8-K
false 0001032208 0001032208 2024-03-11 2024-03-11 0001032208 us-gaap:CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2024-03-11 2024-03-11 0001032208 sre:A575JuniorSubordinatedNotesDue2079Member 2024-03-11 2024-03-11

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

March 11, 2024

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

 

LOGO

Sempra

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

California   1-14201   33-0732627
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 

(Commission

File Number)

  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

488 8th Avenue, San Diego, California 92101   (619) 696-2000
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)   (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

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:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading
Symbol

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Sempra Common Stock, without par value   SRE   New York Stock Exchange
Sempra 5.75% Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2079, $25 par value   SREA   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

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 March 14, 2024, Sempra (the “Company”) closed its public offering and sale of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “notes”). Proceeds to the Company (after deducting underwriting discounts but before other expenses payable by the Company estimated at approximately $1.5 million) from the sale of the notes were approximately $594.0 million. The sale of the notes was registered under a prospectus supplement and related prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-272237).

The purchase and sale of the notes was made pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated March 11, 2024, with BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as the representatives of the several underwriters named on Schedule I thereto, pursuant to which the notes were issued and sold to such underwriters, severally and not jointly, for resale at a public offering price of 99.994% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes. A copy of the underwriting agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Interest on the notes accrues from and including March 14, 2024 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2024, and at maturity on October 1, 2054. The notes bear interest (i) from and including March 14, 2024 to, but excluding, October 1, 2029 at the rate of 6.875% per annum and (ii) from and including October 1, 2029, during each Reset Period at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date plus a spread of 2.789%, to be reset on each Reset Date. So long as no event of default (as defined) with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, the Company may, at its option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual interest payment periods each, except that no such optional deferral period may extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date.

The Company may redeem some or all of the notes, at its option, in whole or in part (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to October 1, 2029 and ending on and including October 1, 2029 and (ii) after October 1, 2029, on any interest payment date, at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus, subject to the terms and conditions of the notes, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date. At the Company’s option, the Company may also redeem all of the notes upon the occurrence of certain specified events at the redemption prices provided therein, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The foregoing description of some of the terms of the notes is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Officers’ Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 (the “Officers’ Certificate”), the form of note included therein and the indenture (as defined below). The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “indenture”) dated as of June 26, 2019 between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2019. The Officers’ Certificate (including the form of note) is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used, but not defined, in this Current Report on Form 8-K have the meanings set forth in Annex II of the Officers’ Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

 1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated March 11, 2024, among Sempra and BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
 4.1    Officers’ Certificate of the Company, including the form of 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Note due 2054.
 5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).


SIGNATURE

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.

 

      SEMPRA,
      (Registrant)

Date: March 14, 2024

     

By: /s/ Peter R. Wall

      Peter R. Wall
     

Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting

Officer

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

Sempra

6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054

 

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

 

March 11, 2024

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Brookfield Place

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10281

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

250 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10281

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Sempra, a California corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with each of the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 9 hereof), for whom BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “Securities”). The Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of June 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “Trustee”), as successor trustee. The term “Indenture,” as used herein, includes the Officers’ Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) to be dated March 14, 2024 establishing the form and terms of the Securities pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the Indenture.


The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-272237), which registration statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Rules and Regulations”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). Such registration statement covers the registration of the Securities (among other securities) under the Act. Such registration statement, as amended through the date hereof (including by any post-effective amendments thereto) and including the information deemed pursuant to Rule 430B under the Rules and Regulations to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the date hereof, but excluding any Form T-1 (as defined below), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” The Company proposes to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations the Prospectus Supplement (as defined in Section 5(h) hereof) relating to the Securities and the prospectus dated May 26, 2023 (the “Base Prospectus”), and has previously advised you of all further information (financial and other) with respect to the Company set forth therein. The Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement, in their respective forms on the date hereof (being the forms in which they are to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the date hereof, are hereinafter referred to as, collectively, the “Prospectus,” except that if any revised prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities which differs from the Prospectus (whether or not such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations), the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, as the case may be, from and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use. The term “Preliminary Prospectus,” as used in this Agreement, means the preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 11, 2024 and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, together with the Base Prospectus used with such preliminary prospectus supplement in connection with the marketing of the Securities, in each case as amended or supplemented by the Company, including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the date thereof. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Agreement to documents, financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “stated,” “described in” or “referred to” in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such documents, financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of this Agreement which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

At or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 11, 2024, which was the time when sales of the Securities were first made (such time, the “Applicable Time”), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): the Preliminary Prospectus and each “free writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) listed on Schedule II hereto.

 

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1. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof (such date being hereinafter referred to as the “Representation Date”), as of the Applicable Time and as of the Time of Delivery referred to in Section 4 herein as follows:

(a) No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection (a) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus.

(b) The Pricing Disclosure Package, at the Applicable Time, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection (b) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package.

(c) The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Act or Rule 134 of the Rules and Regulations, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Schedule II hereto and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) filed (to the extent required thereby) in accordance with the Act and when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Time of Delivery will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection (c) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free

 

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Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 5(c) with respect to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus that has not been superseded or modified.

(d) The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations that became effective not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations has been received by the Company. The Registration Statement, at the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the Representation Date, complied and comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations (including Rule 415(a) of the Rules and Regulations), and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Trust Indenture Act, and the Registration Statement did not and as of the Representation Date and at the Time of Delivery does not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Act and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with. The Prospectus, at the Representation Date (unless the term “Prospectus” refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Securities which differs from the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, in which case at the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use) and at the Time of Delivery, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection (d) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the information contained in any Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (a “Form T-1”).

(e) The documents filed by the Company and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and, when read together and with the other information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the respective times the Registration

 

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Statement and any amendments thereto became effective, at the Representation Date, at the Applicable Time and at the Time of Delivery, did not, do not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) The Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have not sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, since the date as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management or consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and each of Southern California Gas Company, a California corporation (“SCGC”), San Diego Gas & Electric Company, a California corporation (“SDG&E”), Pacific Enterprises, a California corporation (“PE”), Enova Corporation, a California corporation (“Enova”), Sempra Infrastructure Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“SI”), Pacific Enterprises International, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“PEI”), Sempra Energy International, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“SEI”), Sempra Global Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“SGH”) and Sempra Texas Holdings Corp., a Texas corporation, (“Sempra Texas” and, together with SCGC, SDG&E, PE, Enova, SI, PEI, SEI and SGH, the “Significant Subsidiaries”), has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be, and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.

