UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015
or
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-00043
Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 45-6194071 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
c/o Wilmington Trust Company, as trust administrator and trustee Attn: David A. Vanaskey, Jr., Vice President Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware |
19890-1615 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(302) 636-6019
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ¨ No x *
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller Reporting Company | ¨ |
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ¨ No x *
* | The registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but has filed all reports required pursuant to the no-action letter of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the registrant dated May 23, 2012. |
MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY GUC TRUST
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PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||||||
Item 1. |
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Item 2. |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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PART IIOTHER INFORMATION | ||||||
Item 1. |
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Item 1A. |
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Item 2. |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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Item 5. |
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Item 6. |
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Item 1. | Financial Statements. |
Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION (LIQUIDATION BASIS)
(Dollars in thousands)
June 30, 2015 |
March 31, 2015 |
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Unaudited | ||||||||
ASSETS |
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Cash and Cash Equivalents |
$ | 20,286 | $ | 37,483 | ||||
Marketable Securities |
47,869 | 30,944 | ||||||
Accrued Dividends on Holdings of New GM Common Stock (Note 3) |
| 26,524 | ||||||
Holdings of New GM Securities (Note 5) |
790,767 | 917,977 | ||||||
Other Assets and Deposits |
1,514 | 1,038 | ||||||
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TOTAL ASSETS |
860,436 | 1,013,966 | ||||||
LIABILITIES |
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Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities |
5,448 | 4,832 | ||||||
Liquidating Distributions Payable (Note 4) |
14,645 | 7,714 | ||||||
Reserves for Residual Wind-Down Claims (Note 7) |
23,840 | 25,406 | ||||||
Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation (Note 7) |
30,118 | 31,278 | ||||||
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TOTAL LIABILITIES |
74,051 | 69,230 | ||||||
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NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION (Note 3) |
$ | 786,385 | $ | 944,736 | ||||
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See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION (LIQUIDATION BASIS) (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 |
Three Months Ended June 30, 2014 |
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Net Assets in Liquidation, beginning of period |
$ | 944,736 | $ | 1,064,494 | ||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets in liquidation: |
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Net additions to reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation |
(2,331 | ) | (1,844 | ) | ||||
Liquidating distributions (Note 4) |
(7,140 | ) | (10,278 | ) | ||||
Net change in fair value of holdings of New GM Securities |
(127,008 | ) | 69,030 | |||||
Dividends and interest income (net reversal) (Note 3) |
(21,872 | ) | 9,334 | |||||
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Net (decrease) increase in net assets in liquidation |
(158,351 | ) | 66,242 | |||||
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Net Assets in Liquidation, end of period |
$ | 786,385 | $ | 1,130,736 | ||||
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See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (LIQUIDATION BASIS) (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2015 |
Three Months Ended June 30, 2014 |
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Cash flows from (used in) operating activities |
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Cash receipts from dividends and interest |
$ | 4,124 | $ | 4,606 | ||||
Cash paid for professional fees, governance costs and other administrative costs |
(3,339 | ) | (2,623 | ) | ||||
Cash paid for Residual Wind-Down Claims |
(1,052 | ) | (510 | ) | ||||
Cash paid for distributions |
(6 | ) | (84 | ) | ||||
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Net cash flows (used in) from operating activities |
(273 | ) | 1,389 | |||||
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities |
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Cash used to purchase marketable securities |
(37,878 | ) | (30,529 | ) | ||||
Cash from maturities and sales of marketable securities |
20,954 | 35,605 | ||||||
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Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities |
(16,924 | ) | 5,076 | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
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Cash from sale of New GM Securities for distribution |
| 66 | ||||||
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Net cash flows from financing activities |
| 66 | ||||||
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Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(17,197 | ) | 6,531 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
37,483 | 14,932 | ||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 20,286 | $ | 21,463 | ||||
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The GUC Trust has not presented a reconciliation from net income to cash flow from operations. As an entity in liquidation, the GUC Trust does not have continuing operations that result in the measurement of net income as that term is used by generally accepted accounting principles to measure results of operations.
See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
June 30, 2015
1. | Description of Trust and Reporting Policies |
The Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust (GUC Trust) is a successor to Motors Liquidation Company (formerly known as General Motors Corp.) (MLC) for the purposes of Section 1145 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Bankruptcy Code). The GUC Trust holds and directs the distribution of, and pending such distribution administers, certain assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Second Amended and Restated Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust Agreement (the GUC Trust Agreement), dated as of July 30, 2015 and as amended from time to time, and pursuant to the Second Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan (the Plan), dated March 18, 2011, of MLC and its debtor affiliates (collectively, along with MLC, the Debtors), for the benefit of holders of allowed general unsecured claims against the Debtors (Allowed General Unsecured Claims).
The GUC Trust was formed on March 30, 2011, as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, for the purposes of implementing the Plan and distributing the GUC Trusts distributable assets. Wilmington Trust Company serves as trustee and trust administrator of the GUC Trust (in such capacity, and not in its individual capacity, the GUC Trust Administrator), and FTI Consulting, Inc. serves as trust monitor of the GUC Trust (in such capacity, and not in its individual capacity, the GUC Trust Monitor). Subject to qualifications effected by the July 2, 2015 Order (as defined below), the Plan generally provides for the distribution of certain shares of common stock (New GM Common Stock) of the new General Motors Company, formerly known as NGMCO, Inc. (New GM) and any associated Dividend Cash (as defined below), and certain warrants for the purchase of shares of such stock (the New GM Warrants, and, together with the New GM Common Stock, the New GM Securities) to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims pro rata by the amount of such claims. In addition, subject to qualifications effected by the July 2, 2015 Order, the Plan provides that each holder of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim will obtain, in the form of GUC Trust Units (as defined below), a contingent right to receive, on a pro rata basis, additional shares of New GM Common Stock (and associated Dividend Cash) and New GM Warrants (if and to the extent such New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants are not required for the satisfaction of previously Disputed General Unsecured Claims (as defined in Note 2), Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims (as defined in Note 2) or liquidation for the payment of the expenses and liabilities of the GUC Trust), or the proceeds thereof, and certain cash, if any, remaining at the dissolution of the GUC Trust.
By order dated July 2, 2015 (the July 2, 2015 Order), the Bankruptcy Court approved the conversion of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities into cash. To effect such conversion, on July 7, 2015, the GUC Trust converted all of its holdings of New GM Warrants into New GM Common Stock in a cashless exercise. The final amount of New GM Common Stock received by the GUC Trust in respect of the exercised New GM Warrants was slightly higher than previously reported on the GUC Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2015. In total, the GUC Trust converted (i) 10,352,556 New GM Series A Warrants (defined below) into 7,407,155 shares of New GM Common Stock, and (ii) 10,352,556 New GM Series B Warrants (defined below) into 4,953,635 shares of New GM Common Stock. Thereafter, the GUC Trust sold all of its holdings of New GM Common Stock for net proceeds aggregating $741.7 million, having completed all such sales on August 5, 2015. As a result, all distributions by the GUC Trust thereafter in respect of any Allowed General Unsecured Claims (including in respect of the GUC Trust Units) will be made solely in cash. Pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order, the proceeds of such liquidations (net of applicable costs, fees, and expenses paid in respect thereof) were allocated to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust on a pro rata basis in the following manner:
(a) | A GUC Trust beneficiarys entitlement to a particular number of New GM Warrants that were exercised was converted into an entitlement to receive the number of shares of New GM Common Stock into which such New GM Warrants were exercised. Such conversions were .71549 shares of New GM Common Stock for each New GM Series A Warrant and .47849 shares of Common Stock for each New GM Series B Warrant; and |
(b) | A GUC Trust beneficiarys entitlement to a particular number of shares of New GM Common Stock that were liquidated (including the exercised New GM Warrants as set forth above), was converted into an entitlement to receive an amount of cash equal to the weighted average sales price (net of any applicable costs, fees, and expenses paid in respect thereof) of all of the New GM Common Stock sold, multiplied by the number of shares of New GM Common Stock to which such GUC Trust beneficiary would otherwise be entitled (including exercised New GM Warrants as set forth above). Such weighted average sales price for the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Common Stock that were sold subsequent to June 30, 2015 was $31.23 per share. |
Following the liquidation described above, the GUC Trust invested a portion of the proceeds in certain marketable securities as permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement. The amount of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held for distribution to GUC Trust beneficiaries is referred to herein as Distributable Cash.
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The GUC Trust exists solely for the purpose of resolving claims, distributing New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (and associated Dividend Cash) and winding down the affairs of MLC, all in accordance with a plan of liquidation of MLC approved by the Bankruptcy Court and the July 2, 2015 Order. Accordingly, the GUC Trust has prepared the accompanying financial statements on the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Under the liquidation basis of accounting, assets are stated at their estimated realizable value, which is the non-discounted amount of cash into which an asset is expected to be converted during the liquidation period, while liabilities continue to be recognized at the amount required by other U.S. GAAP, and are not remeasured to reflect any anticipation that an entity will be legally released from an obligation. Additionally, under the liquidation basis of accounting, a reserve is established for estimated costs expected to be incurred during the liquidation period. Such costs are accrued when there is a reasonable basis for estimation. Also, an accrual is made for estimated income or cash expected to be received over the liquidation period to the extent that a reasonable basis for estimation exists. These estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as appropriate. The valuation of assets at realizable value, the accrual for interest income on marketable securities and dividends on the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Common Stock expected to be received over the liquidation period, reserves for residual wind-down claims and reserves for expected liquidation costs represent estimates, are based on present facts and circumstances known to the GUC Trust Administrator, and are subject to change. As described above, the GUC Trust liquidated all of its holdings of New GM Securities subsequent to June 30, 2015. As described in Note 5, a loss was incurred on such liquidation as a result of a decline in the average trading price of New GM Common Stock subsequent to June 30, 2015 through August 5, 2015, the date of completion of the sales of New GM Common Stock. Under U.S. GAAP, such decline in the trading price of New GM Common Stock has not been reflected in the valuation of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities at June 30, 2015 in the accompanying financial statements. Rather, such loss will be recognized in the GUC Trusts financial statements in the period of liquidation of the New GM Securities.
As described above, the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust are future holders and, to the extent their liquidating distributions have not yet been paid to them, current holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and future and current holders of GUC Trust Units (Trust Beneficiaries). As Disputed General Unsecured Claims are resolved and allowed and thereby become Allowed General Unsecured Claims, the holders thereof become entitled to receive liquidating distributions of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (as defined below) (and the related Dividend Cash) and GUC Trust Units pro rata by the amount of such Claims and, upon such occurrence, the GUC Trust incurs an obligation to distribute such securities or the proceeds thereof and cash. Accordingly, liquidating distributions payable are recorded (at the fair value of such New GM Securities or Distributable Cash and the related Dividend Cash) as of the end of the period in which the Disputed General Unsecured Claims are resolved as Allowed General Unsecured Claims. Similarly, to the extent potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims were to arise (and would become allowed) in the manner described in Note 2, liquidating distributions payable would be recorded for the New GM Securities or Distributable Cash and the related Dividend Cash (at fair value) that would become distributable to holders of Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims upon such occurrence. Prior to the resolution and allowance of Disputed General Unsecured Claims (or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims), liabilities are not recorded for the conditional obligations associated with Disputed General Unsecured Claims or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. Rather, the beneficial interests of Trust Beneficiaries in the residual assets of the GUC Trust are reflected in Net Assets in Liquidation of the GUC Trust in the accompanying financial statements.
The accompanying (a) condensed statement of net assets in liquidation at March 31, 2015, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The GUC Trust believes all adjustments, normal and recurring in nature, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The changes in net assets in liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the changes in net assets that may be expected for the full year. The GUC Trust believes that, although the disclosures contained herein are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading, the accompanying interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the GUC Trusts financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2015 included in Form 10-K filed by the GUC Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2015.
The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the GUC Trust Administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and are subject to change.
Changes to U.S. GAAP are made by the FASB in the form of accounting standards updates (ASUs) to the FASBs Accounting Standards Codification. The GUC Trust considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not noted herein were assessed and determined to be not applicable.
2. | Plan of Liquidation |
On March 31, 2011, the date the Plan became effective (the Effective Date), there were approximately $29,771 million in Allowed General Unsecured Claims. In addition, as of the Effective Date, there were approximately $8,154 million in disputed general unsecured claims which reflects liquidated disputed claims and a Bankruptcy Court ordered distribution reserve for unliquidated
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disputed claims (Disputed General Unsecured Claims), but does not reflect potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. The total aggregate amount of general unsecured claims, both allowed and disputed, asserted against the Debtors, inclusive of the potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims, was approximately $39,425 million as of the Effective Date.
Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, holders of Disputed General Unsecured Claims have become entitled to receive a distribution of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash from the GUC Trust if, and to the extent that, such Disputed General Unsecured Claims become Allowed General Unsecured Claims. Under the GUC Trust Agreement, the GUC Trust Administrator has the authority to file objections to such Disputed General Unsecured Claims and such claims may be prosecuted through alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration (ADR Proceedings), if appropriate. As of June 30, 2015, there was one remaining Disputed General Unsecured Claim of approximately $20.0 million, which was subject to pending objections filed by the GUC Trust. In addition, as of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust held as reserves for Disputed General Unsecured Claims approximately $50.0 million in claim amount that is not associated with any particular claim but which has been set aside by the GUC Trust Administrator as a general claim contingency. See Allowed and Disputed Claims below.
To the extent that all or a portion of a Disputed General Unsecured Claim is deemed invalidor disallowedby order of the Bankruptcy Court, by order of the tribunal presiding over the ADR Proceeding (if applicable), or by settlement with the GUC Trust, such portion of the Disputed General Unsecured Claim that is disallowed is not entitled to a distribution from the GUC Trust (subject to any appeal rights of the claimant). However, to the extent that a Disputed General Unsecured Claim is fully resolved, and such resolution results in all or a portion of the original Disputed General Unsecured Claim being deemed validor allowedby order of the Bankruptcy Court, by order of the tribunal presiding over the ADR Proceeding (if applicable), or by settlement with the GUC Trust, such portion of the Disputed General Unsecured Claim that is allowed will be (subject to any appeal rights of the GUC Trust) considered an Allowed General Unsecured Claim on the Effective Date (such claims, Resolved Disputed Claims).
Only one avoidance action, captioned Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Motors Liquidation Co. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. et al., Adv. Pro. No. 09-00504 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 31, 2009) (the Term Loan Avoidance Action), was commenced prior to the statutory deadline for commencing such actions. The Term Loan Avoidance Action was commenced by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Motors Liquidation Company (the Committee), and seeks the return of approximately $1.5 billion that had been transferred by the Debtors (with funds advanced after the commencement of the Debtors chapter 11 cases by the United States Treasury and Export Development Canada (together, the DIP Lenders)) to a consortium of prepetition lenders pursuant to the terms of the order of the Bankruptcy Court. On December 15, 2011, in accordance with the Plan, upon the dissolution of MLC, the Term Loan Avoidance Action was transferred to the Avoidance Action Trust (as defined below). To the extent that Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as the trustee and trust administrator of the Avoidance Action Trust (the Avoidance Action Trust Administrator), is successful in obtaining a judgment against the defendant(s) to the Term Loan Avoidance Action, Allowed General Unsecured Claims will arise in the amount of any transfers actually avoided and disgorged pursuant thereto (such general unsecured claims Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims, and together with Resolved Disputed Claims, the Resolved Allowed Claims).
It is still unclear whether any amounts actually avoided pursuant to the Term Loan Avoidance Action would be for the benefit of holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims. The Committee has taken the position that (a) except for the reimbursement of certain costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust, the DIP Lenders are not entitled to any proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action and have no interests in the trust established for the action under the Plan (the Avoidance Action Trust) and (b) except for the reimbursement of certain costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust payable to the DIP Lenders, the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims have the exclusive right to receive any and all proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, and are the exclusive beneficiaries of the Avoidance Action Trust with respect thereto.
As described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, litigation with respect to these issues is ongoing, and the rights to any recoveries on the Term Loan Avoidance Action are still disputed. Pursuant to the Plan, however, no funds reclaimed from the pre-petition lenders will be transferred to or otherwise benefit the GUC Trust or be distributed to holders of GUC Trust Units.
