EXHIBIT 99.1
IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
IN RE: CHAPTER 11
THE FINOVA GROUP, INC. AND | CASE NOS. 01-00697 (PJW) AND
FINOVA CAPITAL CORPORATION, | 01-00698 (PJW)
|
REORGANIZED DEBTORS. | OBJECTION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 28, 2006 @
| 4:00 P.M.
| HEARING DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2006 @ 3:00 P.M.
MOTION OF REORGANIZED DEBTORS FOR AN ORDER PURSUANT
TO SECTIONS 105(A), 350(B), AND 1142 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE
AND RULES 3020(D), 5010 AND 9019 OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF
BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE (I) APPROVING SETTLEMENT OF
THAXTON LITIGATION, (II) APPROVING THE ONGOING SALE
OF REORGANIZED DEBTORS' REMAINING ASSETS, THE
WINDUP OF THE REORGANIZED DEBTORS' OPERATIONS
AND THE FUTURE DISSOLUTION OF REORGANIZED
DEBTORS, (III) REOPENING FINOVA GROUP'S CHAPTER 11
CASE AND (IV) CHANNELING CLAIMS RELATED TO THE
REORGANIZED DEBTORS' CHAPTER 11 PLAN INTO THIS COURT
FINOVA Capital Corporation ("FINOVA Capital") and The FINOVA Group,
Inc. ("FINOVA Group"), as reorganized debtors (collectively, the "Reorganized
Debtors" or "FINOVA")(1), respectfully represent:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
1. FINOVA emerged from chapter 11 shortly before September 11,
2001. Under FINOVA's joint chapter 11 plan, cash distributions were made to the
FINOVA Capital unsecured creditors, representing approximately 70% of their
anticipated total distributions, while the remaining 30% of their recoveries
(and 22.5% of the recoveries of certain interest holders in FINOVA Finance
Trust) was to be derived from the new senior secured notes that FINOVA Group
(1) Where applicable, FINOVA shall also refer to Reorganized FINOVA.
issued under its plan. The indenture governing the senior secured notes
effectively prohibited FINOVA from engaging in any new business until the senior
notes were repaid. After the downturn in world economies and, particularly, the
transportation industry resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001 (collectively, "September 11") FINOVA's portfolios declined in value
precipitously, and it has been evident for some time that FINOVA will not be
able to repay the notes in full. Accordingly, FINOVA has determined that an
orderly windup and eventual dissolution of the FINOVA entities is in the best
interests of the noteholders. To that end, FINOVA has been managing and
liquidating its portfolios in an orderly fashion in order to maximize the value
of its assets for the benefit of the noteholders.
2. Before FINOVA can complete its windup, however, it must
resolve certain gating issues and obtain other attendant relief to facilitate
the overall windup of its affairs. As the Court is aware, FINOVA recently
resolved one such issue by negotiating a global settlement of certain litigation
that, among other things, threatened FINOVA's anticipated recovery on a
substantial claim against one of its borrowers. To implement this settlement,
FINOVA requires Court approval of its terms. Additionally, as set forth below,
FINOVA seeks approval of certain related measures designed to preserve its
resources and streamline the windup process.
RELIEF REQUESTED
3. By this motion (the "Motion"), FINOVA requests entry of an
order, substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, (i) approving the
settlement of various litigations commenced against FINOVA and certain related
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parties by various parties in interest associated with The Thaxton Group, Inc.,
(ii) approving the ongoing sale of FINOVA's remaining assets, the orderly windup
of FINOVA's operations and the future dissolution of FINOVA Group, (iii)
reopening FINOVA Group's chapter 11 case to facilitate the planned asset sales
and, ultimately, the dissolution of FINOVA, and (iv) channeling to this Court
any claims of the Noteholders (as defined below) and the indenture trustee for
the New Senior Notes against FINOVA arising under or related to the Plan, the
ongoing liquidation, the New Senior Notes, or the windup.
4. Approval of the proposed settlement of the litigations related
to The Thaxton Group, Inc. will resolve an important prerequisite to FINOVA's
eventual windup and dissolution. Moreover, the Court's approval of the planned
ongoing sales and windup, together with the proposed channeling order, will
maximize the value of FINOVA's remaining assets for the benefit of the
Noteholders (as defined below) and facilitate the eventual conclusion of these
chapter 11 proceedings.
JURISDICTION
5. The Court has jurisdiction to consider this Motion pursuant to
28 U.S.C. ss.ss. 157 and 1334, Rule 3020(d) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure (the "Bankruptcy Rules"), section 1142(b) of chapter 11 of title 11 of
the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code"), and Section 12.1 of FINOVA's
confirmed chapter 11 plan and Paragraph 44 of the Order confirming FINOVA's
chapter 11 plan. Venue is proper before this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
ss.ss.1408 and 1409. The statutory predicates for the relief requested herein
are sections 105(a) and 350(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules 5010
and 9019.
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BACKGROUND
FINOVA's Business
6. Prior to the filing on March 7, 2001 of the FINOVA Chapter 11
Cases (defined below), FINOVA Capital and its subsidiaries offered financing
services and capital markets products to mid-size businesses. FINOVA Group is
the holding company for FINOVA Capital and its subsidiaries. FINOVA's business
model involved borrowing funds and issuing loans to its customers. FINOVA's
profits were derived from the spread between its cost of borrowing and the rates
paid by its customers, less operating expenses. FINOVA also generated revenues
through loan servicing and related activities and the sale of assets.
7. FINOVA held numerous types of asset portfolios, including
transportation, real estate, commercial equipment, communications, corporate
finance, franchise, healthcare, and rediscount (i.e., revolving credit
facilities to the independent consumer finance industry, including direct loan,
automobile, mortgage and premium finance companies).