(h) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock and partnership interests, as applicable, of each Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are (solely in the case of shares of capital stock) fully paid and non-assessable and, except for the outstanding preferred stock of SCGC and certain outstanding partnership interests of SI (and its direct and indirect subsidiaries PEI, SEI and SGH), are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

 

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(i) The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale by the Company and, when the Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Securities will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor specified in this Agreement, the Securities will have been duly delivered by the Company and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery, the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and each of the Indenture and the Securities will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented.

(j) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(k) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, as amended, or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except, solely in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

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(l) The statements set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented, if applicable, under the captions “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities or the Indenture, and under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest),” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

(m) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other organizational documents, as amended, or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except in the case of clause (ii) for such defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(n) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, except for such proceedings which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would not reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened in writing or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened in writing by others.

(o) The Company is not and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

(p) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(q) To the Company’s knowledge, Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of Oncor Electric Delivery Holdings Company LLC (“Oncor Holdings”) and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

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(r) The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included (if applicable) and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified; and, except as stated therein, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis. To the Company’s knowledge, the financial statements of Oncor Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Oncor Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified; and, except as stated therein, to the Company’s knowledge, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

(s) The Company and each of its consolidated subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences.

(t) The Company and each of its consolidated subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(u) The Company and its subsidiaries possess such certificates, authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their businesses as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorities or permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(v) The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with, and conduct their respective businesses in conformity with, all applicable state, federal, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the operation and ownership of a public utility, including, without limitation, those relating to the distribution and transmission of natural gas, except to the extent that any failure so to comply or conform would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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(w) The Company and its subsidiaries hold all franchises, certificates of public convenience and necessity, permits, licenses and easements necessary to own, operate and maintain their properties as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except to the extent that such failure, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(x) Except as otherwise described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violations, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(y) To the knowledge of the Company, since December 31, 2023, there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management or consolidated financial position, members’ equity or results of operations of Oncor Holdings and its subsidiaries (including Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC), taken as a whole.

(z) The Company has not (A) engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) or (B) authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications; the Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications (as defined below). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act or Rule 163B promulgated under Section 5 of the Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 405.

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter, and the officer(s) signing such certificate shall have no personal liability for any representation or warranty so made.

2. The Company understands that upon authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented.

3. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 98.994% of the principal amount thereof, the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof.

4. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates (and, if applicable, book-entry credits) for, the Securities shall be made at the office of Latham & Watkins LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), on March 14, 2024, or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Time of Delivery”). Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of Federal (same day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates (or book-entry credits) for the Securities to be purchased by them. Certificates (or book-entry credits) for the Securities shall be in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours prior notice to the Company. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. BofA Securities, Inc., individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose check has not been received by the Time of Delivery, but such payment shall not release such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. The certificates for the Securities will be made available for examination and, if applicable, packaging by the Representatives not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), on the last business day prior to the Time of Delivery in New York, New York.

 

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5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the date hereof or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, after the date hereof and on or prior to the Time of Delivery, which shall be reasonably disapproved by the Representatives promptly after reasonable written notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after the Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice pursuant to Rule 173 of the Rules and Regulations) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives written notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Act concerning the Registration Statement, of the Company becoming the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Securities, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) To prepare a final term sheet or sheets, as the case may be (in either such case, the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form of Schedule III hereto (except that the Final Term Sheet may also include information regarding the credit ratings of the Securities and such other information as the Company and the Representatives may agree), and file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representatives with copies of such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representatives or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object;

(c) If at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or

 

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supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(d) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such domestic jurisdictions and (with the prior consent of the Company) foreign jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

(e) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day succeeding the date hereof, or such later time or date as agreed to by the Company and the Representatives, and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or a notice pursuant to Rule 173 of the Rules and Regulations) is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any securities dealer participating in the offering of the Securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(f) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen months after the date hereof, an earnings statement of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the Rules and Regulations (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(g) During the period beginning on and including the date hereof and continuing to and including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for the Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives, but only if the Representatives shall have notified the Company in writing at the Time of Delivery that such trading restrictions have not been terminated, and (ii) the Time of Delivery, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any Securities, any debt securities of the Company which are substantially similar to the Securities (“Similar Securities”) or any

 

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securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for any Securities or Similar Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, provided that this subparagraph (g) shall not apply to the offer, issuance or sale of, or any contract to sell, (i) the Securities to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less than one year or (iii) any Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Description of the Notes—Subordination”). For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the term Similar Securities, as used in this subparagraph (g), excludes (i) commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less than one year or (ii) any Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Description of the Notes—Subordination”);

(h) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare a prospectus supplement, dated the date hereof (the “Prospectus Supplement”), containing the terms of the Securities, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations or as the Representatives and the Company deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations copies of the Prospectus (including such Prospectus Supplement);

(i) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth in the Prospectus; and

(j) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission; provided, however, that the prior consent of the Representatives and the Company shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Final Term Sheet and any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto; and provided further, however, that prior to the preparation of the Final Term Sheet in accordance with Section 5(b), the Underwriters are authorized to use the information with respect to the final terms of the Securities in communications conveying information relating to the offering to investors. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives or otherwise permitted by the immediately preceding sentence is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the term Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as used in this Agreement, includes all Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any

 

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agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(d) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities (up to a maximum aggregate amount of $5,000); (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

7. The obligations of the Underwriters shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in this Agreement are, at and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Rules and Regulations and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof); no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information from the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction.

