424B5
Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-272237

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 20, 2023

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated May 26, 2023)

$        

 

LOGO

$        % Notes due 2026

$        % Notes due 2033

 

 

We are offering $        aggregate principal amount of our        % Notes due 2026 (the “2026 notes”) and $        aggregate principal amount of our        % Notes due 2033 (the “2033 notes” and, together with the 2026 notes, the “notes”).

The 2026 notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year and mature on             , 2026. Interest on the 2026 notes will accrue from            , 2023 and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on          and          of each year, beginning on         , 20        .

The 2033 notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year and mature on             , 2033. Interest on the 2033 notes will accrue from            , 2023 and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on          and          of each year, beginning on         , 20        .

At our option, we may redeem the notes of each series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the applicable redemption price for such series of notes described in this prospectus supplement.

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and guarantees.

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes are each a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing or trading of the notes of either series on any securities exchange or trading facility or for inclusion of the notes of either series in any automated quotation system.

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement.

 

     Per 2026
note
    Total for
2026 notes
     Per 2033
note
    Total for
2033 notes
     Total  

Public Offering Price(1)

                $                                  $                     $            

Underwriting Discount

                $                     $        $    

Proceeds to Sempra (before expenses)(1)

                $                     $        $    

 

(1)

Plus accrued interest from            , 2023, if settlement occurs after that date.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking S.A. and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about             , 2023.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BNP

PARIBAS

  Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   MUFG   PNC Capital Markets LLC   RBC Capital Markets

 

 

            , 2023


Table of Contents

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the offering of the notes and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which does not apply to the notes. If the description of the notes or the offering of the notes varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are offering to sell the notes and seeking offers to buy the notes only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such free writing prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates (or such other dates specified therein) and the information contained in documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the respective dates (or such other dates specified therein) of those documents, in each case regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any such free writing prospectus or any sale of the notes. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such free writing prospectus come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such free writing prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

None of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“EEA Qualified Investors”). Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may only do so with respect to EEA Qualified Investors. Neither Sempra nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to EEA Qualified Investors.

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA RETAIL INVESTORS – The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the

 

S-i


Table of Contents

“PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

None of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the “EUWA”) (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in the United Kingdom will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the UK Prospectus Regulation (“UK Qualified Investors”). Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in the United Kingdom of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may only do so with respect to UK Qualified Investors. Neither Sempra nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to UK Qualified Investors.

PROHIBITION OF SALES TO UNITED KINGDOM RETAIL INVESTORS – The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. This document and such other documents and/or materials are for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), (ii) fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus and any other document or materials relates will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus or any of their contents.

 

S-ii


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

     Page  

Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data

     S-1  

Summary Information

     S-4  

Risk Factors

     S-7  

Use of Proceeds

     S-8  

Description of the Notes

     S-9  

Material United States Federal Tax Considerations

     S-14  

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

     S-19  

Legal Matters

     S-26  

Experts

     S-27  

PROSPECTUS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data

     2  

Where You Can Find More Information

     4  

Sempra

     6  

Risk Factors

     7  

Use of Proceeds

     8  

Description of Capital Stock

     9  

Description of Debt Securities

     12  

Description of Other Securities

     26  

Global Securities

     27  

Plan of Distribution

     31  

Legal Matters

     32  

Experts

     32  

 

S-iii


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND MARKET DATA

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents they incorporate by reference contain, and any related free writing prospectus issued by us may contain, statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions with respect to the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the respective dates of the documents in which such forward-looking statements appear. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “confident,” “may,” “can,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “in process,” “construct,” “develop,” “opportunity,” “initiative,” “target,” “outlook,” “optimistic,” “poised,” “maintain,” “continue,” “progress,” “advance,” “goal,” “aim,” “commit,” or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations.

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include risks and uncertainties relating to:

 

   

California wildfires, including potential liability for damages regardless of fault and any inability to recover all or a substantial portion of costs from insurance, the wildfire fund established by California Assembly Bill 1054, rates from customers or a combination thereof;

 

   

decisions, investigations, inquiries, regulations, issuances or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions by (i) the California Public Utilities Commission, Comisión Reguladora de Energía, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, and other governmental and regulatory bodies and (ii) the U.S., Mexico and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein and in other countries in which we do business;

 

   

the success of business development efforts, construction projects and acquisitions and divestitures, including risks in (i) being able to make a final investment decision, (ii) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (iii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, and (iv) obtaining the consent or approval of third parties;

 

   

litigation, arbitrations, property disputes and other proceedings, and changes to laws and regulations, including those related to the energy industry in Mexico;

 

   

cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third-parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure, all of which have become more pronounced due to recent geopolitical events;

 

   

our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook or (ii) rising interest rates and inflation;

 

   

failure of foreign governments, state-owned entities and our counterparties to honor their contracts and commitments;

 

   

the impact on affordability of San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s (“SDG&E”) and Southern California Gas Company’s (“SoCalGas”) customer rates and their cost of capital and on SDG&E’s, SoCalGas’ and Sempra Infrastructure’s ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices, (ii) with respect to SDG&E’s and SoCalGas’ businesses, the cost of the clean energy transition in California, (iii) with respect to

 

S-1


Table of Contents
 

SDG&E’s business, departing retail load resulting from additional customers transferring to Community Choice Aggregation and Direct Access, and (iv) with respect to Sempra Infrastructure’s business, volatility in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

the impact of climate and sustainability policies, laws, rules, regulations, disclosures, and trends, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and our ability to incorporate new technologies;

 

   

weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance;

 

   

the availability of electric power, natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the transmission grid, pipeline system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities;

 

   

Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC’s (“Oncor”) ability to reduce or eliminate its quarterly dividends due to regulatory and governance requirements and commitments, including by actions of Oncor’s independent directors or a minority member director;

 

   

changes in tax and trade policies, laws and regulations, including tariffs, revisions to international trade agreements and sanctions, such as those imposed in connection with the war in Ukraine, any of which may increase our costs, reduce our competitiveness, impact our ability to do business with certain counterparties, or impair our ability to resolve trade disputes; and

 

   

other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.

Investing in the notes involves risk. You should review and consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and other factors that affect our businesses and our securities, including the notes, as described herein and in the “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and other sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and other sections in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause you to suffer a loss of all or part of your investment in the notes. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these factors and risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. Risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations, financial results and the value of the notes.

We caution you not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. You should review and consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and other factors that affect our businesses as described herein and in our reports and other documents on file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. You may obtain copies of these reports and documents as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us in connection with this offering may contain or incorporate by reference market, demographic and industry data and forecasts that are based on or derived from independent industry publications,

 

S-2


Table of Contents

publicly available information, government data and other information from third parties or that have been compiled or prepared by our management or employees. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any of this information, and we have not independently verified any of this information. In addition, market, demographic and industry data and forecasts that may be contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under this heading “Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data,” under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and under similar headings in documents that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In that regard, any statement to the effect that Oncor operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas is based on the number of end-use customers and miles of transmission and distribution lines. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any of this information.

 

S-3


Table of Contents

SUMMARY INFORMATION

The following information supplements, and should be read together with, the information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the documents they incorporate by reference and any related free writing prospectus issued by us, before making an investment decision. Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement to “Sempra,” “we,” “our” and “us” should be read to refer to Sempra together with its consolidated entities, and references in this prospectus supplement to currency amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Sempra

Sempra is a California-based holding company with energy infrastructure investments in North America. Our businesses invest in, develop and operate energy infrastructure, and provide electric and gas services to customers. For additional information concerning us, you should refer to the information described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

Our principal executive offices are located at 488 8th Avenue, San Diego, California 92101 and our telephone number is (619) 696-2000. Our web site is http://www.sempra.com.

Except for documents that are incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus as described therein under “Where You Can Find More Information—Incorporation by Reference” and that are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, the information contained on, or that can be accessed through our website or any other website referenced herein is not a part of or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein or therein.

 

S-4


Table of Contents

The Offering

The following summary contains basic information about this offering. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with this offering carefully before making an investment decision.

As used in this section, references to “Sempra,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean Sempra excluding its consolidated entities unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

Issuer

Sempra.

 

Amount of Notes Offered

$                aggregate principal amount of                % Notes due 2026 (the “2026 notes”).

 

  $                aggregate principal amount of                % Notes due 2033 (the “2033 notes” and, together with the 2026 notes, the “notes”).

 

  The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes will each constitute a separate series of our debt securities under the indenture pursuant to which the notes will be issued.

 

Maturity

2026 notes:                 , 2026.

 

  2033 notes:                 , 2033.

 

Interest Rate

2026 notes:                % per year, accruing from                , 2023.

 

  2033 notes:                % per year, accruing from                , 2023.

 

Interest Payment Dates

2026 notes:                  and                  of each year, beginning                 , 20    .

 

  2033 notes:                  and                  of each year, beginning                 , 20    .

 

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and guarantees. The notes will rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness we have or may incur (to the extent of the value of collateral securing such secured indebtedness) and will also be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

Optional Redemption

At our option, we may redeem the notes of each series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the applicable redemption price for such series of notes described in this prospectus supplement. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

S-5


Table of Contents

Covenants

The notes and the related indenture will not limit the amount of indebtedness or other liabilities that Sempra or any of its subsidiaries may incur, and will not contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants.

 

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes will be approximately $                million after deducting the underwriting discounts but before deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including repayment of commercial paper and potentially other indebtedness.

 

Conflicts of Interest

For information regarding certain conflicts of interest that may arise from the use of proceeds from the sale of the notes, see “Use of Proceeds,” “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Other Relationships” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest” in this prospectus supplement.

 

Denomination and Form

The notes will be issued in registered form and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes of each series initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes of such series deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, as depositary.

 

No Listing

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes are each a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing or trading of the notes of either series on any securities exchange or trading facility or for inclusion of the notes of either series in any automated quotation system.

 

Risk Factors

See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of some of the risks and other factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes.

 

S-6


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investment in the notes involves risks. Before deciding whether to invest in the notes, you should carefully consider the risks described below and the risk factors and other cautionary language incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed (and not furnished) by us with the SEC subsequent to the last day of the fiscal year covered by our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with this offering. Please also carefully read the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data” or any similarly titled section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed (and not furnished) by us with the SEC subsequent to the last day of the fiscal year covered by our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. There may be other risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial that also could impair our business operations, financial results and the value of the notes. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and/or prospects and might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the notes. In that regard, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, references to our indebtedness generally or our senior indebtedness appearing under this caption “Risk Factors” and the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K include the notes offered hereby.

The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness and other liabilities of Sempra’s subsidiaries, and the indenture under which the notes will be issued does not limit the aggregate amount of indebtedness and other liabilities that Sempra and its subsidiaries may incur.

The notes will be the unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Sempra, and will be obligations of Sempra exclusively and will not be the obligations of any of its subsidiaries or any entities it accounts for as equity method investments. Because Sempra conducts its operations primarily through its subsidiaries and substantially all of Sempra’s consolidated assets are owned by its subsidiaries and entities Sempra does not control, including equity method investments, the notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of Sempra’s subsidiaries. At March 31, 2023, Sempra’s subsidiaries had total indebtedness and other liabilities of approximately $41 billion owing to unaffiliated third parties, to which the notes would be effectively subordinated in right of payment. The notes will also be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness we have or may incur (to the extent of the collateral securing such secured indebtedness).

The indenture under which the notes will be issued does not limit the amount of indebtedness (including secured indebtedness) and other liabilities that may be incurred by Sempra or any of its subsidiaries. The incurrence by Sempra or its subsidiaries of additional indebtedness and liabilities may have adverse consequences for you as a holder of the notes, including making it more difficult for Sempra to satisfy its obligations with respect to the notes, a loss of all or part of the trading value of your notes and the risk that one or more of the credit ratings on the notes could be lowered or withdrawn. Both Sempra and its subsidiaries expect to incur substantial amounts of additional indebtedness in the future.

 

S-7


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of the notes will be approximately $                million after deducting the underwriting discounts but before deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including repayment of commercial paper and potentially other indebtedness. As of June 16, 2023, such commercial paper bore interest at rates of 5.6796% per annum or less and matured at various dates between June 20, 2023 and September 20, 2023. We estimate that our expenses for this offering, excluding the underwriting discounts, will be approximately $2.4 million.

Pending application of the net proceeds from this offering for the foregoing purposes, we expect to invest such net proceeds in various instruments which may include, but would not be limited to, short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, including bank deposits and certificates of deposit with financial institutions having investment-grade ratings, U.S. government obligations or money market funds primarily invested in securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies.

As described above, we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay commercial paper and potentially other indebtedness. One or more of the underwriters participating in this offering and/or their affiliates may hold positions in our commercial paper or other indebtedness of ours, one of the underwriters acts as a dealer under our commercial paper program, and affiliates of most of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our credit facilities. To the extent that net proceeds from this offering are applied to repay any of our outstanding indebtedness (including commercial paper, bank loans or other indebtedness) held by any of the underwriters or their affiliates, they will receive proceeds from this offering through the repayment of that indebtedness. If the amount of such proceeds so received by any underwriter or its affiliates is 5% or more of the net proceeds of this offering (not including the underwriting discount), such underwriter would be deemed to have a conflict of interest within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. In such event, this offering would be conducted in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121 and such underwriter would not be permitted to make sales in this offering to any discretionary account without the prior written approval of the customer. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” would not be required in connection with this offering, as the notes are “investment grade rated” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5121). See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Other Relationships” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest.”

 

S-8


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes (collectively, the “notes”) will each be a series of our senior debt securities issued under the indenture dated as of February 23, 2000 (the “indenture”) between Sempra, as issuer, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee (the “trustee”). In this section and under the caption “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus, references to “Sempra,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean Sempra excluding its consolidated entities unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

The indenture is the “senior indenture” referred to under “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus and the 2026 notes and the 2033 notes are each a series of our senior debt securities referred to under such caption. The summary of selected provisions of the notes of each series and the indenture appearing below supplements, and to the extent inconsistent, supersedes and replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the senior debt securities and the indenture contained in the accompanying prospectus. This summary is not complete and is qualified by reference to provisions of the notes of each series and the indenture. Forms of the notes of each series and the indenture have been or will be filed with the SEC and you may obtain copies as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

General

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes will each constitute a separate series of our senior debt securities under the indenture. The 2026 notes will be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $         million and the 2033 notes will be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $         million. As described below under “—Other,” we may, from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders of any series of the notes, issue additional notes of either series, and any such additional notes of such series shall form a single series under the indenture with the notes of such series offered by this prospectus supplement.

Interest Rate and Maturity

The 2026 notes will mature on                 , 2026. The 2026 notes will bear interest at the rate of                 % per year computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2026 notes will accrue from                 , 2023 (the “original issue date”) and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on                  and                  of each year (each, a “2026 note interest payment date”), beginning on                 , 20                , to the holders of record of the 2026 notes at the close of business on the immediately preceding                  and                 , respectively (each a “2026 note record date”).

The 2033 notes will mature on                 , 2033. The 2033 notes will bear interest at the rate of                 % per year computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2033 notes will accrue from the original issue date and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on                  and                  of each year (each, a “2033 note interest payment date” and, together with each 2026 note interest payment date, each an “interest payment date”), beginning on                 , 20                , to the holders of record of the 2033 notes at the close of business on the immediately preceding                  and                 , respectively (each a “2033 note record date” and, together with each 2026 note record date, each a “record date”).

If any interest payment date, any redemption date or the maturity date of the notes of any series is not a business day at any place of payment for the notes of such series, then payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next business day at that place of payment. In that case, no interest will accrue on the amount payable on the notes of such series for the period from and after the applicable interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be. As used in the immediately preceding sentence, “business day,” when used with respect to any place of payment, means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking institutions in that place of payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed.

 

S-9


Table of Contents

Listing

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes are each a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing or trading of the notes of either series on any securities exchange or trading facility or for inclusion of the notes of either series in any automated quotation system.

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and guarantees. The notes will rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness we have or may incur (to the extent of the value of collateral securing that indebtedness). The notes are our obligations exclusively and are not the obligations of any of our subsidiaries, other consolidated entities, equity method investments or other affiliates. Because we conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries and substantially all of our assets are held by our subsidiaries or entities we do not control, including equity method investments, the notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. At March 31, 2023, our subsidiaries had total indebtedness and other liabilities of approximately $41 billion owing to unaffiliated third parties. In addition, at March 31, 2023, our subsidiaries had approximately $562 million of liabilities owed to us. See “Risk Factors—The notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness and other liabilities of Sempra’s subsidiaries, and the indenture under which the notes will be issued does not limit the aggregate amount of indebtedness and other liabilities that Sempra and its subsidiaries may incur” in this prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities—Holding Company Structure” in the accompanying prospectus.

Optional Redemption

Prior to                 , we may redeem the 2026 notes at our option, and, prior to                , we may redeem the 2033 notes at our option (each such date, a “Par Call Date” with respect to the applicable series of notes), in each case, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes of the series to be redeemed matured on the Par Call Date for the notes of such series) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus                basis points, in the case of the 2026 notes, or                basis points, in the case of the 2033 notes, less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the notes of such series to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

On and after the Par Call Date for the notes of any series, we may redeem the notes of such series at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes of such series being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the notes of any series that are due and payable on any interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date for the notes of such series will be payable on that interest payment date to the registered holders thereof as of the close of business on the relevant record date for the notes of such series, according to the terms of the notes of such series and the indenture.

Notice of any redemption of the notes of any series will be mailed at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date to each registered holder of the notes of such series to be redeemed. Once

 

S-10


Table of Contents

notice of redemption is mailed, the notes of such series called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. Redemption will not be conditional upon receipt by the paying agent or the trustee of monies sufficient to pay the redemption price.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date for the notes of any series interest will cease to accrue on the notes of such series or portions thereof called for redemption. We will pay the redemption price and any accrued interest once the notes of such series are surrendered for redemption.

In the event that we elect to redeem only a portion of the outstanding notes of any series on any redemption date, (a) the particular notes of such series to be redeemed shall be selected by the trustee by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate or, in the case of notes in book-entry form represented by one or more global notes, by such method of selection as may be required or permitted by the Depositary (as defined below under “—Other”), (b) in the case of any note of such series being redeemed in part, the principal amount redeemed must be an integral multiple of $1,000 and the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of such note must be an authorized denomination and (c) the trustee will deliver without charge one or more new notes of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of such note surrendered for redemption.

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date for the notes of any series, the yield determined by us in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by us after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day (as defined below) preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, we shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date for the notes of such series (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to such Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date. As used in this paragraph and the immediately succeeding paragraph, the term “business day” means any day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banking institutions in The City of New York are not authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain closed.

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, we shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date for the notes of such series, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on such Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from such Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding such Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following such Par Call Date, we shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding such Par Call Date. If there are two or

 

S-11


Table of Contents

more United States Treasury securities maturing on such Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, we shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

Our actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. We will notify the trustee of the redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof and the trustee shall have no duty or obligation with respect to calculation of the redemption price.

Events of Default

An “event of default” occurs with respect to the notes of any series if:

 

  (a)

we do not pay any interest on any note of such series within 30 days of the due date;

 

  (b)

we do not pay any principal of or premium, if any, on any note of such series on the due date;

 

  (c)

we remain in default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty in the indenture (excluding covenants and warranties solely applicable to another series of debt securities issued under the indenture) or the notes of such series for 60 days after we are given a written notice of default specifying such default or breach and requiring its remedy; the notice must be sent by either the trustee or registered holders of at least 33% of the principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series; or

 

  (d)

we file for bankruptcy or other specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization occur with respect to us.

No event of default with respect to the notes of either series necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to the notes or the debt securities of any other series issued under the indenture, and no event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to the notes of either series.

The description set forth under this caption “—Events of Default” supersedes and replaces, insofar as it relates to the notes, the description set forth under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default” (other than the last paragraph under such caption) in the accompanying prospectus. As of May 19, 2023, we had approximately $750 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding prior senior debt securities (as such term is defined in the last paragraph under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus).

Acceleration

If an event of default described under “—Events of Default” above, occurs and is continuing with respect to the notes of any series, then either the trustee or the registered holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series may declare the principal amount of all of the notes of such series, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the notes of such series shall become immediately due and payable.

The description set forth under this caption “—Acceleration” supersedes and replaces, insofar as it relates to the notes, the description set forth under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Remedies—Acceleration” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

S-12


Table of Contents

Limitation on Proceedings

The following language supersedes and replaces, insofar as relates to the notes of each series, the fourth full paragraph (i.e., the paragraph beginning with the words “In addition, each indenture provides…”) under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Remedies—Control by Registered Holders; Limitations” in the accompanying prospectus and shall apply to the notes of each series instead of such paragraph: “In addition, the indenture provides that no registered holder of notes of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder unless: (a) the registered holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the notes of such series; (b) the registered holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that event of default and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in complying with the request; and (c) for 60 days after receipt of the notice, the trustee has failed to institute a proceeding and no direction inconsistent with the request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series. Furthermore, no registered holder of notes of any series will be entitled to institute any action if and to the extent that the action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other registered holders of the notes of such series under the indenture.”

Other

Neither series of notes will be subject to a sinking fund or entitled to any guarantees and you will not be permitted to require us to redeem or repurchase the notes of any series at your option.

We will pay principal of and premium, if any, on the notes of each series at the final maturity date for the notes of such series, upon redemption or as otherwise required, upon presentation of the notes of such series at the office of the trustee, as our paying agent. In our discretion, we may appoint one or more additional paying agents and security registrars for the notes of any series and change or designate one or more additional places for payment and for registration of transfer of the notes of any series, but we must at all times maintain a place of payment of the notes of each series and a place for registration of transfer of the notes of each series in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

We may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of notes, increase the principal amount of any series of notes offered hereby and issue such increased principal amount, or any portion thereof. Any additional notes of such series so issued shall have the same form and terms (other than offering price, the date of original issuance and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon shall begin to accrue and the first interest payment date), and shall carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest, as the notes of such series previously issued and such additional notes of such series shall form a single series under the indenture with the notes of such series offered by this prospectus supplement, provided that such additional notes of such series shall be fungible with the notes of such series previously issued for United States federal income tax purposes.

The notes of each series initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes of such series deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, as depositary (together with any successor in such capacity, the “Depositary”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., its nominee. This means that you will not be entitled to receive a certificate for the notes of any series that you purchase except in limited circumstances described in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Global Securities.” The notes of each series will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We expect that payments due on notes of each series in book-entry form will be paid by wire transfer of funds to the Depositary or its nominee. For additional information regarding notes in global form and the Depositary’s book-entry system, see “Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

S-13


Table of Contents

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating thereto. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, each as of the date hereof. These authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those set forth below. We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or an opinion of counsel with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such statements and conclusions.

This summary is limited to holders who purchase the notes upon their initial issuance at their initial “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of notes is sold to the public for cash, not including sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and who hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment).

This summary does not address United States federal tax laws other than income tax laws, and it does not address tax considerations arising under the laws of any foreign, state or local jurisdiction. In addition, this discussion does not address all tax considerations that may be applicable to a holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or the alternative minimum tax, or to holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts;

 

   

brokers, dealers or traders in securities or commodities;

 

   

traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings;

 

   

foreign persons or entities (except to the extent specifically set forth below);

 

   

S-corporations, partnerships or other pass-through entities or arrangements (and investors therein);

 

   

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of their use of financial statements;

 

   

U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

“U.S. holders” (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the United States dollar;

 

   

persons who hold the notes as a position in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction; or

 

   

persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership, and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our notes and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.

 

S-14


Table of Contents

THIS SUMMARY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES ARISING UNDER OTHER UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX RULES OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

Consequences to U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a U.S. holder (as defined below) of the notes. Certain consequences to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the notes are described under “—Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” below. The term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes.

Payments of Interest

You generally will be required to recognize any stated interest as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued on the notes in accordance with your regular method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

You generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of cash plus the fair market value of all other property received on such disposition (except to the extent such cash or property is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest not previously included in income, which generally will be taxable as ordinary income) and (ii) your adjusted tax basis in the note. Your adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the amount you paid for the note. Under current law, if you are a non-corporate U.S. holder, including an individual, and have held the note for more than one year at the time of disposition, such capital gain generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. Your ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Payments of interest and principal on notes held by U.S. holders and the proceeds received upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of such notes may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. Payments to certain holders (including, among others, corporations and certain tax-exempt

 

S-15


Table of Contents

organizations) are generally not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. If you are a U.S. holder and you are not otherwise exempt, payments to you will be subject to backup withholding if:

 

   

you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), which, for an individual, is ordinarily his or her social security number, in the manner required by the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations;

 

   

we or our agent (or other payor) are notified by the IRS that the TIN you furnished is incorrect;

 

   

there has been a “notified payee underreporting” with respect to interest or dividends paid to you, as described in the Code; or

 

   

you have failed to certify under penalty of perjury that you have furnished a correct TIN and that you are not subject to backup withholding under the Code.

You should consult your tax advisor regarding your qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and information reporting and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and you may use amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules as a credit against your United States federal income tax liability or may claim a refund as long as you provide the required information to the IRS in a timely manner.

Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a non-U.S. holder of notes. The term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is not a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) or a U.S. holder.

Special rules may apply to certain non-U.S. holders such as “controlled foreign corporations” and “passive foreign investment companies.” Such entities should consult their tax advisors to determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and information reporting and FATCA below, United States federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment to you of interest on a note provided that such interest is not effectively connected with your conduct of a United States trade or business and:

 

   

you do not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

   

you are not a “controlled foreign corporation” with respect to which we are, directly or indirectly, a “related person”; and

 

   

(a) you provide your name and address, and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person (which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or substitute Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, or the appropriate successor form for either form)) or (b) a securities clearing organization, bank, or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its business holds the note on your behalf and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it has received IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or substitute Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, or the appropriate successor form for either form), from you or from another qualifying financial institution intermediary, and, in certain circumstances, provides a copy of the IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or substitute Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, or the appropriate successor form for either form). If you hold your notes through certain foreign intermediaries or certain foreign partnerships, such foreign intermediaries or partnerships must also satisfy the certification requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

S-16


Table of Contents

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, you will be subject to a 30% United States federal withholding tax with respect to payments of interest on the notes, unless you provide us with a properly executed (1) IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or substitute Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, or the appropriate successor form for either form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable United States income tax treaty or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form) stating that the interest paid on the note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on a note is effectively connected with your conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, such interest is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States), you will be subject to United States federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis (although you will be exempt from the 30% withholding tax, provided the certification requirements described above are satisfied) in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States. For this purpose, interest will be included in the earnings and profits of such foreign corporation.

The certifications described above must be provided to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of interest and must be updated periodically. Non-U.S. holders that do not timely provide the applicable withholding agent with the required certification, but that qualify for a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and information reporting and FATCA below, any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (other than any amount allocable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest and may be subject to the rules discussed above in “—Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest”) generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless:

 

   

that gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, such gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States); or

 

   

you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met.

If your gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a United States trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, such gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States), you generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition in the same manner as if you were a United States person (as defined under the Code). If you are a corporation, any such effectively connected gain received by you may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be prescribed under an applicable United States income tax treaty). If you are described in the second bullet point above, you will be subject to United States federal income tax on the gain derived from the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be prescribed under an applicable United States income tax treaty), which gain may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though you are not considered a resident of the United States, provided you have timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

S-17


Table of Contents

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

If you are a non-U.S. holder, you will generally not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to payments that we make to you, or with respect to the proceeds of the sale of a note within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, if the payor receives the statement described above under “—Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest” and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person, as defined under the Code, or you otherwise establish an exemption. However, we may be required to report annually to the IRS and to you the amount of, and the tax withheld with respect to, any interest paid to you, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which you reside. Proceeds of a disposition of a note paid outside the United States and conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. You generally will be entitled to credit any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules against your United States federal income tax liability provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Pursuant to legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” and regulations promulgated thereunder, payments to foreign entities of interest on, or (subject to the proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other dispositions of, debt obligations of a U.S. issuer will be subject to a withholding tax (separate and apart from, but without duplication of, the withholding tax described above) at a rate of 30%, unless (1) a foreign financial institution that is a payee undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) a non-financial foreign entity that is a payee either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) a foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity that is a payee otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of interest on a note. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of notes, proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations until final U.S. Treasury Regulations are issued. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the possible effect of FATCA on your investment in the notes.

 

S-18


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below.

