Underwriting Agreement among the Company, the Trust and the underwriters named therein dated as of November 16, 2023
Exhibit 1.1
SCE Trust VII
22,000,000 7.50% Trust Preference Securities
(Cumulative, Liquidation Amount $25 per Trust Preference Security)
Fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by
Southern California Edison Company
Underwriting Agreement
New York, New York
November 16, 2023
BofA Securities, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
SCE Trust VII (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, 22,000,000 7.50% 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 November 22, 2023, 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 November 22, 2023 (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 $550,000,000 aggregate liquidation preference of the Series M Preference Stock (the “Series M Preference Shares”) issued by the Company pursuant to the certificate of determination of preferences for the Series M Preference Stock, to be dated as of November 22, 2023.
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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(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 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 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
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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.
“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.
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“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.
“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.
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“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 2:40 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.
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.
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Very truly yours,
SCE Trust VII
By: Southern California Edison Company
as Depositor
By: | /s/ Natalia Woodward |
Name: Natalia Woodward
Title: Administrative Trustee
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY
By: | /s/ Natalia Woodward |
[Underwriting Agreement - Signature Page]
The foregoing Agreement is hereby | |
BofA Securities, Inc. By: /s/ Patrick Boultinghouse J.P. Morgan Securities LLC By: /s/ Som Bhattacharyya RBC Capital Markets, LLC By: /s/ John Sconzo | |
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC By: /s/ Carolyn Hurley | |
| |
For themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the foregoing Agreement.
[Underwriting Agreement - Signature Page]
SCHEDULE I
Underwriter | Number of Securities to be Purchased |
4,015,000 | |
4,015,000 | |
4,015,000 | |
4,015,000 | |
2,640,000 | |
471,429 | |
471,429 | |
471,429 | |
471,429 | |
471,428 | |
471,428 | |
471,428 | |
22,000,000 |
SCHEDULE II
SCE Trust VII
22,000,000 7.50% 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
SUMMARY OF TERMS | ||
Issuer: | SCE Trust VII (the “Issuer”), a Delaware statutory trust, the sole assets of which will be the shares of Series M Preference Stock (the “Series M Preference Shares”) issued by Southern California Edison Company (the “Company”). The Company will own all of the common securities of the Issuer. | |
Guarantor: | The Company, to the extent described in the related prospectus dated November 16, 2023 (the “Prospectus”) | |
Securities Offered: | 22,000,000 7.50% Trust Preference Securities (Cumulative) | |
Liquidation Amount: | $25 per Trust Preference Security | |
Aggregate Liquidation Amount: | $550,000,000 | |
Expected Ratings of Securities*: | Baa3 / BB+ / BBB- (Moody’s / S&P / Fitch) | |
Trade Date: | November 16, 2023 | |
Settlement Date: | November 22, 2023 (T+4) | |
Maturity: | Perpetual | |
Public Offering Price: | 100% per Trust Preference Security | |
Distributions: | 7.50% of the liquidation amount of $25 per Trust Preference Security per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2024, subject to the Issuer receiving dividend payments on the Series M Preference Shares when, as, and if declared by the Company. Distributions on the Trust Preference Securities, and dividends on the Series M Preference Shares, are cumulative from the date of issue. | |
Optional Redemption: | The Company may redeem the Series M Preference Shares (i) at its option, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, on or after November 22, 2028 at 100% of their liquidation preference, (ii) in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to November 22, 2028 within 90 days after the occurrence of certain changes in tax or investment company law or interpretation, as described in the Prospectus, at 101% of their liquidation preference, and (iii) in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to November 22, 2028 after the occurrence of certain changes in rating agency equity credit criteria, as described in the Prospectus, at 102% of their liquidation preference, plus, in all cases, accrued and unpaid dividends, if any. Upon any redemption of the Series M Preference Shares, a corresponding amount of Trust Preference Securities will be redeemed. | |
Voting Rights: | None generally, except as described in the Prospectus. | |
Ranking: | The Series M Preference Shares will rank equally with other series of the Company’s preference stock, including the Company’s Series E, G, H, J, K and L Preference Stock; junior to the Company’s cumulative preferred stock and secured and unsecured debt; and senior to the Company’s common stock. The Trust Preference Securities will effectively have the same ranking as the Series M Preference Shares, as described in the Prospectus. | |
Issuance of Senior Shares: | As long as any Series M Preference Shares are outstanding, the Company does not intend to issue any shares of capital stock ranking senior to the Series M Preference Shares with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of the Company’s assets upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up. | |
No Conversion Rights: | Neither the Trust Preference Securities nor the Series M Preference Shares will be convertible into shares of any other class or series of the Company’s capital stock or any other security. | |
Use of Proceeds: | The Issuer will use all the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preference Securities (and the sale of the Issuer’s common securities to the Company) to purchase the Series M Preference Shares from the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Series M Preference Shares to the Issuer to repay commercial paper borrowings and/or for general corporate purposes. | |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment: | Under current law, generally eligible for the “dividend-received deduction” (DRD) and “qualified dividend income” (QDI) treatment, as long as the Company has sufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits. | |
Listing: | Application will be made to list the Trust Preference Securities on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCE PR M.” If approved for listing, the Company expects the Trust Preference Securities will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 days of their original issue date of November 22, 2023. | |
Form: | Book-entry only | |
CUSIP/ISIN: | 783892 201/ US783892 2018 | |
Joint Book-Running Managers: | BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA Securities”) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC Capital Markets”) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo Securities”) Truist Securities, Inc. | |
Co-Managers | Academy Securities, Inc. CastleOak Securities, L.P. C.L. King & Associates, Inc. Great Pacific Securities Mischler Financial Group, Inc. R. Seelaus & Co., LLC Stern Brothers & Co. | |
* 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 ###-###-####, J.P. Morgan at 1 ###-###-####, RBC Capital Markets at 1 ###-###-####, or Wells Fargo Securities at 1 ###-###-####.
SCHEDULE III
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectus included in the Disclosure Package
None