(b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, with respect to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as well as such other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(c) [Intentionally Omitted]

(d) Latham & Watkins LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion or opinions and negative assurances letter, dated the Time of Delivery, in the forms previously agreed and satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

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(e) On the date hereof at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter with respect to the Company, dated the date hereof, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, and, at the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter dated the Time of Delivery, reaffirming the statements made in their letter dated the date hereof, except that the specified date referred to in such letter delivered on the Time of Delivery shall be a date not more than three days prior to the Time of Delivery, and with respect to such letter dated the Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(f) On the date hereof at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter with respect to Oncor Holdings, dated the date hereof, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, and, at the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter dated the Time of Delivery, reaffirming the statements made in their letter dated the date hereof, except that the specified date referred to in such letter delivered on the Time of Delivery shall be a date not more than three days prior to the Time of Delivery, and with respect to such letter dated the Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(g) (i) The Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall have not sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, as amended prior to the date hereof, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended prior to the date hereof, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended prior to the date hereof, there shall not have been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management or consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended prior to the date hereof, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented.

(h) At or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities.

 

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(i) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or the Nasdaq Global Market; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the NYSE; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York or California State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives (A) is material and adverse and (B) makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented.

(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(e) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the second business day succeeding the date hereof.

(k) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery a certificate of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of the Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (g) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.

8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Securities or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

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(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following: the information in the fourth paragraph of text under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters, and the information in the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh paragraphs of text (solely with respect to the statements attributable to the Underwriters) under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, insofar as such information relates to market making, stabilization, penalty bids, overallotment, short positions and purchases to cover short positions by the Underwriters; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under such subsection to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the Representatives shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the Underwriters and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons who may be

 

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subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the Company under this Section 8, if the Representatives shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the Underwriters and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons that are different from or additional to those available to the Company and its officers, directors, employees and controlling persons, and in each case the fees and expenses of a single separate counsel for the Underwriters and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (in addition to local counsel) shall be paid by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement or compromise of, or the consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder effected without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but, if settled or compromised with the indemnifying party’s consent, or if judgment shall be entered following consent to the entry of such judgment given with the indemnifying party’s consent, or if there shall otherwise be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each indemnified party against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several, by reason of such settlement, compromise or judgment, as the case may be. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then in each case each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged

 

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omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to the Securities and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director, officer, employee and agent of any Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and employee of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement.

 

19


(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under this Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under this Agreement) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

11. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Securities except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Securities except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in this Agreement.

 

20


All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to BofA Securities, Inc., 114 West 47th Street, NY8-114-07-01, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal, Fax: (212) 901-7881, Email: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com; Mizuho Securities USA LLC, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Debt Capital Market, Fax: (212) 205-7812; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, Attention: DCM Transaction Management/Scott Primrose, Telephone: (212) 618-7706, Email: TMGUS@rbccm.com; and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281, Attention: Debt Capital Markets/Chief Legal Officer, Email: US.Legal@scotiabank.com and TAG@scotiabank.com; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail or overnight courier to Sempra, 488 8th Avenue, San Diego, California 92101, Attention: Secretary, with a copy to the General Counsel; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, overnight courier or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or email or facsimile transmission constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

13. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, the officers, directors and employees of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

14. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such

 

21


matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company, and none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation or investment advice by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person.

15. (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, a “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.

16. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, “business day” shall mean, unless otherwise expressly stated, any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

17. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

18. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any instruments, agreements, certificates, officers’ certificates, Company orders, legal opinions, negative

 

22


assurance letters or other documents entered into or delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign), and this Agreement and any instruments, agreements, certificates, officers’ certificates, Company orders, legal opinions, negative assurance letters or other documents entered into or delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

(Signature Page Follows)

 

23


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one for the Company and for each of the Representatives plus one for each counsel counterparts hereof.

 

Very truly yours,
Sempra
By:  

/s/ Bruce E. MacNeil

  Name: Bruce E. MacNeil
  Title: Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement—March 2024 Offering]


Accepted as of the date hereof:
BofA Securities, Inc.
By:  

/s/ David Mikula

Name: David Mikula
Title: Managing Director
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Leamer

Name: Stephen E. Leamer
Title: Managing Director
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
By:  

/s/ Scott G. Primrose

Name: Scott G. Primrose
Title: Authorized Signatory
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
By:  

/s/ Michael Ravanesi

Name: Michael Ravanesi
Title: Managing Director &
   Head of U.S. Debt Origination

Acting as Representatives of the several Underwriters, on behalf of each of the Underwriters

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement—March 2024 Offering]


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount of
Securities
 

BofA Securities, Inc.

   $ 120,000,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

     120,000,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     120,000,000  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     120,000,000  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     54,000,000  

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

     54,000,000  

Evercore Group L.L.C.

     12,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 600,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule I-1


SCHEDULE II

 

1.

Free Writing Prospectus dated March 11, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 11, 2024

 

 

Schedule II-1


SCHEDULE III

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration Statement No. 333-272237

Sempra

Final Term Sheet

March 11, 2024

6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054

This free writing prospectus relates only to the securities described below and should be read together with Sempra’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 11, 2024 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), the accompanying prospectus dated May 26, 2023 and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

Issuer:    Sempra (the “Company”)
Trade Date:    March 11, 2024
Settlement Date:    March 14, 2024 (T+3)
Securities Offered:    6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “notes”)
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:    $600,000,000
Interest Rate:   

The notes will bear interest (i) from and including March 14, 2024 to, but excluding, October 1, 2029 (the “First Reset Date”) at the rate of 6.875% per annum and (ii) from and including the First Reset Date, during each Reset Period (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) plus a spread of 2.789%, to be reset on each Reset Date (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement).

 

For additional information and the definitions of the terms Reset Period, Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate, Reset Interest Determination Date and Reset Date, see “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate and Maturity” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

Interest Payment Dates:    April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2024 (each, an “interest payment date”) (subject to the Company’s right to defer interest payments as described under “Optional Interest Deferral” below).


