action”).
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially and adversely affect the rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee may not
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be amended without the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration of Trust with respect to meetings of, and action by written consent of, the Holders of the Securities apply to the giving of such approval.
This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities and is not separately transferable from the Securities.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally; the signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guarantee is executed as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ Natalia Woodward
Name: Natalia Woodward
Title: Treasurer
[Signature Page to Guarantee Agreement]
Exhibit 5.1

May 13, 2024
SCE Trust VIII
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Re: | SCE Trust VIII |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for SCE Trust VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
We have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below, including the following documents:

SCE Trust VIII
May 13, 2024
Page 2
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
As to various questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied upon the representations made in the foregoing documents. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation and termination of the Trust, and that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom a Trust Preference Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Trust Preference Security Holders") of a Trust Preference Security Certificate for such Trust Preference Security and the payment for such Trust Preference Security, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement, and (vii) that the Trust Preference Securities are executed, authenticated, issued and sold to the Trust Preference Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement. We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement (except for providing this opinion) or the Prospectus and assume no responsibility for their contents, other than this opinion.
SCE Trust VIII
May 13, 2024
Page 3
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity of the Securities and Guarantee" in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Richards, Layton & Finger P.A.
JWP/KNR/ALF
Exhibit 5.2
May 13, 2024
Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Re: Offering of Southern California Edison Company
Series N Preference Stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation (“SCE” or the “Company”). You have requested my opinion in connection with the offering, issuance, and sale by SCE of up to 140,004 shares of its Series N Preference Stock (the “Shares”).
The Shares are being offered to the public by the Prospectus dated May 7, 2024 (the “Prospectus”), which is part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-258266) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by SCE with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
In my capacity as Assistant General Counsel, I am generally familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by SCE for the authorization and issuance of the Shares. I, or attorneys acting under my supervision, have made legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals and copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the documents, corporation records and instruments of SCE that we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have obtained and relied upon certificates and assurances from public officials that we have deemed necessary.
Subject to the foregoing and the other qualifications set forth herein, it is my opinion that upon issuance and delivery of, and payment for, the Shares in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
In addition to any assumptions, qualifications and other matters set forth elsewhere herein, the opinions set forth above are subject to the following:
(A)I express no opinion on the effect of Section 1708 of the California Public Utilities Code which, among other matters, provides that the California Public Utilities Commission may at any time, upon notice to the parties, and with opportunity to be heard, rescind, alter, or amend any order or decision made by it.
(B)I am a member of the Bar of the State of California. My opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of California and the federal laws of the United States of America.
(C)This opinion letter is an expression of my professional judgment on the legal issues explicitly addressed. By rendering the opinions herein, I do not become an insurer or guarantor of the expression of such professional judgment. Nor does the rendering of such opinions guarantee the outcome of any legal dispute that may arise out of the contemplated transactions. The rendering of the opinions herein does not create any express or implied contract or agreement between or with any person entitled to rely thereon and me. My opinions set forth herein are based upon the facts in existence and laws in effect on the date hereof, and are rendered as of the date hereof, and I expressly disclaim any obligation to update my opinions herein, regardless of whether changes in such facts or laws come to my attention after the delivery hereof.
I consent to SCE filing this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and to the reference to me under the caption “Validity of the Securities and Guarantee” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, I do not hereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Michael A. Henry
Michael A. Henry
Assistant General Counsel
Southern California Edison Company
Exhibit 5.3
BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP
10250 CONSTELLATION BOULEVARD
SUITE 1850
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90067
(310) 201-4728
Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Re:Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-258266)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation (“Southern California Edison”), in connection with the issuance by Southern California Edison of a guarantee (the “Guarantee”) of 14,000,000 6.95% Trust Preference Securities (the “Trust Preference Securities”) of SCE Trust VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust” and, together with Southern California Edison, the “Offerors”), issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated May 7, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Offerors and the Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement.
In our capacity as counsel for the Offerors, we have reviewed the Guarantee and originals or copies of corporate records of the Offerors; certificates of public officials, officers of the Offerors and others; and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In our examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, and the legal capacity of all parties executing the documents.
In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than Southern California Edison, we have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or otherwise, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or otherwise, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinions
expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantee, certificates and all oral and written statements and other information of or from responsible representatives of the Offerors, their respective subsidiaries and others provided in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantee, and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations contained in this letter, we are of the opinion that when the Trust Preference Securities have been issued and sold in the manner described in the Underwriting Agreement, and the Guarantee has been executed and delivered, the Guarantee will constitute the valid and binding obligation of Southern California Edison, enforceable against Southern California Edison in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.
The law covered by the opinion expressed above is limited to the laws of the State of California as in effect as of this date. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction and no opinion regarding the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority of any jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, relating to the Trust Preference Securities, as filed by Southern California Edison with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about May 13, 2024 and to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of the Securities and Guarantee” in the related Prospectus dated May 7, 2024. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP
2
Exhibit 8.1
OPINION OF BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP
AS TO CERTAIN TAX MATTERS
May 13, 2024
Southern California Edison Company
SCE Trust VIII
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As special tax counsel to Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation and SCE Trust VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with the issuance by the Trust of 14,000,000 of its 6.95% Trust Preference Securities (the “Trust Preference Securities”), as described in that certain prospectus dated May 7, 2024 (the “Prospectus”), we hereby confirm to you our opinion as set forth under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus, subject to the limitations set forth therein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, relating to the Trust Preference Securities, as filed by Southern California Edison with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about May 13, 2024 and to the reference to us under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP