AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE IS REACHED TO SETTLE OBJECTIONS TO GRACE’S PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FROM LIBBY, MONTANA CLAIMANTS
Exhibit 99.2
Grace News
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Media Relations: |
Investor Relations: |
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
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T x0 000.000.0000 |
T x0 000.000.0000 |
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E xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx |
E xxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx |
AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE IS REACHED TO SETTLE OBJECTIONS TO
XXXXX’S PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FROM LIBBY, MONTANA CLAIMANTS
COLUMBIA, MARYLAND — January 31, 2012 — X. X. Xxxxx & Co. (NYSE: GRA) announced today that agreements in principle have been reached among itself, co-proponents of its joint plan of reorganization, BNSF railroad, several insurance companies and the representatives of Xxxxx asbestos personal injury claimants, to settle objections to the joint plan. The agreements in principle are subject to execution of definitive agreements and approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Pursuant to the agreements, the objections to the joint plan by the Xxxxx claimants and BNSF would be settled, and those parties would forego any further appeals to the plan.
“I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to bring this settlement together,” said Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx’s Chairman and CEO. “Coupled with today’s District Court decision affirming our plan of reorganization, we are moving closer to emergence.”
Among the items covered in the agreements is a requirement for Grace to turn the currently Grace-operated Xxxxx Medical Program over to a locally administered trust, and to fund the trust with $19.5 million. Xxxxx began the Xxxxx Medical Program in 2000 and has spent more than $20 million on the health care of the participants over the last 11 years. Once the trust assumes responsibility for the Xxxxx Medical Program, Xxxxx will no longer have any operational, funding, or other responsibility for the program.
In addition to amounts funded by Grace under the agreements in principle, settlements involving BNSF, its insurers and the Xxxxx claimants will provide the Xxxxx claimants with additional money. Payments to Xxxxx claimants under the joint plan are not affected by the Xxxxx-Xxxxx agreement regarding Xxxxx Medical Program responsibilities, and would commence shortly after the joint plan becomes effective.
Xxxxx filed for protection under Chapter 11 in 2001. Its joint plan was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in January 2011. On January 31, 2012, the U.S. District Court issued an order denying all appeals of the confirmation order and affirming the Plan in its entirety.
The company will address the developments in its Chapter 11 case in prepared remarks at the introduction of the company’s fourth quarter 2011 earnings teleconference, which will be webcast on Wednesday, February, 1, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. ET. Instructions for accessing the webcast can be found on the Investors Information page at xxx.xxxxx.xxx.
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About Xxxxx
Xxxxx is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace’s web site at xxx.xxxxx.xxx.
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Corporate Communications
X. X. Xxxxx & Co.-Conn.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Columbia, MD 21044
