Exhibit 5.1
November 22, 2023
SCE Trust VII
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Re: | SCE Trust VII |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for SCE Trust VII, 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:
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November 22, 2023
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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.
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
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November 22, 2023
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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