GUC Trust Distributable Assets
Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Bankruptcy Court authorized the distribution by New GM of 150 million shares of New GM Common Stock, warrants to acquire 136,363,635 newly issued shares of New GM Stock with an exercise price set at $10.00 per share, expiring July 10, 2016 (New GM Series A Warrants), and warrants to acquire 136,363,635 newly issued shares of New GM Stock with an exercise price set at $18.33 per share, expiring July 10, 2019 (New GM Series B Warrants). Record ownership of the New GM Securities was held by MLC for the benefit of the GUC Trust until the dissolution of MLC on December 15, 2011, at which time record ownership was transferred to the GUC Trust.
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As described above, pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order, during July and August 2015, all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated and a portion of the proceeds thereof were invested in certain marketable securities as permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement.
Through June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust received dividends on the New GM Common Stock it held aggregating $24.7 million. Such dividends are required to be applied to the same purpose as the New GM Common Stock to which such dividends relate. If shares of New GM Common Stock or the applicable portion of Distributable Cash are distributed to holders of subsequently Resolved Allowed Claims and GUC Trust Units, then the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will also be distributed to such holders. If, however, shares of New GM Common Stock are sold by the GUC Trust or Distributable Cash is appropriated in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement to fund the costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust, then, in that case, the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will be applied to such costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust and (just like the cash proceeds from the sale of the shares of New GM Common Stock or appropriation of Distributable Cash) will be maintained as Other Administrative Cash (as defined below). Because such dividends are applied to the same purposes as the associated New GM Common Stock, references in this Form 10-Q to New GM Common Stock, New GM Securities and Distributable Cash that have been set aside from distribution, reserved or sold should be understood to include the dividends (if any) relating to such New GM Common Stock or Distributable Cash, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the GUC Trust that relates to dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust is referred to as Dividend Cash. Such Dividend Cash aggregated $21.2 million at June 30, 2015.
Funding for GUC Trust Costs of Liquidation
The GUC Trust has incurred and will continue to incur certain costs to liquidate the trust assets and implement the Plan. On or about the Effective Date, pursuant to the Plan, MLC contributed approximately $52.7 million to the GUC Trust to be held and maintained by the GUC Trust Administrator (the Administrative Fund) for the purpose of paying certain fees and expenses (including certain tax obligations) incurred by the GUC Trust (including fees of the GUC Trust Administrator and the GUC Trust Monitor and the fees and expenses for professionals retained by the GUC Trust), other than the Reporting Costs, as defined below (Wind-Down Costs). As of June 30, 2015, the remaining Administrative Fund aggregated $8.3 million (consisting of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities). Such remaining amount has been designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust (a substantial majority of which will likely not be incurred and, therefore, will likely be returned to the DIP Lenders), and such amounts may not be used for the payment of Trust Professionals fees and expenses or other Wind-Down Costs. Cash or investments from the Administrative Fund, if any, which remain at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust must be returned to the DIP Lenders.
The GUC Trust Agreement authorized the GUC Trust to liquidate approximately $5.7 million of New GM Securities (the Initial Reporting Cash) shortly after the Effective Date for the purposes of funding certain fees and expenses of the GUC Trust (the Reporting Costs), including those directly or indirectly relating to (i) reports to be prepared and filed by the GUC Trust pursuant to applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) the transfer, registration for transfer and certification of GUC Trust Units, and (iii) the application by the Committee to the Internal Revenue Service for a private letter ruling regarding the tax treatment of the GUC Trust and the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims in respect to the distribution of New GM Securities. The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the Administrative Fund may not be utilized to satisfy any Reporting Costs.
The GUC Trust Agreement provides that, if the GUC Trust Administrator determines that the Administrative Fund is not sufficient to satisfy the current or projected Wind-Down Costs or the Initial Reporting Cash is not sufficient to satisfy the current or projected Reporting Costs, the GUC Trust Administrator, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, is authorized to set aside New GM Securities or Distributable Cash from distribution for these purposes. The GUC Trust Administrator may then liquidate such set aside New GM Securities or appropriate such Distributable Cash to fund the Wind-Down Costs and/or Reporting Costs with the required approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities or Distributable Cash that are set aside and/or sold or appropriated in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and the cash proceeds of any such sale or appropriation of Distributable Cash (including related Dividend Cash) will be classified as Other Administrative Cash under the GUC Trust Agreement. Although any such liquidation of set aside New GM Securities has been reflected in the financial statements of the GUC Trust at the time of liquidation, the setting aside of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash, including Dividend Cash, itself is not, and has not been, reflected in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust. Separate from this process of setting aside New GM Securities or Distributable Cash to satisfy unfunded projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust, as a matter of financial reporting, the GUC Trust records a reserve in its Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation (the source of funding of which is not addressed therein) for all expected costs of liquidation for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation. For this reason, among others, there is not a direct relationship between the amount of such reserve reflected in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and the value of any New GM Securities or Distributable Cash that are set aside for current or projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust. Adjustments to the Reserve for Expected Costs of Liquidation as reported in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation are recorded only when there is a reasonable basis for estimation of the expected incurrence of additional costs or a reduction in expected costs. For more information regarding the Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation reflected in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation, see Note 7.
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The Bankruptcy Court previously approved in March and December 2012, and again in January 2015, the sale of New GM Securities to fund the then current and projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust. The March 2012 Bankruptcy Court order also authorized the sale of further New GM Securities aggregating $13.7 million for the purpose of funding certain fees, costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust and the transfer of the sale proceeds to the Avoidance Action Trust (such sale proceeds were so transferred in May 2012). Through June 30, 2015, sales of New GM Securities to fund projected Reporting Costs and Wind-Down Costs through calendar year 2015 aggregated approximately $61.7 million, including Dividend Cash of $0.2 million and the Initial Reporting Cash (which amounts comprised part of the GUC Trusts Other Administrative Cash). Such securities sold aggregated 1,043,801 shares of New GM Common Stock, 948,887 New GM Series A Warrants and 948,887 New GM Series B Warrants. There have been no subsequent sales of securities or appropriation of Distributable Cash to fund Wind-Down Costs and Reporting Costs.
As of June 30, 2015, Other Administrative Cash aggregated $11.2 million. To the extent that any of the Other Administrative Cash is not ultimately required and is held by the GUC Trust at the time of its dissolution, such remaining Other Administrative Cash will be distributed by the GUC Trust to holders of the GUC Trust Units.
As of June 30, 2015, New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value as of that date of $53.5 million and related Dividend Cash of $1.4 million were set aside for projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses to be incurred beyond 2015, including $7.6 million set aside for projected income taxes on dividends received on holdings of New GM Common Stock as described below in Funding for Potential Tax Liabilities on Dispositions of New GM Securities and Dividends on New GM Common Stock. Accordingly, such New GM Securities were not available for distribution to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust Units. As described above, subsequent to June 30, 2015, all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated and, following such liquidation, set asides for projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses are comprised solely of Distributable Cash (and Dividend Cash).
Funding for Potential Tax Liabilities on Dispositions of New GM Securities and Dividends on New GM Common Stock
The GUC Trust is subject to U.S. federal income tax on realized net gains from the distribution and sale of New GM Securities (such taxes, Taxes on Distribution). The GUC Trust is also subject to U.S. federal income tax on dividends received on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust (such taxes, Dividend Taxes) and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on investment income earned on Distributable Cash (such taxes, Investment Income Taxes. The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the Administrative Fund may not be utilized to satisfy any Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. As such, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, to set aside from distribution New GM Securities or Distributable Cash in amounts that would be sufficient (upon liquidation of the set aside New GM Securities or appropriation of the set aside Distributable Cash) to satisfy any potential Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. The New GM Securities or Distributable Cash that are set aside for Dividend Taxes (and that may be set aside in the future for Investment Income Taxes) are included in the set-aside for Wind-Down Costs described above in Funding for GUC Trust Costs of Liquidation. The GUC Trust Administrator may liquidate such set aside New GM Securities or appropriate such set aside Distributable Cash to fund the Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor and, with respect to Dividend Taxes and Investment Income Taxes only, with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities that are set aside and subsequently sold or Distributable Cash that is subsequently appropriated in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and the cash proceeds of any such sale or appropriation of Distributable Cash, along with the related Dividend Cash, will be classified as Other Administrative Cash under the GUC Trust Agreement. New GM Securities that have been so set aside are included in Holdings of New GM Securities in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation. Following the liquidation of all New GM Securities in July and August 2015 described above, set aside Distributable Cash will be reflected in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities until expended to pay Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. While the set-aside New GM Securities or Distributable Cash and the related Dividend Cash are not available for distribution, there is no corresponding liability or reserve related to such set-aside assets reflected in the Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust Administrator reviewed the current and potential Taxes on Distribution. As a result of such review, the GUC Trust Administrator determined that New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value (as of June 30, 2015) of $252.4 million and related Dividend Cash of $6.8 million should be set aside for potential Taxes on Distribution based on (1) the GUC Trusts method for calculating potential gains on distributions or sales of New GM Securities (reduced by certain net operating losses and estimated future deductible expenses at June 30, 2015) and (2) the GUC Trusts method for converting the potential tax liability to the number of securities to be set aside. As of June 30, 2015, such New GM Securities were not available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units. As described above, subsequent to June 30, 2015, all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated and, following such liquidation, set asides for potential Taxes on Distribution and Dividend Taxes are comprised solely of Distributable Cash (and Dividend Cash). The GUC Trust Administrator intends to continue to reevaluate the numbers of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash set aside on a quarterly basis.
8
As previously disclosed, during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the GUC Trust made a determination to file its U.S. federal income tax returns taking the position that beneficial ownership for a substantial majority of New GM Securities was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust on March 31, 2011, and that the tax basis of such New GM Securities should be determined with reference to the value of such securities on such date, instead of December 15, 2011, when record ownership of the remaining New GM Securities still held by MLC was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust. For the remaining substantial minority of New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust, the GUC Trust determined that the transfer of beneficial ownership occurred on other dates for which the tax basis should be determined by reference to the value of such securities on such dates. This new tax position resulted in an increased tax basis of the New GM Securities from the prior tax position and, therefore, reduced taxable gains and increased taxable losses on distributions and sales of New GM Securities since March 31, 2011. The new tax position has not been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service as of the date hereof. However, the GUC Trust believes, based on the available evidence and consultation with GUC Trust professionals, that it is more likely than not that the new tax position will be sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service based on the technical merits of the position. Accordingly, this new tax position has been recognized in the current and deferred income tax liabilities and the income tax provision in the GUC Trusts financial statements since the quarter ended September 30, 2013.
Following the GUC Trusts determination to utilize the new tax position set forth above, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 with the Internal Revenue Service using such new tax position. Such tax returns were accompanied by requests for prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and the statutory notification periods set forth in Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2014 and prior years have expired. Accordingly, the tax liabilities set forth in the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2014 and prior years are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. However, remaining capital loss carryovers that were generated in those years, combined with capital losses generated in the year ended March 31, 2015 and the quarter ended June 30, 2015, from the new tax position, which aggregate $187.0 million, along with net operating loss carryovers generated through June 30, 2015 aggregating $86.6 million, could be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service in subsequent years when those losses are utilized.
In contrast to the GUC Trusts financial statements, as a conservative measure, the calculation of the set aside of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash for potential Taxes on Distribution utilizes the prior tax position rather than the new tax position to the extent that the GUC Trusts liability for Taxes on Distribution has not been finally determined in accordance with Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or the new tax position has not been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, the potential tax liability for the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax returns for the year ending March 31, 2015 and subsequent years is calculated, for purposes of the set aside of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash for potential Taxes on Distribution, using the prior tax position rather than the new tax position. In addition, the set aside calculation does not recognize any reductions related to remaining net operating loss carryovers or capital loss carryovers for losses on distributions or sales of New GM Securities that are attributable to the March 31, 2015 tax year or prior tax years, until such carryovers are utilized and such utilization is finally determined in accordance with Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or the new tax position has been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
With respect to Dividend Taxes, prior to the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the set aside for Dividend Taxes was based on (a) dividends received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Common Stock and (b) dividends that were declared but not yet paid by New GM and expected to be received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Common Stock. No additional set aside of New GM Securities was made for any potential dividends to be declared by New GM in the future. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the GUC Trust Administrator, in consultation with Trust Professionals, determined that it was necessary to increase the set aside for Wind-Down Costs in an amount sufficient, in the reasonable estimation of the GUC Trust Administrator, to cover estimated Dividend Taxes associated with anticipated potential future dividends estimated to be declared by New GM in the future and to be received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Common Stock through December 2016. For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, no such potential future dividends are anticipated to be received by the GUC Trust due to the sale of all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Common Stock in July and August 2015 as described above. Accordingly, the set aside for Wind-Down Costs at June 30, 2015 no longer includes estimated Dividend Taxes on future dividends. For additional information, see Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution in Item 2 (Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) below.
Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs
Upon the dissolution of the Debtors, which occurred on December 15, 2011, the GUC Trust became responsible for resolving and satisfying (to the extent allowed) all remaining disputed administrative expenses, priority tax claims, priority non-tax claims and secured claims (the Residual Wind-Down Claims). On December 15, 2011, under the Plan, the Debtors transferred to the GUC
9
Trust an amount of assets necessary (the Residual Wind-Down Assets) to satisfy the ultimate allowed amount of such Residual Wind-Down Claims (including certain reasonable litigation defense costs related to the Term Loan Avoidance Action (the Avoidance Action Defense Costs)), as estimated by the Debtors, and the costs, fees and expenses relating to satisfying and resolving the Residual Wind-Down Claims (the Residual Wind-Down Costs). The Residual Wind-Down Assets initially aggregated approximately $42.8 million (which amount consisted of approximately $40.0 million in cash, including approximately $1.4 million designated for the payment of Avoidance Action Defense Costs, and the transferred benefit of approximately $2.8 million in prepaid expenses). Should the Residual Wind-Down Costs and the Residual Wind-Down Claims be less than the Residual Wind-Down Assets, any excess funds will be returned to the DIP Lenders. If, at any time, the GUC Trust Administrator determines that the Residual Wind-Down Assets are not adequate to satisfy the Residual Wind-Down Claims (including the actual amount of Avoidance Action Defense Costs) and Residual Wind-Down Costs, such costs will be satisfied by Other Administrative Cash. If there is no remaining Other Administrative Cash, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized to, with GUC Trust Monitor approval, set aside and, with Bankruptcy Court approval, sell New GM Securities or appropriate Distributable Cash to cover the shortfall. To the extent that New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are set aside and sold or appropriated to obtain funding to complete the wind-down of the Debtors, such securities or Distributable Cash will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust. Therefore, the amount of Residual Wind-Down Claims and Residual Wind-Down Costs could reduce the assets of the GUC Trust available for distribution. Although any such sale of set-aside New GM Securities or appropriation of Distributable Cash would be reflected in the financial statements of the GUC Trust in the period of sale or appropriation, the setting aside of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash and related Dividend Cash itself would not be reflected in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust. After the GUC Trust has concluded its affairs, any funds remaining that were obtained from the sale of New GM Securities or appropriation of Distributable Cash to fund the wind-down process or the resolution and satisfaction of the Residual Wind-Down Claims will be distributed to the holders of the GUC Trust Units.
The amount of Avoidance Action Defense Costs incurred to date exceeds the corresponding cash of $1.4 million received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date by approximately $5.5 million. As a result, new Residual Wind-Down Claims have arisen in the amount of such excess. It is expected that additional Avoidance Action Defense Costs will be incurred for which additional Residual Wind-Down Claims will arise to be paid from the other remaining Residual Wind-Down Assets and, following the depletion of such assets, the Administrative Fund (to the extent of any excess amounts remaining in the Administrative Fund from the funds designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust), Other Administrative Cash or the appropriation of Distributable Cash. As of June 30, 2015, $27.2 million in Residual Wind-Down Assets were held by the GUC Trust, which are recorded in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities (aggregating approximately $27.1 million) and other assets and deposits (approximately $0.1 million) in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. By comparison, there were approximately $0.5 million in Residual Wind-Down Claims against such assets as of June 30, 2015, subject to increase for new Residual Wind-Down Claims that are expected to arise for Avoidance Action Defense Costs.
In addition to the Residual Wind-Down Assets, the GUC Trust also received on the Dissolution Date approximately $3.4 million in cash from MLC, which amount included: (i) $1.4 million in respect of certain costs, fees and expenses payable under the Plan to the indenture trustees and fiscal and paying agents for the previously outstanding debt of MLC (the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs), and (ii) $2.0 million in respect of Reporting Costs. The funds received were credited to the reserve for expected costs of liquidation. Any unused portion of the funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs must be returned to the DIP Lenders and will not be available for distribution to the holders of GUC Trust Units at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust. As of June 30, 2015, funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs held by the GUC Trust approximated $0.4 million and are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation.
