Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. and Appaloosa Management L.P. Lead
Investor Group
Delphi Announces Reorganization Framework and Potential Stakeholder
Recoveries
Plan Investment and Reorganization Framework Subject to Conditions
Including Reaching Consensual Agreements with U.S. Labor Unions and General
Motors Corporation
Delphi and Plan Investors Agree on Separate Executive Chairman /CEO
Governance Structure and Designate O'Neal to Serve as Delphi's CEO at
Emergence; Delphi Determines to Implement New Structure Effective January
1, 2007 with Miller as Executive Chairman and O'Neal as Chief Executive
Officer and President
Plan Investors and General Motors Corporation Sign Plan Framework Support
Agreement
Bankruptcy Court Sets January 5, 2007 Hearing to Consider Approval of Plan
Investment Agreement, Plan Support Agreement and DIP Refinancing
TROY, Mich., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delphi Corp. (Pink
Sheets: DPHIQ) today announced that it has accepted a proposal for an
equity purchase and commitment agreement with affiliates of Appaloosa
Management L.P., Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., and Harbinger Capital
Partners Master Fund I, Ltd., as well as Merrill Lynch & Co. and UBS
Securities LLC (collectively, the "Plan Investors") to invest up to $3.4
billion in preferred and common equity in the reorganized Delphi to support
the company's transformation plan announced on March 31, 2006 and its plan
of reorganization framework agreement also filed today. The Plan Framework
Support Agreement, signed by Delphi, the Plan Investors and General Motors
Corp. (GM), outlines the expected treatment of the company's stakeholders
in its anticipated plan of reorganization and provides a framework for
several other aspects of the company's Chapter 11 reorganization.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020315/DEF002LOGO )
Separately, Delphi accepted a proposal from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
and a group of lenders to refinance in full the company's existing $2.0
billion DIP facility and approximately $2.5 billion prepetition revolver
and term loan facilities. In recognition of the favorable environment in
the capital markets and to minimize transaction fees payable by Delphi, the
company has accepted the lenders' undertaking on a best efforts basis
without underwriting by the lenders.
The company is filing motions seeking approval of the agreements with
the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York and will be
filing the relevant agreements this week with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Bankruptcy Court has scheduled a hearing to consider
approval of the plan investment, plan support and DIP refinancing
agreements at 10:00 a.m. EST on Jan. 5, 2007. Objections, if any, to the
agreements must be filed with the Bankruptcy Court by 4:00 p.m. EST on Jan.
2, 2007.
"Today's agreements represent significant milestones in Delphi's
reorganization and another major step forward towards emergence from our
Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S.," said Delphi Chairman and CEO Robert
S. "Steve" Miller. "Delphi has long emphasized its commitment to pursuing a
resolution of the principal issues in our restructuring. The agreements
announced today demonstrate real progress toward that objective. The Plan
Investors' conditional commitment to invest up to $3.4 billion in the
reorganized company, together with their support of Delphi's transformation
plan and our reorganization plan framework, should provide additional
confidence to our customers, suppliers, employees and financial
stakeholders. Similarly, our new $4.5 billion DIP financing provides an
appropriate foundation from which to negotiate and secure emergence
financing. While there is much that remains to be accomplished in our
reorganization, Delphi and its stakeholders are together navigating a
course that should lead to consensual resolution with our U.S. labor unions
and GM while providing an acceptable financial recovery framework for
stakeholders."
EQUITY INVESTMENT
Under the terms of the Equity Purchase and Commitment Agreement
announced today, the Plan Investors will commit to purchase $1.2 billion of
convertible preferred stock and approximately $200 million of common stock
in the reorganized company. Additionally, the Plan Investors will commit to
purchasing any unsubscribed shares of common stock in connection with an
approximately $2.0 billion rights offering that will be made available to
existing common stockholders. The rights offering provides that Delphi will
distribute certain rights to its existing shareholders to acquire new
common stock subject to the effectiveness of a registration statement to be
filed with the SEC, approval of the Bankruptcy Court and satisfaction of
other terms and conditions. The rights, which would be transferable by the
original eligible holders, would permit holders to purchase their pro rata
share of new common stock at a discount to anticipated reorganization
business enterprise value.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Plan Investors will commit to
purchase the number of shares that were offered through the rights offering
to eligible holders, but whose rights were not exercised. In the event no
other shareholders exercised the rights, the Plan Investors would purchase
all of the unsubscribed shares for an amount no greater than approximately
$2.0 billion. Altogether, the Plan Investors could invest up to $3.4
billion in the reorganized company. The investment agreement is subject to
the completion of due diligence to the satisfaction of the Plan Investors
in their sole discretion, satisfaction or waiver of numerous other
conditions (including Delphi's achievement of consensual agreements with
its U.S. labor unions and GM that are acceptable to the Plan Investors in
their sole discretion) and the non-exercise by either Delphi or the Plan
Investors of certain termination rights, all of which are more fully
described in the Equity Purchase and Commitment Agreement.
PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FRAMEWORK
Delphi also filed today a Plan Framework Support Agreement between
Delphi, GM, and the Plan Investors, which outlines Delphi's proposed
framework for a plan of reorganization. While the plan framework is based
on extensive discussions and negotiations among Delphi, GM, the Plan
Investors and Delphi's statutory committees conducted since August of this
year, not every one of the proposed terms and conditions of the plan
framework are necessarily acceptable to Delphi's stakeholders, including
the Company's statutory committees, each of which may determine to oppose
one or more elements of the framework. The Plan Framework Support Agreement
as well as the economics and structure of the plan framework itself are
expressly conditioned on reaching consensual agreements with Delphi's U.S.
labor unions and GM. Both Delphi and the Plan Investors are permitted to
terminate the Equity Purchase and Commitment Agreement (which terminates
the Plan Support Agreement) if consensual agreements are not reached with
labor and GM by Jan. 31, 2007.
The Plan Framework Support Agreement outlines certain plan terms,
including the distributions to be made to creditors and shareholders, the
treatment of GM's claim, the resolution of certain pension funding issues,
and the corporate governance of the reorganized Debtors.
"This plan framework agreement forms a platform for the resolution of
our transformation issues and the formulation of a consensual
reorganization plan," Miller said.
The Plan Framework Support Agreement outlines the following treatment
of claims and interests in Delphi's chapter 11 plan of reorganization:
* All senior secured debt would be refinanced and paid in full and all
allowed administrative and priority claims would be paid in full.
* Trade and other unsecured claims and unsecured funded debt claims would
be satisfied in full with $810 million of common stock (18 million out
of a total of 135.3 million shares) in the reorganized Delphi, at a
deemed value of $45 per share, and the balance in cash. The framework
requires that the amount of allowed trade and unsecured claims (other
than funded debt claims) not exceed $1.7 billion.
* In exchange for GM's financial contribution to Delphi's transformation
plan, and in satisfaction of GM's claims against the company, GM will
receive 7 million out of a total of 135.3 million shares of common stock
in the reorganized Delphi, $2.63 billion in cash, and an unconditional
release of any alleged estate claims against GM. In addition, as with
other customers, certain GM claims would flow-through the chapter 11
cases and be satisfied by the reorganized company in the ordinary course
of business. The plan framework anticipates that GM's financial
contribution to Delphi's transformation plan would include items to be
agreed to between Delphi and GM such as triggering of the GM benefit
guarantees; assumption by GM of certain postretirement health and life
insurance obligations for certain Delphi hourly employees; provision of
flowback opportunities at certain GM facilities for certain Delphi
employees; GM's payment of certain retirement incentives and buyout
costs under current or certain future attrition programs for Delphi
employees; GM's payment of mutually negotiated buy-downs; GM's payment
of certain labor costs for Delphi employees; a revenue plan governing
certain other aspects of the commercial relationship between Delphi and
GM; and GM's support of the wind-down of certain Delphi facilities and
the sales of certain Delphi business lines and sites. While the actual
value of the potential GM contribution cannot be determined until a
consensual resolution with GM is completed, Delphi is aware that GM has
publicly estimated its potential exposure related to Delphi's chapter 11
filing.
* All subordinated debt claims would be allowed and satisfied with $450
million of common stock (10 million out of a total of 135.3 million
shares) in the reorganized Delphi, at a deemed value of $45 per share
and the balance in cash.
* Holders of existing equity securities in Delphi would receive $135
million of common stock (3 million out of a total of 135.3 million
shares) in the reorganized Delphi, at a deemed value of $45 per share,
and rights to purchase approximately 57 million shares of common stock
in the reorganized Delphi for $2.0 billion at a deemed exercise price of
$35 per share (subject to the rights offering becoming effective and
other conditions).
Delphi cautioned that nothing in the plan investment or plan support
agreements, the Court or regulatory filings being made in connection with
the agreements or the company's public disclosures (including this press
release) shall be deemed to a solicitation to accept or reject a plan in
contravention of the Bankruptcy Code nor an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities of the company.