On the terms and subject to the conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of notes of each series set forth below opposite that underwriter’s name.

 

Name

   Principal
Amount of
2026 notes
     Principal
Amount of
2033 notes
 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

   $                    $                

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

     

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     
     
     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $        $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to purchase the notes are subject to approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters propose to offer the notes of each series to the public initially at the applicable public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the notes of such series to certain dealers at such price less a concession not to exceed                % of the principal amount, in the case of the 2026 notes, or                % of the principal amount, in the case of the 2033 notes. The underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed                % of the principal amount, in the case of the 2026 notes, or                % of the principal amount, in the case of the 2033 notes, on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering prices and concessions.

The 2026 notes and the 2033 notes are each a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing or trading of the notes of either series on any securities exchange or trading facility or for inclusion of the notes of either series in any automated quotation system. There can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the notes of any series or the continued liquidity of such market if one develops. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes of each series, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the notes of each series).

 

     Paid by Sempra  

Per 2026 note

             %  

Per 2033 note

             %  

It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the third business day following the date of this prospectus supplement. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the

 

S-19


Table of Contents

parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes before the second business day prior to the closing of this offering will be required, by virtue of the fact that the normal settlement date for that trade would occur prior to the closing date for the issuance of the notes, to specify alternative settlement arrangements at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement, and should consult their own advisers with respect to these matters.

In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell notes of either or both series in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes of any series in excess of the principal amount of notes of such series to be purchased from us by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes of the applicable series in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes of any series made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the notes of such series while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the representatives, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the prices of the notes of either or both series. They may also cause the prices of the notes of either or both series to be higher than the prices that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time without notice.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that any of the transactions described above, if commenced, may have on the market price of the notes of either series. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that any of these transactions will be engaged in or that the transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

We estimate that our total expenses for this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $2.4 million. We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives, we will not, during the period beginning on and including the date of this prospectus supplement through and including the later of (a) the termination of trading restrictions for the notes as notified to us by the representatives (but only if the representatives have notified us on the original issue date of the notes that such trading restrictions have not been terminated) and (b) the original issue date of the notes, offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any notes, any debt securities of Sempra which are substantially similar to the notes (“Similar Securities”) or any securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for any notes or Similar Securities, provided that this agreement shall not apply to the offer, issuance or sale of, or any contract to sell, (i) the notes to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement or (ii) commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less than one year. For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the term Similar Securities, as used in this paragraph, excludes commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less than one year.

 

S-20


Table of Contents

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing, trustee and brokerage activities. Some or all of the underwriters and/or their affiliates have in the past acted and/or are acting and/or may in the future act as lenders to, and/or have from time to time performed and/or are performing and/or may in the future perform certain investment banking, advisory, general financing, trustee and commercial banking and other commercial transactions and services for, us and/or our affiliates for which they have received and in the future may receive customary fees and expenses. The underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in other transactions with or perform other services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive customary fees and expenses.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us or any of our affiliates, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us or the applicable affiliate of ours, as the case may be, consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which may consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Conflicts of Interest

As described in this prospectus supplement under “Use of Proceeds,” we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay commercial paper and potentially other indebtedness. One or more of the underwriters participating in this offering and/or their affiliates may hold positions in our commercial paper or other indebtedness of ours, one of the underwriters acts as a dealer under our commercial paper program, and affiliates of most of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our credit facilities. To the extent that net proceeds from this offering are applied to repay any of our outstanding indebtedness (including commercial paper ,bank loans or other indebtedness) held by any of the underwriters or their affiliates, they will receive proceeds from this offering through the repayment of that indebtedness. If the amount of such proceeds so received by any underwriter or its affiliates is 5% or more of the net proceeds of this offering (not including the underwriting discount), such underwriter would be deemed to have a conflict of interest within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. In such event, this offering would be conducted in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121 and such underwriter would not be permitted to make sales in this offering to any discretionary account without the prior written approval of the customer. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” would not be required in connection with this offering, as the notes are “investment grade rated” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5121).

Selling Restrictions

Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors

The notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (a)

the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (i)

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or

 

S-21


Table of Contents
  (ii)

a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or

 

  (iii)

not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and

 

  (b)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes.

Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors

The notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (a)

the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (i)

a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

  (ii)

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

  (iii)

not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation; and

 

  (b)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes.

Other Regulatory Restrictions in the United Kingdom

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to Sempra.

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Canada

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment hereto or thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

S-22


Table of Contents

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made under the SFO; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the laws of Hong Kong) (the “C(WUMP)O”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes has been or will be issued or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made under the SFO.

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”), and accordingly the notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or for the account or benefit of, others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines promulgated by the relevant Japanese governmental and regulatory authorities and in effect at the relevant time.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the notes in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.

It is a condition of the offer that where the notes are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or

 

S-23


Table of Contents
  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation, and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust, shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the notes except:

 

  (1)

to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA (in the case of that trust);

 

  (2)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (3)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (4)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

  (5)

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Singapore’s Securities and Futures Act Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, Sempra has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Switzerland

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Taiwan

The notes have not been and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or any other regulatory authority of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which could constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or relevant laws and regulations that require a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or other regulatory authority of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer or sell the notes in Taiwan.

United Arab Emirates

The notes have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute a public offer

 

S-24


Table of Contents

of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and are not intended to be a public offer. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

 

S-25


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon the validity of the notes and various other legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the notes on behalf of Sempra. Sidley Austin LLP will act as counsel for the underwriters. Sidley Austin LLP from time to time represents Sempra and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with certain legal matters.

 

S-26


Table of Contents

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and the effectiveness of Sempra’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Oncor Electric Delivery Holdings Company LLC, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

S-27


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Purchase Contracts

Units

Depositary Shares

Warrants

 

 

We may offer and sell our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, purchase contracts, units, depositary shares and warrants from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

 

 

Each time we offer and sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered at that time. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

Sempra’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “SRE.” On May 19, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $145.82 per share. Sempra’s 4.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, which we refer to as the “series C preferred stock” in this prospectus, is not listed on any securities exchange or trading facility or included in any automated dealer quotation system. Sempra’s 5.75% Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2079, which we refer to as the “junior subordinated notes” in this prospectus, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “SREA.” On May 19, 2023, the last reported sale price of the junior subordinated notes on the New York Stock Exchange was $24.47 per note.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” section on page 7 of this prospectus, and any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 26, 2023.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data

     2  

Where You Can Find More Information

     4  

Sempra

     6  

Risk Factors

     7  

Use of Proceeds

     8  

Description of Capital Stock

     9  

Description of Debt Securities

     12  

Description of Other Securities

     26  

Global Securities

     27  

Plan of Distribution

     31  

Legal Matters

     32  

Experts

     32  

 

i


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time and in one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to that offering. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectus), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information contained in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information contained in documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the dates of those respective documents, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

1


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND MARKET DATA

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions with respect to the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the respective dates of the documents in which such forward-looking statements appear. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “confident,” “may,” “can,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “in process,” “construct,” “develop,” “opportunity,” “initiative,” “target,” “outlook,” “optimistic,” “poised,” “maintain,” “continue,” “progress,” “advance,” “goal,” “aim,” “commit,” or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations.

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include risks and uncertainties relating to:

 

   

California wildfires, including potential liability for damages regardless of fault and any inability to recover all or a substantial portion of costs from insurance, the wildfire fund established by California Assembly Bill 1054, rates from customers or a combination thereof;

 

   

decisions, investigations, inquiries, regulations, issuances or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions by (i) the California Public Utilities Commission, Comisión Reguladora de Energía, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, and other governmental and regulatory bodies and (ii) the U.S., Mexico and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein and in other countries in which we do business;

 

   

the success of business development efforts, construction projects and acquisitions and divestitures, including risks in (i) being able to make a final investment decision, (ii) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (iii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, and (iv) obtaining the consent or approval of third parties;

 

   

litigation, arbitrations, property disputes and other proceedings, and changes to laws and regulations, including those related to the energy industry in Mexico;

 

   

cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third-parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure, all of which have become more pronounced due to recent geopolitical events;

 

   

our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook or (ii) rising interest rates and inflation;

 

   

failure of foreign governments, state-owned entities and our counterparties to honor their contracts and commitments;

 

   

the impact on affordability of SDG&E’s and SoCalGas’ customer rates and their cost of capital and on SDG&E’s, SoCalGas’ and Sempra Infrastructure’s ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices, (ii) with respect to SDG&E’s and SoCalGas’ businesses, the cost of the clean energy transition in California, (iii) with respect to SDG&E’s business, departing retail load resulting from additional customers transferring to

 

2


Table of Contents
 

Community Choice Aggregation and Direct Access, and (iv) with respect to Sempra Infrastructure’s business, volatility in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

the impact of climate and sustainability policies, laws, rules, regulations, disclosures, and trends, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and our ability to incorporate new technologies;

 

   

weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance;

 

   

the availability of electric power, natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the transmission grid, pipeline system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities;

 

   

Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC’s (“Oncor”) ability to reduce or eliminate its quarterly dividends due to regulatory and governance requirements and commitments, including by actions of Oncor’s independent directors or a minority member director;

 

   

changes in tax and trade policies, laws and regulations, including tariffs, revisions to international trade agreements and sanctions, such as those imposed in connection with the war in Ukraine, any of which may increase our costs, reduce our competitiveness, impact our ability to do business with certain counterparties, or impair our ability to resolve trade disputes; and

 

   

other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.