3. | Net Assets in Liquidation |
Description
Under the GUC Trust Agreement and the Plan, as described more fully in Note 1, the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust are future and, to the extent their liquidating distributions have not yet been paid to them, current holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and future and current holders of GUC Trust Units. Certain assets of the GUC Trust are reserved for funding the expected costs of liquidation and potential tax liabilities and are currently not available to the Trust Beneficiaries. Other assets of the GUC Trust, primarily Holdings of New GM Securities, as described in Notes 1 and 5, have been available to be distributed to the Trust Beneficiaries (GUC Trust Distributable Assets) in accordance with the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement. As described in Notes 1 and 5, subsequent to June 30, 2015, all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated and a portion of the proceeds thereof were invested in certain marketable securities as permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement. The amounts of net assets in liquidation presented in the accompanying Condensed Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation at June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, correspond to the amounts of GUC Trust Distributable Assets as of June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, after certain adjustments.
10
Accrued Dividends on Holdings of New GM Common Stock
As of March 31, 2015, the GUC Trust accrued approximately $22.4 million in estimated dividends expected to be declared by New GM in the future and received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Common Stock over its estimated remaining liquidation period. Subsequent thereto, based on a determination that it would be in the best interests of Trust Beneficiaries, the GUC Trust made the determination to file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking authority to liquidate all or substantially all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities. Such motion was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in the July 2, 2015 Order described above and all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated in July and August 2015. Accordingly, the GUC Trust no longer expects to receive dividends on New GM Common Stock. Accordingly, previously accrued estimated future dividends have been reversed and no accrual of additional dividends has been made as of June 30, 2015.
Trust Units
As described in Note 1, under the Plan, each holder of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim retains a contingent right to receive, on a pro rata basis, additional shares of New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants or Distributable Cash (if and to the extent not required for the satisfaction of previously Disputed General Unsecured Claims or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims, or liquidation or appropriation for the payment of the expenses or tax liabilities of the GUC Trust) and certain cash, if any, remaining at the dissolution of the GUC Trust. The GUC Trust issues units representing such contingent rights (GUC Trust Units) at the rate of one GUC Trust Unit per $1,000 of Allowed General Unsecured Claims to each holder of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim, subject to rounding pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, in connection with the initial recognition of each Allowed General Unsecured Claim.
The GUC Trust makes quarterly liquidating distributions to holders of GUC Trust Units to the extent that (i)(a) certain previously Disputed General Unsecured Claims asserted against the Debtors estates or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims are either disallowed or are otherwise resolved favorably to the GUC Trust (thereby reducing the amount of GUC Trust assets reserved for distribution in respect of such asserted or potential claims) or (b) certain Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets (as defined in the GUC Trust Agreement) that were previously set aside from distribution are released in the manner permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement, and (ii) as a result of the foregoing, the amount of Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets (as defined in the GUC Trust Agreement) as of the end of the relevant quarter exceeds thresholds set forth in the GUC Trust Agreement.
As of June 30, 2015, GUC Trust Units aggregating 31,853,702 were outstanding. Such number represents GUC Trust Units issued in respect of Allowed General Unsecured Claims that were allowed in prior periods, including GUC Trust Units held by the GUC Trust for the benefit of (a) holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims who had not yet supplied information required by the GUC Trust in order to effect the initial distribution to which they are entitled and (b) governmental entities that are precluded by applicable law from receiving distributions of GUC Trust Units and New GM Securities. There were no GUC Trust Units issued during the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Allowed and Disputed Claims
The total cumulative pro rata liquidating distributions ultimately received by Trust Beneficiaries is dependent upon the current amount of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and final resolution of outstanding Disputed General Unsecured Claims and potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims (as described in Note 2). Disputed General Unsecured Claims at June 30, 2015 reflect claim amounts at their originally filed amounts, a court ordered distribution set aside for certain claims filed without a claim amount and other adjustments as ordered by the court or permitted by the Plan. The Disputed General Unsecured Claims may settle at amounts that differ significantly from these amounts and at amounts that differ significantly from the historical pattern at which claims have been settled and allowed in proportion to claims resolved and disallowed. As described in Note 1, prior to the resolution and allowance of Disputed General Unsecured Claims (or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims), liabilities are not recorded for the conditional obligations associated with Disputed General Unsecured Claims. Liquidating distributions payable are recorded (at the fair value of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash to be distributed) as of the end of the period in which the Disputed General Unsecured Claims are resolved as Allowed General Unsecured Claims. Similarly, to the extent potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims were to arise (and would become allowed) in the manner described in Note 2, liquidating distributions payable would be recorded for the New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (at fair value) that would become distributable to holders of Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims upon such occurrence.
11
The following table presents a summary of the Allowed and Disputed General Unsecured Claims and potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims for the three months ended June 30, 2015:
(in thousands) | Allowed General Unsecured Claims |
Disputed General Unsecured Claims |
Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims |
Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims (1) |
Total Claim Amount (2) |
|||||||||||||||
Total, March 31, 2015 |
$ | 31,853,630 | $ | 70,000 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 1,570,000 | $ | 33,423,630 | ||||||||||
New Allowed General Unsecured Claims, net |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
Disputed General Unsecured Claims resolved or disallowed |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total, June 30, 2015 |
$ | 31,853,630 | $ | 70,000 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 1,570,000 | $ | 33,423,630 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims represents the sum of Disputed General Unsecured Claims and Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. |
(2) | Total Claim Amount represents the sum of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims. |
4. | Liquidating Distributions |
Liquidating distributions in the three months ended June 30, 2015 consisted of the following:
(in thousands) | Fair Value | |||
Distributions during the period |
$ | 209 | ||
Less: Liquidating distributions payable at March 31, 2015 |
(7,714 | ) | ||
Add: Liquidating distributions payable at June 30, 2015 |
14,645 | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | 7,140 | ||
|
|
The distributions during the three months ended June 30, 2015 consisted of distributions to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims who previously failed to fulfill informational requirements for distribution established in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement, but subsequently successfully fulfilled such information requirements.
The GUC Trust was obligated at June 30, 2015 to distribute 204,336 shares of New GM Stock, 185,686 of New GM Series A Warrants, and 185,686 of New GM Series B Warrants in the aggregate to the following: (1) holders of GUC Trust Units for excess distributions payable and (2) certain holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims who had not then satisfied certain informational requirements necessary to receive these securities. As described in Notes 1 and 5, subsequent to June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust liquidated all of its holdings of New GM Securities. Following such liquidation, the GUC Trust was obligated to distribute Distributable Cash aggregating $13.3 million in lieu of such New GM Securities. In addition, as of June 30, 2015, cash of $0.4 million was then distributable as follows: (a) for Dividend Cash associated with the New GM Common Stock that the GUC Trust was obligated to distribute, (b) to governmental entities which are precluded by applicable law from receiving distributions of New GM Securities, and (c) for distributions in lieu of fractional shares and warrants.
5. | Holdings of New GM Securities |
At June 30, 2015, the Holdings of New GM Securities, at fair value, consisted of the following:
Number | Fair Value (in thousands) |
|||||||
New GM Common Stock |
11,388,041 | $ | 379,563 | |||||
New GM Series A Warrants |
10,352,556 | 246,081 | ||||||
New GM Series B Warrants |
10,352,556 | 165,123 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 790,767 | ||||||
|
|
As described in Note 4, as of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust had accrued liquidating distributions payable aggregating $14.6 million, consisting of $14.2 million in respect of New GM Securities and cash of $0.4 million then distributable. As a result, the numbers of New GM Securities reflected above include shares and warrants for which liquidating distributions were then pending. As of June 30, 2015, these securities for which distributions were then pending aggregated 204,336 shares of New GM Common Stock, 185,686 Series A Warrants and 185,686 Series B Warrants.
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As of June 30, 2015, the number of common stock shares and warrants in the table above also includes New GM Securities aggregating $53.5 million (excluding related Dividend Cash) reserved, or set aside, for projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses to be incurred beyond 2015 (including $7.4 million for projected Dividend Taxes) and $252.4 million (excluding related Dividend Cash) of New GM Securities reserved, or set aside, for potential Taxes on Distribution. As a result, as of June 30, 2015, the numbers of New GM Securities in the table above include an aggregate of 4,406,295 shares of New GM Common Stock, 4,005,697 New GM Series A Warrants, and 4,005,697 New GM Series B Warrants which have been so set aside.
Set forth below are the aggregate number and fair value of all such shares and warrants which were pending distribution or were reserved, or set aside, and were not available for distribution at June 30, 2015.
Number | Fair Value (in thousands) |
|||||||
New GM Common Stock |
4,610,631 | $ | 153,672 | |||||
New GM Series A Warrants |
4,191,383 | 99,629 | ||||||
New GM Series B Warrants |
4,191,383 | 66,853 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 320,154 | ||||||
|
|
As described in Note 1, during July and August 2015, the GUC Trust liquidated all of its holdings of New GM Securities for gross and net proceeds of $742.5 million and $741.7 million, respectively. The table below presents pro forma net assets in liquidation at June 30, 2015, and the pro forma decrease in net assets in liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015, as if the liquidation of the New GM Securities occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2015. The pro forma adjustment reflects the loss on the liquidation of the New GM Securities as measured by the excess of the fair value of the New GM Securities at June 30, 2015 over the gross proceeds from the liquidation of such securities during July and August 2015. The pro forma adjustment reflects the gross proceeds in calculating such loss because the expected costs of liquidation of the New GM Securities were included in the reserve for expected costs of liquidation recognized at June 30, 2015.
Net Assets in Liquidation - June 30, 2015 (in thousands) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets in Liquidation - Three months ended June 30, 2015 (in thousands) |
|||||||
As reported |
$ | 786,385 | $ | (158,351 | ) | |||
Pro forma adjustment loss on liquidation of New GM Securities in July and August 2015 |
(48,221 | ) | (48,221 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Pro forma as adjusted |
$ | 738,164 | $ | (206,572 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
6. | Fair Value Measurements |
Accounting standards require certain assets and liabilities be reported at fair value in the financial statements and provide a framework for establishing that fair value. The framework for determining fair value is based on a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The GUC Trusts Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities, Holdings of New GM Securities and Liquidating Distributions Payable are presented as provided by this hierarchy.
Level 1In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the GUC Trust has the ability to access.
Level 2Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly. These Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and other inputs such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs, including inputs that are available in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the related asset or liability. These Level 3 fair value measurements are based primarily on managements own estimates using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques taking into account the characteristics of the asset or liability. The GUC Trust had no assets or liabilities that are measured with Level 3 inputs at June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015.
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In instances where inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels in the above fair value hierarchy, fair value measurements in their entirety are categorized based on the lowest level input that is significant to the valuation. The GUC Trusts assessment of the significance of particular inputs to these fair value measurements requires judgment and considers factors specific to each asset or liability.
The GUC Trust also holds other financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities. The fair value of these liabilities approximates the carrying amounts in the accompanying financial statements due to the short maturity of such instruments.
The following table presents information about the GUC Trusts assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, and the valuation techniques used by the GUC Trust to determine those fair values.
June 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market funds |
$ | 15,086 | $ | | $ | | $ | 15,086 | ||||||||
Marketable Securities: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal commercial paper and demand notes |
| 10,500 | | 10,500 | ||||||||||||
Corporate commercial paper |
| 37,369 | | 37,369 | ||||||||||||
Holdings of New GM Securities: |
||||||||||||||||
New GM Common Stock |
379,563 | | | 379,563 | ||||||||||||
New GM Warrants |
411,204 | | | 411,204 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 805,853 | $ | 47,869 | $ | | $ | 853,722 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Liquidating distributions payable |
$ | 14,645 | $ | | $ | | $ | 14,645 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents: |
||||||||||||||||
Money market funds |
$ | 19,150 | $ | | $ | | $ | 19,150 | ||||||||
Marketable Securities: |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal commercial paper and demand notes |
| 12,064 | | 12,064 | ||||||||||||
Corporate commercial paper |
| 18,880 | | 18,880 | ||||||||||||
Holdings of New GM Securities: |
||||||||||||||||
New GM Common Stock |
427,151 | | | 427,151 | ||||||||||||
New GM Warrants |
490,826 | | | 490,826 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total Assets |
$ | 937,127 | $ | 30,944 | $ | | $ | 968,071 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Liquidating distributions payable |
$ | 7,714 | $ | | $ | | $ | 7,714 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following are descriptions of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value:
| Due to its short-term, liquid nature, the fair value of cash equivalents approximates its carrying value. |
| Holdings of New GM Securities are valued at closing prices reported on the active market on which the securities are traded. |
14
| Marketable securities include municipal commercial paper and variable demand notes and corporate commercial paper. Municipal variable demand notes trade daily at par value and, therefore, their fair value is equal to par value. Due to their short term maturities, the fair value of municipal and corporate commercial paper approximates their carrying value. |
| Liquidating distributions payable are valued at closing prices of New GM Securities reported on the active market on which the securities are traded. |
The GUC Trusts policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the actual date of the event of change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were no such transfers during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended March 31, 2015.
7. | Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation and Residual Wind-Down Claims |
The following is a summary of the activity in the reserves for expected costs of liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014:
Three months ended June 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
Reserve for Expected Wind-Down Costs |
Reserve for Expected Reporting Costs |
Reserve for Indenture Trustee/Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs |
Reserve for Avoidance Action Defense Costs |
Reserve for Residual Wind-Down Costs |
Total Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation |
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Balance, March 31, 2015 |
$ | 21,089 | $ | 8,602 | $ | 364 | $ | | $ | 1,223 | $ | 31,278 | ||||||||||||
Plus additions to reserves |
1,447 | 884 | | | | 2,331 | ||||||||||||||||||
Less liquidation costs incurred: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trust Professionals |
(1,364 | ) | (754 | ) | | | (2 | ) | (2,120 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Trust Governance |
(818 | ) | (450 | ) | (17 | ) | | | (1,285 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other Administrative Expenses |
(10 | ) | (76 | ) | | | | (86 | ) | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
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|
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Balance, June 30, 2015 |
$ | 20,344 | $ | 8,206 | $ | 347 | $ | | $ | 1,221 | $ | 30,118 | ||||||||||||
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Three months ended June 30, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) |
Reserve for Expected Wind-Down Costs |
Reserve for Expected Reporting Costs |
Reserve for Indenture Trustee/Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs |
Reserve for Avoidance Action Defense Costs |
Reserve for Residual Wind-Down Costs |
Total Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation |
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Balance, March 31, 2014 |
$ | 22,529 | $ | 12,235 | $ | 464 | $ | | $ | 1,258 | $ | 36,486 | ||||||||||||
Plus additions to (reductions in) reserves |
2,437 | (593 | ) | | | | 1,844 | |||||||||||||||||
Less liquidation costs incurred: |
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Trust Professionals |
(1,526 | ) | (585 | ) | | | (20 | ) | (2,131 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Trust Governance |
(917 | ) | (453 | ) | (18 | ) | | | (1,388 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other Administrative Expenses |
(10 | ) | (121 | ) | | | | (131 | ) | |||||||||||||||
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Balance, June 30, 2014 |
$ | 22,513 | $ | 10,483 | $ | 446 | $ | | $ | 1,238 | $ | 34,680 | ||||||||||||
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During the three months ended June 30, 2015, estimates of expected Wind-Down Costs and estimates of expected Reporting Costs (for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation) increased by $1.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, estimates of expected Wind-Down Costs and estimates of expected Reporting Costs (for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation) increased by $2.4 million and decreased by $0.6 million, respectively. Such revisions in the estimates were recorded as additions to (reductions in) the reserves for expected costs of liquidation in such periods. The GUC Trust has recorded reserves for expected costs of liquidation that represent amounts expected to be incurred over the estimated remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust for which there was a reasonable basis for estimation as of June 30, 2015.
The amount of liquidation costs that will ultimately be incurred depends both on the time period and on the extent of activities required for the GUC Trust to complete its functions and responsibilities under the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement. Significant uncertainty remains both as to that time period and as to the extent of those activities. As of June 30, 2015, the recorded reserves for expected costs of liquidation reflect estimated costs for a remaining liquidation period extending through February 2017, which has been estimated predominately on a probability-weighted basis as permitted under U.S. GAAP and which the GUC Trust believes is the most appropriate measurement basis under the circumstances. Where an outcome is estimated to be likely, the likely outcome has
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been used as the best estimate and no weight has been given to the unlikely outcome. The remaining liquidation period is dependent predominantly on the estimate of the remaining period of time for resolution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, as well as certain additional estimated time as necessary to wind down the GUC Trust. It is possible that future developments in the Term Loan Avoidance Action could extend the current estimate of such remaining period of time for resolution and, therefore, extend the estimated remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017. In addition, certain liquidation costs that are expected to be prepaid by the GUC Trust upon its dissolution have also been estimated and accrued. It is reasonably possible that the GUC Trusts estimates regarding the costs and remaining liquidation period could change in the near term.