Optional Interest Deferral:    So long as no event of default (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, the Company may, at its option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more Optional Deferral Periods (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) each, except that no such Optional Deferral Period may extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date. No interest will be due or payable on the notes during any such Optional Deferral Period unless the Company elects, at its option, to redeem notes during such Optional Deferral Period, in which case accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date will be due and payable on such redemption date only on the notes being redeemed, or unless the principal of and interest on the notes shall have been declared due and payable as the result of an event of default with respect to the notes, in which case all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes shall become due and payable. The Company may elect, at its option, to extend the length of any Optional Deferral Period that is shorter than 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods (so long as the entire Optional Deferral Period does not exceed 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods or extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes) and to shorten the length of any Optional Deferral Period. The Company cannot begin a new Optional Deferral Period until the Company has paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes from any previous Optional Deferral Period. During any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the notes will continue to accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes). In addition, during any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the deferred interest will accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Schedule III-2


   For additional information and the definitions of the terms event of default, Optional Deferral Period and Interest Payment Period, see “Description of the Notes—Events of Default” and “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
Maturity:    October 1, 2054
Price to Public:    99.994% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any.
Proceeds to the Company:    Approximately $594.0 million, after deducting the underwriting discount but before deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.
Optional Redemption Provisions:   

The Company may redeem some or all of the notes, at its option, in whole or in part (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to the First Reset Date and ending on and including the First Reset Date and (ii) after the First Reset Date, on any interest payment date, at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

The Company may at its option redeem the notes, in whole but not in part, at any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Tax Event (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

Schedule III-3


  

 

The Company may at its option redeem the notes, in whole but not in part, at any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Rating Agency Event (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) at a redemption price in cash equal to 102% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

For additional information and the definitions of the terms Tax Event and Rating Agency Event, see “Description of the Notes—Redemption” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

CUSIP:    816851 BS7
ISIN:    US816851BS71
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

BofA Securities, Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Senior Co-Managers:   

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

Co-Managers:    Evercore Group L.L.C.

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, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322, by calling Mizuho Securities USA LLC toll-free at 1-866-271-7403, by calling RBC Capital Markets, LLC toll-free at 1-866-375-6829 or by calling Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. toll-free at 1-800-372-3930.

Any legends, disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such legends, disclaimers or other notices have been automatically generated as a result of this communication having been sent via Bloomberg or another system.

 

Schedule III-4

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

Sempra

OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE

(Pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 of the Indenture)

March 14, 2024

The undersigned, Bruce E. MacNeil, Vice President and Treasurer, and Patrick S. Billings, Assistant Treasurer, respectively, of Sempra, a California corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certify as follows:

The undersigned, having read the appropriate provisions of the Indenture dated as of June 26, 2019 (the “Indenture”) between the Corporation (formerly known as Sempra Energy) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “Trustee”), as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, including Sections 102, 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in such Indenture relating thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records, and having made such examination and investigation as, in the opinion of the undersigned, each considers necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions set forth in the Indenture relating to the establishment of the terms of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Corporation’s 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “Notes”) and the form of certificate evidencing the Notes have been complied with, and whether the conditions in the Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of the Notes have been complied with, certify that (1) the terms of the Notes were established by the undersigned pursuant to authority delegated to them by resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on May 11, 2023 (the “Resolutions”) and such terms are as set forth and incorporated by reference in Annex I hereto, (2) the form of certificate evidencing the Notes was established by the undersigned pursuant to authority delegated to them by the Resolutions and shall be in substantially the form attached as Annex II hereto, (3) a true, complete and correct copy of the Resolutions, which were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and are in full force and effect on the date hereof, is attached as an exhibit to the Certificate of the Secretary of the Corporation of even date herewith, and (4) the form and terms of the Notes have been established pursuant to Sections 201, 202, 203 and 301 of the Indenture and comply with the Indenture and, in the opinion of the undersigned, all conditions provided for in the Indenture (including, without limitation, those set forth in Sections 201, 301 and 303 of the Indenture) relating to the establishment of the terms of the Notes and the form of certificate evidencing the Notes, and relating to the issuance, execution, authentication and delivery of the Notes, have been complied with.

This certificate may be executed by the parties hereto in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were on the same instrument, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

(Signature Page Follows)

 

1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands as of the date first written above.

 

/s/ Bruce E. MacNeil

Bruce E. MacNeil

Vice President and Treasurer

/s/ Patrick S. Billings

Patrick S. Billings

Assistant Treasurer

[Signature Page to Officers’ Certificate Pursuant to Indenture]

 


ANNEX I

Capitalized terms used in this Annex I and not otherwise defined herein have the same definitions as in the Indenture (as defined in the Officers’ Certificate of which this Annex I constitutes a part).

(1) A new series of the Corporation’s debt securities under the Indenture is established hereby and shall be known and designated as the “6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Securities,” the “Securities of this series,” the “Securities of such series” or the “Notes”). The term “Form of Note” means the form of certificate evidencing the Securities of such series attached as Annex II to the Officers’ Certificate of which this Annex I constitutes a part.

(2) The aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is limited to $600,000,000, except for Securities of such series authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the same series pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1106 of the Indenture and except for any Securities of such series which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture. However, such series of Securities may be re-opened by the Corporation for the issuance of additional Securities of the same series, so long as any such additional Securities of such series (i) have the same form and terms (other than the offering price, the date of issuance and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon shall begin to accrue and the first interest payment date, and except that the provisions of the Securities of such series specifying the rate of interest thereon to but excluding the First Reset Date (as defined in the Form of Note) shall not be applicable to any such additional Securities of such series whose date of original issuance is on or after the First Reset Date), and carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest (if any), as the Securities of such series theretofore issued and (ii) shall form a single series under the Indenture with the Securities of such series theretofore issued, and provided that such additional Securities of such series are fungible with the Securities of such series theretofore issued for United States Federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such series of Securities may not be re-opened if the Corporation has effected Defeasance with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1302 of the Indenture or has effected satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 401 of the Indenture.

(3) The Securities of such series are to be issued only as registered securities without coupons. The Securities of such series shall be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global Securities (the “Global Securities”) of such series, the initial depositary (the “Depositary”) for the Global Securities of such series shall be The Depository Trust Company and the depositary arrangements shall be those employed by whoever shall be the Depositary with respect to the Global Securities of such series from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certificated Securities of such series in definitive form may be issued in exchange for Global Securities of such series under the circumstances contemplated by Section 305 of the Indenture.

(4) The Securities of such series shall be sold by the Corporation to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement dated March 11, 2024 among the Corporation and BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives of the Underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”), for a total price of $593,964,000, and the initial price to the public of Securities of such series shall be 99.994% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series (plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any), and total underwriting discounts and commissions shall be $6,000,000.