Chapter 11 Cases
8. In 2000, the overall weakening of the U.S. economy adversely
affected FINOVA's asset portfolios. As a result, FINOVA entered into a
commitment with Berkadia LLC ("Berkadia"), an entity jointly owned by Berkshire
Hathaway Inc. ("Berkshire") and Leucadia National Corporation ("Leucadia"),
pursuant to which Berkadia committed to lend FINOVA up to $6 billion to
facilitate a chapter 11 restructuring of FINOVA's outstanding debt. Accordingly,
on March 7, 2001, FINOVA Group, FINOVA Capital and seven of their subsidiaries
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commenced voluntary cases under the Bankruptcy Code to restructure their
prepetition debt (the "Chapter 11 Cases").(2)
Relevant Plan Provisions
9. FINOVA's joint chapter 11 plan (the "Plan") was funded by a
$5.6 billion senior secured loan to FINOVA Capital from Berkadia (the "Berkadia
Loan"). In return, FINOVA Group issued Berkadia approximately 61 million shares
of common stock representing 50% of FINOVA Group's outstanding shares after
giving effect to implementation of the Plan.
10. The proceeds of the Berkadia Loan, together with cash on hand
and FINOVA Group's issuance of approximately $3.25 billion of 7.5% Senior
Secured Notes maturing 2009 with Contingent Interest due 2016 (the "New Senior
Notes") were used to restructure FINOVA's debt. The New Senior Notes were
secured by a second-priority lien on (i) the common stock of FINOVA Capital held
by FINOVA Group and (ii) a secured intercompany note in the principal amount of
the New Senior Notes that was issued to FINOVA Group by FINOVA Capital (the
"Intercompany Note").
11. The terms of the New Senior Notes effectively precluded FINOVA
from conducting any new business other than realizing the value of its assets
until the New Senior Notes were repaid in full. The New Senior Notes were issued
to the general unsecured creditors of FINOVA Capital and to certain holders of
interests related to FINOVA Trust. Specifically, each of FINOVA Capital's
(2) The debtor subsidiaries were FINOVA (Canada) Capital Corporation, FINOVA
Capital PLC, FINOVA Loan Administration Inc., FINOVA Mezzanine Capital Inc.,
FINOVA Portfolio Services, Inc., FINOVA Technology Finance, Inc., and FINOVA
Finance Trust.
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general unsecured creditors received cash in an amount equal to 70% of the
amount of its claim and New Senior Notes in a principal amount representing the
remaining 30% of its claim. The FINOVA Trust interest holders, who recovered 75%
of the amount of their allowed claims, received cash in an amount equal to 52.5%
of their claims; the remaining 22.5% of their recoveries was comprised of New
Senior Notes.
12. The Plan also contemplated that Leucadia would manage FINOVA
under the authority of the FINOVA Board pursuant to a Second Amended and
Restated Management Services Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2001 (as amended
from time to time, the "Management Agreement"). The Management Agreement expires
in 2011 and obligates FINOVA to pay Leucadia $8 million each year, through
expiration of the agreement.
Postconfirmation Events
13. On August 10, 2001, this Court entered an order confirming the
Plan (the "Confirmation Order"). The Plan went effective on August 21, 2001 (the
"Effective Date"). A few weeks after the Effective Date, the United States and
world economies were devastated by the events of September 11. Worldwide travel
declined precipitously, and FINOVA's transportation and resort real estate
portfolios were hit especially hard. Additionally, increasing numbers of
FINOVA's customers experienced difficulties in meeting their payment obligations
to FINOVA and, accordingly, sought to reduce these obligations or simply
returned the aircraft that was the subject of their agreements with FINOVA. As a
result, FINOVA took charges of approximately $585 million to write down the
values of certain aircraft and to reserve for anticipated losses. In addition,
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FINOVA took additional aggregate charges of more than $250 million in connection
with its other asset portfolios.
14. FINOVA was never able to recover fully from the effects of
September 11. Moreover, the recent spate of airline bankruptcies has further
increased the glut of used aircraft. As such, it has become clear that, even in
the best of circumstances, FINOVA will never be able to realize enough value
from its existing operations to repay the holders of the New Senior Notes (the
"Noteholders") in full, much less provide a return to equity holders. Indeed, as
of September 30, 2006, FINOVA would have to liquidate its remaining financial
assets for more than seven times their carrying values (which has no realistic
possibility of occurring) to generate sufficient funds to repay the New Senior
Notes in full.
15. Because the indenture governing the New Senior Notes
effectively prohibits FINOVA from engaging in any new business before repaying
the Noteholders in full, FINOVA has determined in its sound business judgment
that the orderly liquidation of its assets is its only viable source of
liquidity and has sought to maximize the value of these assets for the benefit
of the Noteholders. Thus, over the five years since FINOVA emerged from chapter
11, it has sold or liquidated assets through portfolio sales, prepayments,
scheduled amortization, and individual asset sales, reducing its asset base from
20 portfolios with a book value of $7.6 billion to only one portfolio having a
book value at September 30, 2006 of $183 million.
Status of Certain Plan Distributions
16. As of November 15, 2006, the Noteholders will have received
(i) cash distributions representing 70% of their claims and (ii) payments
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aggregating approximately $1.5 billion in principal amount of the New Senior
Notes plus interest of $994 million. Additionally, FINOVA repurchased and
retired $285 million of New Senior Notes at a discount. Approximately $1.5
billion in principal amount of New Senior Notes is still outstanding. As
discussed above, FINOVA anticipates there will be insufficient funds with which
to satisfy in full the obligations arising under the New Senior Notes. While
there can be no assurances, given that the New Senior Notes comprised only
22.5%-30% of the Noteholders' total recoveries under the Plan, FINOVA's current
estimate is that Noteholders will likely receive distributions in excess of 90%
of their total claims against FINOVA from realization of net asset sale proceeds
and, potentially, the 5% of Available Cash (as defined in the Plan) that the
Plan required FINOVA to set aside for eventual distribution to equity holders at
such time as FINOVA would be permitted by applicable law to distribute dividends
to equity holders (the "5% Holdback").(3)
17. On April 1, 2005, FINOVA filed a motion with this Court
seeking clarification of the Plan to determine, under FINOVA's current financial
circumstances, whether, notwithstanding the Plan, the 5% Holdback should be
distributed to Noteholders or equity holders. Specifically, because FINOVA is
insolvent, it sought an order of the Court permitting it to cease escrowing the
5% Holdback and to use the proceeds of the Segregated Account instead to pay
expenses, debts, and other obligations. Certain former members of the statutory
equity committee (the "Objectors") objected to the motion, asserting that the
(3) As of November 15, 2006, approximately $78 million will have been retained
on account for equity holders in connection with the 5% Holdback (the
"Segregated Account").