EMERGENCE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The Equity Purchase and Commitment Agreement and the Plan Framework
Support Agreement also include certain corporate governance provisions for
the reorganized Delphi. Under the terms of the proposed plan, the
reorganized Delphi would be governed by a 12 member Board of Directors, 10
of whom would be independent directors and two of whom would be a new
Executive Chairman and a new Chief Executive Officer and President. Most
notably as part of the new corporate governance structure, the current
Delphi Board of Directors along with the Plan Investors, have mutually
recognized that current Delphi President and Chief Operating Officer,
Rodney O'Neal, will be appointed CEO and president of the reorganized
Delphi no later than the effective date of the plan of reorganization.
Separately, Delphi's Board has decided to make O'Neal's CEO appointment
effective Jan. 1, 2007, to allow for the most optimum transition between
Miller and O'Neal before the company emerges from bankruptcy. Concurrent
with O'Neal's appointment, Miller will become Delphi's first Executive
Chair and will continue to oversee the company's chapter 11 reorganization
through emergence.
A five member selection committee, consisting of John D. Opie, Delphi
Board of Director's lead independent director, a representative of each of
Delphi's two statutory committees and a representative of each of Delphi's
two lead Plan Investors -- Cerberus and Appaloosa -- will select the
company's post-emergence Executive Chair as well as four independent
directors (one of whom may be from Delphi's current Board of Directors).
The two lead Plan Investors must both concur in the selection of the
Executive Chair, but do not vote on the four common independent directors
and will each appoint three Board members comprising the remaining six
members of the new board of directors. The new board of directors must
satisfy all exchange/NASDAQ independence requirements. Executive
compensation for the reorganized company must be on market terms, must be
reasonably acceptable to the Plan Investors, and the overall executive
compensation plan design must be described in the company's disclosure
statement and incorporated into the plan of reorganization.
PENSION FUNDING
The Plan Framework Support Agreement reaffirms Delphi's earlier
commitment to preserve its salaried and hourly defined benefit U.S. pension
plans and will include an arrangement to fund approximately $3.5 billion of
its pension obligations. The company agreed that as much as $2 billion of
this amount may be satisfied through GM taking an assignment of Delphi's
net pension obligations under applicable federal law. GM will receive a
note in the amount of such assignment on market terms that will be paid in
full within 10 days following the effective date of a plan of
reorganization. Through this funding, Delphi will make up required
contributions to the plans that were not made in full during the Chapter 11
process.
The company has previously said that one of the goals of its
transformation plan is the retention of existing U.S. defined benefit
pension plans for both its hourly and salaried workforce. In order to
retain the programs and related benefits accrued, Delphi will freeze the
U.S. pension plans no later than at the time of emergence.
"With this funding, Delphi will be able to preserve its pension plans
and become fully funded to the extent required by ERISA," said Miller.
"While other major Chapter 11 labor transformation cases have regrettably
had to terminate their pension plans as part of their restructuring, Delphi
has expended a great deal of effort and energy to save our employees'
pensions."
EXISTING PREPETITION AND DIP LOAN REFINANCING
Given the current favorable conditions in the capital markets, Delphi
will be seeking court approval to enter into a $4.5 billion replacement DIP
financing facility on more favorable terms than the combined DIP and
prepetition term and revolver loan facilities that are being replaced.
Under the terms of the replacement financing facility, Delphi estimates
that it will save approximately $8 million per month in financing costs.
These savings result from the interest rate under the replacement financing
facility being lower than the accrual rate for the adequate protection
payments in respect of the secured prepetition credit facilities, which the
company proposes to repay with a portion of the proceeds of the replacement
financing facility.
The savings generated would preserve additional value of the company's
estates and would enhance the ability to implement its transformation plan
and emerge from chapter 11 protection.
The replacement financing facility will have similar terms as the
existing DIP facility, with certain key exceptions, all of which are
beneficial for Delphi and its estates. The refinancing of the secured
prepetition credit facilities will not impair, in any material respect, the
lien priorities of other holders of secured claims relative to such
facilities. Details of the replacement financing facility and the existing
DIP facility can be found in Delphi's DIP refinancing motion filed with the
Court.
CONSENSUAL AGREEMENT STATUS
While there have been continuing discussions with the company's U.S.
labor unions and GM, the parties have not reached comprehensive agreements
and there are significant differences of views that need to be reconciled
in order to achieve consensual agreements in a timeframe that would permit
Delphi to preserve the plan investment and plan framework and support
agreements announced today.
"While today's agreements are an important step forward in our
transformation, we remain keenly focused on reaching a consensual
resolution with all of our U.S. unions and GM," Miller said. "Our fiduciary
responsibility as debtors-in-possession is to maximize the value of our
estates. Although today's court filings represent an encouraging and
necessary move closer to emergence, we and our counterparts at the
negotiating table must complete our work promptly and on a consensual basis
if Delphi is to emerge from chapter 11 during the first half of 2007."
Consistent with its prior practice, the company will not comment
further regarding the status or substance of its discussions with GM or its
unions while discussions are ongoing.
Delphi's Chapter 11 cases were filed on October 8, 2005, in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and were
assigned to the Honorable Robert D. Drain under lead case number 05-44481
(RDD). Rothschild Inc. serves as investment banker to Delphi and Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP serves as lead counsel to Delphi on the
transactions and in the chapter 11 reorganization cases.
More information on Delphi's U.S. restructuring and access to court
documents, the agreements referenced in this press release and other
general information about the Chapter 11 cases is available at
http://www.delphidocket.com. Information on the case can also be obtained
on the Bankruptcy Court's website with Pacer registration:
http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov. For more information about Delphi and its
operating subsidiaries, visit Delphi's website at http://www.delphi.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release, as well as other statements made by Delphi, may
contain forward-looking statements that reflect, when made, the company's
current views with respect to current events and financial performance.
Such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be,
subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the company's
operations and business environment which may cause the actual results of
the company to be materially different from any future results, express or
implied, by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the company
to continue as a going concern; the ability of the company to operate
pursuant to the terms of the debtor-in- possession facility; the company's
ability to obtain court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11
cases prosecuted by it from time to time; the ability of the company to
develop, prosecute, confirm and consummate one or more plans of
reorganization with respect to the Chapter 11 cases; the company's ability
to satisfy the terms and conditions of the Equity Purchase and Commitment
Agreement with its Plan Investors; the company's ability to satisfy the
terms and conditions of the Plan Framework Support Agreement with GM and
its Plan Investors (including the company's ability to achieve consensual
agreements with GM and its U.S. labor unions on a timely basis that are
acceptable to the Plan Investors in their sole discretion); risks
associated with third parties seeking and obtaining court approval to
terminate or shorten the exclusivity period for the company to propose and
confirm one or more plans of reorganization, for the appointment of a
chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to chapter 7 cases; the ability
of the company to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service
providers; the company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to
its operations; the potential adverse impact of the Chapter 11 cases on the
company's liquidity or results of operations; the ability of the company to
fund and execute its business plan (including the transformation plan
described in Item 1. Business "Potential Divestitures, Consolidations and
Wind-Downs" of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005 filed with the SEC) and to do so in a timely manner; the ability
of the company to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and
associates; the ability of the company to avoid or continue to operate
during a strike, or partial work stoppage or slow down by any of its
unionized employees; and the ability of the company to attract and retain
customers. Other risk factors are listed from time to time in the company's
United States Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including, but
not limited to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005. Delphi disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events and/or otherwise.
Similarly, these and other factors, including the terms of any
reorganization plan ultimately confirmed, can affect the value of the
company's various pre-petition liabilities, common stock and/or other
equity securities. Additionally, no assurance can be given as to what
values, if any, will be ascribed in the bankruptcy proceedings to each of
these constituencies. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of
Delphi's common stock receiving no distribution on account of their
interests and cancellation of their interests. Under certain conditions
specified in the Bankruptcy Code, a plan of reorganization may be confirmed
notwithstanding its rejection by an impaired class of creditors or equity
holders and notwithstanding the fact that equity holders do not receive or
retain property on account of their equity interests under the plan. In
light of the foregoing and as stated in its October 8, 2005, press release
announcing the filing of its Chapter 11 reorganization cases, the company
considers the value of the common stock to be highly speculative and
cautions equity holders that the stock may ultimately be determined to have
no value. Accordingly, the company urges that appropriate caution be
exercised with respect to existing and future investments in Delphi's
common stock or other equity interests or any claims relating to
pre-petition liabilities.
SOURCE Delphi Corp.
back to top
Related links: http://www.delphi.com/media http://www.delphidocket.com http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov http://www.delphi.com
Photo Notes: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061218/NYM076 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/076666.html/
CONTACT: Claudia Piccinin, +1-248-813-2942, or Lindsey Williams, +1-248-813-2528
|