(5) The Securities of such series shall not be repayable or redeemable at the option of the Holders prior to the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series (except as provided in Article V of the Indenture) and shall not be subject to a sinking fund or analogous provision.

(6) The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York is hereby designated as a Place of Payment for the Securities of such series.

(7) The Corporation hereby appoints the Trustee, acting through its Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Corporation’s agent for the purposes specified in Section 1002 of the Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, subject to Section 1002 of the Indenture, the Corporation may at any time remove the Trustee as its office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,

 

Annex I-1


The City of New York designated for such purposes with respect to the Securities of such series and may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies for such purposes with respect to the Securities of such series and may from time to time rescind such designation, so long as the Corporation shall at all times maintain an office or agency for such purposes with respect to the Securities of such series in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

(8) The Securities of such series shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(9) The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable in U.S. dollars.

(10) Section 1303 of the Indenture shall not apply to the Securities of such series.

(11) The Securities of such series shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities.

(12) Anything in the Indenture or the Securities of such series to the contrary notwithstanding, payments of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Global Securities of such series shall be made by wire transfer to the Depositary or its nominee or to any successor depositary or nominee, whichever shall be the registered Holder of such Global Securities of such series from time to time.

(13) To the extent that any provision of the Indenture or the Securities of such series provides for the payment of interest on overdue principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities of such series, then, to the extent permitted by law, interest on such overdue principal, premium, if any, and interest shall accrue at the then-applicable rate of interest borne by the Securities of such series (as reset from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series).

(14) The Securities of such series shall have such other terms and provisions as are set forth in the Form of Note, all of which terms and provisions are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Annex I as if set forth in full herein.

(15) As used in the Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and in the certificates evidencing the Securities of such series, all references to “premium” on the Securities of such series shall mean any amounts (other than accrued interest) payable upon the redemption of any Securities of such series in excess of 100% of the principal amount of such Securities.

(16) The following provisions of the Indenture are hereby amended, provided that such amendments shall only be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series and shall not be applicable with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture:

 

  (a)

clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture is hereby amended by replacing “25%” with “33%”;

 

  (b)

the first paragraph of Section 502 of the Indenture is hereby amended by replacing “25%” with “33%”; and

 

  (c)

clause (2) of Section 507 of the Indenture is hereby amended by replacing “25%” with “33%”.

(17) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 502 of the Indenture, neither the Trustee nor the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be entitled to declare the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of such series to be immediately due and payable by reason of the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture applicable to the Securities of such series, and any notice of declaration of acceleration based on such an Event of Default shall be null and void with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and shall be continuing, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series may exercise the other rights and remedies available under the Indenture in connection with such Event of Default, as well as such other rights and remedies as may be available under applicable law or otherwise.

 

Annex I-2


(18) The term “Senior Indebtedness,” when used with reference to the Securities of this series, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 101 of the Indenture and the Subordination Provisions (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Securities of this series shall be the provisions set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture. For purposes of the Indenture and anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Securities of this series shall rank equally in right of payment with the Other Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined below), the Other Junior Subordinated Notes shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of this series, and the Securities of this series shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Other Junior Subordinated Notes. “Other Junior Subordinated Notes” means the Corporation’s 4.125% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2052 and 5.750% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079, each of which constitute a separate series of the Corporation’s debt securities under the Indenture and were originally issued on November 19, 2021 and June 26, 2019, respectively, together with any additional debt securities of the same series which may in the future be issued under the Indenture upon any re-opening of such series.

 

 

Annex I-3


ANNEX II

Form of Certificate Evidencing the 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054

 

Annex II-1


[For inclusion in Global Securities—] THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

[For inclusion in Global Securities—] UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE CORPORATION (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

SEMPRA

6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054

 

No. 00    $___________
  

CUSIP No. 816851 BS7

ISIN No. US816851BS71

Sempra (formerly known as Sempra Energy), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of California (herein called the “Corporation,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ____________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars ($____________________) on October 1, 2054 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from and including March 14, 2024 (the “Original Issue Date”) or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 in each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing October 1, 2024 (subject to the right of the Corporation to defer the payment of interest, but not beyond the Maturity Date, in accordance with the provisions set forth below), and on the Maturity Date (i) from and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding October 1, 2029 (the “First Reset Date”), at the rate of 6.875% per annum and (ii) from and including the First Reset Date, during each Reset Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate (as defined below) as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date (as defined below) plus a spread of 2.789%, to be reset on each Reset Date (as defined below), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, provided that any principal hereof or (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) premium, if any, or interest hereon which is not paid when due shall bear interest at the then-applicable interest rate on the Securities (as defined on the reverse hereof) of this series (as reset from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Securities of this series) from the respective dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. Interest on this Security shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day (as defined in the Indenture)), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee (as defined on the reverse hereof), notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

Annex II-2


The applicable interest rate for each Reset Period will be determined by the Calculation Agent (as defined below), as of the applicable Reset Interest Determination Date, in accordance with the following provisions:

“Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate” means, as of any Reset Interest Determination Date, (i) an interest rate (expressed as a decimal) determined to be the per annum rate equal to the arithmetic mean of the yields to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity with a maturity of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets, for the five consecutive business days immediately prior to the respective Reset Interest Determination Date as published in the most recent H.15, or (ii) if there is no such published U.S. Treasury security with a maturity of five years from the next Reset Date and trading in the public securities markets, then the rate will be determined by interpolation between the arithmetic mean of the yields to maturity for each of the two series of U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity trading in the public securities markets, (A) one maturing as close as possible to, but earlier than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset Interest Determination Date, and (B) the other maturing as close as possible to, but later than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset Interest Determination Date, in each case for the five consecutive business days immediately prior to the respective Reset Interest Determination Date as published in the most recent H.15. If the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate cannot be determined pursuant to the methods described in clause (i) or (ii) above, then the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate will be the same interest rate determined for the prior Reset Interest Determination Date or, if the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate cannot be so determined as of the Reset Interest Determination Date preceding the First Reset Date, then the interest rate applicable for the Reset Period beginning on and including the First Reset Date will be deemed to be 6.875% per annum, which is the same interest rate as in effect from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the First Reset Date.