We caution you not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. You should review and consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and other factors that affect our businesses as described herein and in our reports and other documents on file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. You may obtain copies of these reports and documents as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain or incorporate by reference market, demographic and industry data and forecasts that are based on or derived from independent industry publications, publicly available information, government data and other information from third parties or that have been compiled or prepared by our management or employees. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any of this information, and we have not independently verified any of the information provided by third-party sources. In addition, market, demographic and industry data and forecasts that may be contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under this heading “Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data,” under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in documents that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. In that regard, any statement to the effect that Oncor operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas is based on the number of end-use customers and miles of transmission and distribution lines. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any of this information.

 

3


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or from us, as indicated below. Forms of the indentures and other documents establishing the terms of the securities we may offer are or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are not complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s Internet site, as provided above.

Incorporation by Reference

The rules of the SEC allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede the prior information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any subsequently filed document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or replaces that statement.

We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and all documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, after the date of this prospectus through the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. In addition, documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, we are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof or exhibits thereto, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including, without limitation, our Compensation and Talent Development Committee report, Audit Committee report and performance graph and any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February  28, 2023 (including the information incorporated by reference therein from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2023 Annual Shareholders Meeting, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023).

 

   

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023.

 

4


Table of Contents
   

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March  7, 2023, March  10, 2023, March  20, 2023, May  16, 2023, May  18, 2023 and May 23, 2023.

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 5, 1998, as updated by Exhibit 4.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

We will provide, upon written or oral request and without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You may submit such a request by writing or calling us at the following address or telephone number:

Sempra

488 8th Avenue

San Diego, California 92101

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (619) 696-2000

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

5


Table of Contents

SEMPRA

Sempra is a California-based holding company with energy infrastructure investments in North America. Our businesses invest in, develop and operate energy infrastructure, and provide electric and gas services to customers. For additional information concerning us, you should refer to the information described under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

Our principal executive offices are located at 488 8th Avenue, San Diego, California 92101, and our telephone number is (619) 696-2000. Our web site is http://www.sempra.com.

The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website or any other website referenced herein is not a part of or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein.

References to “Sempra,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus are to Sempra and its consolidated entities, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential purchasers of the applicable securities offered hereby.

 

6


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. Before deciding whether to invest in any offered securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors and other cautionary language incorporated in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed (and not furnished) by us with the SEC subsequent to the last day of the fiscal year covered by our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act that are also incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the risk factors and other information contained and incorporated by reference in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. Please also carefully read the section entitled “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” or any similarly titled section included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. There may be other risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial that also could impair our business operations, financial results and the value of the offered securities. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and/or prospects and might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

 

7


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

8


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Unless indicated differently in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, this section describes some of the terms of our common stock and preferred stock, articles of incorporation and bylaws. The following description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation (including the certificate of determination for our outstanding series C preferred stock and the certificate of determination for any other series of our preferred stock that may be issued and outstanding in the future) and bylaws. Therefore, you should read carefully the more detailed provisions of our articles of incorporation (including the certificate of determination for our outstanding series C preferred stock and the certificate of determination for any other series of our preferred stock that may be issued and outstanding in the future) and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference herein and are filed or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sempra” and similar references under this caption “Description of Capital Stock” mean Sempra excluding its consolidated entities.

The authorized capital stock of Sempra consists of (i) 1,125,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of May 19, 2023, there were 314,652,826 issued and outstanding shares of our common stock and 900,000 issued and outstanding shares of our preferred stock. No other classes of capital stock are authorized under our articles of incorporation.

Common Stock

The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive, ratably, such dividends as our board of directors may from time to time declare, subject to any rights of holders of outstanding shares of any series of our preferred stock to receive dividends before dividends may be paid on our common stock.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Sempra, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled, subject to any rights of the holders of outstanding shares of any series of our preferred stock to receive distributions in such event before any distributions are made to holders of our common stock, to receive, ratably, any of our remaining assets after the discharge of our liabilities.

Except as otherwise provided by law, each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on each matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders, subject to the voting rights, if any, of holders of outstanding shares of any series of our preferred stock, which could include the right to vote separately as a class or series, or the right to vote together with the common stock as a single class.

At each annual meeting of our shareholders, each director will be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified. Pursuant to our bylaws, directors standing for election in an uncontested election (as defined below) will be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote for them represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present (and such affirmative votes must also represent more than 25% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of such directors). In any election of directors that is not an uncontested election, the candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote for them, up to the number of directors to be elected by those shares, will be elected and votes against a director and votes withheld will have no effect. The rights of holders of our common stock to elect directors are subject to the voting rights, if any, of holders of outstanding shares of any series of our preferred stock, which could include: (i) voting as a separate class or series, the right to elect one or more directors, or (ii) voting together with our common stock as a single class, the right to vote in the election of directors generally. Our bylaws define an “uncontested election” as, in general, an election of directors in which the number of candidates for election does not exceed the number of directors to be elected by our shareholders at that election, determined at the times specified in our bylaws. Our articles of incorporation provide that none of our shareholders may cumulate votes in the election of directors.

 

9


Table of Contents

Our common stock does not contain any conversion rights or sinking fund or redemption provisions. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issue of stock or securities convertible into stock.

Our board of directors is expressly authorized to make, amend or repeal our bylaws, without any action on the part of the shareholders, except as otherwise required by applicable California law, solely by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the authorized number of directors. Our bylaws may also be amended or repealed by our shareholders, by the approval of the outstanding shares (as defined in Section 152 of the Corporations Code of the State of California) of Sempra.

Preferred Stock

The board of directors of Sempra is authorized, without the need for a vote or other action of our shareholders, to cause the issuance of shares of our preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and to determine the number of shares and designation of the preferred stock of any series, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, and to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon such series, which may include, among other things, dividend and liquidation rights and preferences, rights to convert such shares into common stock, voting rights and other rights. Accordingly, our board of directors could cause the issuance of one or more series of our preferred stock ranking senior to the common stock with respect to dividends or distributions in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or with voting or other rights that could dilute or otherwise adversely affect the voting or other rights and economic interests of holders of our common stock. Likewise, our board of directors could cause the issuance of one or more series of our preferred stock ranking on parity with or senior to one or more other series of our preferred stock (subject to the terms of any one or more other series of our preferred stock, if any, then outstanding) with respect to dividends or distributions in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or with voting or other rights that could dilute or otherwise adversely affect the voting rights (if any) or other rights and economic interests of the holders of any such other series of preferred stock.

The series C preferred stock is a series of our preferred stock, without par value. As of May 19, 2023, a total of 900,000 shares of our series C preferred stock were outstanding. A copy of the certificate of determination setting forth the terms of the series C preferred stock has been filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is incorporated by reference herein.

In the event that we issue any series of preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe the terms of such series of preferred stock in a supplement to this prospectus and, if applicable, a free writing prospectus.

Anti-Takeover Effects of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring or seeking to acquire control of us. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. However, these provisions could also delay, deter or prevent a change of control or other takeover of our company that our shareholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market prices of our common stock and any outstanding preferred stock, and may also limit the prices that investors are willing to pay in the future for our common stock and any outstanding preferred stock. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws include anti-takeover provisions that:

 

   

authorize our board of directors, without a vote or other action by our shareholders, to cause the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each series, to fix the number of

 

10


Table of Contents
 

shares constituting that series and to establish the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of that series, which may include, among other things, dividend and liquidation rights and preferences, rights to convert such shares into common stock, voting rights and other rights which may dilute or otherwise adversely affect the voting or other rights and the economic interests of holders of our common stock or one or more other series of our preferred stock, if any, then outstanding;

 

   

establish advance notice requirements and procedures for shareholders to submit nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors and to propose other business to be brought before a shareholders’ meeting;

 

   

provide that vacancies in our board of directors, including vacancies created by the removal of any director, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office or by a sole remaining director;

 

   

provide that no shareholder may cumulate votes in the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock can elect all directors standing for election by our common shareholders;

 

   

require that any action to be taken by our shareholders must be taken either (i) at a duly called annual or special meeting of shareholders or (ii) by the unanimous written consent of all of our shareholders, unless our board of directors, by resolution adopted by two-thirds of the authorized number of directors, waives the foregoing provision in any particular circumstance; and

 

   

require action by shareholders holding not less than 1/10th of the voting power of our capital stock in order for our shareholders to call a special meeting of shareholders.

Limitation on Liability of Directors; Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our articles of incorporation provide that the liability of our directors for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law. Section 317 of the Corporations Code of the State of California permits a corporation to provide indemnification to its directors, officers and agents under certain circumstances. Our bylaws provide for mandatory indemnification of our directors and officers, subject to the limitations set forth therein. In addition, our articles of incorporation provide us with the power, by bylaw, agreement or otherwise, to provide indemnification of our directors, officers and other agents to the fullest extent permissible under California law and, subject to certain limitations, in excess of the indemnification expressly permitted under Section 317 of the Corporations Code of the State of California. We believe that this limitation of liability and these indemnification provisions are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

Listing of our Common Stock

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “SRE” and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A.B. de C.V.) under the trading symbol “SRE.MX.”

Listing of our Preferred Stock

Our series C preferred stock is not listed on any securities exchange or trading facility or included in any automated dealer quotation system.

Registrar and Transfer Agent

The registrar and transfer agent for our common stock and series C preferred stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC.

 

11


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Unless indicated differently in a prospectus supplement or a free writing prospectus, the following is a general description of some of the terms and provisions of the debt securities Sempra may offer and sell by this prospectus. To the extent the terms and provisions of any series of debt securities modify the general terms and provisions described below, such modifications will be described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to such series. The debt securities may be issued as senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities (which may include junior subordinated debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities and subordinated debt securities of any other relative ranking). Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sempra” and similar references under this caption “Description of Debt Securities” mean Sempra excluding its consolidated entities.