As described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, the GUC Trust is participating, as an interested party, in litigation involving certain General Motors vehicle recalls. While the impact of such litigation on the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust is not subject to reasonable estimation at this time, it is possible that such litigation could extend the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017.
The following is a summary of the activity in the reserves for Residual Wind-Down Claims for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014:
(in thousands) | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Balance, beginning of period |
$ | 25,406 | $ | 28,698 | ||||
Less claims allowed during the period |
(1,566 | ) | (363 | ) | ||||
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Balance, end of period |
$ | 23,840 | $ | 28,335 | ||||
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8. | Income Tax Provision |
The income tax provision in the Condensed Statements of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 was determined by computing the current and deferred tax provisions for the interim period using the GUC Trusts statutory tax rate of 39.6%. There was no current tax benefit or provision in such periods due to cumulative net operating and capital losses, and no income taxes have been paid by the GUC Trust. There also was no deferred tax benefit or provision in such periods as a result of the establishment of a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets at the beginning and end of such periods.
Deferred taxes in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation at June 30, 2015 are comprised of the following components:
Deferred tax assets: |
||||
Reserves for expected costs of liquidation |
$ | 11,362 | ||
Net operating and capital loss carryovers |
108,377 | |||
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|
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Gross deferred tax assets |
119,739 | |||
Less: Valuation allowance |
(98,015 | ) | ||
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|
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Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance |
21,724 | |||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||
Fair value in excess of tax basis of holdings of New GM Securities |
(21,253 | ) | ||
Accrued interest |
(471 | ) | ||
|
|
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Gross deferred tax liabilities |
(21,724 | ) | ||
|
|
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Net deferred taxes |
$ | | ||
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As previously disclosed, during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the GUC Trust made a determination to file its U.S. federal income tax returns taking the position that beneficial ownership for a substantial majority of New GM Securities was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust on March 31, 2011, and that the tax basis of such New GM Securities should be determined with reference to the value of such securities on such date, instead of December 15, 2011, when record ownership of the remaining New GM Securities still held by MLC was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust. For the remaining substantial minority of New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust, the GUC Trust determined that the transfer of beneficial ownership occurred on other dates for which the tax basis should be determined by reference to the value of such securities on such dates. This new tax position resulted in an increased tax basis of the New GM Securities from the prior tax position and, therefore, reduced taxable gains and increased taxable losses on distributions and sales of New GM Securities since March 31, 2011. The new tax position has not been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service as of the date hereof. However, the GUC Trust believes, based on the available evidence
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and consultation with GUC Trust professionals, that it is more likely than not that the new tax position will be sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service based on the technical merits of the position. Accordingly, this new tax position has been recognized in the current and deferred income tax liabilities and the income tax provision in the GUC Trusts financial statements since the quarter ended September 30, 2013.
Following the GUC Trusts determination to utilize the new tax position set forth above, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 with the Internal Revenue Service using such new tax position. Such tax returns were accompanied by requests for prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and the statutory notification period set forth in Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2014 and prior years have expired. Accordingly, the tax liabilities set forth in the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended March 31, 2014 and prior years are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. However, remaining capital loss carryovers that were generated in those years, combined with capital losses generated in the year ended March 31, 2015 and the quarter ended June 30, 2015, from the new tax position, which aggregate $187.0 million, along with net operating loss carryovers generated through June 30, 2015 aggregating $86.6 million, could be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service in subsequent years when those losses are utilized. The capital loss carryovers begin to expire on March 31, 2017 and the net operating loss carryovers begin to expire on March 31, 2032. These loss carryovers in the aggregate result in a deferred tax asset of $108.4 million (reflected in the table above).
A full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets aggregating $98.0 million was established as of June 30, 2015 due to uncertainty as to whether the deferred tax assets are realizable. The valuation allowance as of June 30, 2015 was increased by $62.0 million from the full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets established as of March 31, 2015. Realization of the net deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the generation of taxable gains upon the distribution or sale of New GM Securities in the future, which is not determinable prior to occurrence. As a result of the liquidation of New GM Securities subsequent to June 30, 2015, described in Note 1, it has become determinable that the deferred tax assets at June 30, 2015 are not realizable.
9. | Related Party Transactions |
In addition to serving as GUC Trust Administrator, Wilmington Trust Company continues to serve as trustee pursuant to the indentures for certain series of previously outstanding debt of MLC. Wilmington Trust Company has received and will continue to receive certain customary fees in amounts consistent with Wilmington Trust Companys standard rates for such service. The Bankruptcy Court previously approved the creation of a segregated fund for the purposes of funding such fees for Wilmington Trust Company, as well as the other indenture trustees and fiscal and paying agents for previously outstanding debt of MLC. There were no such fees for Wilmington Trust Company in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.
In addition, Wilmington Trust Company has also entered into certain arrangements with the GUC Trust pursuant to which it or its affiliates have previously received, and may in the future receive, reasonable and customary fees and commissions for services other than services in the capacity of GUC Trust Administrator. Such arrangements include the provision of custodial, investment advisory and brokerage services to the GUC Trust. The fees and commissions charged by Wilmington Trust Company and its affiliates pursuant to these arrangements are consistent with the standard fees and commissions charged by Wilmington Trust Company to unrelated third-parties in negotiated transactions. During the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, the total amount of such fees and commissions was approximately $5,000 and $6,000, respectively.
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Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis |
The following addresses material changes in the net assets in liquidation of the Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, or the GUC Trust, for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2015. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the condensed financial statements of the GUC Trust included in Item 1 above, which we refer to as the financial statements. For additional information about the purpose and administrative operations of the GUC Trust, see the disclosure in the notes to the financial statements filed with this Form 10-Q and in the Form 10-K filed by the GUC Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2015. A glossary of defined terms used in this Form 10-Q is provided under the heading Glossary below.
Overview
The GUC Trust is a successor to Motors Liquidation Company (which dissolved on December 15, 2011), or MLC, for the purposes of Section 1145 of title 11 of the United States Code, or the Bankruptcy Code. The GUC Trust was initially formed on March 30, 2011, for the purposes of implementing the Second Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan, or the Plan, of MLC and its affiliated debtors-in-possession, or the Debtors, which was filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, or the Bankruptcy Court, on March 18, 2011. The Plan subsequently became effective on March 31, 2011, or the Effective Date, and, on April 18, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order granting the GUC Trusts request for entry of a final decree administratively closing each of the Debtors chapter 11 cases other than the chapter 11 case of MLC.
Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust
The functions and responsibilities of the GUC Trust are governed by the Plan and the Second Amended and Restated Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2015, or the GUC Trust Agreement. The GUC Trust is administered by Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as trust administrator and trustee, or the GUC Trust Administrator. As set forth in the GUC Trust Agreement, the activities of the GUC Trust Administrator are overseen by FTI Consulting, Inc., solely in its capacity as trust monitor of the GUC Trust, or the GUC Trust Monitor. Although the GUC Trust has no officers, directors or employees, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized by the GUC Trust Agreement to engage professionals and other service providers to assist the GUC Trust Administrator in the administration of the GUC Trust. Accordingly, the GUC Trust and GUC Trust Administrator rely on receiving accurate information, reports and other representations from such professionals and service providers and from the GUC Trust Monitor.
Among its other duties and obligations, the GUC Trust is obligated pursuant to the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement (i) to distribute the assets comprising the corpus of the GUC Trust to satisfy the general unsecured claims against the Debtors that are allowed pursuant to the Plan, or the Allowed General Unsecured Claims, (ii) to prosecute and resolve objections to the general unsecured claims against the Debtors that are disputed at a given time, or Disputed General Unsecured Claims, (iii) to take all necessary actions to administer the wind-down of the affairs of the Debtors, and (iv) to resolve and satisfy (to the extent allowed) the Residual Wind-Down Claims (as defined below) assumed by the GUC Trust.
Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust
As of June 30, 2015, the principal assets comprising the corpus of the GUC Trust are (i) shares of common stock of General Motors Company, or the New GM Common Stock, and any associated Dividend Cash (as defined below), (ii) warrants to acquire shares of New GM Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, expiring July 10, 2016, or the New GM Series A Warrants, and (iii) warrants to acquire shares of New GM Common Stock at an exercise price of $18.33 per share, expiring July 10, 2019, or the New GM Series B Warrants. The New GM Series A Warrants and the New GM Series B Warrants are referred to collectively as the New GM Warrants, and the New GM Common Stock and the New GM Warrants are referred to collectively as the New GM Securities.
By order dated July 2, 2015, or the July 2, 2015 Order, the Bankruptcy Court approved the conversion of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities into cash. To effect such conversion, on July 7, 2015, the GUC Trust converted all of its holdings of New GM Warrants into New GM Common Stock in a cashless exercise. The final amount of New GM Common Stock received by the GUC Trust in respect of the exercised New GM Warrants was slightly higher than previously reported on the GUC Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 24, 2015. In total, the GUC Trust converted (i) 10,352,556 New GM Series A Warrants (defined below) into 7,407,155 shares of New GM Common Stock, and (ii) 10,352,556 New GM Series B Warrants (defined below) into 4,953,635 shares of New GM Common Stock. Thereafter, the GUC Trust sold all of its holdings of New GM Common Stock for net proceeds aggregating $741.7 million, having completed all such sales on August 5, 2015. As a result, all distributions by the GUC Trust thereafter in respect of any Allowed General Unsecured Claims (including in respect of the GUC Trust Units) will be made solely in cash.
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Pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order, the proceeds of such liquidations (net of applicable costs, fees, and expenses paid in respect thereof) were allocated to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust on a pro rata basis in the following manner:
(a) | A GUC Trust beneficiarys entitlement to a particular number of New GM Warrants that were exercised was converted into an entitlement to receive the number of shares of New GM Common Stock into which such New GM Warrants were exercised. Such conversions were .71549 shares of New GM Common Stock for each New GM Series A Warrant and .47849 shares of Common Stock for each New GM Series B Warrant; and |
(b) | A GUC Trust beneficiarys entitlement to a particular number of shares of New GM Common Stock that were liquidated (including the exercised New GM Warrants as set forth above), was converted into an entitlement to receive an amount of cash equal to the weighted average sales price (net of any applicable costs, fees, and expenses paid in respect thereof) of all of the New GM Common Stock sold, multiplied by the number shares of New GM Common Stock to which such GUC Trust beneficiary would otherwise be entitled (including exercised New GM Warrants as set forth above). Such weighted average sales price for the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Common Stock that were sold subsequent to June 30, 2015 was $31.23 per share. |
Following the liquidation described above, the GUC Trust invested a portion of the proceeds in certain marketable securities as permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement. The amount of such cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held for distribution to GUC Trust beneficiaries is referred to herein as Distributable Cash.
The Plan, as qualified by the July 2, 2015 Order, generally provides for the distribution of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (and any associated Dividend Cash) to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims pro rata by the amount of such claims. In that regard, the Plan provides that each holder of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim will obtain, in addition to an initial distribution of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (and any associated Dividend Cash) in such numbers and amounts as described below, a contingent right to receive, on a pro rata basis, additional New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (and any associated Dividend Cash) (only if and to the extent such New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are not required to satisfy new Allowed General Unsecured Claims or to fund the liquidation and administrative costs or income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust) available for distribution to the holders of such rights. Such rights are represented by units of beneficial interests in the GUC Trust, or GUC Trust Units, distributed to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims in proportion to the amount of their claims, subject to certain rounding rules set forth in the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement.
Through June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust received dividends on the New GM Common Stock it held as of the respective record dates aggregating approximately $24.7 million. Such dividends are required to be applied to the same purpose as the New GM Common Stock to which such dividends relate. If shares of New GM Common Stock or the applicable portion of Distributable Cash are distributed to holders of subsequently allowed Disputed General Unsecured Claims, allowed Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims, or GUC Trust Units, then the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will also be distributed to such holders. If, however, shares of New GM Common Stock are sold or Distributable Cash is appropriated by the GUC Trust in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement to fund the costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust, then, in that case, the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will be applied to such costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust and (just like the cash proceeds from the sale of the shares of New GM Common Stock or appropriation of Distributable Cash) will be maintained in Other Administrative Cash (as defined below under the heading Funding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs). Because such dividends are applied to the same purpose as the New GM Common Stock or Distributable Cash, references in this Form 10-Q to New GM Common Stock and Distributable Cash that have been set aside from distribution, reserved or sold or appropriated should be understood to include the dividends (if any) relating to such New GM Common Stock or Distributable Cash, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the GUC Trust that relates to dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust is referred to as Dividend Cash.
Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, the GUC Trust is required to make quarterly distributions to the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims that were allowed during the immediately preceding fiscal quarter. Under the terms of the Plan, and subject to rounding under the Plan, the GUC Trust Agreement and the rules of the applicable clearing system, each $1,000 in amount of such new Allowed General Unsecured Claims most recently has been entitled to receive (upon delivery of any information required by the GUC Trust) an initial distribution of 4.31 shares of New GM Common Stock, 3.92 New GM Series A Warrants and 3.92 New GM Series B Warrants, as well as one GUC Trust Unit. Such initial distribution includes a pro rata share of New GM Securities that have been distributed as Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets (as defined below) in respect of GUC Trust Units since the Effective Date of the Plan. Following the sale of the New GM Securities in July and August 2015 described above, distributions will be made in cash in lieu of New GM Securities. Quarterly distributions are made to holders of newly Allowed General Unsecured Claims as promptly as practicable after the first day of the fiscal quarter following the periods ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, during the life of the GUC Trust.
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In addition to the foregoing, the GUC Trust is required to make quarterly distributions in respect of GUC Trust Units if Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets at the end of the preceding fiscal quarter exceed certain thresholds set forth in the Trust Agreement. Such distributions in respect of GUC Trust Units, if any, are made as promptly as practicable after the periods ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets means (i) New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (only if and to the extent such New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (a) are not required for the satisfaction of new Allowed General Unsecured Claims and (b) have not been set aside from distribution to fund potential liquidation and administrative costs or income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust (as described below under Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution), (ii) Dividend Cash associated with such New GM Securities or Distributable Cash, and (iii) Other Administrative Cash available, if any, for distribution to the holders of GUC Trust Units.
Funding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs
As of the Effective Date, pursuant to the Plan, MLC funded approximately $52.7 million in cash to the GUC Trust, or the Administrative Fund, to be held and maintained by the GUC Trust Administrator for the purpose of paying certain fees and expenses incurred by the GUC Trust (including the fees of the GUC Trust Administrator and the GUC Trust Monitor, the fees and expenses of other professionals retained by the GUC Trust, and certain tax obligations), which are referred to as the Wind-Down Costs. The United States Department of the Treasury and the Governments of Canada and Ontario (through Export Development Canada), which are referred to collectively as the DIP Lenders, maintain a lien on the Administrative Fund which relates to certain funds advanced at the commencement of the Debtors insolvency proceedings. Consequently, pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, any cash or investments from the Administrative Fund which remain at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust must be returned to the DIP Lenders. As of June 30, 2015, the remaining Administrative Fund aggregated $8.3 million (consisting of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities). Such remaining amount has been designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust (a substantial majority of which will likely not be incurred and, therefore, will likely be returned to the DIP Lenders), and such amounts may not be used for the payment of Trust Professionals fees and expenses or other Wind-Down Costs. As described above, any cash or investments in the Administrative Fund that remain at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust must be returned to the DIP Lenders.
The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the Administrative Fund may not be utilized to fund certain specified costs, fees and expenses, which are referred to as Reporting Costs, including those directly or indirectly relating to (i) reports to be prepared and filed by the GUC Trust pursuant to applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC (ii) the transfer, registration for transfer and certification of GUC Trust Units, (iii) the application by the Committee to the Internal Revenue Service for a private letter ruling regarding the tax treatment of the GUC Trust and the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims in respect to the distribution of New GM Securities, and (iv) certain legal proceedings relating to the Term Loan Avoidance Action. In addition, the Administrative Fund cannot be used to fund any current or projected tax liabilities of the GUC Trust, other than those included in the Administrative Fund budget. However, the GUC Trust Agreement does provide the GUC Trust Administrator with the authority to set aside from distribution and sell New GM Securities or appropriate Distributable Cash to fund such Reporting Costs and projected tax liabilities (other than those included in the budget), with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and/or the GUC Trust Monitor, in each case as described below.