“H.15” means the statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System (or any successor thereto).

The “most recent H.15” means the H.15 published closest in time but prior to the close of business on the second business day (as defined below) prior to the applicable Reset Date.

“Reset Date” means the First Reset Date and October 1 of every fifth year after 2029.

“Reset Interest Determination Date” means, in respect of any Reset Period, the day falling two business days prior to the first day of such Reset Period.

“Reset Period” means the period from and including the First Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date and thereafter each period from and including a Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date.

The term “business day” means, unless otherwise expressly stated, any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed.

“Calculation Agent” means, at any time, the entity appointed by the Corporation and serving as such agent with respect to the Securities of this series at such time. Unless the Corporation has validly called all of the outstanding Securities of this series for redemption on a Redemption Date occurring prior to the First Reset Date, the Corporation will appoint a Calculation Agent for the Securities of this series prior to the Reset Interest Determination Date immediately preceding the First Reset Date; provided that, if the Corporation has called all of the outstanding Securities of this series for redemption on a Redemption Date occurring prior to the First Reset Date but the Corporation does not redeem all of the outstanding Securities of this series on such Redemption Date, the Corporation will appoint a Calculation Agent for the Securities of this series as promptly as practicable after such proposed Redemption Date. The Corporation may terminate any such appointment and may appoint a successor Calculation Agent at any time and from time to time (so long as there shall always be a Calculation Agent in respect of the Securities of this series when so required). The Corporation may appoint itself or an Affiliate of the Corporation as Calculation Agent.

 

Annex II-3


As provided above, the applicable interest rate for each Reset Period will be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the applicable Reset Interest Determination Date. Promptly upon such determination, the Calculation Agent will notify the Corporation of the interest rate for the Reset Period and the Corporation will promptly notify, or cause the Calculation Agent to promptly notify, the Trustee and each Paying Agent for the Securities of this series of such interest rate. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of the amount of interest for any Interest Payment Period (as defined below) beginning on or after the First Reset Date, will be on file at the Corporation’s principal offices, will be made available to any Holder or beneficial owner of the Securities of this series upon request and will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the actions or omissions of the Calculation Agent, or any failure or delay in the performance of the Calculation Agent’s duties or obligations, nor shall the Trustee be under any obligation to oversee or monitor the Calculation Agent’s performance; and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon any determination made, and any instruction, notice, officer certificate, or other instrument or information provided, by the Calculation Agent, without independent verification, investigation or inquiry of any kind.

The Trustee shall be under no duty to succeed to, assume or otherwise perform any of the duties of the Calculation Agent, or to appoint a successor or replacement in the event of the Calculation Agent’s resignation or removal, or to remove and replace the Calculation Agent in the event of a default, breach or failure of performance on the part of the Calculation Agent with respect to its duties and obligations under the terms of the governing documents.

So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series has occurred and is continuing, the Corporation may, at its option, defer interest payments on the Securities of this series, from time to time, for one or more deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods each (each such deferral period, commencing on the Interest Payment Date on which the first such deferred interest payment otherwise would have been made, an “Optional Deferral Period”), except that no such Optional Deferral Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an Interest Payment Date. During any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the Securities of this series will continue to accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the Securities of this series (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the Securities of this series). In addition, during any Optional Deferral Period interest on the deferred interest (“compound interest”) will accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the Securities of this series (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the Securities of this series), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law. No interest will be due or payable on the Securities of this series during an Optional Deferral Period, except upon a redemption of any Securities of this series on any Redemption Date during such Optional Deferral Period (in which case all accrued and unpaid interest (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest) on the Securities of this series to be redeemed to, but excluding, such Redemption Date will be due and payable on such Redemption Date), or unless the principal of and interest on the Securities of this series shall have been declared due and payable as the result of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series (in which case all accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest on the Securities of this series, shall become due and payable). All references in the Securities of this series and, insofar as relates to the Securities of this series, the Indenture to “interest” on the Securities of this series shall be deemed to include any such deferred interest and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

Before the end of any Optional Deferral Period that is shorter than 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods, the Corporation may elect, at its option, to extend such Optional Deferral Period, so long as the entire Optional Deferral Period does not exceed 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods or extend beyond the Maturity Date. The Corporation may also elect, at its option, to shorten the length of any Optional Deferral Period. No Optional Deferral Period (including as extended or shortened) may end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any Optional Deferral Period, if all amounts then due on the Securities of this series, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, without limitation and to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest), shall have been paid in full, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Optional Deferral Period; provided, however, that, without limitation of the foregoing, the Corporation may not begin a new Optional Deferral Period unless the Corporation has paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series (including, without limitation and to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest) from any previous Optional Deferral Periods.

 

Annex II-4


During any Optional Deferral Period, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (subject to the exceptions set forth in the next succeeding paragraph):

 

  (a)

declare or pay any dividends or distributions on any Capital Stock (as defined below) of the Corporation;

 

  (b)

redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to any Capital Stock of the Corporation;

 

  (c)

pay any principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any indebtedness of the Corporation that ranks equally with or junior to the Securities of this series in right of payment; or

 

  (d)

make any payments with respect to any guarantees by the Corporation of any indebtedness if such guarantees rank equally with or junior to the Securities of this series in right of payment.

However, during an Optional Deferral Period, the Corporation may (a) declare and pay dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of its common stock (together, for the avoidance of doubt, with cash in lieu of any fractional share) or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of its common stock, (b) declare and pay any dividend in connection with the implementation of a plan (a “Rights Plan”) providing for the issuance by the Corporation to all holders of its common stock of rights entitling them to subscribe for or purchase its common stock or any class or series of its preferred stock, which rights (1) are deemed to be transferred with such common stock, (2) are not exercisable until the occurrence of a specified event or events and (3) are also issued in respect of future issuances of its common stock, (c) issue any of shares of its Capital Stock under any Rights Plan or redeem or repurchase any rights distributed pursuant to a Rights Plan, (d) reclassify its Capital Stock or exchange or convert one class or series of its Capital Stock for another class or series of its Capital Stock, (e) purchase fractional interests in shares of its Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Capital Stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (f) purchase, acquire or withhold shares of its common stock related to the issuance of its common stock or rights under any dividend reinvestment plan or related to any of its benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors, including any employment contract, and (g) for the avoidance of doubt, convert convertible Capital Stock of the Corporation into other Capital Stock of the Corporation in accordance with the terms of such convertible Capital Stock (together, for the avoidance of doubt, with cash in lieu of any fractional share).