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obligation to escrow the 5% Holdback was in the nature of a debt rather than an
equity interest. The Court agreed with FINOVA that the 5% provision did not
create a debt owed to the equity holders, and that FINOVA would not be able to
make payments to equity holders if FINOVA were insolvent or if any such payments
would (i) render FINOVA insolvent, (ii) be a fraudulent conveyance, or (iii) be
illegal under applicable law (the "5% Order"). The Court left unresolved the
issue of FINOVA's ultimate solvency. The Objectors moved for leave to appeal the
interlocutory 5% Order; the district court denied the motion on the basis that
the 5% Order was not final and appealable because the 5% Order merely preserves
the status quo until this Court renders a solvency determination (the "5%
Solvency Issue"). No hearing in respect of a solvency determination is currently
scheduled, but the Court ultimately will need to address the 5% Solvency Issue
to facilitate FINOVA's orderly windup.
Status of Chapter 11 Cases
18. As stated earlier, the Plan went effective on August 21, 2001.
On November 19, 2003, the Court entered an order closing the chapter 11 case of
FINOVA Portfolio Services, Inc. On December 29, 2004, the Court entered an order
closing the chapter 11 cases of six other FINOVA debtors, including FINOVA
Group. On March 22, 2005, the Court entered an order closing the chapter 11 case
of FINOVA Mezzanine Capital, Inc. The chapter 11 case of FINOVA Capital is still
open.
OVERVIEW OF REQUESTED RELIEF
19. Given the post-Effective Date financial developments described
above, FINOVA has determined that, in order to maximize the value of its assets
for the benefit of the Noteholders, it must continue to pursue and consummate
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sales of its remaining assets in furtherance of an orderly windup of its
operations. Once that process is complete, FINOVA ultimately will dissolve its
remaining affiliated entities in accordance with state law.
20. To effectuate a complete windup, FINOVA requires orders of
this Court resolving certain key issues, including (i) approving herewith the
terms of a proposed settlement of litigation related to The Thaxton Group, Inc.
and certain affiliates (described below), (ii) a future determination of the 5%
Solvency Issue, and (iii) a future adjudication of the Remaining Claims (defined
below). Absent achieving finality on these "gating issues," the windup cannot be
completed. By this Motion, FINOVA is requesting approval of the proposed Thaxton
litigation settlement. FINOVA intends to file separate pleadings in the near
future seeking relief from this Court as to the other gating issues.
Thaxton Litigation
21. As the Court is aware, FINOVA Capital was the target of
litigation arising from and relating to a senior secured credit facility FINOVA
Capital extended to The Thaxton Group, Inc ("TGI") and certain subsidiaries
(collectively with TGI, the "Thaxton Debtors") pursuant to a certain Third
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2001 (the "Loan
Agreement"). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, FINOVA Capital extended various
loans to the Thaxton Debtors, which loans were secured by all of the assets of
the Thaxton Debtors. At their maximum, the loans totaled approximately $200
million.
22. Beginning in approximately 1995 and, particularly, from 1999
onward, TGI issued unsecured, subordinated notes to thousands of persons and
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entities in at least five states (the "Thaxton Noteholders"). The businesses of
the Thaxton Debtors subsequently failed and the Thaxton Debtors commenced
voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in this Court (the
"Thaxton Cases") on October 17, 2003 (the "Thaxton Petition Date"). As of the
Thaxton Petition Date, the Thaxton Debtors owed FINOVA approximately $110
million in principal amount, and TGI owed the Thaxton Noteholders approximately
$121 million in principal amount.
23. Shortly before, and in the few months after, the Thaxton
Petition Date, certain Thaxton Noteholders filed five federal actions against,
among others, FINOVA Capital (the "2003 Actions"). Then, in March 2004, the
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Thaxton Cases (the "Thaxton
Committee" and, collectively with the Thaxton Noteholder plaintiffs in the 2003
Actions, the "Noteholder Plaintiffs") filed an adversary proceeding against
FINOVA Capital (the "Adversary Proceeding"). The 2003 Actions were denied class
action status but were consolidated along with the Adversary Proceeding for
pretrial purposes in the United States District Court for the District of South
Carolina (the "South Carolina District Court"). In addition, on June 8, 2006,
approximately 1,500 Thaxton Noteholders filed a complaint in the South Carolina
District Court against FINOVA Capital, FINOVA Group and one of its officers,
Berkshire, Leucadia and one of its officers, and numerous Berkadia entities (the
"Society Action," and, collectively with the 2003 Actions and the Adversary
Proceeding, the "Litigation"). In the Litigation, the Noteholder Plaintiffs
alleged, inter alia, that FINOVA and others controlled and/or conspired with the
Thaxton Debtors to defraud the Noteholder Plaintiffs, and that FINOVA and
various others (including certain of its affiliates) should be liable for those
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alleged actions, whether by the equitable subordination or disallowance of
FINOVA's claims against the Thaxton Debtors, by the assessment of actual and
punitive damages, and/or otherwise.
24. On August 4, 2005, FINOVA Capital moved in the South Carolina
District Court to transfer the Adversary Proceeding back to the United States
District Court for the District of Delaware (the "Transfer Motion") and on
August 8, 2005, FINOVA Capital moved for partial summary judgment on certain
claims asserted in the Adversary Proceeding. Also on August 8, 2005, the Thaxton
Committee moved for partial summary judgment on its claim for equitable
subordination of FINOVA's claims. By order, entered on September 22, 2005, the
South Carolina District Court denied FINOVA Capital's motions for transfer and
for partial summary judgment. By order, entered on March 20, 2006 (the "Summary
Judgment Order"), the South Carolina District Court granted the Thaxton
Committee's motion for partial summary judgment on its equitable subordination
claim. FINOVA Capital timely filed a notice of appeal of the Summary Judgment
Order with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (the
"Fourth Circuit"), and that appeal is currently pending.
25. Thereafter, in May 2006 the South Carolina District Court
scheduled a trial of certain of the 2003 Actions to commence on August 28, 2006.
Shortly before trial, the trial date was vacated for 60 days because some of the
parties to the Litigation had reached an agreement in principle to settle the
Litigation. On September 11, 2006, all of the parties involved in the Litigation
reached a global settlement. The salient terms of the settlement were embodied
in a term sheet, dated as of September 12, 2006, presented to the South Carolina
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District Court on that date, and later incorporated into a Master Settlement
Agreement (the "Master Settlement Agreement") containing the following terms:(4)
o Class Certification for Settlement Purposes. A class of Thaxton
Noteholders (the "Settlement Class") consisting of all Thaxton
Noteholders and other unsecured creditors of the Thaxton Debtors
will be certified for settlement purposes.
o FINOVA Treatment. On the effective date of the Master Settlement
Agreement (the "Settlement Effective Date"), FINOVA will
indefeasibly and finally receive approximately $81 million in cash
in full satisfaction of its claim in the principal amount of $110
million. Pursuant to an order of the Court entered in the Thaxton
Cases, the Thaxton Debtors are holding an amount in excess of that
sum in an escrow account, which amount is available to effectuate
the distribution to FINOVA Capital. FINOVA will also receive half of
all net recoveries (after deducting all litigation expenses) in
excess of $2.27 million from all avoidance actions in the Thaxton
Cases, excluding any recoveries from certain parties named in the
Master Settlement Agreement.
o Thaxton Noteholder Treatment. On and after the Settlement Effective
Date, the Thaxton Noteholders and other unsecured creditors will
receive all real and personal property of the Thaxton Debtors (other
than the property to be received by FINOVA as described above),
including the assets and beneficial ownership of stock of the
Southern Debtors.
o Global Releases in Favor of FINOVA and Certain of Its Affiliates.
Under the Master Settlement Agreement, the Thaxton Borrowers, the
Additional Thaxton Entities, and the Committee Parties will release
FINOVA Capital from all Claims. In addition, the Releasing
Plaintiffs will release the Released Defendants (which include,
without limitation, FINOVA Group, FINOVA Capital, certain related
parties, and all of the defendants in the 2006 Action) from all
Thaxton-Related Claims. All releases will be incorporated into the
Thaxton Debtors' chapter 11 plan (the "Thaxton Plan").
o Thaxton Noteholder Opt-Outs. FINOVA has agreed to allow holders of
up to $6 million of Thaxton Notes to opt out of the Master
(4) The following is only a summary of the settlement. As such, it is qualified
in its entirety by the actual terms of the Master Settlement Agreement. A true
and complete copy of the Master Settlement Agreement is annexed to this Motion
as Exhibit B. All capitalized terms describing the Master Settlement Agreement
not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Master
Settlement Agreement.
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Settlement Agreement. If holders of more than $6 million opt out, or
if any of the current individual plaintiffs in the 2003 Actions opt
out, FINOVA may reject the Master Settlement Agreement.
o Releases Granted by FINOVA. FINOVA Capital and FINOVA Group will
release the Thaxton Borrowers, the Additional Thaxton Entities, and
the Committee Parties from all FINOVA Claims and liens. In addition,
the Releasing Defendants (which include, without limitation, FINOVA
Group, FINOVA Capital, certain related parties, and all of the
defendants in the Society Action) will release all of the Released
Plaintiffs from all Thaxton-Related Claims.
o Conditions Precedent and Other Approvals. The Master Settlement
Agreement must be approved by, inter alia, (i) the South Carolina
District Court, in the Settlement Class case, (ii) this Court in the
Thaxton Cases, and (iii) this Court in FINOVA's Chapter 11 Cases. In
addition, the Settlement Effective Date cannot occur until the
effective date of the Thaxton Plan has occurred, the Summary
Judgment Order has been vacated, and the Litigation has been
dismissed.
26. In early November 2006, the parties to the Master Settlement
Agreement requested that the South Carolina District Court enter an order, a
copy of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit C, that would, inter alia,
preliminarily approve the Master Settlement Agreement, certify the Settlement
Class, and indicate that the South Carolina District Court is willing to
consider vacating the Summary Judgment Order on remand from the Fourth Circuit
(the "Preliminary Approval Order"). As of the filing of this Motion, the South
Carolina District Court was reviewing but had not yet entered the Preliminary
Approval Order. If the Preliminary Approval Order is entered, the Class Notice
will be mailed shortly thereafter, and the Short Form Class Notice will be
published in November and December. Settlement Class members would have until
December 14, 2006 to opt out of the settlement, and, as noted above, FINOVA
would have certain rights to withdraw from the Master Settlement Agreement in
response to certain opt-outs. In the event FINOVA does not or cannot exercise
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those rights, the South Carolina District Court will hold a final hearing to
approve the Master Settlement Agreement in mid-January 2007. The South Carolina
District Court would likely be asked to vacate its Summary Judgment Order at
that time.
27. The Thaxton Debtors are expected to seek approval of the
Master Settlement Agreement on December 4, 2006. If the Court approves the
Master Settlement Agreement in the Thaxton Cases and in FINOVA's Chapter 11
Cases and FINOVA does not or cannot withdraw from the Master Settlement
Agreement, the Thaxton Debtors will file a disclosure statement and propose the
Thaxton Plan, which must incorporate the terms of the Master Settlement
Agreement. A hearing on the confirmation of the Thaxton Plan is expected to take
place in February 2007. The Master Settlement Agreement contemplates that, after
the effective date of the Thaxton Plan, and upon the Settlement Effective Date,
the settlement will be implemented and the Litigation will be concluded.
The 5% Solvency Issue
28. As discussed above, as of November 15, 2006, there will be a
balance of approximately $78 million in the Segregated Account pending the
Court's determination regarding FINOVA's solvency and any appeal of the 5% Order
that may be brought by the former members of the statutory equity committee. In
the unlikely event that the Court determines that FINOVA is solvent, the equity
holders will receive the balance of the Segregated Account. On the other hand,
if the Court determines, as FINOVA believes it will, that FINOVA is insolvent,
and absent any contrary decision in connection with an appeal of the 5% Order,
the proceeds of the Segregated Account will be used to pay FINOVA's expenses,
debts, and other obligations. If, however, the Court's 5% Order is overturned on
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appeal (i.e., the appellate courts determine that the obligation to pay
shareholders 5% of payments made on the New Senior Notes is in the nature of a
debt) and no further appeals are undertaken, the equity holders would receive
the funds in the Segregated Account.
Remaining Claims
29. In the aggregate, more than 3,500 proofs of claim were filed
against FINOVA in the Chapter 11 Cases. On September 18, 2001, the Court entered
an Order Establishing Uniform Procedures for (A) Objections to Claims, And (B)
Issuing Distributions to Holders of Allowed Litigation Claims (the "Claims
Procedures Order"). Pursuant to the Claims Procedures Order, FINOVA filed an
omnibus objection to claims on October 22, 2001 (the "Omnibus Objection").
30. FINOVA has resolved nearly all of the claims that were
included in the Omnibus Objection. At this time, there are 29 outstanding state
and local tax claims filed by nine taxing authorities in an aggregate amount of
approximately $5 million (collectively, the "Tax Claims"). All but one of the
taxing authorities that filed these claims have ceased to pursue their claims
and some have not responded to FINOVA's attempts to achieve final resolution of
the claims. In addition, there are five outstanding non-tax claims
(collectively, the "Non-Tax Claims" and, together with the Tax Claims, the
"Remaining Claims").
31. Of the Non-Tax Claims, one claim, filed by Olsen Industries
(the "Olsen Claim"), was tried before the Court in September 2006. The Court has
not yet issued its ruling on whether FINOVA bears any liability in connection
with the Olsen Claim. If the Court rules that FINOVA bears some liability on the
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Olsen Claim, the Court will then hold a separate damages trial. Although it
appears that the Olsen Claim will be resolved in the near future, each of the
other four Non-Tax Claims has been dormant for at least two years. Specifically,
at various stages in the objection process pertaining to such claims, the
claimants ceased to prosecute their claims and have not responded to numerous
attempts by FINOVA to resolve the claims. FINOVA believes, therefore, that
ultimately it will ask the Court to disallow and expunge the Remaining Claims
(other than the Olsen Claim) if the claimants remain inactive and nonresponsive.
FINOVA intends to file separate pleadings with the Court at the appropriate time
to accomplish this objective.
Other Requested Relief
32. In addition to seeking approval by this Motion of the Master
Settlement Agreement, FINOVA hereby requests certain additional related relief
that will facilitate the windup process without unnecessary cost and delay,
thereby preserving value for the Noteholders. Although the value of FINOVA's
assets has recently increased, it is certainly not anticipated that such asset
values will increase to seven times book value, which increase would be required
to repay the Noteholders in full. Moreover, FINOVA's liabilities continue to
accrue, including those related to the expense of being a public company,
employee expenses, interest costs, other overhead, etc., resulting in more funds
being spent to operate FINOVA than will be generated by FINOVA's assets or
operations. Accordingly, by this Motion, FINOVA also requests (i) authorization
to pursue and consummate ongoing sales of its remaining assets, (ii)
authorization to take all necessary steps to effect an orderly windup and
ultimate dissolution of the FINOVA entities, including reopening FINOVA Group's
chapter 11 case to facilitate the ongoing sales and future dissolution of
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FINOVA, and (iii) the issuance of an order channeling to this Court any claims
of the Noteholders or the indenture trustee for the New Senior Notes (the
"Indenture Trustee") against FINOVA arising under or related to the Plan, the
ongoing liquidation, the New Senior Notes, or the windup (the "Channeling
Order"), for the reasons explained below.
REQUESTED RELIEF
A. THE COURT SHOULD APPROVE THE MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
33. Although the Plan authorizes FINOVA to settle Claims or
Interests (in each case, as defined in the Plan) without further Bankruptcy
Court approval, the Master Settlement Agreement requires both Thaxton and FINOVA
to obtain approval of the Master Settlement Agreement in their respective
chapter 11 cases, over each of which this Court presides. The terms of the
Master Settlement Agreement satisfy all of the requirements for approval of a
settlement in a bankruptcy case.
34. "To minimize litigation and expedite the administration of a
bankruptcy estate, compromises are favored in bankruptcy." Myers v. Martin (In
re Martin), 91 F.3d 389, 391 (3d Cir. 1996) (internal citations and quotations
omitted). In evaluating a proposed settlement, a bankruptcy court must "assess
and balance the value of the claim that is being compromised against the value
to the estate of the acceptance of the compromise proposal." Id. In making this
determination, courts apply a four-factor test derived from the United States
Supreme Court's requirement that a settlement in a bankruptcy case be "fair and
equitable." See id. (citing Prot. Comm. for Indep. Stockholders of TMT Trailer
Ferry, Inc. v. Anderson, 390 U.S. 414 (1968)).
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35. The Martin test requires a court to consider four criteria in
evaluating a proposed settlement: "(1) probability of success in litigation; (2)
the likely difficulties in collection, (3) the complexity of the litigation
involved, and the expense, inconvenience and delay necessarily attending it; and
(4) the paramount interests of creditors." Where, as here, the second factor --
"ease of collection" -- does not apply, courts do not consider it. See Will v.
Northwestern Univ. (In re Nutraquest, Inc.), 434 F.3d 639, 646 (3d Cir. 2006).
The Martin test applies both to settlements of claims belonging to debtors as
well as settlements of claims against debtors. Id at 644. The Master Settlement
Agreement satisfies all applicable elements of the Martin test and should be
approved.
a. SUCCESS IN THE LITIGATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED
36. As noted above, FINOVA vigorously denies any liability to the
Noteholder Plaintiffs. Nonetheless, the South Carolina District Court has
entered the Summary Judgment Order in the Adversary Proceeding. Although FINOVA
strongly believes that the Summary Judgment Order will be reversed and that
FINOVA Capital will prevail in full in the Adversary Proceeding, FINOVA
recognizes that litigation always entails risk. Thus, if the Summary Judgment
Order is reversed and the Adversary Proceeding goes forward, FINOVA faces
litigation risk in the Adversary Proceeding.(5) If, on the other hand, the
Summary Judgment Order is affirmed and FINOVA's claims in the Thaxton Cases are
equitably subordinated, FINOVA's recovery in the Thaxton Cases will be tens of
(5) FINOVA would also face litigation risk in the other Litigation, but the
plaintiffs in the other Litigation are seeking monetary remedies from FINOVA.
Substantially all of FINOVA's assets secure the claims of the Noteholders under
the New Senior Notes.
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millions of dollars less than the amount it will receive under the Master
Settlement Agreement.
b. THE LITIGATION IS COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE
37. The Litigation is highly complex, and proceeding with the Litigation would
be costly and time consuming. So far, the Litigation has cost FINOVA Capital and
its creditors in excess of $10 million and lasted more than three years. If the
settlement fails and the Litigation continues, the Litigation would likely last
several more years, and FINOVA Capital would incur millions of dollars in
additional defense costs.
c. THE MASTER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CREDITORS
38. The Master Settlement Agreement benefits FINOVA's creditors in
multiple ways. First, it ensures that FINOVA creditors will not have to wait
until the conclusion of the Litigation to receive the distributions that will
now be available as a result of the settlement. Specifically, the proceeds of
the Thaxton loans constitute approximately 48% of FINOVA's remaining financial
assets as of September 30, 2006. If the settlement fails and the Litigation
continues, the Noteholders will not receive any Thaxton loan proceeds until the
Litigation is successfully concluded, which could take years. On the other hand,
if the Litigation results in an adverse ruling, and FINOVA's claims against the
Thaxton Debtors are equitably subordinated, the Noteholders' recoveries in the
FINOVA Chapter 11 Cases could be reduced by millions of dollars. Thus, the
Master Settlement Agreement benefits FINOVA's creditors by facilitating their
near-term recovery of the loan proceeds.
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39. Second, the Master Settlement Agreement ensures that the
Litigation will not interfere with FINOVA's windup and dissolution. As noted
above, but for the settlement, the South Carolina District Court would likely
set a trial date in certain of the 2003 Actions within the next several months.
Although FINOVA believes it will prevail in full in all of the Litigation, if
the Litigation continues, it will nonetheless divert FINOVA's attention and
resources from the windup process. Moreover, FINOVA will have to expend
additional funds to defend the Litigation, which is pointless given that
substantially all of FINOVA's assets secure the claims of the Noteholders under
the New Senior Notes, and which, in any event, will ensure the reduction of the
pool of funds otherwise available to the Noteholders.(6)
40. Because FINOVA's success in the Litigation cannot be
guaranteed, and because continuing with the Litigation will be costly and reduce
the recoveries available to all of the Noteholders, the Master Settlement
Agreement is fair and equitable and satisfies the Martin test. Accordingly, the
Court should approve the Master Settlement Agreement.
B. THE COURT SHOULD APPROVE THE ONGOING
SALE OF THE BALANCE OF FINOVA'S ASSETS
41. The ongoing sale of the Remaining Assets comports with the
intent and purpose of the Plan, which, among other things, was to provide for
full satisfaction of the claims of FINOVA Capital's general unsecured creditors
(the "Capital Unsecured Creditors"). On the Plan Effective Date, the Capital
(6) FINOVA must still defend the 2003 Actions and the Society Action in order to
avoid the potential negative effect of an adverse ruling in one of those actions
on the Adversary Proceeding, the outcome of which could reduce FINOVA's recovery
from the Thaxton Debtors if FINOVA's claims were to be equitably subordinated.
21
Unsecured Creditors received cash distributions representing 70% of the amount
of their claims, plus both prepetition and postpetition interest; the remaining
30% of their recoveries was comprised of New Senior Notes. As of November 15,
2006, the Noteholders will have received only approximately half of the amounts
due under the New Senior Notes. The outstanding principal amount on the New
Senior Notes as of November 15, 2006 will be approximately $1.5 billion.
42. As stated above, FINOVA has determined that it will never be
able to repay the Noteholders in full, and at some future point is likely to
default on its obligations under the New Senior Notes. As such, FINOVA's duty is
to maximize the value of the recoveries to the Noteholders. Over the past five
years, pursuant to the Plan and Confirmation Order, and without any need for
further Court approval, FINOVA has been realizing orderly collections on and
sales of the assets in FINOVA's portfolios. FINOVA is currently finalizing the
sales of certain assets and seeks to effectuate an orderly sale of the balance
of FINOVA's assets (the "Remaining Assets") in order to maximize the
Noteholders' recovery.
43. Notwithstanding its overall authority to sell assets, FINOVA
seeks hereby an order approving its ongoing sales of the Remaining Assets. As
FINOVA sells off the last of its assets, each sale brings it closer to having
sold "substantially all" of its assets. In fact, FINOVA believes that it will be
impossible to determine exactly which sale will be the one that, taken together
with all previous sales, puts FINOVA in the position of having effectuated a
sale of "substantially all" of its assets. As such, FINOVA seeks advance
authority to sell "all or substantially all" of its assets so that, as its asset
22
sales continue, FINOVA will not be in contravention of state laws requiring
court or shareholder approval for such sales.
C. THE COURT SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE ORDERLY
WINDUP AND FUTURE DISSOLUTION OF FINOVA
44. Given the circumstances of this case, an orderly windup and
future dissolution is the only possible course of action for FINOVA. Because
FINOVA will never be able to repay the Noteholders in full and the indenture
governing the New Senior Notes effectively prohibits FINOVA from engaging in any
new business before repaying the Noteholders in full, FINOVA ultimately must
liquidate. In anticipation of this inevitability, the Court should authorize
FINOVA to take all steps necessary to wind up its affairs and ultimately
dissolve itself and its affiliated FINOVA entities. FINOVA will not be
positioned to wind up its operations and dissolve the FINOVA entities before
FINOVA has sold its Remaining Assets and resolved the gating items discussed
above.
45. The board of directors of FINOVA Group has authorized the
company, subject to entry of an appropriate Court order, to sell all or
substantially all of its assets, wind up its affairs and ultimately dissolve the
FINOVA entities. To effectuate the windup process, FINOVA contemplates the
creation of a reasonable reserve, to be used for general corporate purposes, tax
payments, future interest payments, and to respond to any currently known or
unknown claims, including environmental claims, that may be brought against
FINOVA.
D. THE COURT SHOULD REOPEN FINOVA GROUP'S
CHAPTER 11 CASE AND ISSUE A CHANNELING ORDER
46. In order to effectuate an orderly windup and future
dissolution, the Court should also (i) authorize the reopening of FINOVA Group's
23
chapter 11 case, (ii) approve the future dissolution of FINOVA Group, and (iii)
issue the requested Channeling Order.
a. THE COURT SHOULD AUTHORIZE FINOVA
GROUP TO REOPEN ITS CHAPTER 11 CASE
47. FINOVA does not intend to dissolve the FINOVA entities under
applicable state law until it has completed the windup of its operations. At
this time, FINOVA does not know exactly when the anticipated dissolution will
occur, but, to maximize efficiency and minimize further administrative cost,
FINOVA seeks authority to effect such dissolution in the future without further
Court approval or shareholder approval.(7)
48. Dissolution under state law typically requires board and
shareholder approval. Because FINOVA Group is the holding company that owns all
of the various other FINOVA entities, FINOVA Group can provide the requisite
shareholder approval for the dissolution of all of its debtor and nondebtor
subsidiaries. But FINOVA Group cannot provide shareholder approval for its own
dissolution. Indeed, because FINOVA Group is a publicly held company, obtaining
shareholder approval for its dissolution will be a costly and time-consuming
process. In addition, undertaking the trouble and expense of obtaining
shareholder approval for a dissolution of FINOVA Group makes little sense in
light of the fact that FINOVA Group soon will be a holding company holding only
dissolved subsidiaries. Moreover, requiring FINOVA Group to obtain shareholder
approval for the dissolution is especially inappropriate in this case, where
(7) Under the indenture governing the New Senior Notes, the filing by FINOVA
Group or FINOVA Capital of a certificate of dissolution will trigger a default
under the New Senior Notes.
24
shareholders will not receive any liquidation distributions, given that the
Noteholders will not recover in full under any circumstance (and assuming any
eventual appeal of the 5% Order is resolved in favor of the Noteholders).
49. As such, considering the current posture of these cases - the
sale of substantially all of the Remaining Assets and eventual dissolution of
the FINOVA entities - FINOVA seeks to reopen the chapter 11 case of FINOVA Group
so that it may avail itself of a provision of Delaware law that allows a
Delaware corporation in chapter 11 to take any corporate action directed by a
bankruptcy court order "with like effect as if exercised and taken by unanimous
action of the directors and stockholders of the corporation." 8 Del. Code Ann.
ss. 303(a). Accordingly, in order to take advantage of this statute, FINOVA
requests that the Court (i) authorize the sale of all or substantially all of
its assets, and (ii) the future dissolution of FINOVA Group without shareholder
approval.
50. Section 350(b) of the Bankruptcy Code provides that a "case
may be reopened . . . to administer assets, to accord relief to the debtor, or
for other cause." 11 U.S.C. ss. 350(b). "Bankruptcy courts have broad discretion
to reopen cases after an estate has been administered." See Zinchiak v. CIT
Small Bus. Lending Corp. (In re Zinchiak), 406 F.3d 214, 223 (3d Cir. 2005). In
exercising such discretion, courts may consider a number of factors, including
the equities of each situation. See, e.g, In re Strano, 248 B.R. 493, 398
(Bankr. D.N.J. 2000). The equities of this case support reopening FINOVA Group's
chapter 11 case for the limited purpose of entering in that case an order
authorizing the sale of all or substantially all of FINOVA Group's assets and
authorizing the future dissolution of FINOVA Group. Reopening FINOVA Group's
chapter 11 case in order to authorize the sale of assets and its dissolution at
25
the completion of the windup will preserve economic resources as well as
significant time and expense and will not prejudice any party in interest.
51. Indeed, the only parties that could conceivably be prejudiced
by reopening FINOVA Group's chapter 11 are the equity holders of FINOVA Group.
Because FINOVA Group is hopelessly insolvent, however, its shareholders cannot
hope to recover anything in connection with their interests. As such, reopening
FINOVA Group's chapter 11 case to avoid the time and expense of a shareholder
vote regarding its dissolution or sale of substantially all of its assets cannot
prejudice its shareholders. Moreover, reopening FINOVA Group's case will benefit
the Noteholders by minimizing the overall costs of the dissolution and sale of
the FINOVA assets.
b. THE COURT SHOULD ISSUE A CHANNELING ORDER
52. As discussed above, FINOVA is insolvent and will not be able
to repay the Noteholders in full under any circumstance. A future default under
the New Senior Notes is inevitable. Accordingly, FINOVA must complete the sale
of its assets in an orderly manner and must wind up its operations and liquidate
for the benefit of the Noteholders. These prevailing facts precipitated the
filing of this Motion seeking approval of the windup and eventual dissolution of
the FINOVA entities and the related relief described above.
53. Although FINOVA believes that the majority of the Noteholders
understand that they will not be paid in full and realize that FINOVA's strategy
is in their best interests, FINOVA recognizes it is possible that certain
individual Noteholders could take action to (i) increase their individual
returns at the expense of the Noteholders as a group by bringing court actions
against FINOVA at such time as FINOVA inevitably misses a payment or otherwise
26
defaults under the New Senior Notes or (ii) otherwise seek to prevent
implementation of the actions contemplated in this Motion. Alternatively, the
Indenture Trustee, on its own or at the direction of Noteholders holding certain
requisite percentages of the outstanding principal amount of the New Senior
Notes, could seek to take action against FINOVA.
54. By bringing or attempting to bring such actions, the
Noteholders would defeat the fundamental objective FINOVA is trying to achieve
-- maximizing the aggregate value of FINOVA for the benefit of all of the
Noteholders and ensuring a pro rata distribution of FINOVA's assets to the
individual Noteholders. Moreover, to the extent any Noteholders seek to maximize
their individual recoveries at the expense of other Noteholders, such
Noteholders are frustrating the fundamental principle underlying chapter 11 of
the Bankruptcy Code that no one creditor in a particular class may be treated
preferentially over the others. Because FINOVA has already proposed an orderly
windup for the benefit of the Noteholders, FINOVA submits that any such actions
will serve only to sidetrack the orderly liquidation process and distract FINOVA
from its duty to wind up its affairs for the benefit of the Noteholders.
Moreover, defending against potential multiple actions will be costly for FINOVA
and ultimately will erode the recoveries otherwise available to the Noteholders.
55. Under section 12.1 of the Plan, the Court retained "exclusive
jurisdiction of all matters arising out of, and related to, the Chapter 11 Cases
and the Plan pursuant to, and for the purposes of, sections 105(a) and 1142 of
the Bankruptcy Code." (emphasis added). The Court specifically retained
jurisdiction, among other things, "to issue such orders in aid of execution of
the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out its intent and purpose
27
or to implement the Plan" and "to ensure that distributions and rights granted
to holders of Allowed Claims and Allowed Interests (each, as defined in the
Plan), are accomplished as provided herein." See Plan ss. 12(g) and (j). In
addition, P. 44 of the Confirmation Order provides that the "Court shall retain
jurisdiction in accordance with the terms of Section 12.1 of the Plan, the other
provisions of this Confirmation Order, and sections 1141 and 1142 of the
Bankruptcy Code." Section 105(a) of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes a court to
"issue any order . . . that is necessary or appropriate to carry out the
provisions of [the Bankruptcy Code]." 11 U.S.C. ss. 105(a).
56. Although FINOVA is not aware of any imminent individual
Noteholder actions, or any actions contemplated by the Indenture Trustee, based
on the plain language of the Plan and Confirmation Order, this Court should
continue to be the central forum into which any such Noteholder actions arising
under or related to the Plan and the New Senior Notes issued thereunder are
channeled in order to ensure a fair distribution to all Noteholders. It is
necessary and appropriate for this Court to issue the Channeling Order requiring
that the Indenture Trustee and any Noteholders that might otherwise seek relief
against FINOVA in another court as to any claims arising under or related to the
Plan, the ongoing liquidation, the New Senior Notes, or the windup must first
seek authority from this Court to proceed with such actions. Thus, section
105(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and the Plan and Confirmation Order support entry
of such a Channeling Order.
57. The requested Channeling Order would prevent interference with
FINOVA's windup and facilitate the efficient resolution of any disputes arising
28
in connection with the New Senior Notes. Moreover, the Channeling Order FINOVA
proposes will not impinge upon the Noteholders' rights. FINOVA is not purporting
to prevent any Noteholders from seeking to enforce their rights under the New
Senior Notes. Rather, in light of the circumstances presented, in which FINOVA's
assets are insufficient to support a full repayment of the Noteholders, FINOVA
merely seeks to implement an efficient procedure for dispute resolution and
distributions and to ensure that any Noteholders seeking only to generate
leverage by which to increase their own returns at the expense of others will
not succeed. Because a Channeling Order will benefit the Noteholders as a group
and will not unduly prejudice any parties in interest, the Court should issue
the proposed Channeling Order.
CONCLUSION
58. Because FINOVA will not be able to pay the Noteholders in
full, it must seek to maximize the value of its assets for the benefit of the
Noteholders. FINOVA has been effectuating orderly sales of its assets for the
Noteholders' benefit for some time and, now that it has neared completion of
such sales, it seeks Court authority to complete and facilitate an orderly
windup and future dissolution of the FINOVA entities, as well as future Court
assistance in resolving certain issues in order to facilitate such windup. The
relief FINOVA seeks is in the best interests of FINOVA's Noteholders and all
parties in interest and will ensure an efficient an orderly windup and maximize
the value available for distribution of the Noteholders. Accordingly, the Court
should grant such relief.
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NOTICE
59. Notice of this Motion has been provided to all of the
Noteholders and equity holders of FINOVA, as well as the Indenture Trustee. In
addition, FINOVA has posted this Motion on its website at http://www.finova.com.
FINOVA submits that no other or further notice need be provided.
60. No previous request for the relief sought herein has been made
to this or any other Court.
WHEREFORE FINOVA respectfully requests that the Court enter an order
(i) approving the Master Settlement Agreement, (ii) approving the ongoing sale
of FINOVA's remaining assets, the orderly windup of FINOVA's operations and the
future dissolution of FINOVA, (iii) reopening FINOVA Group's chapter 11 case,
(iv) granting the Channeling Order, and (v) granting such other or further
relief as is just.
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Dated: Wilmington, Delaware
November 10, 2006
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Mark D. Collins
Mark D. Collins (No. 2981)
Michael J. Merchant (No. 3854)
RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
Telephone: (302) 651-7700
Facsimile: (302) 651-7701
-- and --
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
Martin J. Bienenstock
Judy G. Z. Liu
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Telephone: (212) 310-8000
Facsimile: (212) 310-8007
Co-Attorneys for the Reorganized Debtors
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