The GUC Trust Agreement affords the GUC Trust Administrator, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, the authority to set aside from distribution New GM Securities or Distributable Cash in amounts sufficient to satisfy (i) any current or projected Wind-Down Costs of the GUC Trust that exceed the amounts budgeted or were not budgeted in the Administrative Fund, including federal income taxes incurred in respect of dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust, which are referred to as Dividend Taxes, (ii) any current or projected Reporting Costs that exceed the then currently available funds, or (iii) any current or projected Taxes on Distribution (as defined below). This process is not related to, and is separate from, the process of recognizing current and deferred income tax liabilities, as well as reserves for expected costs of liquidation in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as a matter of financial reporting, which is only required for expected costs of liquidation for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation under applicable accounting standards. See Critical Accounting Policies and EstimatesReserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation and Income Taxes below.
The GUC Trust Administrator may liquidate New GM Securities or appropriate Distributable Cash that have been set aside from distribution to fund (with the required approval of the Bankruptcy Court) the current or projected Wind-Down Costs (including Dividend Taxes) or Reporting Costs of the GUC Trust and (with the required approval of only the GUC Trust Monitor) current and projected Taxes on Distribution of the GUC Trust. The cash proceeds of such sales or appropriation, and the marketable securities in which such cash proceeds or appropriation are invested, are referred to as Other Administrative Cash. Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, any cash or marketable securities constituting Other Administrative Cash that remain at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust will be distributed to the holders of GUC Trust Units. The Bankruptcy Court previously approved in March and December 2012, and again in January 2015, the sale of New GM Securities to fund certain accrued and projected Wind-Down Costs which were in excess of the amounts budgeted in the Administrative Fund for such costs, and certain projected Reporting Costs. Through June 30, 2015, sales of New GM Securities to fund projected Reporting Costs and Wind-Down Costs through calendar year 2015 aggregated approximately $61.7 million, including Dividend Cash of $0.2 million and approximately $5.7 million expressly
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authorized by the GUC Trust Agreement to be liquidated shortly after the Effective Date for the purposes of funding certain Reporting Costs, which is referred to as the Initial Reporting Cash. As of June 30, 2015, approximately $11.2 million remained in Other Administrative Cash and was recorded in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2015.
Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs
In addition to resolving Disputed General Unsecured Claims, the GUC Trust Administrator is required to resolve and satisfy (to the extent allowed) certain disputed administrative expenses, priority tax claims, priority non-tax claims, and secured claims against the Debtors, or the Residual Wind-Down Claims. Upon the dissolution and winding up of MLC on December 15, 2011, or the Dissolution Date, the GUC Trust assumed responsibility for the resolution and satisfaction (to the extent allowed) of such Residual Wind-Down Claims. At that time, MLC transferred to the GUC Trust assets, or the Residual Wind-Down Assets, in an amount sufficient, based upon the Debtors reasonable estimates, to satisfy the residual Wind-Down Claims and the costs, fees and expenses related to satisfying and resolving the Residual Wind-Down Claims, or the Residual Wind-Down Costs. The Residual Wind-Down Assets so transferred approximated $42.8 million consisting of approximately $40.0 million in cash (including approximately $1.4 million for the payment of certain defense costs related to the Term Loan Avoidance Action, or Avoidance Action Defense Costs) and the transferred benefit of approximately $2.8 million in prepaid expenses. As of June 30, 2015, the amount of Avoidance Action Defense Costs incurred to date exceeds the corresponding cash received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date by approximately $5.5 million. As a result, new Residual Wind-Down Claims have arisen in the amount of such excess. The Term Loan Avoidance Action is currently pending before the Bankruptcy Court, and it is expected that additional Avoidance Action Defense Costs will be incurred for which additional Residual Wind-Down Claims will arise, to be paid from the remaining Residual Wind-Down Assets and, following any depletion of such assets, the Administrative Fund (to the extent of any excess amounts remaining in the Administrative Fund from the funds designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust), Other Administrative Cash or the appropriation of Distributable Cash.
Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement and the Plan, the Residual Wind-Down Assets are to be administered in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement and Plan and are to be used to satisfy and resolve the Residual Wind-Down Claims (including Avoidance Action Defense Costs) and to fund the Residual Wind-Down Costs. Any unused portions of the Residual Wind-Down Assets must be returned to the DIP Lenders and will not be available for distribution to the holders of GUC Trust Units at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust. If, collectively, the actual amounts of Residual Wind-Down Claims allowed (including Avoidance Action Defense Costs in excess of the corresponding cash of $1.4 million received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date) and the Residual Wind-Down Costs exceed the Residual Wind-Down Assets, the GUC Trust Administrator may be required to set aside from distribution and appropriate Distributable Cash to fund the shortfall. Any such appropriation would reduce the amount of Distributable Cash available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units.
As of June 30, 2015, Residual Wind-Down Assets aggregating $27.2 million were held by the GUC Trust and were recorded in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities (aggregating approximately $27.1 million) and other assets and deposits (approximately $0.1 million) in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2015. A corresponding amount in the aggregate is recorded in the reserve for Residual Wind-Down Claims, reserves for expected costs of liquidation and accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2015. By comparison, there were approximately $0.5 million in Residual Wind-Down Claims against such assets as of June 30, 2015, subject to increase for new Residual Wind-Down Claims that are expected to arise with respect to Avoidance Action Defense Costs.
Other Assets Received from MLC on the Dissolution Date
In addition to the Residual Wind-Down Assets, the GUC Trust also received on the Dissolution Date approximately $3.4 million in cash from MLC, which amount included: (i) approximately $2.0 million designated for Reporting Costs and (ii) approximately $1.4 million designated for reimbursements to indenture trustees and fiscal and paying agents under the Debtors prepetition debt issuances for costs associated with, among other things, administering distributions to registered holders of the debtors prepetition debt issuances, or Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs. Any unused portion of such funds designated for Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs must be returned to the DIP Lenders and will not be available for distribution to the holders of GUC Trust Units at the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust. As of June 30, 2015, funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs of $0.4 million were held by the GUC Trust and are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2015. A corresponding amount was recorded in the reserves for expected costs of liquidation in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2015. None of the approximately $2.0 million in funds designated for Reporting Costs remained as of June 30, 2015.
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Income Tax Liabilities for Certain Capital Gains and Dividends on New GM Common Stock
Upon the dissolution and winding up of MLC on the Dissolution Date, record ownership of all undistributed New GM Securities was transferred to the GUC Trust. Using the value of the New GM Securities as of that date, the tax basis per share or warrant of the New GM Securities on the Dissolution Date was $19.87 for the New GM Common Stock, $11.38 for the New GM Series A Warrants and $7.88 for the New GM Series B Warrants. Prior to the year ended March 31, 2013, such tax basis was used in the GUC Trusts U.S. federal income tax return to determine the taxable gain or loss on the disposition of New GM Securities since their transfer. Since the year ended March 31, 2013, the GUC Trust has filed its U.S. federal income tax returns taking the position that beneficial ownership for a substantial majority of New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust on March 31, 2011, and that the tax basis of such New GM Securities should be determined with reference to the value of such securities on such date instead of December 15, 2011, when record ownership of the remaining New GM Securities still held by MLC was transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust. For the remaining substantial minority of New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust, the GUC Trust determined that transfer of beneficial ownership occurred on other dates for which the tax basis should be determined by reference to the value of such securities on such dates. This new tax position resulted in an increased tax basis of the New GM Securities from the prior tax position and, therefore, reduced taxable gains and increased taxable losses on distributions and sales of New GM Securities since March 31, 2011. The GUC Trust believes, based on the available evidence and consultation with GUC Trust professionals, that it is more likely than not that the new tax position in the amounts reflected in the GUC Trusts income tax returns will be sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service, based on the technical merits of the position. Although the GUC Trusts federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2014 and prior years are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service as a result of the application of Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, this new tax position, as of the date hereof, has not been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, remaining capital loss carryovers of $187.0 million as of June 30, 2015, from the new tax position, along with net operating loss carryovers of $86.6 million as of June 30, 2015, could be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service in subsequent years when those losses are utilized. In June 2015, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2015 with the Internal Revenue Service, and requested prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code on June 24, 2015. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the GUC Trust has not received notification from the Internal Revenue Service whether or not its income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2015 has been selected for examination.
The GUC Trust incurs U.S. federal income tax liabilities on any net capital gains realized upon the distribution of New GM Securities to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims or GUC Trust Units or by sale of New GM Securities (unless such net capital gains are offset by deductible expenses and accumulated net operating losses), which are referred to as Taxes on Distribution. The GUC Trust also incurs income tax liabilities on interest income and dividends received on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust (such income tax liabilities on dividends received on New GM Common Stock are referred to as Dividend Taxes). The GUC Trust records any current taxes payable from such realized net gains and interest and dividends (net of deductible operating losses) and a deferred tax liability at the end of each quarter for all of the New GM Securities that it then holds, where the market prices of such New GM Securities exceed their tax basis. Where the market prices of the New GM Securities held at any quarter end are less than their tax basis, a deferred tax asset with a corresponding valuation allowance is recorded, resulting in no net deferred tax asset at such quarter end. A full valuation allowance is recorded under such circumstances, because realization of the deferred tax asset is uncertain (in that it is dependent upon the generation of taxable gains upon the sale or distribution of New GM Securities in the future, which is not determinable prior to occurrence). Because the amount of any deferred tax liability recorded at any quarter end is largely dependent upon the market prices of the New GM Securities held at such quarter end, fluctuations in such market prices result in fluctuations in the deferred tax liability recorded in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and in the income tax provision or benefit recorded in the Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation for such quarter. See Critical Accounting Policies and EstimatesIncome Taxes below. A full valuation allowance was recorded against the GUC Trusts deferred tax assets at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, due to uncertainty associated with the realization of such deferred tax assets. As a result of the liquidation of all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities subsequent to June 30, 2015, described above under the heading Distributions and Distributable Assets, it has become determinable that such deferred tax assets are not realizable. See Note 8 (Income Tax Provision) to the financial statements.
Term Loan Avoidance Action
On July 31, 2009, the Committee commenced a legal action against certain prepetition lenders of the Debtors, styled as Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Motors Liquidation Co. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. et al. (Adv. Pro. No. 09-00504 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 31, 2009)), which is referred to as the Term Loan Avoidance Action. The Term Loan Avoidance Action seeks the return of approximately $1.5 billion that had been transferred to a consortium of prepetition lenders of the Debtors, pursuant to the court order approving the debtor-in-possession loans made by the DIP Lenders to MLC. On the Dissolution Date, the Term Loan Avoidance Action was transferred to a trust established for the purpose of holding and prosecuting the Term Loan Avoidance Action, or the Avoidance Action Trust. The rights to substantially all of the recoveries on the Term Loan Avoidance Action through the Avoidance Action Trust, if any, are currently under dispute, with both the DIP Lenders and the Committee, on behalf of the holders
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of Allowed General Unsecured Claims, claiming to be the proper beneficiaries of such proceeds. If the DIP Lenders are deemed to be proper beneficiaries of the proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, then the bulk of any amounts reclaimed from prepetition lenders will be distributed to the DIP Lenders; and if the Committee, on behalf of the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims, are deemed to be proper beneficiaries of the proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, then the bulk of any amounts reclaimed from prepetition lenders will be distributed directly to the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims. Accordingly, regardless of the outcome of such proceedings, pursuant to the Plan no amounts reclaimed from the prepetition lenders will be transferred to the GUC Trust, and no such amounts will be distributed to holders of GUC Trust Units in respect of such GUC Trust Units.
If Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as the trustee and trust administrator of the Avoidance Action Trust, which is referred to as the Avoidance Action Trust Administrator, is successful in its prosecution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, any amounts recovered by the Avoidance Action Trust will, pursuant to the Plan, give rise to Allowed General Unsecured Claims on behalf of the prepetition lenders from which such amounts were recovered (as beneficiaries of the GUC Trust), which we also refer to as Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. (As used in this Form 10-Q, the amounts of Disputed General Unsecured Claims do not include any potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims.) Unless and until Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims arise, the potential holders of such claims will not be entitled to receive a distribution from the GUC Trust. However, if and to the extent that such Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims do arise, the holders of such claims will be entitled to receive a distribution from the GUC Trust. As noted above, pursuant to the Plan no funds reclaimed from the prepetition lenders will be transferred to the GUC Trust or be distributed to holders of GUC Trust Units in respect of such GUC Trust Units. Accordingly, in the event of the successful prosecution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action by the Avoidance Action Trust, a holder of a GUC Trust Unit that does not hold a corresponding Allowed General Unsecured Claim (because such holder received the GUC Trust Unit as a subsequent transferee and not in a direct distribution from the GUC Trust in satisfaction of an Allowed General Unsecured Claim) will potentially have its recovery diluted through the incurrence of Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims by the GUC Trust, without receiving the benefit of any cash recovered pursuant to the Term Loan Avoidance Action. Moreover, because the ownership of the beneficial interests in the Avoidance Action Trust is currently under dispute, even a holder of a GUC Trust Unit that also holds a corresponding Allowed General Unsecured Claim may not benefit from any funds recovered under the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Pursuant to the Plan, the GUC Trust is obligated to satisfy reasonable Avoidance Action Defense Costs, subject to the right of the GUC Trust to seek disgorgement in accordance with the terms of the Plan. As described under the heading Residual Wind-Down Claims above, the amount of Avoidance Action Defense Costs incurred to date exceeds the amount of Residual Wind-Down Assets received from MLC which was designated for this purpose by approximately $5.5 million. As a result, new Residual Wind-Down Claims have arisen in the amount of such excess. As described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, litigation with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action is ongoing, and it is expected that additional Avoidance Action Defense Costs will be incurred for which additional Residual Wind-Down Claims will arise, to be paid from the other remaining Residual Wind-Down Assets and, following the depletion of such assets, the Administrative Fund (to the extent of any excess amounts remaining in the Administrative Fund from the funds designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust), Other Administrative Cash or the appropriation of Distributable Cash.
Recent Trading Prices of New GM Securities
As described above, as of June 30, 2015, the principal assets comprising the corpus of the GUC Trust are shares of the New GM Common Stock and the New GM Series A Warrants and New GM Series B Warrants to purchase such common stock. As a result, fluctuations in the market value of the New GM Common Stock (and related fluctuation in market value of the New GM Warrants) will increase or reduce the GUC Trusts net assets in liquidation accordingly. In addition, fluctuations in the market value of the New GM Securities in relation to the tax basis of such securities will affect the amount of net deferred tax liabilities, if any, that are recorded in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. See Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustIncome Tax Liabilities for Certain Capital Gains and Dividends on New GM Common Stock above.
As described above under the heading Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust, during July and August 2015, all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated.
The New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of June 30, 2015, the closing trading price of shares of New GM Common Stock was $33.33 (as compared to $37.50 as of March 31, 2015); the closing trading price of New GM Series A Warrants was $23.77 (as compared to $27.75 as of March 31, 2015); and the closing trading price of New GM Series B Warrants was $15.95 (as compared to $19.65 as of March 31, 2015), in each case as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P. The GUC Trust Units are not listed on any securities exchange.