The Corporation will give the holders of the Securities of this series and the Trustee notice of its election of, or any shortening or extension of, an Optional Deferral Period at least 10 business days prior to the earlier of (1) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (2) the date upon which the Corporation is required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory organization or to Holders of the Securities of this series of the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or the record date therefor. The record date for the payment of deferred interest and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest payable on the Interest Payment Date immediately following the last day of an Optional Deferral Period will be the Regular Record Date with respect to such Interest Payment Date.

“Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares; (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing person.

“Interest Payment Period” means the semi-annual period from and including an Interest Payment Date to but excluding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, except for the first Interest Payment Period which shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding October 1, 2024.

 

Annex II-5


Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Corporation payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Security is the Depositary or its nominee, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Annex II-6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

SEMPRA
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

Attest:
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 As successor Trustee to
 U.S. Bank National Association
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:

 

Annex II-7


(REVERSE OF SECURITY)

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Corporation (herein called the “Securities” or the “Securities of this series”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 26, 2019 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Corporation and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

The Corporation may at its option redeem the Securities of this series, in whole or from time to time in part, (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to the First Reset Date and ending on and including the First Reset Date and (ii) after the First Reset Date, on any Interest Payment Date, at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed, plus (subject to the provisions set forth below regarding the payment of installments of interest on Securities of this series that are due and payable on any Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date) accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series to be redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

The Corporation may at its option redeem the Securities of this series, in whole but not in part, at any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Tax Event (as defined below) at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series, plus (subject to the provisions set forth below regarding the payment of installments of interest on Securities of this series that are due and payable on any Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date) accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

A “Tax Event” means that the Corporation has received an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of:

 

  (a)

any amendment to, clarification of, or change, including any announced prospective change, in the laws or treaties of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities, or any regulations under those laws or treaties;

 

  (b)

an administrative action, which means any judicial decision or any official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to issue or adopt any administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation;

 

  (c)

any amendment to, clarification of, or change in the official position or the interpretation of any administrative action or judicial decision or any interpretation or pronouncement that provides for a position with respect to an administrative action or judicial decision that differs from the previously generally accepted position, in each case by any legislative body, court, governmental authority or regulatory body, regardless of the time or manner in which that amendment, clarification or change is introduced or made known; or

 

  (d)

a threatened challenge asserted in writing in connection with a tax audit of the Corporation or any of the Corporation’s subsidiaries, or a publicly-known threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Securities of this series,

which amendment, clarification or change is effective or the administrative action is taken or judicial decision, interpretation or pronouncement is issued or threatened challenge is asserted or becomes publicly-known after March 11, 2024, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by the Corporation on the Securities of this series is not deductible, or within 90 days would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by the Corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Annex II-8


The Corporation may at its option redeem the Securities of this series, in whole but not in part, at any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Rating Agency Event (as defined below) at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 102% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series, plus (subject to the provisions set forth below regarding the payment of installments of interest on Securities of this series that are due and payable on any Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date) accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Rating Agency Event” means, as of any date, a change, clarification or amendment in the methodology published by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor provision thereto), that then publishes a rating for the Corporation (together with any successor thereto, a “rating agency”) in assigning equity credit to securities such as the Securities of this series, (a) as such methodology was in effect on March 11, 2024, in the case of any rating agency that published a rating for the Corporation as of March 11, 2024, or (b) as such methodology was in effect on the date such rating agency first published a rating for the Corporation, in the case of any rating agency that first publishes a rating for the Corporation after March 11, 2024 (in the case of either clause (a) or (b), the “current methodology”), that results in (i) any shortening of the length of time for which a particular level of equity credit pertaining to the Securities of this series by such rating agency would have been in effect had the current methodology not been changed or (ii) a lower equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) being assigned by such rating agency to the Securities of this series as of the date of such change, clarification or amendment than the equity credit that would have been assigned to the Securities of this series by such rating agency had the current methodology not been changed.

Notwithstanding any statement to the contrary set forth above, installments of interest on the Securities of this series that are due and payable on any Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a Redemption Date for the Securities of this series will be payable on that Interest Payment Date to the Holders of such Securities as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, according to the terms of the Securities of this series and the Indenture, except that, if a Redemption Date for any Securities of this series falls on any day during an Optional Deferral Period, accrued and unpaid interest (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest) on such Securities of this series will be paid on such Redemption Date to the Persons entitled to receive the Redemption Price of such Securities of this series. For the avoidance of doubt, the Interest Payment Date falling immediately after the last day of an Optional Deferral Period shall not be deemed to fall on a day during such Optional Deferral Period.

The Corporation will mail or cause to be mailed notice of any redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of the Securities of this series to be redeemed. Once notice of redemption is mailed, the Securities of this series called for redemption will become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the applicable Redemption Price, plus, subject to the terms described in the immediately preceding paragraph, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, and will be paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, unless (a) the notice of redemption provides that such redemption shall be subject to the condition described in the next succeeding paragraph and (b) such redemption shall have been canceled in accordance with the provisions of the next succeeding paragraph because such condition shall not have been satisfied. If only part of a Security of this series is redeemed, the Trustee will issue in the name of the Holder hereof and deliver to such Holder a new Security of this series in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security of this series surrendered for redemption. If the Corporation elects to redeem all or a portion of the Securities of this series, then, unless otherwise provided in the notice of redemption as described in the next succeeding paragraph, the redemption will not be conditional upon receipt by the Paying Agent or the Trustee of monies sufficient to pay the Redemption Price.