The senior debt securities will be governed by an indenture (the “senior indenture”) between us and the trustee named therein and the subordinated debt securities will be governed by an indenture (the “subordinated indenture”) between us and the trustee named therein. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are hereinafter sometimes referred to as, collectively, the “indentures” and individually, an “indenture.” Each indenture gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities, including the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indenture. The particular terms of a series of debt securities and the extent, if any, to which the particular terms of the series modify the terms of the applicable indenture will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, or a free writing prospectus, relating to such series of debt securities.

Each indenture contains the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The following description of certain provisions of the indentures and our debt securities is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the applicable indenture, including definitions of terms used in such indenture, and the certificates evidencing the debt securities of each series, copies of which have been or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or to a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus and which may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” We also include references in parentheses to particular sections of the applicable indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indentures in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. This description also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of a particular series of debt securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

General

Sempra may issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indentures in one or more series. Sempra is not required to issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided for a particular series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement or a free writing prospectus, Sempra may, without notice to or consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, increase the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series and issue additional debt securities of such series up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as increased from time to time. Any additional debt securities so issued shall have the same form and terms (other than 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 shall carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest as the debt securities previously issued, and such additional debt securities shall form a single series with the debt securities previously issued under the applicable indenture, provided that such additional debt securities of such series shall be fungible with the debt securities of such series previously issued for United States federal income tax purposes.

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the debt securities of Sempra will not be subject to a sinking fund or entitled to any guarantees and you will not be permitted to require Sempra to redeem or repurchase the debt securities at your option.

 

12


Table of Contents

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the relevant trustee shall serve as the initial paying agent and security registrar for the debt securities of Sempra.

The debt securities of Sempra will be its unsecured obligations.

Prior to the issuance of each series of debt securities, the terms of the particular series of debt securities will be specified in either (i) a supplemental indenture, (ii) a board resolution or (iii) in one or more officers’ certificates of Sempra. We refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus for a description of the following terms of each series of debt securities:

 

  (a)

the title of the debt securities;

 

  (b)

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

  (c)

the person to whom any interest shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name that security is registered;

 

  (d)

the date or dates on which the principal is payable or the method of determination of such dates and any right to shorten or extend the date on which the principal is payable and the conditions to any such change;

 

  (e)

the rate or rates or method of determination of interest; the date or dates from which interest will accrue; the dates on which interest will be payable, which we refer to as the “interest payment dates”; the manner (if any) of determination of such interest payment dates; and any record dates for the interest payable on the interest payment dates;

 

  (f)

any right to extend the interest payment periods or to defer the payment of interest and the terms of such extension or deferral;

 

  (g)

the place or places where principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable and whether, if acceptable to the trustee, any principal of such debt securities will be payable without presentation or surrender thereof;

 

  (h)

the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Sempra may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, and the manner in which any election by Sempra to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;

 

  (i)

any obligation of Sempra to redeem or purchase debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund, purchase fund or analogous provision, or any option of the registered holder to require Sempra to redeem or purchase debt securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part;

 

  (j)

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable (if, for senior debt securities, other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, or for subordinated debt securities, other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof);

 

  (k)

if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula and the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

  (l)

the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of and any premium or interest on the debt securities will be payable, if other than United States dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in United States dollars;

 

  (m)

if at the election of Sempra or the registered holder, the payments of principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities will be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

13


Table of Contents
  (n)

the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

  (o)

the amount which will be deemed to be the principal amount of the debt securities as of any date or dates before the stated maturity date, if the principal amount will not be determinable as of any such date or dates prior to the stated maturity date, including the principal amount which will be due and payable or outstanding as of any such date;

 

  (p)

if the sections of the indenture providing for defeasance do not apply to the debt securities;

 

  (q)

if applicable, that the debt securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the identity of the depositary for the global securities;

 

  (r)

any addition, modification or deletion of any events of default or covenants provided in the applicable indenture and any change in the acceleration provisions;

 

  (s)

any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in the indenture;

 

  (t)

in the case of subordinated debt securities, the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” and the subordination provisions applicable thereto (if other than those described below under “—Subordination”) or, if the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” or the subordination provisions described below under “—Subordination” shall be applicable to the subordinated debt securities of such series, any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” and the subordination provisions described below under “—Subordination” with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series; and

 

  (u)

any other terms of the debt securities, including, if the debt securities are subordinated debt securities, any other additions to, modifications of or deletions from the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordinated debt securities.

(See Section 301.)

Ranking

The senior debt securities will be the unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Sempra. The indebtedness represented by the senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Sempra. The indebtedness represented by the subordinated debt securities will rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined with respect to each series of subordinated debt securities) of Sempra, to the extent and in the manner set forth below under “—Subordination” or as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to any secured indebtedness Sempra may have or may incur (to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such secured indebtedness). The term “Senior Indebtedness,” when used with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series, has the meaning set forth below under “—Subordination” unless a different definition shall be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or a free writing prospectus relating to the subordinated debt securities of such series. The debt securities are obligations of Sempra exclusively, and are not the obligations of any of its subsidiaries, other consolidated entities, equity method investments or other affiliates. Sempra conducts its operations primarily through its subsidiaries or entities it does not control, including equity method investments, and substantially all of its consolidated assets are held by its subsidiaries. The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of Sempra’s subsidiaries.

Holding Company Structure

Sempra conducts its operations primarily through its subsidiaries or entities it does not control, including equity method investments, and substantially all of its consolidated assets are held by its subsidiaries.

 

14


Table of Contents

Accordingly, Sempra’s ability to meet its obligations under its debt securities largely depends on cash flows from its subsidiaries and equity method investments, which in turn depend on their ability to execute their business strategies and generate cash flows in excess of their own expenditures, dividend payments to third-party owners (if any) and debt and other obligations. These subsidiaries and equity method investments are separate and distinct legal entities that are not obligated to pay dividends or make loans or distributions to us and could be precluded from doing so by legislation, regulation, court order or contractual restrictions, in times of financial distress or in other circumstances, and they have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the Sempra debt securities or to make any funds available for payment of amounts due on these debt securities.

Because Sempra is a holding company, its obligations under the debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of its subsidiaries. Therefore, Sempra’s rights and the rights of its creditors, including the rights of the holders of the debt securities issued by Sempra, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the liquidation or reorganization of the subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. To the extent that Sempra may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against any of its subsidiaries, Sempra’s claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary and would be subordinated to any indebtedness or other liabilities of the subsidiary that are senior to the claims held by Sempra. Sempra expects to incur, and expects that its subsidiaries will incur, substantial additional amounts of indebtedness.

Payment of Debt Securities—Interest

Sempra will pay interest on the debt securities on each interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities are registered as of the close of business on the regular record date relating to the interest payment date.

However, if we default in paying interest on a debt security, we will pay defaulted interest, at our election, in either of the two following ways:

 

  (a)

We will first propose to the trustee a payment date for the defaulted interest, and at the same time we will deposit with the trustee an amount to be paid in respect of the defaulted interest or make arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for such deposit before the date of the proposed payment. Next, the trustee will choose a special record date for determining which registered holders are entitled to the payment and cause notice to be given to each registered holder of the debt securities at least 10 days before the special record date. The special record date will be between 10 and 15 days before the proposed payment date. Finally, the defaulted interest will be paid on the payment date to the registered holder of the debt security as of the close of business on the special record date.

 

  (b)

Alternatively, we can propose to the trustee any other lawful manner of payment that is not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the debt securities are listed for trading. If the trustee thinks the proposal is practicable, payment will be made as proposed.

(See Section 307.)

Payment of Debt Securities—Principal

Sempra will pay principal of and any premium on the debt securities at stated maturity, upon redemption or as otherwise required, upon presentation of the debt securities at the office of the paying agent, which initially will be the trustee or such other paying agent designated in accordance with the applicable indenture. Any other paying agent initially designated for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

If any interest payment date, redemption date or the maturity date of the debt securities is not a business day at any place of payment, then payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next

 

15


Table of Contents

business day at that place of payment. In that case, no interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the applicable interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be (See Section 113.)

In its discretion, Sempra may appoint one or more additional paying agents and security registrars and change or designate one or more additional places for payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, a place for payment of the debt securities will be maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York. (See Section 1002.)

Form; Transfers; Exchanges

Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the debt securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global securities deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, which we refer to as “DTC” or the “depositary” in this prospectus, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., its nominee. This means that you will not be entitled to receive a certificate for the debt securities that you purchase except under the limited circumstances described below under the caption “Global Securities.” If any of the debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of, with respect to senior debt securities, $1,000 or integral multiples thereof or, in the case of subordinated debt securities, $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

So long as the debt securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer debt securities only through the facilities of DTC and its direct and indirect participants as described below under the caption “Global Securities.” We will maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York where notices and demands in respect of the debt securities and the indentures may be delivered to us and where certificated debt securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange. That office will initially be an office of the trustee, which is currently located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005. (See Section 1002). You may have your debt securities divided into debt securities of smaller authorized denominations or combined into debt securities of larger authorized denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an “exchange.” (See Section 305.)

You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. Sempra may appoint another agent or act as its own agent for this purpose. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the “security registrar.” It will also perform transfers. (See Section 305.)

In our discretion, we may change the place for registration of transfer of the debt securities and for delivery of notices and demands in respect of the debt securities and the applicable indenture and we may remove and/or appoint one or more additional security registrars. (See Sections 305 and 1002.)

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, there will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but you may be required to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.

We may block the transfer or exchange of (a) debt securities during a period of 15 days before giving any notice of redemption or (b) any debt security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part. (See Section 305.)