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The following table shows the intraday high and low trading prices of the New GM Common Stock for each of the previous four fiscal quarters, as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.:
Fiscal Quarter |
High | Low | ||||||
Ended September 30, 2014 |
$ | 38.15 | $ | 31.67 | ||||
Ended December 31, 2014 |
$ | 35.45 | $ | 28.82 | ||||
Ended March 31, 2015 |
$ | 38.995 | $ | 32.36 | ||||
Ended June 30, 2015 |
$ | 37.33 | $ | 33.06 |
The following table shows the intraday high and low trading prices of the New GM Series A Warrants for each of the previous four fiscal quarters, as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.:
Fiscal Quarter |
High | Low | ||||||
Ended September 30, 2014 |
$ | 28.48 | $ | 22.09 | ||||
Ended December 31, 2014 |
$ | 25.53 | $ | 19.56 | ||||
Ended March 31, 2015 |
$ | 29.23 | $ | 22.83 | ||||
Ended June 30, 2015 |
$ | 27.72 | $ | 23.66 |
The following table shows the intraday high and low trading prices of the New GM Series B Warrants for each of the previous four fiscal quarters, as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.:
Fiscal Quarter |
High | Low | ||||||
Ended September 30, 2014 |
$ | 20.19 | $ | 14.25 | ||||
Ended December 31, 2014 |
$ | 17.50 | $ | 12.07 | ||||
Ended March 31, 2015 |
$ | 21.03 | $ | 15.17 | ||||
Ended June 30, 2015 |
$ | 23.99 | $ | 15.11 |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Liquidation Basis of Accounting
The GUC Trust was created for the purposes described in Note 1, Description of Trust and Reporting Policies to the financial statements and has a finite life. As a result, the GUC Trust has prepared its financial statements on the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Under the liquidation basis of accounting, assets are stated at their estimated realizable value, which is the non-discounted amount of cash into which an asset is expected to be converted during liquidation, while liabilities continue to be recognized at the amount required by other U.S. GAAP, and are not remeasured to reflect any anticipation that an entity will be legally released from an obligation. Additionally, under the liquidation basis of accounting, a reserve is established for estimated costs expected to be incurred during liquidation. Such costs are accrued when there is a reasonable basis for estimation. An accrual is made for estimated income or cash expected to be received over the liquidation period to the extent that a reasonable basis for estimation exists. These estimates are periodically reviewed and adjusted as appropriate. As described below under the headings Holdings of New GM Securities and Dividends Received on New GM Common Stock and Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation, it is reasonably possible that estimates for such accrued income and expected costs of liquidation could change in the near term.
As described above under Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust, pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order, the GUC Trust liquidated all of its holdings of New GM Securities during July and August 2015. As described in Note 5 (Holdings of New GM Securities) to the financial statements, a loss was incurred on such liquidation as a result of a decline in the average trading price of New GM Common Stock subsequent to June 30, 2015 through August 5, 2015, the date of completion of the sales of New GM Common Stock. Under U.S. GAAP, such decline in the trading price of New GM Common Stock has not been reflected in the valuation of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities at June 30, 2015 in the accompanying financial statements. Rather, such loss will be recognized in the GUC Trusts financial statements in the period of liquidation of the New GM Securities. See Note 5 (Holdings of New GM Securities) to the financial statements.
The valuation of assets at realizable value, reserves for Residual Wind-Down Claims, reserves for expected liquidation costs and the accrual for investment income from marketable securities and dividends expected to be received on the GUC Trusts holdings of the New GM Common Stock (as of March 31, 2015) represent estimates, based on present facts and circumstances known to the GUC Trust Administrator, and are subject to change.
As described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the GUC Trust beneficiaries are future and, to the extent their liquidating distributions have not yet been paid to them, current holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and future and current holders of GUC Trust Units. As Disputed General Unsecured Claims are resolved and allowed and thereby become Allowed General Unsecured
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Claims, the holders thereof become entitled to receive liquidating distributions of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (including the related Dividend Cash) and GUC Trust Units pro rata by the amount of such Claims and, upon such occurrence, the GUC Trust incurs an obligation to distribute such securities or Distributable Cash. Accordingly, liquidating distributions payable are recorded (at the fair value of such New GM Securities or Distributable Cash) as of the end of the period in which the Disputed General Unsecured Claims are resolved as Allowed General Unsecured Claims. Similarly, to the extent potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims were to arise (and would become allowed) in the manner described in Note 2 to the financial statements, liquidating distributions payable would be recorded for the New GM Securities or Distributable Cash (at fair value), along with the related Dividend Cash, that would become distributable to holders of Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims upon such occurrence. Prior to the resolution and allowance of Disputed General Unsecured Claims (or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims), liabilities are not recorded for the conditional obligations associated with Disputed General Unsecured Claims (or potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims). Rather, the beneficial interests of GUC Trust beneficiaries in the residual assets of the GUC Trust are reflected in Net Assets in Liquidation of the GUC Trust in the financial statements.
Under the liquidation basis of accounting, the GUC Trust presents two principal financial statements: a Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and a Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation. In addition, although not required under the liquidation basis of accounting, the GUC Trust also presents a Statement of Cash Flows, in accordance with the requirements of the GUC Trust Agreement.
Holdings of New GM Securities and Dividends on New GM Common Stock
Holdings of New GM Securities represent the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities that were previously held for future distribution in respect of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and the GUC Trust Units, and include amounts set aside from distribution to fund potential administrative costs and income tax liabilities (including both Dividend Taxes and Taxes on Distribution) as described below under Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution. The securities held consist of shares of New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants. As described above under Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust, pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order, the GUC Trust liquidated all of its holdings of New GM Securities during July and August 2015. The GUC Trust has valued its holdings in the securities at their fair value based on quoted closing market prices as of the last trading day of the fiscal period.
Beginning in the quarter ended June 30, 2014 and through the quarter ended March 31, 2015, estimated dividends expected to be received on holdings of New GM Common Stock were accrued under the liquidation basis of accounting to the extent that a reasonable basis for estimation existed. During the quarter ended June 30, 2015, based on a determination that it would be in the best interests of Trust Beneficiaries, the GUC Trust made a determination to file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking authority to liquidate all or substantially all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities. Such motion was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in the July 2, 2015 Order described above under the heading Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust, and all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated in July and August 2015. As a result, the GUC Trust no longer expects to receive dividends on New GM Common Stock. Accordingly, previously accrued estimated future dividends have been reversed and no accrual of additional dividends has been made as of June 30, 2015.
Dividends received on New GM Common Stock are required to be applied to the same purpose as the New GM Common Stock to which such dividends relate. If shares of New GM Common Stock or the applicable portion of Distributable Cash are distributed to holders of subsequently Resolved Allowed Claims and GUC Trust Units, then the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will also be distributed to such holders. If, however, shares of New GM Common Stock are sold or Distributable Cash is appropriated by the GUC Trust in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement to fund the costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust, then, in that case, the dividends relating to those shares or Distributable Cash will be applied to such costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust and (just like the cash proceeds from the sale of the shares of New GM Common Stock or appropriation of Distributable Cash) will be maintained in Other Administrative Cash. Because such dividends are applied to the same purpose as the New GM Common Stock or Distributable Cash, references to New GM Common Stock, New GM Securities and Distributable Cash that have been set aside from distribution, reserved or sold or appropriated should be understood to include the dividends (if any) relating to such New GM Common Stock or Distributable Cash, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the GUC Trust that relates to dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust is referred to as Dividend Cash.
Marketable Securities and Accrued Investment Income on Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of short term investments in corporate commercial paper and municipal government commercial paper and variable demand notes. The GUC Trust has valued these securities at fair value based on carrying value for municipal and corporate commercial paper where carrying value approximates fair value and par value for variable demand notes where par value equals fair value. Beginning in the quarter ended June 30, 2014, estimated investment income expected to be received on short term investments in marketable securities are accrued under the liquidation basis of accounting to the extent that a reasonable basis for estimation exists.
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Reserves for Residual Wind-Down Claims and Residual Wind-Down Costs
Upon the dissolution of MLC, which occurred on December 15, 2011, the GUC Trust became responsible for resolving and satisfying (to the extent allowed) all remaining Residual Wind-Down Claims. On the date of dissolution of the Debtors, the Debtors transferred to the GUC Trust Residual Wind-Down Assets in an amount necessary to satisfy the ultimate allowed amount of such Residual Wind-Down Claims (including certain Avoidance Action Defense Costs) and the Residual Wind-Down Costs, as estimated by the Debtors. Should the Residual Wind-Down Costs and the Residual Wind-Down Claims be less than the Residual Wind-Down Assets, any excess funds will be returned to the DIP Lenders. If, collectively, the actual amounts of Residual Wind-Down Claims (including certain Avoidance Action Defense Costs) allowed and the Residual Wind-Down Costs exceed the Residual Wind-Down Assets, the GUC Trust Administrator may be required to set aside from distribution and appropriate Distributable Cash to fund the shortfall. Any such appropriation would reduce the amount of Distributable Cash (and related Dividend Cash) available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units.
Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation
Under the liquidation basis of accounting, the GUC Trust is required to estimate and accrue the costs associated with implementing the Plan and distributing the GUC Trusts distributable assets. These costs, described as Wind-Down Costs and Reporting Costs in Note 2 (Plan of Liquidation) to the financial statements, consist principally of professional fees, costs of governance, and other administrative expenses. These amounts may vary significantly due to, among other things, the time and effort required to complete all distributions under the Plan. The GUC Trust has recorded reserves for expected costs of liquidation that represent estimated costs to be incurred over the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation. The amount of liquidation costs that will ultimately be incurred depends both on the period of time and on the extent of activities required for the GUC Trust to complete its functions and responsibilities under the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement. Significant uncertainty remains both as to that time period and as to the extent of those activities. As of June 30, 2015, such remaining liquidation period extends through February 2017 and has been estimated predominantly on a probability-weighted basis, which the GUC Trust believes is the most appropriate measurement basis under the circumstances. Where an outcome is estimated to be likely, the likely outcome has been used as the best estimate and no weight has been given to the unlikely outcome. The remaining liquidation period is dependent predominantly on the estimate of the remaining period of time for resolution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, as well as certain additional estimated time as necessary to wind down the GUC Trust. It is possible that future developments in the Term Loan Avoidance Action could extend the current estimate of such remaining period of time for resolution and, therefore, extend the estimated remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017. As described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, the GUC Trust is participating, as an interested party, in litigation involving certain General Motors vehicle recalls. While the impact of such litigation on the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust is not subject to reasonable estimation at this time, it is possible that such litigation could extend the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017. It is reasonably possible that the GUC Trusts estimates regarding the costs and remaining liquidation period could change in the near term.
As the GUC Trust incurs such costs, the reserves are released to offset the costs incurred and a liability to the service provider is recognized as an accounts payable or accrued expense until paid. In addition, because the GUC Trust only records reserves for expected costs for which there is a reasonable basis for estimation under applicable U.S. GAAP, additional costs may be identified from time to time for which additional reserves must be recorded. As such costs are identified, the GUC Trust records an increase to its reserves and charges such increase as an addition to such reserves in the Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation.
The process of recording reserves for expected costs of liquidation as a matter of financial reporting is separate and distinct from the process by which New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are set aside from distribution for the purposes of funding projected costs of liquidation. Such projected costs are generally estimated on a more conservative (i.e., more inclusive) basis and include contingencies that are not permitted to be accrued in reserves for expected costs of liquidation under applicable U.S. GAAP. For a more complete description of the process of setting aside New GM Securities or Distributable Cash to fund projected costs and potential liabilities of the GUC Trust, see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs above and Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution below.
Income Taxes
The GUC Trust is considered to be a Disputed Ownership Fund pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.468B-9. Because all of the assets that have been transferred to the GUC Trust are passive investments, the GUC Trust will be taxed as a Qualified Settlement Fund (or QSF) pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.468B-9(c)(1)(ii). The QSF tax status of the GUC Trust has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service in a private letter ruling issued on March 2, 2011. In general, a QSF is considered to be a C Corporation but pays Federal income tax using trust income tax rates on its modified gross income. Modified gross income includes
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gross income pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 61 less administrative expenses, certain losses from the sale, exchange or worthlessness of property, and net operating losses. In general, a Disputed Ownership Fund taxed as a QSF does not recognize gross income on assets transferred to it; therefore, the GUC Trust has not recognized gross income on the transfer of assets from MLC.
The GUC Trust generates gross income in the form of interest and dividend income (including dividends received on its holdings of New GM Common Stock) and recognizes gains and/or losses upon its disposition of shares of New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants, which are reduced by administrative expenses and accumulated net operating and capital losses, to compute modified gross income. As the GUC Trust is taxable for Federal income tax purposes, a current income tax liability or asset, if any, is recognized for estimated taxes payable or receivable for the year. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between financial reporting and tax accounting. Deferred tax assets are reviewed for recoverability and valuation allowances are provided as necessary.
The GUC Trust is not subject to state income taxes under current law. Accordingly, no current or deferred state income tax liabilities and assets are recorded.
The GUC Trust recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position, review of available evidence and consultation with GUC Trust professionals. The GUC Trusts tax liability with respect to its federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2014, and all prior years, are no longer subject to examination as a result of the application of Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. However, remaining capital loss carryovers that were generated in those years, combined with capital losses generated in the year ended March 31, 2015 and the quarter ended June 30, 2015, from the new tax position, which aggregate $187.0 million, along with net operating loss carryovers generated through June 30, 2015 aggregating $86.6 million, could be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service in subsequent years when those losses are utilized. In June 2015, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2015 with the Internal Revenue Service, and requested prompt determination of tax liability pursuant to Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code on June 24, 2015. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the GUC Trust has not received notification from the Internal Revenue Service whether or not its income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2015 has been selected for examination. As of June 30, 2015, there are no known items which would result in a significant accrual for uncertain tax positions.
The process of recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities and any current income taxes payable as a matter of financial reporting is separate and distinct from the process by which New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are set aside from distribution for the purposes of funding potential income tax liabilities. Such potential income tax liabilities are generally estimated on a more conservative (i.e., more inclusive) basis and include amounts of potential income tax liabilities beyond the amounts that are permitted to be recorded under applicable accounting standards. For a more complete description of the process of setting aside New GM Securities or Distributable Cash to fund projected costs and potential income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust, see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs above and Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution below.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements on a liquidation basis in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities. These estimates are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could materially impact the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and related footnotes. Significant estimates include the anticipated amounts and timing of future cash flows for expected dividends to be received on holdings of New GM Common Stock during fiscal year 2015, expected liquidation costs, Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs, and fair value of marketable securities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, net assets in liquidation decreased by approximately $158.3 million, from approximately $944.7 million to approximately $786.4 million, principally as a result of a decrease in the fair value of holdings of New GM Securities since March 31, 2015. As noted above in Recent Trading Prices of New GM Securities, the closing trading price of New GM Common Stock, as well as the New GM Series A and New GM Series B Warrants, decreased between March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.
The changes in net assets in liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015 also reflected the impact of approximately $7.1 million of liquidating distributions of New GM Securities during the period, as well as a net addition of approximately $2.3 million to the reserves for expected costs of liquidation during the three months ended June 30, 2015. As described below in more detail in Liquidation and Administrative Costs, such addition to the reserves for expected costs of liquidation resulted from increases in expected Wind-Down Costs and expected Reporting Costs.
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The changes in net assets in liquidation for the three months ended June 30, 2015 also reflect a decrease of approximately $21.9 million in dividend and interest income primarily as a result of the reversal of accrued dividends of $22.4 million. As described in Note 3 (Net Assets in Liquidation) to the financial statements, during the quarter ended June 30, 2015, based on a determination that it would be on the best interests of Trust Beneficiaries, the GUC Trust made a determination to file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking authority to liquidate some or all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities. Such motion was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in the July 2, 2015 Order described in Note 3, (Net Assets in Liquidation) to the financial statements and all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated in July and August 2015. Accordingly, the GUC Trust will no longer receive dividends on New GM Common Stock. Accordingly, the previous accrual for estimated future dividends was reversed and no accrual of dividends was made as of June 30, 2015. The decrease due to the reversal of accrued dividends on the New GM Common Stock is offset in part by a $0.5 million increase during the quarter ended June 30, 2015 in the accrual for estimated investment income from marketable securities.
There was no income tax provision or benefit during the three months ended June 30, 2015 as a result of the establishment of a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets at both June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, due to uncertainty as to whether the deferred tax assets are realizable. As a result of the liquidation of the New GM Securities subsequent to June 30, 2015, it has become determinable that the deferred tax assets at June 30, 2015 are not realizable. See Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustIncome Tax Liabilities for Certain Capital Gains and Dividends on New GM Common Stock above and Note 8 (Income Tax Provision), to the financial statements.
Liquidation and Administrative Costs
As discussed above under Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, under the liquidation basis of accounting, the GUC Trust was required upon its establishment to record reserves in respect of its expected costs associated with implementing the Plan and distributing the GUC Trusts distributable assets. These costs consist principally of professional fees, governance costs and other liquidation and administrative costs.
Under U.S. GAAP, these reserves may be established only to the extent there is a reasonable basis for their estimation. From time to time, as additional costs are identified and for which there is reasonable basis for estimation, the GUC Trust records an increase to its reserves for expected costs of liquidation and charges such increase as an addition to reserves for expected costs of liquidation in the Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation. As costs are actually incurred by the GUC Trust, such costs reduce the previously recorded reserves for expected costs of liquidation by the amount of such incurred costs, with no further effect on the Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation.
The GUC Trusts reserves for liquidation and administrative costs (recorded in conformity with U.S. GAAP) are allocable into the following categories:
| reserve for expected Wind-Down Costs, corresponding to expenditures to be made out of the Administrative Fund and, following the depletion of the Administrative Fund, Other Administrative Cash (see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs); |
| reserve for expected Reporting Costs, corresponding to expenditures to be made out of Other Administrative Cash (see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs); |
| reserve for Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs, corresponding to expenditures to be made out of the cash received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date (see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustOther Assets Received from MLC on the Dissolution Date); |
| reserve for Avoidance Action Defense Costs, corresponding to expenditures to be made out of Residual Wind-Down Assets and, following the depletion of such assets, the Administrative Fund with respect to any excess amounts remaining from the funds designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust, or Other Administrative Cash (see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustResidual Wind-Down Claims and Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustTerm Loan Avoidance Action); and |
| reserve for Residual Wind-Down Costs, corresponding (in addition to expenditures to satisfy and resolve Residual Wind-Down Claims) to expenditures to be made out of Residual Wind-Down Assets and, following the depletion of the Residual Wind-Down Assets, Other Administrative Cash (see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustResidual Wind-Down Claims). |
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As described in greater detail under Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust above and Liquidity and Capital Resources below, unused portions of certain of the assets associated with the foregoing reserves are required to be returned to the DIP Lenders upon the winding up and dissolution of the GUC Trust. Therefore, such assets are not available to fund costs of liquidation and administration or income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust, and are also not available for distribution to the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims or GUC Trust Units. See Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs, Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustResidual Wind-Down Claims and Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustOther Assets Received from MLC on the Dissolution Date.
As of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust had approximately $30.1 million in reserves for liquidation and administrative costs that are estimated to be incurred through the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust, compared to approximately $31.3 million in reserves as of March 31, 2015. The following table summarizes in greater detail the changes in such reserves during the three months ended June 30, 2015:
(in thousands) |
Reserve for Expected Wind-Down Costs |
Reserve for Expected Reporting Costs |
Reserve for Indenture Trustee/Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs |
Reserve for Residual Wind-Down Costs |
Total Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation |
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Balance, March 31, 2015 |
$ | 21,089 | $ | 8,602 | $ | 364 | $ | 1,223 | $ | 31,278 | ||||||||||
Plus additions to reserves |
1,447 | 884 | | | 2,331 | |||||||||||||||
Less liquidation costs incurred: |
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Trust Professionals |
(1,364 | ) | (754 | ) | | (2 | ) | (2,120 | ) | |||||||||||
Trust Governance |
(818 | ) | (450 | ) | (17 | ) | | (1,285 | ) | |||||||||||
Other Administrative Expenses |
(10 | ) | (76 | ) | | | (86 | ) | ||||||||||||
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Balance, June 30, 2015 |
$ | 20,344 | $ | 8,206 | $ | 347 | $ | 1,221 | $ | 30,118 | ||||||||||
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Reserves were increased approximately $2.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2015, in order to reflect a $1.4 million increase in expected Wind-Down Costs and a $0.9 million increase in expected Reporting Costs. The increase in expected Wind-Down Costs during the three months ended June 30, 2015, is primarily associated with additional expenses of GUC Trust Professionals with respect to liquidation of the New GM Securities and amendment of the GUC Trust Agreement and estimated commissions on the pending sale of New GM Common Stock. The increase in expected Reporting Costs during the three months ended June 30, 2015, is primarily associated with additional expenses of GUC Trust Professionals with respect to liquidation of the New GM Securities and increased insurance costs. In comparison, reserves were increased approximately $1.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2014, in order to reflect a $2.4 million increase in expected Wind-Down Costs and a $0.6 million decrease in expected Reporting Costs. The increase in expected Wind-Down Costs during the three months ended June 30, 2014, was primarily associated with the GUC Trusts participation as an interested party in legal proceedings related to New GM vehicle recalls resulting in increased expected legal costs, partially offset by a reduction in expected costs associated with a reduction in the then estimated remaining life of the GUC Trust. The decrease in expected Reporting Costs during the three months ended June 30, 2014, was primarily associated with a reduction in the then estimated remaining life of the GUC Trust.
Total reserves were reduced by the amount of liquidation and administrative costs incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2015. Trust professional costs incurred during each of the three months ended June 30, 2015 and the three months ended June 30, 2014, were approximately $2.1 million. Trust Governance Costs incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and the three months ended June 30, 2014, were $1.3 million and $1.4, respectively. Other administrative costs during the three months ended June 30, 2015 were approximately $86,000 compared to approximately $131,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Such costs represent miscellaneous fees and costs of the GUC Trust. For additional information regarding the components of each category of costs, see Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustFunding for the GUC Trusts Liquidation and Administrative Costs, Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustResidual Wind-Down Claims and Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustOther Assets Received from MLC Trust on the Dissolution Date.
The foregoing reserves represent future costs of the GUC Trust for which there was a reasonable basis for estimation as of June 30, 2015 and, therefore, are recorded under the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It is reasonably possible, however, that additional costs will be incurred, for which there was not a reasonable basis for estimation as of June 30, 2015. In particular, as of June 30, 2015, the recorded reserves for expected costs of liquidation reflect estimated costs for a remaining liquidation period extending through February 2017, which date is predominantly the result of the estimate of the period of time required for resolution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, as well as certain additional estimated time as necessary to wind down the GUC Trust, and assumes an extension of the current scheduled dissolution date of the GUC Trust. This end date of the remaining liquidation period has been estimated predominantly on a probability-weighted basis as permitted under U.S. GAAP and which the GUC Trust believes is the most appropriate measurement basis under the circumstances. Where an outcome is estimated to be likely, the likely outcome has been used as the best estimate and no weight has been given to the unlikely outcome. In addition, certain liquidation costs that are expected to be prepaid by the GUC Trust upon its dissolution have also been estimated and accrued. It is possible that future developments in the Term Loan Avoidance Action could extend the current estimate of the remaining period of time required for resolution and, therefore, extend the estimated remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017.
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As described in Part 2, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, the GUC Trust is participating, as an interested party, in litigation involving certain General Motors vehicle recalls. While the impact of such litigation on the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust is not subject to reasonable estimation at this time, it is possible that such litigation could extend the remaining liquidation period of the GUC Trust beyond February 2017.
The amount of liquidation costs that will ultimately be incurred depends both on the length of the remaining liquidation period and on the extent of activities required for the GUC Trust to complete its functions and responsibilities under the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement. Significant uncertainty remains both as to that time period and as to the extent of those activities. It is reasonably possible that the GUC Trusts estimates regarding the remaining liquidation period and the expected costs of liquidation will change in the near term.
If the funds available for each of the foregoing categories of costs are not sufficient to satisfy any of the costs in that category, the GUC Trust will be required to appropriate a portion of Distributable Cash in order to meet its additional obligations for those costs. Any such appropriation will result in a lesser amount of Distributable Cash available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units.
The process of recognizing reserves for expected costs of liquidation as a matter of financial reporting is separate and distinct from the process by which New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are set aside from distribution for the purposes of funding projected costs of liquidation, which are generally made on a more conservative (i.e., more inclusive) basis and include contingencies that are not permitted to be recognized under applicable accounting standards. As described in further detail below, certain New GM Securities (and related Dividend Cash) have already been set aside from distribution for the purposes of meeting such additional obligations. However, the amounts set aside from distribution are neither reflected in nor a part of the financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q because the process of setting aside such assets is not related to the process of recording, as a matter of financial reporting in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation, reserves for expected costs of liquidation or current and deferred income tax liabilities. See Critical Accounting Policies and EstimatesIncome Taxes and Critical Accounting Policies and EstimatesReserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation above and Net Assets in LiquidationNew GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution below.
For additional information regarding the reserves described above, see Note 2 (Plan of Liquidation) and Note 7 (Reserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation and Residual Wind-Down Claims) to the financial statements.
Net Assets in Liquidation
Disputed Claims
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, no Disputed General Unsecured Claims were resolved by the GUC Trust Administrator.
The following table provides additional detail regarding claims resolution status at June 30, 2015:
(in thousands) | Allowed General Unsecured Claims |
Disputed General Unsecured Claims |
Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims |
Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims (1) |
Total Claims Amount (2) |
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As of June 30, 2015 |
$ | 31,853,630 | $ | 70,000 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 1,570,000 | $ | 33,423,630 | ||||||||||
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(1) | Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims represents the sum of Disputed General Unsecured Claims and Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. |
(2) | Total Claim Amount represents the sum of Allowed General Unsecured Claims and Maximum Amount of Unresolved Claims. |
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Distributable Assets
The table below summarizes the activity in the New GM Securities and Dividend Cash that comprise the GUC Trusts distributable assets, including the amounts of New GM Securities distributed through or distributable as of June 30, 2015, as well as the numbers of New GM Securities and amount of Dividend Cash available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units as of June 30, 2015:
New GM Common Stock |
New GM Series A Warrants |
New GM Series B Warrants |
Dividend Cash | |||||||||||||
Distributable Assets as of Effective Date (March 31, 2011) |
150,000,000 | 136,363,635 | 136,363,635 | $ | | |||||||||||
Dividends Received on New GM Common Stock |
| | | 24,746,311 | ||||||||||||
Prior Distributions (1) |
(137,298,736 | ) | (124,817,263 | ) | (124,817,263 | ) | (3,365,633 | ) | ||||||||
Prior Sales to Fund GUC Trust Costs and Avoidance Action Trust Funding Obligation |
(1,313,223 | ) | (1,193,816 | ) | (1,193,816 | ) | (169,888 | ) | ||||||||
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Holdings of New GM Securities as of June 30, 2015 (2) |
11,388,041 | 10,352,556 | 10,352,556 | 21,210,790 | ||||||||||||
Less: Distributions Payable at June 30, 2015 (1), (3) |
(204,336 | ) | (185,686 | ) | (185,686 | ) | (409,099 | ) | ||||||||
Add: Distributions Payable to Holders of GUC Trust Units at June 30, 2015 |
172,410 | 156,756 | 156,756 | 320,683 | ||||||||||||
Less: Amounts Set Aside from Distribution to Fund Projected GUC Trust Costs |
(663,923 | ) | (603,540 | ) | (603,540 | ) | (1,234,897 | ) | ||||||||
Less: Amounts Set Aside from Distribution to Fund Projected Dividend Taxes |
(106,910 | ) | (97,191 | ) | (97,191 | ) | (198,853 | ) | ||||||||
Less: Amounts Set Aside from Distribution to Fund Potential Taxes on Distribution |
(3,635,462 | ) | (3,304,966 | ) | (3,304,966 | ) | (6,761,959 | ) | ||||||||
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Distributable Assets as of June 30, 2015 (4) |
6,949,820 | 6,317,929 | 6,317,929 | $ | 12,926,665 | |||||||||||
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(1) | The numbers of New GM Securities shown as distributed or distributable include sales for (a) cash distributions to governmental entities to the extent such governmental entities have requested such sales and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the GUC Trust Administrator that such governmental entities are precluded by applicable law from receiving distributions of New GM Securities and (b) fractional amounts of New GM Securities, in lieu of which the GUC Trust is required pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement to distribute cash, subject to certain minimum thresholds. |
(2) | Holdings of New GM Securities reflect the numbers of New GM Securities used to determine Holdings of New GM Securities in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. See Note 5 (Holdings of New GM Securities) to the financial statements. As described above under Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust Distributions and Distributable Assets of the GUC Trust and in Note 1 (Description of Trust and Reporting Polices) and Note 5 (Holdings of New GM Securities) to the financial statements, such New GM Securities were liquidated during July and August 2015. |
(3) | Distributions Payable are in respect of Allowed General Unsecured Claims that were allowed in prior fiscal periods, but for which the holders of such claims had not yet supplied information required by the GUC Trust in order to effect the distribution to which they are entitled and excess distributions payable to holders of GUC Trust Units. |
(4) | Distributable Assets reflects the numbers of New GM Securities and Dividend Cash shown as GUC Trust Distributable Assets on the report included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the GUC Trust with the SEC on July 24, 2015. Such New GM Securities and associated Dividend Cash have been set aside for potential distribution in respect of current Disputed General Unsecured Claims and Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims as of June 30, 2015. To the extent such claims are resolved in favor of the GUC Trust, the amount of Distributable Cash associated with such set aside New GM Securities and Dividend Cash may become available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units in future periods. The numbers of New GM Securities set out above as Distributable Assets do not, however, directly relate to Net Assets in Liquidation or any other number appearing in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. |
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As described above under the heading Disputed Claims, as of June 30, 2015, there were approximately $31.9 billion in Allowed General Unsecured Claims. In respect of such claims, the GUC Trust had previously distributed, or was obligated to distribute as of June 30, 2015, in the aggregate, 137,503,072 shares of New GM Common Stock, 125,002,949 New GM Series A Warrants and 125,002,949 New GM Series B Warrants. These numbers include 172,410 shares of New GM Common Stock, 156,756 New GM Series A Warrants and 156,756 New GM Series B Warrants that were distributable to holders of GUC Trust Units in respect of Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets as of June 30, 2015.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, no New GM Securities were sold to fund liquidation and administrative costs of the GUC Trust.
New GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution
Overview of New GM Securities or Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution
In addition to distributions and liquidations of New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash after the sale of New GM Securities described above), which are reflected as reductions to the GUC Trust net assets in its financial statements, the GUC Trust also, from time to time, sets aside New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) for potential future liquidation (or appropriation) to fund projected liquidation and administrative costs, as well as potential income tax liabilities, including both Dividend Taxes and Taxes on Distribution. The New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) that are set aside from distribution by the GUC Trust are not deducted from the net assets in liquidation of the GUC Trust in its financial statements unless and until such New GM Securities are liquidated (or appropriated Distributable Cash is expended). The New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) set aside from distribution are segregated by the GUC Trust for such specific purposes and are not available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units or other claimants unless and to the extent that the GUC Trust later determines that the New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) are no longer needed to fund those specific purposes.
This process is not related to, and is separate from, the process of recording current and deferred income tax liabilities and reserves for expected costs of liquidation in the Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation, as a matter of financial reporting. As a matter of financial reporting, income tax liabilities and reserves for expected costs of liquidation must be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the GUC Trust. By contrast, the estimates of projected costs and potential liabilities for which the GUC Trust may set aside New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) are generally made on a more conservative (i.e., more inclusive) basis and include contingencies and amounts of potential income tax liabilities that are not permitted to be recognized under applicable accounting standards. See Critical Accounting PoliciesIncome Taxes and Critical Accounting Policies and EstimatesReserves for Expected Costs of Liquidation above.
As of June 30, 2015, the distributable assets of the GUC Trust included 6,949,820 shares of New GM Common Stock, 6,317,929 New GM Series A Warrants and 6,317,929 New GM Series B Warrants, with an aggregate fair value of approximately $482.6 million, as well as Dividend Cash of $12.9 million, after deducting the numbers of New GM Securities and Dividend Cash (i) set aside from distribution to fund additional projected liquidation and administrative costs and potential income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust (as described below under the headings Set Aside Calculations Relating to Projected Liquidation and Administrative Costs, Including Dividend Taxes and Set Aside Calculations Relating to Potential Taxes on Distribution) and (ii) set aside for distributions payable in respect of Allowed General Unsecured Claims that were allowed in prior fiscal periods, but for which the holders of such claims had not yet supplied information required by the GUC Trust in order to effect the distributions to which they are entitled. Such New GM Securities and Dividend Cash have been set aside for potential distribution in respect of current Disputed General Unsecured Claims and Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. To the extent such claims are resolved in favor of the GUC Trust, the amount of Distributable Cash associated with the set aside New GM Securities and Dividend Cash may become available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units in future periods.
Set Aside Calculations Relating to Projected Liquidation and Administrative Costs, Including Dividend Taxes
The GUC Trust Administrator reevaluates, on a quarterly basis, the numbers of New GM Securities (or amount of Distributable Cash) needed to be set aside from distribution for purposes of funding projected liquidation and administrative costs, including Dividend Taxes. This determination is made on a basis different than that used to calculate reserves for financial statement purposes. The current methodology for calculating such set asides converts estimates of projected liquidation and administrative costs into the numbers of New GM Securities to be set aside from distribution by dividing such estimates by the trailing twelve month average closing prices for the New GM Securities. In addition, beginning in the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the numbers of New GM Securities to be set aside from distribution have been reduced for dividends on New GM Common Stock received by the GUC Trust during the quarter that are associated with the set-aside New GM Common Stock by dividing such dividends by the trailing twelve month average closing prices for the New GM Securities and subtracting such calculated numbers of New GM Securities from the numbers of set-aside New GM Securities. A corresponding amount of Dividend Cash associated with the set-aside New GM Securities has also been set aside from distribution. The GUC Trust Administrator anticipates revising the methodology for calculating such set asides in the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2015, in order to account for the effects of the liquidation of all of the New GM Securities pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order.
