SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of November __,
2007, among Xxxx Corporation ("Xxxx"), on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries
operating as debtors and debtors-in-possession (together with Xxxx, the
"Debtors") in the jointly administered chapter 11 cases in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Bankruptcy Court"),
the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors appointed in the Debtors' chapter
11 cases (the "Creditors' Committee") and Appaloosa Management, L.P.
("Appaloosa").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Appaloosa has appealed (the "Appeal") from the order, entered on
August 1, 2007 (the "Global Settlement Order") approving the resolution and
settlement of (a) the proceedings under 11 U.S.C. Sections 1113 and 1114 between
(i) the Debtors and, respectively, (ii) the United Steelworkers ("USW") and
(iii) the International Union, UAW ("UAW" and, collectively, with the USW, the
"Unions"); and (b) all other issues among the Debtors and each of the USW and
the UAW, which resolution and settlement contemplates an equity investment of
$790 million in the reorganized Debtors (the "Investment") by Centerbridge
Capital Partners, L.P. ("Centerbridge") and/or certain of its affiliates and
certain supporting unsecured creditors (the "Supporting Creditors")
(collectively, the "Global Settlement").
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Global Settlement, among other things: (i)
the Debtors, the Unions, Centerbridge and the Supporting Creditors party thereto
executed an Amended Plan Support Agreement, dated July 26, 2007 (as it may be
amended from time to time and with all exhibits thereto, the "PSA"), which
included as Exhibit B to the PSA, a term sheet for Critical Elements to be
Included in a Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan Term Sheet") and as Exhibit C, a
certain Investment Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2007, among Centerbridge and
certain affiliates of Centerbridge and Xxxx (as it may be amended from time to
time and with all exhibits thereto, the "Investment Agreement").
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2007, Appaloosa executed the PSA as a Supporting
Creditor.
WHEREAS, through October 11, 2007, Appaloosa continued to pursue its
interest in investing in Xxxx and participated in the alternative investment
process established pursuant to the Global Settlement Order, submitting a
binding offer as contemplated thereby and participating in further discussions
regarding same (the "Alternative Proposal").
WHEREAS, on August 31, 2007, the Debtors filed a Joint Plan of
Reorganization of Debtors and Debtors in Possession (as it may be amended, the
"Plan") and the Disclosure Statement for same (as it may be amended, the
"Disclosure Statement") in the Bankruptcy Court that contemplate the equity
investment by Centerbridge and/or certain of its affiliates pursuant to the
Investment Agreement and the other provisions of the Global Settlement.
WHEREAS, the Plan and the Disclosure Statement were subsequently amended
and, following approval of the Bankruptcy Court of the Disclosure Statement on
October 23, 2007
(the "Disclosure Statement Order"), the Plan is being solicited for acceptance
by the Debtors' creditors.
WHEREAS, the Debtors and the Creditors' Committee have each determined, in
light of, among other things, Appaloosa's willingness to withdraw its Appeal,
that it is in the best interests of the Debtors, their estates and their
stakeholders, and fully consistent with, if not required by, their fiduciary
duties, to explore a potential amicable resolution as suggested by Appaloosa,
and the Debtors have so advised the Ad Hoc Steering Committee.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree
as follows (capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning
given them in the Investment Agreement):
1. Waiver of Standstill. Reference is made to the letter agreement (the
"Confidentiality Agreement") between the Debtors and Appaloosa, dated July 21,
2007 with respect to the treatment of Confidential Information (as defined in
the Confidentiality Agreement) in connection with Appaloosa's consideration of a
possible investment in Xxxx. The Debtors hereby waive the restriction of
Paragraph 7(b) of the Confidentiality Agreement to permit Appaloosa to acquire
beneficial ownership of Claims (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) or
debt securities of Xxxx or any of its subsidiaries of up to $250 million in the
aggregate. Appaloosa hereby acknowledges that it and its Representatives and
Advisors (as such terms are defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) may have
received material non-public information concerning the Debtors and are aware
that the federal and state securities laws may prohibit any person who has
material, non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling
securities of such a company or from communicating such information to any other
person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such
person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.
2. Withdrawal of Appeal. Promptly, and in any event within two business
days after Appaloosa, the Creditors' Committee and Xxxx have executed this
Agreement, Appaloosa and Xxxx shall jointly seek an adjournment of the Appeal
pending this Agreement becoming effective. Within two business days after this
Agreement becomes effective, Appaloosa shall withdraw the Appeal with prejudice.