Optional Redemption

The redemption provisions, if any, applicable to the debt securities of any series will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

 

16


Table of Contents

We will mail notice of any redemption at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date to each registered holder of the debt securities to be redeemed. Once notice of redemption is mailed, the debt securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. If we elect to redeem all or a portion of the debt securities, that redemption will not be conditional upon receipt by the trustee or other paying agent of monies sufficient to pay the redemption price. (See Section 1104.)

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price and accrued interest, if any, from and after the redemption date the debt securities or portions thereof called for redemption will cease to bear interest. We will pay the redemption price and any accrued interest once the debt securities are surrendered for redemption. (See Section 1105.) If only part of a debt security is redeemed, the trustee will deliver new debt securities of the same series for the remaining portion without charge. (See Section 1106.)

In the event that we elect to redeem only a portion of the debt securities, the debt securities to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the procedures of DTC, in the case of debt securities represented by a global security, or by the trustee as set forth in the applicable indenture, in the case of debt securities that are not represented by a global security. (See Section 1103.)

Events of Default

Unless indicated differently in a prospectus supplement, an “event of default” occurs with respect to the debt securities of any series if:

 

  (a)

Sempra does not pay any interest on any debt securities of such series when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for 30 days (whether or not, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions applicable to such subordinated debt securities) provided, however, that, if Sempra is permitted by the terms of the debt securities of such series to extend or defer the payment of interest on such debt securities and if it has elected such an extension or deferral in accordance with the terms of such debt securities, then a failure to pay interest prior to the end of such extension period or deferral period, as the case may be, shall not constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series unless Sempra is required, by the terms of the debt securities of such series, to make a payment of interest on a redemption date or other date during such extension or deferral period and fails to make such payment within 30 days of the due date, in which case such failure shall be an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series;

 

  (b)

Sempra does not pay any principal of or premium on any debt securities of such series at maturity with respect to senior debt securities or when it becomes due and payable in the case of subordinated debt securities (whether or not, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions applicable to such subordinated debt securities);

 

  (c)

Sempra does not make a sinking fund payment with respect to any debt securities of such series when and as due and, in the case of subordinated debt securities, such default continues for 60 days (whether or not, if such debt securities are subordinated debt securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions applicable to such subordinated debt securities);

 

  (d)

Sempra remains in default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty in the applicable indenture (excluding covenants and warranties solely applicable to one or more other series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture) or the debt securities of such series for 60 days after there has been given to Sempra, by registered or certified mail, a written notice of default specifying such default or breach and requiring its remedy; the notice must be sent by either the trustee or registered holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series;

 

17


Table of Contents
  (e)

if the debt securities of such series are senior debt securities, a default occurs under any bond, note, debenture or other instrument evidencing any indebtedness for money borrowed by Sempra (including a default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture), or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by Sempra (or the payment of which is guaranteed by Sempra), whether such indebtedness or guarantee exists on the date of the applicable indenture or is issued or entered into following the date of the applicable indenture, if:

 

  (1)

either:

 

   

such default results from the failure to pay any such indebtedness when due; or

 

   

as a result of such default the maturity of such indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its expressed maturity; and

 

  (2)

the principal amount of such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness in default for failure to pay any such indebtedness when due or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates at least $25 million;

 

  (f)

Sempra files for bankruptcy, or other specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization occur with respect to Sempra; or

 

  (g)

any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to a particular series of debt securities occurs.

(See Section 501.)

No event of default with respect to a series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any other series issued under the applicable indenture.

As of May 19, 2023, the terms of approximately $750 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding senior debt securities that we previously issued under the senior indenture (the “prior senior debt securities”) included the event of default described in clause (e) of the first paragraph under the above heading “Events of Default” (a so-called “cross-default” event of default), with a threshold amount of at least $25 million. However, Sempra anticipates that future senior debt securities offered by Sempra will not include the event of default described in clause (e) of the first paragraph under the above heading “Events of Default” or any other “cross-default” event of default. Accordingly, if a series of debt securities offered hereby does not include a “cross-default” event of default, then the principal of and interest on the prior senior debt securities may be declared due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of a “cross-default” event of default, while the holders of the senior debt securities of such series offered hereby will not be entitled to accelerate such debt securities as a result of such event.

Remedies

Acceleration

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, then either the trustee or the registered holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all of the debt securities of that series, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the debt securities of that series shall become immediately due and payable (notwithstanding, in the case of subordinated debt securities, if the terms of the subordinated debt securities of such series permit Sempra to defer or extend the payment of interest thereon, any such extension or deferral). (See Section 502.)

 

18


Table of Contents

Rescission of Acceleration

After the declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to any series of debt securities and before the trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of the money due, the event of default giving rise to the declaration will be deemed to have been waived and the declaration and its consequences will be rescinded and annulled, if:

 

  (a)

Sempra pays or deposits with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

  (1)

all overdue interest on the debt securities of that series, other than interest which has become due by declaration of acceleration;

 

  (2)

the principal of and any premium on the debt securities of that series which have become due, otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration, and overdue interest on these amounts to the extent lawful;

 

  (3)

interest on overdue interest, other than interest which has become due by declaration of acceleration, on the debt securities of that series to the extent lawful; and

 

  (4)

all amounts due to the trustee under the applicable indenture; and

 

  (b)

all events of default with respect to the debt securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal and interest which has become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable indenture.

(See Section 502.)

For more information as to waiver of defaults, see “—Waiver of Default and of Compliance” below.

Control by Registered Holders; Limitations

If an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series (voting as a single class without regard to the holders of outstanding debt securities of any other series that may also be in default) will have the right to direct the time, method and place of:

 

  (a)

conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series; and

 

  (b)

exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

These rights of registered holders to give directions are subject to the following limitations:

 

  (a)

the registered holders’ directions do not conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

  (b)

the direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of the debt securities of that series who do not join in that action.

The trustee may also take any other action it deems proper which is not inconsistent with the registered holders’ direction. (See Sections 512 and 603.)

In addition, each indenture provides that no registered holder of debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the applicable indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy thereunder unless:

 

  (a)

that registered holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series;

 

19


Table of Contents
  (b)

the registered holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that event of default and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in complying with the request; and

 

  (c)

for 60 days after receipt of the notice, the trustee has failed to institute a proceeding and no direction inconsistent with the request has been given to the trustee during the 60-day period by the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series.

Furthermore, no registered holder will be entitled to institute any action if and to the extent that the action would affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of other registered holders of debt securities under the applicable indenture. (See Section 507.)

However, each registered holder has an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment when due and to bring a suit to enforce that right. (See Section 508.)

Notice of Default

The trustee is required to give the registered holders of debt securities of the affected series notice of any default with respect to the debt securities of that series under the applicable indenture to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act; except that, in the case of an event of default of the character specified above in clause (d) under “—Events of Default,” no notice will be given to such registered holders until at least 30 days after the occurrence of the default. (See Section 602.) The Trust Indenture Act currently permits the trustee to withhold notices of default (except for certain payment defaults) if the trustee in good faith determines the withholding of the notice to be in the interests of the registered holders.

We will furnish the trustee with an annual statement of whether or not we are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions in the applicable indenture. (See Section 1005.)

Waiver of Default and of Compliance

The registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, voting as a single class without regard to the holders of outstanding debt securities of any other series that may also be in default, may waive, on behalf of all registered holders of the debt securities of that series, any past default under the applicable indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest, or with respect to compliance with certain covenants or provisions of the applicable indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the registered holder of each outstanding debt security of that series. (See Section 513.)

Unless indicated differently in a prospectus supplement, compliance with certain covenants in the applicable indenture or otherwise provided with respect to debt securities of any series may be waived before the time specified for compliance by the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series. (See Section 1006.)

Consolidation, Merger and Conveyance of Assets as an Entirety; No Financial Covenants

Sempra has agreed not to consolidate or merge with or into any other entity, or to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise convey its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other entity, unless:

 

  (a)

(i) it is the continuing entity (in the case of a merger), or (ii) the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which it is merged or which acquires by sale, transfer, lease or other conveyance its properties and assets, as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia

 

20


Table of Contents
  and expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal, premium (if any) and interest on all the debt securities outstanding under the applicable indenture and the performance of every obligation in that indenture and such outstanding debt securities to be performed by us; and

 

  (b)

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default under the applicable indenture, has or will have occurred and be continuing.

Neither of the indentures nor the debt securities contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants.

(See Section 801.)

Modification of Indenture

Without Registered Holder Consent. Without the consent of any registered holders of debt securities outstanding under an indenture, Sempra and the trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures to such indenture for any of the following purposes:

 

  (a)

to evidence the succession of another entity to Sempra; or

 

  (b)

to add one or more covenants of ours for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued under such indenture or to surrender any right or power conferred upon Sempra; or

 

  (c)

to add any additional events of default for all or any series of debt securities issued under such indenture; or

 

  (d)

to add or change any of the provisions of such indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form or to facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form; or

 

  (e)

to change or eliminate any provision of such indenture so long as the change or elimination does not apply to any debt securities entitled to the benefit of such provision or to add any new provision to such indenture provided that any such addition does not apply to any outstanding debt securities issued under such indenture; or

 

  (f)

to provide security for the debt securities of any series issued under such indenture; or

 

  (g)

to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series issued under such indenture, as permitted by such indenture; or

 

  (h)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a separate or successor trustee;

 

  (i)

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to make any other changes that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series under such indenture in any material respect; or

 

  (j)

in the case of subordinated debt of any series, to conform the terms of such debt securities, any officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the form or terms of such debt securities or, insofar as relates to such debt securities, the subordinated indenture to any terms set forth in the description of such debt securities appearing under the caption “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Notes” or other similar captions in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or other like offering document relating to the initial offering of such debt securities.

(See Section 901.)

 

21


Table of Contents

With Registered Holder Consent. Subject to the following sentence, Sempra and the trustee may, with some exceptions, amend or modify the applicable indenture with the consent of the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, no amendment or modification may, without the consent of the registered holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

  (a)

change the stated maturity of the principal, premium (if any) or interest on any debt security or reduce the principal amount, interest or premium payable or change any place of payment where or the currency in which any debt security is payable, or impair the right to bring suit to enforce any payment, or, in the case of any subordinated debt security, if Sempra has the right to extend or defer the payment of interest on such debt security, to increase the maximum time period of any such extension or deferral or increase the maximum number of times Sempra may extend or defer any such interest payment; or

 

  (b)

reduce the percentages of registered holders whose consent is required for any supplemental indenture or waiver; or

 

  (c)

make certain modifications to certain provisions in the applicable indenture relating to supplemental indentures and waivers of certain covenants and past defaults; or

 

  (d)

in the case of the subordinated indenture, modify, delete or supplement any of the subordination provisions or the definition of Senior Indebtedness applicable to the subordinated debt securities of any series then outstanding in a manner adverse to the holders of such subordinated debt securities.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the applicable indenture expressly included solely for the benefit of holders of debt securities of one or more particular series will be deemed not to affect the rights under the applicable indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other series.

(See Section 902.)

Defeasance

Each indenture provides, unless the terms of the particular series of debt securities provide otherwise, that Sempra may, upon satisfying several conditions, cause itself to be discharged from its obligations, with some exceptions, with respect to any series of debt securities outstanding under such indenture, which we refer to as “defeasance.”

One condition Sempra must satisfy is the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or government obligations which, through the scheduled payment of principal and interest on those obligations, would provide sufficient moneys to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of the applicable series on the maturity dates of the payments or upon redemption.

In addition, Sempra will be required to deliver an opinion of counsel to the effect that a holder of debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, at the same times and in the same manner as if that defeasance had not occurred. The opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in law after the date of the applicable indenture.

(See Article XIII.)

 

22


Table of Contents

Satisfaction and Discharge

The applicable indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of debt securities, and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged all of our obligations under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series, except as noted below, when:

 

  (a)

Either:

 

  (1)

all outstanding debt securities of such series have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

  (2)

all outstanding debt securities of such series not delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year at their stated maturity or on a redemption date and Sempra has deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds that are sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case such outstanding debt securities have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

  (b)

Sempra has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by Sempra under the indenture; and

 

  (c)

Sempra has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as to such series have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the applicable indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, Sempra will remain obligated to pay amounts due under certain provisions of the applicable indenture and to perform certain ministerial tasks as described in the applicable indenture.

(See Section 401.)

Resignation and Removal of the Trustee; Deemed Resignation

The trustee with respect to any series of debt securities may resign at any time by giving written notice to us. The trustee may also be removed with respect to the debt securities of any series by the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series. No resignation or removal of the trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the requirements of the applicable indenture. (See Section 610.)

Subordination

Unless indicated differently in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, Sempra’s subordinated debt securities of each series will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all its Senior Indebtedness (as defined with respect to such series). This means that, with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series, upon:

 

  (a)

any payment by, or distribution of the assets of, Sempra upon its dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings; or

 

  (b)

a failure to pay any principal, interest or other monetary amounts due on any Senior Indebtedness (as defined with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series) of Sempra when due and continuance of that default beyond any applicable grace period; or

 

  (c)

acceleration of the maturity of any such Senior Indebtedness as a result of a default;

 

23


Table of Contents

the holders of all of Sempra’s Senior Indebtedness (as defined with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series) will be entitled to receive:

 

   

in the case of clause (a) above, payment of all amounts due or to become due on all such Senior Indebtedness; or

 

   

in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above, payment of all amounts due on all such Senior Indebtedness,

before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities of such series are entitled to receive any payment. So long as any of the events in clauses (a), (b), or (c) above has occurred and is continuing, any amounts payable or assets distributable on the subordinated debt securities of such series will instead be paid or distributed, as the case may be, directly to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (as defined with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series) to the extent necessary to pay, in the case of clause (a) above, all amounts due or to become due upon all such Senior Indebtedness, or, in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above, all amounts due on all such Senior Indebtedness, and, if any such payment or distribution is received by the trustee under the subordinated indenture in respect of the subordinated debt securities of such series or by the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities of such series before all such Senior Indebtedness due and to become due or due, as applicable, is paid, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of such unpaid Senior Indebtedness. Subject to paying the applicable Senior Indebtedness due and to become due in the case of clause (a) or the Senior Indebtedness due in the case of clauses (b) and (c), the holders of the subordinated debt securities of such series will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the subordinated debt securities of such series are paid in full. (See Sections 1401 and 1403.)

Unless otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, “Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series, (i) indebtedness of Sempra, whether outstanding at the date of the subordinated debt indenture or incurred, created or assumed after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed by Sempra (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument, to the extent any such item is primarily a financing transaction) and (b) evidenced by debentures, bonds, notes, credit or loan agreements or other similar instruments or agreements issued or entered into by Sempra; (ii) all finance lease obligations of Sempra; (iii) all obligations of Sempra issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of Sempra and all obligations of Sempra under any title retention agreement (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations of Sempra for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; and (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons for the payment of which Sempra is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, except for any obligations, instruments or agreements of the type referred to in any of clauses (i) through (v) above that, by the terms of the instruments or agreements creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, are subordinated or equal in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities of such series. (See Section 101.)

Due to the subordination, if assets of Sempra are distributed upon its dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, holders of its Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness and obligations that are not equal or junior to subordinated debt securities in right of payment will likely recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated debt securities and it is possible that no payments will be made to the holders of subordinated debt securities.

The subordination provisions applicable to the subordinated debt securities of any series will cease to apply in the event of defeasance or satisfaction and discharge with respect to the subordinated debt securities of such series. (See Section 1307.)

The subordinated debt securities and the subordinated indenture do not limit Sempra or any of its subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, including, in the case of Sempra, Senior Indebtedness.

 

24


Table of Contents

Sempra expects that it will incur, and that its subsidiaries will incur, substantial additional amounts of indebtedness, including, in the case of Sempra, Senior Indebtedness, in the future. The subordinated debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of Sempra’s subsidiaries. (See Section 301.)

Conversion Rights

The terms and conditions of any series of debt securities being offered that are convertible into common stock or other equity securities of Sempra will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. These terms will include the conversion price, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holder or Sempra, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion if such series of debt securities are redeemed.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Each indenture provides that certain debt securities, including those for which payment or redemption money has been deposited or set aside in trust as described under “—Satisfaction and Discharge” above, will not be deemed to be “outstanding” in determining whether the registered holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding debt securities have given or taken any demand, direction, consent or other action under the indenture as of any date. (See Section 101.)

Sempra will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the registered holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any demand, direction, consent or other action under the applicable indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the applicable indenture. In certain circumstances, the trustee also will be entitled to set a record date for action by registered holders of any series of outstanding debt securities. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by registered holders of particular debt securities, the action may be taken only by persons who are registered holders of the respective debt securities on the record date. (See Section 104.)

Governing Law

Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. (See Section 112.)

 

25


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any purchase contracts, units, depositary shares or warrants issued by us that may be offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus.

 

26


Table of Contents

GLOBAL SECURITIES

Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, under this caption “Global Securities,” references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Sempra” and similar references mean Sempra excluding its consolidated entities and references to the “securities” mean the debt securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the debt securities of each series initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global debt securities, which we refer to as “global securities.” The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for definitive debt securities in certificated form registered in the names of persons other than the depositary or its nominee, which we refer to as “certificated securities,” under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

   

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

   

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

   

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as “indirect participants,” that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a “beneficial owner,” is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants (collectively, “participants”) through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or

 

27


Table of Contents

such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency for the applicable series of securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the applicable indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the global securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the global securities of such series to be redeemed.

In any case where a consent or vote may be required with respect to any securities, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the applicable global securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) to those direct participants to whose accounts beneficial interests in such global securities are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If certificated securities are issued under the limited circumstances described below, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment as such addresses shall appear in the security register or by wire transfer at such places and to such accounts at such banking institutions in the United States as may be designated in writing to the applicable trustee at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment.

DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the global securities to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the applicable indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

 

28


Table of Contents

As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;

 

   

we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have the securities of such series represented by one or more global securities; or

 

   

an event of default (as defined) under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the securities of such series,

we will prepare and deliver certificated securities of such series in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for certificated securities of such series in definitive form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.

Euroclear and Clearstream

If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.

Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its

 

29


Table of Contents

behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

Other

The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee, nor any broker, dealer, underwriter or agent of ours involved in the offer or sale of any securities, has any control over those entities and none of us or them takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee, nor any broker, dealer, underwriter or agent of ours involved in the offer or sale of any securities, will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.

 

30


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities from time to time:

 

   

through agents;

 

   

through underwriters or dealers;

 

   

directly to one or more purchasers; or

 

   

through a combination of any of the foregoing methods of sale.

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their respective compensation, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

31


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of Sempra. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the effectiveness of Sempra’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Oncor Electric Delivery Holdings Company LLC, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

32


Table of Contents

 

 

$        

 

LOGO

$        % Notes due 2026

$        % Notes due 2033

 

 

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

BNP PARIBAS

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

MUFG

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBC Capital Markets

 

 

            , 2023