If, at the time a notice of redemption is given, (i) the Corporation has not effected satisfaction and discharge or Defeasance of the Securities of this series pursuant to Section 401 or Section 1302, respectively, of the Indenture and (ii) such notice of redemption is not being given in connection with or in order to effect satisfaction and discharge or Defeasance of the Securities of this series, then, if the notice of redemption so provides and at the Corporation’s option, the redemption may be subject to the condition that the Trustee shall have received, on or before the applicable Redemption Date, monies in an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest on the

 

Annex II-9


Securities of this series called for redemption to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. If monies in such amount are not received by the Trustee on or before such Redemption Date, such notice of redemption shall be automatically canceled and of no force or effect, such proposed redemption shall be automatically canceled and the Corporation shall not be required to redeem the Securities of this series called for redemption on such Redemption Date. In the event that a redemption is canceled, the Corporation will, not later than the business day immediately following the proposed Redemption Date, deliver, or cause to be delivered, notice of such cancellation to the Holders of the Securities of this series called for redemption (which notice will also indicate that any Securities of this series or portions thereof surrendered for redemption shall be returned to the applicable Holders), and the Corporation will direct the Trustee to, and the Trustee will, promptly return any Securities of this series or portions thereof that have been surrendered for redemption to the applicable Holders.

Unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the Redemption Price or the proposed redemption is canceled in accordance with the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, on and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities of this series or portions thereof called for redemption.

If less than all of the Securities of this series are to be redeemed on any Redemption Date, the particular Securities of this series (or portions thereof) to be redeemed shall be selected by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate or, in the case of Securities of this series in book-entry form represented by one or more Global Securities, by such method of selection as may be required or permitted by the Depositary for such Global Securities.

The Indenture contains provisions for Defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of the Securities of this series upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series (other than an Event of Default of the type set forth in clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture with respect to the Securities of this series) shall occur and be continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any (including, without limitation, any deferred interest and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest), on the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Holders of the Securities of this series shall be entitled to declare the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of this series to be immediately due and payable by reason of the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture applicable to the Securities of this series, and any notice of declaration of acceleration based on such an Event of Default shall be null and void with respect to the Securities of this series; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of Section 501 of the Indenture shall have occurred and shall be continuing with respect to the Securities of this series, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of this series may exercise the other rights and remedies available under the Indenture in connection with such Event of Default, as well as such other rights and remedies as may be available under applicable law or otherwise.

The indebtedness represented by the Securities of this series is, to the extent and in a manner set forth in the Indenture, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in or pursuant to the Indenture with respect to the Securities of this series) and this Security is issued subject to such provisions, and each Holder of this Security, by acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed to and to be bound by such provisions and to authorize and direct the Trustee in his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate such subordination as provided in the Indenture and to appoint the Trustee his, her or its attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, for any and all such purposes. For purposes of the Indenture and anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Securities of this series shall rank equally in right of payment with the Other Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined below), the Other Junior Subordinated Notes shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of this series, and the Securities of this series shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Other Junior Subordinated Notes. “Other Junior Subordinated Notes” means the Corporation’s 4.125% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2052 and 5.750% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2079, each of which constitute a separate series of the Corporation’s debt securities under the Indenture and were originally issued on November 19, 2021 and June 26, 2019, respectively, together with any additional debt securities of the same series which may in the future be issued under the Indenture upon any re-opening of such series.

 

Annex II-10


The Corporation agrees that the Corporation, and each Holder (and beneficial owner) of Securities of this series shall, by accepting any Securities of this series (or a beneficial interest therein), be deemed to have agreed that such Holder (or beneficial owner) intends that the Securities of this series constitute indebtedness of the Corporation, and will treat the Securities of this series as indebtedness of the Corporation, for United States federal, state and local tax purposes.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series affected under the Indenture at any time by the Corporation and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with respect to such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Corporation with certain provisions of the Indenture. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee, such Holder or Holders shall have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and the Trustee shall have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

 

Annex II-11


Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles thereof.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Annex II-12

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

  12670 High Bluff Drive
  San Diego, California 92130
  Tel: +1.858.523.5400 Fax: +1.858.523.5450
  www.lw.com
  FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
  Austin    Milan
  Beijing    Munich
  Boston    New York
  Brussels    Orange County
  Century City    Paris
March 14, 2024   Chicago    Riyadh
  Dubai    San Diego
  Düsseldorf    San Francisco
  Frankfurt    Seoul
  Hamburg    Silicon Valley
  Hong Kong    Singapore
  Houston    Tel Aviv
  London    Tokyo
  Los Angeles    Washington, D.C.
  Madrid   

Sempra

488 8th Avenue

San Diego, California 92101

 

  Re:

Registration Statement No. 333-272237 - Issuance of $600,000,000

aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed

Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Sempra, a California corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s issuance of 6.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “Notes”) under a Subordinated Indenture, dated as of June 26, 2019, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), and an officers’ certificate, dated March 14, 2024, setting forth the terms of the Notes (together, the “Indenture”), and pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 6, 2023 (Registration No. 333-272237) (as so filed the “Registration Statement”), and an underwriting agreement, dated March 11, 2024, between the underwriters named therein and the Company.

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 issue of the Notes.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters.


March 14, 2024

Page 2

 

We are opining as to the internal laws of the State of New York and the general corporation law of the State of California, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability to the opinion expressed herein, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of California, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and are the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Our opinion is subject to: (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors; (ii) the effects of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions for the indemnification or exculpation of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification, exculpation or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion with respect to (a) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, service of process, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (b) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (c) waivers of rights or defenses contained in Section 515 of the Indenture, and waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (d) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (e) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (f) provisions for the payment of attorneys’ fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy and we call to your attention the provisions of Sections 1717 and 1717.5 of the California Civil Code, which limit and create obligations for the payment of attorneys’ fees, (g) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any agreement, right or property, or the effect thereon of California Civil Code Section 711, (h) provisions for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, prepayment or make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (i) provisions permitting, upon acceleration of any indebtedness (including the Notes), collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, and (j) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

With your consent, except to the extent we have expressly opined as to such matters with respect to the Company herein we have assumed (a) that the Indenture and the Notes (collectively, the “Documents”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (b) that the Documents constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, and (c) that the status of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties is not affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.


March 14, 2024

Page 3

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K dated March 14, 2024 and to the reference to our firm contained in the prospectus for the offering of the Notes under the heading “Legal Matters.” 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 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP