Exhibit 5.1
 | Michael A. Henry Assistant General Counsel Michael.henry@sce.com |
July 29, 2021
Southern California Edison Company
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, California 91770
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Southern California
Edison Company, SCE Trust VII and SCE Trust VIII
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am an Assistant General Counsel of Southern California Edison Company, a California corporation (“Edison”). In connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 filed on July 29, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”) by Edison, SCE Trust VII, a Delaware statutory trust, and SCE Trust VIII, a Delaware statutory trust (each a “Trust,” and collectively with Edison, the “Registrants”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), you have requested my opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.
This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Securities.
I, or attorneys under my supervision, have reviewed the forms of prospectus (the “Prospectus”) which are a part of the Registration Statement. The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus, as supplemented by various Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the registration of (i) one or more series of First Mortgage Bonds (“First Mortgage Bonds”), which may be issued by Edison, (ii) one or more series of unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities (the “Unsecured Debt Securities” and together with the First Mortgage Bonds, the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued by Edison, (iii) shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be issued by Edison, (iv) shares of preference
stock (the “Preference Stock”), which may be issued by Edison, (v) trust preference securities (the “Trust Preference Securities”), which may be issued by each Trust pursuant to its respective Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (each an “Amended Trust Agreement”), and (vi) guarantees of the Trust Preference Securities (the “Guarantees”), which may be issued by Edison pursuant to one or more guarantee agreements (each a “Guarantee Agreement”). The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Debt Securities may be issued pursuant to one or more indentures and one or more supplements thereto (collectively, the “Indentures”), in each case between Edison and a trustee (each, a “Trustee”). In my capacity as Assistant General Counsel, I am generally familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Registrants for the authorization and issuance of the Securities. For purposes of this opinion, I have assumed that those proceedings will be properly completed, in accordance with all requirements of applicable federal, Delaware and California laws, in the manner presently proposed.
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 the Registrants 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 me as copies.
Subject to the foregoing and the other qualifications set forth herein, it is my opinion that, as of the date hereof:
1. When (a) the Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indentures (including, without limitation, the adoption by the Board of Directors of Edison or an authorized officer of any necessary further resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities), duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly executed and delivered on behalf of Edison against payment therefor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the applicable Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and (b) each of the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act, and assuming that (w) the terms of the Debt Securities as executed and delivered are as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s); (x) the Debt Securities as executed and delivered do not violate any law applicable to Edison or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon Edison; (y) the Debt Securities as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to Edison, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over Edison; and (z) the Debt Securities are then issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the
related Prospectus Supplement(s), the Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Edison enforceable against Edison in accordance with the terms of the Debt Securities.
2. With respect to the Guarantees, when (i) the trustees of the applicable Trust have taken all necessary action to adopt the Amended Trust Agreement and to fix and determine the terms of the applicable Trust Preference Securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Amended Trust Agreement; (ii) the appropriate officers of Edison have taken all necessary action to fix and determine the terms of the applicable Guarantees in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Edison relating to the issuance and delivery of the Guarantees; (iii) the terms of the applicable Trust Preference Securities and the related Guarantee and the issuance and sale thereof have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Amended Trust Agreement and applicable Guarantee Agreement, respectively, so as not to violate any applicable law, the applicable Certificate of Trust, Trust Agreement and Amended Trust Agreement, and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Edison, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the applicable Trust or Edison; (iv) the Guarantee Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (v) the applicable Trust Preference Securities have been duly issued and delivered by the applicable Trust as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement(s) relating thereto; (vi) certificates representing the applicable Trust Preference Securities have been manually authenticated by an authorized officer of the applicable Property Trustee (as defined in the applicable Amended Trust Agreement) for the applicable Trust Preference Securities and registered by such Property Trustee and delivered to the purchasers thereof; and (vii) the applicable Trust receives the agreed-upon consideration therefor; the applicable Preferred Securities Guarantee will be a valid and binding obligation of Edison enforceable in accordance with its terms.
3. Edison has the authority pursuant to its Articles of Incorporation to issue up to 36,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, comprised of 24,000,000 shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock, with a par value of $25 per share, and 12,000,000 shares of $100 Cumulative Preferred Stock, with a par value of $100 per share, and up to 50,000,000 shares of Preference Stock, no par value. Upon adoption by the Board of Directors of Edison of any necessary further resolutions and filing of any necessary certificates of determination, in form and content as required by applicable law, and upon issuance and delivery of and payment for such shares in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and by such resolutions, such shares of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The opinions set forth in paragraphs 1 through 3 above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity,
including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; (iii) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indenture that purports to waive or does not give effect to rights to notices, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law; and (iv) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.
I have assumed for purposes of this opinion that (i) the applicable Indenture constitutes the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of Edison, enforceable against Edison in accordance with its terms; (ii) the Trustee for each Indenture is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (iii) the Trustee is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the applicable Indenture; (iv) the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and constitutes a legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms; (v) the Trustee is in compliance, generally and with respect to acting as Trustee under the applicable Indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (vi) the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the applicable Indenture.
I consent to Edison filing this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the captions “Validity of the Securities” and “Validity of the Securities and Guarantees” in the Prospectus included therein. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
/s/ Michael A. Henry |
| Michael A. Henry |
| Assistant General Counsel |