3. Approval of Agreement. Promptly, and in any event within three
business days after Appaloosa, the Creditors' Committee and Xxxx have executed
this Agreement, Xxxx shall file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking entry
of the Approval Order (the "Approval Motion") and thereafter Xxxx shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to have the Approval Motion considered, and
Approval Order entered by the Bankruptcy Court, on an expedited basis. The
Creditors' Committee agrees to file pleadings with the Bankruptcy Court and to
appear at any hearing in support of the granting of the Approval Motion and the
expedited consideration thereof.
4. Appaloosa Expenses. Subject to entry of the Approval Order, the
Creditors' Committee shall support the reimbursement of $2 million of
Appaloosa's reasonable fees and
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expenses incurred in connection with the Debtors' chapter 11 cases, and agrees
to file pleadings and appear at any hearing in support of an award of $2 million
on an application under section 503(b) by Appaloosa for the reimbursement of
fees and expenses incurred on account of its representation by White & Case LLP
and Blackstone Advisory Services, L.P. in connection with the Debtors' chapter
11 cases (the "503(b) Application"). The Debtors shall take no position with
respect to the 503(b) Application. All other parties in interest in the chapter
11 cases reserve the right to object to such applications.
5. PSA Obligations. Appaloosa hereby reaffirms its obligations under the
PSA.
6. Voting.
6.1 The Approval Order (as defined below) shall provide that (a) all
claims against the Debtors held, controlled or owned by Appaloosa or its
affiliates, directly or indirectly, as of the date of this Agreement, shall be
deemed to vote to accept the Plan and consent to the releases provided for
therein, (b) any claims acquired, controlled or held by Appaloosa or its
affiliates subsequent to the date of this Agreement but prior to the deadline
for solicitation of the Plan shall be deemed to vote to accept the Plan and
consent to the releases provided for therein, and (c) notwithstanding the
Disclosure Statement Order, Appaloosa will not object to a determination sought
by the Debtors that any claims acquired, controlled or held by Appaloosa or its
affiliates after the deadline for solicitation of the Plan should be deemed to
have voted to accept the Plan and consented to the releases provided for
therein; provided that in each case the Plan is not amended or modified in a
manner that is materially adverse to Appaloosa. Appaloosa hereby represents and
warrants that annexed hereto as Exhibit A is a true and correct list of all
claims held, controlled or owned, directly or indirectly, as of the date of this
Agreement by Appaloosa and its affiliates. No later than two business day after
the deadline for solicitation of the Plan, Appaloosa agrees to provide a
certified list of all claims, if any, acquired after the date of this Agreement
but prior to the deadline for solicitation of the Plan.
6.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the Disclosure
Statement, the PSA, this Agreement or any other agreement related to the
Investment, Appaloosa agrees that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or
otherwise dispose, directly or indirectly (including by creating any subsidiary
or affiliate for the sole purpose of acquiring any claims against any Debtor)
their right, title or interest in respect of any claim against any Debtor (or
any such claim against any Debtor acquired after the date of this Agreement) ( a
"Transfer"), in whole or in part, or any interest therein (collectively, the
"Relevant Claims") unless the recipient of such Relevant Claim (a "Transferee")
agrees in writing (such writing, a "Transferee Acknowledgment"), prior to such
Transfer, to be bound by Section 6.1 of this Agreement in its entirety without
revisions. Any Transfer that does not comply with this paragraph shall be void
ab initio. In the event of a Transfer, the transferor shall, within five (5)
business days, provide written notice of such transfer to the Debtors, together
with a copy of the Transferee Acknowledgment.
7. PSA Rights. Effective upon the withdrawal of the Appeal, Appaloosa
will be deemed not to be in breach of its obligations under the PSA and the
Debtors and Creditors' Committee shall be deemed to have waived any rights or
remedies they may have had with respect to any prior purported breach thereof.
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8. Support for the Investment. Unless Centerbridge agrees to otherwise in
writing, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement or
order of the Bankruptcy Court, Appaloosa shall not, nor will it encourage any
other person or entity to, (i) object to, delay, impede, appeal, or take any
other action, directly or indirectly, to interfere with, the entry of any order
related to the Investment Agreement, including, but not limited to, any order
related to the Plan or the confirmation thereof or any orders in aid of
confirmation; (ii) commence any proceeding or prosecute, join in, or otherwise
support any action to oppose or object to the Plan or any order in aid of
confirmation; (iii) support or encourage anyone to compete with the Investment
Agreement; and (iv) delay, object to, impede, appeal, or take any other action,
directly or indirectly, to interfere with the acceptance or confirmation of the
Plan, the entry of the an order confirming the Plan or the occurrence of the
effective date of the Plan and the Investment Agreement.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Except for the provisions of the first sentence of Section 2 and all
of Section 3, which shall become effective immediately upon the execution of
this Agreement by each of Xxxx, the Creditors' Committee and Appaloosa, it is an
express condition to the effectiveness of this Agreement that the Bankruptcy
Court shall have entered an order approving this Agreement (the "Approval
Order").
9.2 Each party further acknowledges that no securities of any Debtor are
being offered or sold hereby and that this Agreement does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of any Debtor.
9.3 Each party, severally and not jointly, represents, covenants, warrants
and agrees to each other party, only as to itself and not as to each of the
others, that the following statements, as applicable, are true, correct and
complete (subject, in the Debtors' case, to the entry of the Approval Order) as
of the date hereof:
a. It has all requisite power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
b. It is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of its state of organization and it has the requisite power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder;
c. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance
of its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary
action on its part;
d. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation, enforceable in
accordance with the terms hereof;
e. The execution, delivery, and performance by it (when such
performance is due) of this Agreement do not and shall not (i) violate any
provision of law, rule, or regulation applicable to it or any of its
affiliates or its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other
organizational documents or those of any of its affiliates or (ii) conflict
with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of
time or both) a
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default under any material contractual obligation to which it or any of its
affiliates is a party; and
f. There are no undisclosed agreements or commitments between or
among the parties or, to the knowledge of the parties, any other parties
regarding matters subject to the terms of this Agreement.
9.4 Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, this Agreement may
not be modified, waived, amended or supplemented unless such modification,
waiver, amendment or supplement is in writing and has been signed by each party.
No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or
constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, whether or not
similar, nor shall any waiver be deemed a continuing waiver.
9.5 This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
administrators, and representatives; provided, however, that nothing contained
in this subsection shall be deemed to permit sales, assignments, delegations or
transfers of this Agreement or any party's rights or obligations hereunder.
9.6 Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to confer any rights
or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any person or entity other
than the parties hereto, nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve
or discharge the obligation or liability of any third party to any party to this
Agreement, nor shall any provision give any third party any right of subrogation
or action over or against any party to this Agreement.
9.7 All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (and shall be deemed to have been
duly given upon receipt) if delivered personally, sent via electronic facsimile
(with confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties
at the following addresses:
a. If to the Debtors, to:
Xxxx Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
with a copy to:
Xxxxx Day
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
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b. If to the Creditors' Committee:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
Counsel to the General Unsecured Creditors' Committee
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
T: (000) 000-0000
F: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
c. If to Appaloosa, to:
Appaloosa Management L.P.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
Wachovia Financial Center
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X Xxxxxx
and
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxx
9.8 This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the
same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by
facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a
manually executed signature page of this Agreement.
9.9 This Agreement and the agreements referred to herein (including the
Confidentiality Agreement) constitute the entire agreement among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements,
whether oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.
[Remainder of page intentionally blank; remaining pages are signature
pages and consent.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have each caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their respective, duly authorized representatives
as of the date first above written.
XXXX CORPORATION, on its own behalf and
on behalf of all of the other Debtors
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Authorized Signatory for All of the Debtors
APPALOOSA MANAGEMENT L.P.
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CREDITORS' COMMITTEE
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title
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CONSENT:
The undersigned hereby consent to the foregoing for purposes of the
confidentiality agreement and investment agreement among Xxxx Corporation and
one or all of the undersigned.
CENTERBRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Centerbridge Associates, L.P., its General Partner
By: Centerbridge GP Investors, LLC, its General Partner
By:
---------------------
Name
Title: Authorized Person
CENTERBRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS STRATEGIC, L.P.
By: Centerbridge Associates, L.P., its General Partner
By: Centerbridge GP Investors, LLC, its General Partner
By:
---------------------
Name
Title: Authorized Person
CENTERBRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS SBS, L.P.
By: Centerbridge Associates, L.P., its General Partner
By: Centerbridge GP Investors, LLC, its General Partner
By:
---------------------
Name
Title: Authorized Person
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