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For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, as a result of the standard quarterly reevaluations described above, the number of New GM Securities and Dividend Cash set aside from distribution to fund projected liquidation and administrative costs of the GUC Trust was reduced by 66,800 shares of New GM Common Stock, 60,730 New GM Series A Warrants and 60,730 New GM Series B Warrants, and the amount of Dividend Cash was increased by $0.2 million from the amount previously set aside as of March 31, 2015. Such overall reductions in set aside New GM Securities were primarily related to the decrease in the number of New GM Securities required to be set aside for the Future Dividend Tax Set Aside (as defined and described below), partially offset by an increase in remaining projected Wind-Down Costs and Reporting and Transfer Costs. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust had set aside from distribution, in the aggregate, 770,883 shares of New GM Common Stock, 700,731 New GM Series A Warrants, 700,731 New GM Series B Warrants and Dividend Cash of $1.4 million, with an aggregate fair value of $55.0 million, for the purposes of funding future projected liquidation and administrative costs of the GUC Trust, including Dividend Taxes of $7.6 million. Such amounts were sufficient to fully fund projected liquidation and administrative costs of the GUC Trust, as estimated by the GUC Trust Administrator at June 30, 2015.
With respect to projected Dividend Taxes, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and in all prior periods for which the GUC Trust held Dividend Cash, no additional set aside of New GM Securities was made for any potential future dividends to be declared by New GM and received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Securities. Such determination was based on uncertainty associated with a number of variables, including but not limited to (i) the likelihood of the payment of, and the timing of, any potential future dividends, (ii) the amount per share of any potential future dividends, and (iii) the numbers of shares of New GM Common Stock that will be held by the GUC Trust as of the record date of any potential future dividend. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the GUC Trust Administrator, in consultation with Trust Professionals, determined that the level of uncertainty associated with certain of the aforementioned variables had sufficiently decreased, and that it was necessary to increase the set aside for Wind-Down Costs in an amount sufficient, in the reasonable estimation of the GUC Trust Administrator, to cover estimated Dividend Taxes associated with anticipated potential future dividends estimated to be declared by New GM in the future and to be received by the GUC Trust on its holdings of New GM Common Stock through December 2016 (the Future Dividend Tax Set Aside). For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, no such potential future dividends are anticipated to be received by the GUC Trust due to the sale of all of the GUC Trusts holdings of New GM Common Stock in July and August 2015 as described above. Accordingly, the set aside for Wind-Down Costs at June 30, 2015 no longer includes the Future Dividend Tax Set Aside. As a result, during the quarter ended June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust decreased the set aside for Wind-Down Costs with respect to projected Dividend Taxes by 133,645 shares of New GM Common Stock, 121,497 warrants of each class of warrants and $162,000 in Dividend Cash.
Set Aside Calculations Relating to Potential Taxes on Distribution
In addition to reevaluating the numbers of New GM Securities (or the amount of Distributable Cash) to be set aside from distribution to fund projected liquidation and administrative costs, including Dividend Taxes, the GUC Trust Administrator also reevaluates, on a quarterly basis, the numbers of New GM Securities (or the amount of Distributable Cash) needed to be set aside from distribution to fund potential income tax liabilities on realized gains and future gains from the disposition of New GM Securities, which are referred to as Taxes on Distribution. The current methodology for calculating such set asides estimates potential Taxes on Distribution by applying the applicable U.S. federal income tax rate to estimates of potential capital gains, including (a) realized gains that are still subject to adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service, less any current period losses (excluding dividends received on New GM Common Stock) and future tax deductible expenses, and (b) potential future capital gains on holdings of New GM Securities, which are arrived at by comparing the highest closing price for the New GM Securities since December 15, 2011, against the tax basis of the New GM Securities. For both realized capital gains and potential future capital gains, such tax basis was determined based on the date of transfer of record ownership of the New GM Securities to the GUC Trust from MLC on December 15, 2011. The current set aside calculation methodology then converts the estimate of potential Taxes on Distribution into the numbers of New GM Securities to be set aside from distribution by dividing such estimate by the trailing twelve month average closing prices of the New GM Securities. In addition, the number of New GM Securities to be set aside from distribution has been reduced for dividends on New GM Common Stock received by the GUC Trust that are associated with the set aside New GM Common Stock by dividing such dividends by the trailing twelve month average closing prices for the New GM Securities and subtracting such calculated numbers of New GM Securities from the numbers of set-aside New GM Securities. A corresponding amount of Dividend Cash associated with the set aside New GM Securities has also been set aside from distribution. The GUC Trust Administrator anticipates revising the methodology for calculating such set asides in the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2015, in order to account for the effects of the liquidation of all of the New GM Securities pursuant to the July 2, 2015 Order.
The GUC Trusts calculations of the numbers of New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) needed to be set aside from distribution to fund such potential Taxes on Distribution is made using a different methodology than that used to calculate deferred tax liabilities for financial statement purposes. As described above, in estimating potential Taxes on Distribution, the current set
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aside calculation estimates potential capital gains as the difference between (a) the tax basis of the New GM Securities on December 15, 2011 and (b) the highest closing price of such New GM Securities since December 15, 2011 for potential future gains, or the market price on the date of disposition for realized gains. By contrast, in calculating deferred tax assets or liabilities for purposes of financial reporting under applicable U.S. GAAP, the GUC Trust calculates estimated capital gains on holdings of New GM Securities as the difference between (a) the tax basis of the New GM Securities for financial reporting purposes (based on the date of transfer of beneficial ownership of the New GM Securities to the GUC Trust from MLC) and (b) the closing price of such New GM Securities as of the last trading date of the most recent fiscal quarter. For realized capital gains or losses on dispositions of New GM Securities, the tax basis of the New GM Securities for financial reporting purposes is also used.
For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, as a result of the standard quarterly reevaluations described above, the numbers of New GM Securities and amount of Dividend Cash set aside from distribution to fund projected Taxes on Distribution of the GUC Trust was reduced by 52,695 shares of New GM Common Stock, 47,904 New GM Series A Warrants, and 47,904 New GM Series B, and the amount of Dividend Cash was increased by $1.2 million from those previously set aside at March 31, 2015. Such overall reductions in set aside New GM Securities primarily resulted from an increase in Dividend Cash associated with the set aside New GM Securities. Such overall increase in set aside Dividend Cash was primarily related to the receipt of dividends on New GM Common Stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2015. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust had set aside from distribution, in the aggregate, 3,635,462 shares of New GM Common Stock, 3,304,966 New GM Series A Warrants, 3,304,966 New GM Series B Warrants and Dividend Cash of $6.8 million, with an aggregate fair value of $259.2 million, for the purposes of funding potential Taxes on Distribution of the GUC Trust. Such amounts were sufficient to fully fund potential Taxes on Distribution of the GUC Trust, as estimated by the GUC Trust Administrator at June 30, 2015.
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The set aside calculation for potential Taxes on Distribution as of June 30, 2015 is set forth below:
New GM Common Stock |
New GM Series A Warrants |
New GM Series B Warrants |
Total | Calculation Reference | ||||||||||||||
Holdings of New GM Securities as of June 30, 2015 |
11,388,041 | 10,352,556 | 10,352,556 | |||||||||||||||
Tax basis of New GM Securities (1) |
$ | 19.87 | $ | 11.38 | $ | 7.88 | ||||||||||||
Highest closing price since December 15, 2011 (2) |
$ | 41.53 | $ | 31.97 | $ | 23.858 | ||||||||||||
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|
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Estimated potential taxable gain per New GM Security |
$ | 21.66 | $ | 20.59 | $ | 15.978 | ||||||||||||
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|
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Aggregate estimated potential taxable gain (in thousands) |
$ | 246,665 | $ | 213,159 | $ | 165,413 | $ | 625,237 | ||||||||||
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|
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Net capital gains and operating losses subject to adjustment (in thousands) (3) |
82,726 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional expected tax deductible costs of liquidation (in thousands) |
(22,692 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Estimated potential taxable income (in thousands) |
$ | 685,271 | ||||||||||||||||
Tax rate |
39.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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Estimated potential tax liabilities (in thousands) |
$ | 271,367 | A | |||||||||||||||
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Average closing price for trailing twelve months (4) |
$ | 34.68 | $ | 24.92 | $ | 16.99 | B | |||||||||||
Ratio to set aside (5) |
100 | % | 91 | % | 91 | % | ||||||||||||
Value per New GM Security, based on ratio to set aside |
$ | 34.68 | $ | 22.65 | $ | 15.45 | C | |||||||||||
Percentage allocable to each class of New GM Security |
47.65 | % | 31.12 | % | 21.23 | % | 100 | % | D = C/ (sum of C) | |||||||||
Amount to be set aside, as allocated to each class of New GM Security (in thousands) |
$ | 129,313 | $ | 84,453 | $ | 57,601 | $ | 271,367 | E = D*A | |||||||||
Number of New GM Securities to be set aside |
3,728,365 | 3,389,423 | 3,389,423 | F = E/B | ||||||||||||||
Reduction for Dividend Cash attributable to set aside New GM Securities |
(92,903 | ) | (84,457 | ) | (84,457 | ) | G = H*D/B | |||||||||||
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3,635,462 | 3,304,966 | 3,304,966 | ||||||||||||||||
Closing price at June 30, 2015 |
$ | 33.33 | $ | 23.77 | $ | 15.95 | ||||||||||||
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Fair value of New GM Securities set aside at June 30, 2015, exclusive of Dividend Cash (in thousands) |
$ | 121,170 | $ | 78,559 | $ | 52,714 | $ | 252,443 | ||||||||||
Add: Dividend Cash set aside at June 30, 2015 (in thousands) (6) |
$ | 6,762 | $ | | $ | | $ | 6,762 | H | |||||||||
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Fair value of New GM Securities and Dividend Cash set aside at June 30, 2015 (in thousands) (7) |
$ | 127,932 | $ | 78,559 | $ | 52,714 | $ | 259,205 | ||||||||||
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1) | Using the date of transfer of record ownership of the New GM Securities to the GUC Trust from MLC on December 15, 2011, for purposes of determining the tax basis thereof. |
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(2) | The highest closing prices for the New GM Common Stock, the New GM Series A Warrants and the New GM Series B Warrants occurred on December 17, 2013. |
(3) | The capital gains and net operating losses reflect taxable capital gains on distributions and sales of New GM Securities using the tax basis of the New GM Securities described in (1) above. Operating losses exclude dividends received on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust for which potential Dividend Taxes are reflected in the set aside for purposes of funding projected liquidation and administrative costs. The net amount of such capital gains and operating losses is still subject to adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service. |
(4) | The average closing prices for the New GM Common Stock, the New GM Series A Warrants and the New GM Series B Warrants for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. |
(5) | The ratio to set aside is calculated by dividing the number of New GM Securities of each class authorized for distribution under the Plan (i.e., 150,000,000 shares of New GM Common Stock and 136,363,635 of each series of New GM Warrants) by the number of shares of New GM Common Stock authorized for distribution under the Plan. |
(6) | Represents dividends received on New GM Common Stock held by the GUC Trust associated with the number of set-aside shares of New GM Common Stock. |
(7) | As of June 30, 2015, the fair value of New GM Securities set aside to fund Taxes on Distribution was less than estimates of potential Taxes on Distribution, because the fair value of such New GM Securities was based on current closing prices that were less than the trailing twelve month average prices used to determine the numbers of New GM Securities to be set aside. |
It is the view of the GUC Trust Administrator, after consultation with the GUC Trust Monitor and other professionals retained by the GUC Trust, that the calculation methodologies described above, on the basis of which New GM Securities or Distributable Cash are set aside from distribution, generally estimate the projected liquidation and administrative costs and potential tax liabilities of the GUC Trust on a conservative basis. Accordingly, it is the view of the GUC Trust Administrator and the GUC Trust Monitor that the New GM Securities (or the proceeds thereof) currently set aside from distribution to fund such costs and liabilities would be sufficient to satisfy such obligations of the GUC Trust as of the date of this Form 10-Q. However, there can be no assurance that the numbers of New GM Securities or amount of Distributable Cash set aside will be sufficient to fund such costs and liabilities as they are actually incurred. In addition, there can be no assurance that, as a result of future evaluations, additional Distributable Cash will not need to be set aside or appropriated to fund additional costs and liabilities, beyond those that are currently included in the GUC Trusts estimates, in particular as a result of changes in the GUC Trusts estimates of projected costs and potential liabilities. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below.
GUC Trust Units
As of June 30, 2015, GUC Trust Units aggregating 31,853,702 were outstanding. Such number represents GUC Trust Units issued in respect of Allowed General Unsecured Claims that were allowed in prior periods, including GUC Trust Units held by the GUC Trust for the benefit of (a) holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims who had not yet supplied information required by the GUC Trust in order to effect the initial distribution to which they are entitled and (b) governmental entities that are precluded by applicable law from receiving distributions of GUC Trust Units and New GM Securities. There were no GUC Trust Units issued during the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The GUC Trusts sources of liquidity are principally the funds it holds for the payment of liquidation and administrative costs, and to a significantly lesser degree, the earnings on such funds invested by it. The GUC Trust holds such funds as cash and cash equivalents and also invests such funds in marketable securities, primarily corporate commercial paper and municipal commercial paper and demand notes, as permitted by the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, the GUC Trusts holdings of cash and cash equivalents decreased approximately $17.2 million from approximately $37.5 million to approximately $20.3 million. The decrease was due primarily to (a) purchases of marketable securities in excess of proceeds from the maturity and sale of marketable securities of $16.9 million, (b) cash paid for liquidation and administrative costs of $3.3 million, and (c) cash paid for Residual Wind-Down Claims of $1.1 million, partially offset by dividends received on holdings of New GM Common Stock of $4.1 million.
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, the funds invested by the GUC Trust in marketable securities increased approximately $16.9 million, from approximately $31.0 million to approximately $47.9 million. The increase was due to re-investments of cash in marketable securities. The GUC Trust earned approximately $22,000 in interest income on such investments during the period.
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As of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust held approximately $68.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. Of that amount, approximately $35.8 million (comprising approximately $27.1 million of the remaining Residual Wind-Down Assets, approximately $8.3 million of the remaining Administrative Fund and approximately $0.4 million in remaining funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs), is required by the GUC Trust Agreement to be returned, upon the winding-up of the GUC Trust, to the DIP Lenders to the extent such funds are not utilized to satisfy designated Wind-Down Costs, Residual Wind-Down Claims, Residual Wind-Down Costs, Avoidance Action Defense Costs and Indenture Trustee/Fiscal Paying Agent Costs. The cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $8.3 million remaining in the Administrative Fund have been designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust (a substantial majority of which will likely not be incurred and, therefore, will likely be returned to the DIP Lenders), and such amounts may not be used for the payment of Trust Professionals fees and expenses or other Wind-Down Costs. Such amounts will not at any time be available for distribution to the holders of the GUC Trust Units. In addition, of the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the GUC Trust at June 30, 2015, approximately $21.2 million relates to Dividend Cash. As described above, Dividend Cash will be distributed to holders of subsequently Resolved Allowed Claims and GUC Trust Units in respect of New GM Common Stock (or Distributable Cash) that they receive, unless such dividends are in respect of shares of New GM Common Stock that are sold (or Distributable Cash that is appropriated) by the GUC Trust in accordance with the GUC Trust Agreement to fund the GUC Trusts liquidation and administrative costs, income tax liabilities or shortfalls in Residual Wind-Down Assets. The balance of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $11.2 million is available for the payment of certain reporting and administrative costs of the GUC Trust, and would be available in the future for distribution to the holders of the GUC Trust Units, if not otherwise used to satisfy those GUC Trust obligations. See Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC Trust above.
In addition to funds held for payment of costs of liquidation and administration and Dividend Cash, the GUC Trust also holds New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash), a portion of which the GUC Trust Administrator is permitted to set aside from distribution and to sell (or appropriate Distributable Cash) with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court or Trust Monitor, as applicable, in order to fund additional costs and income tax liabilities (including both Dividend Taxes and Taxes on Distribution) as they become due. As of June 30, 2015, the aggregate fair value of the New GM Securities held by the GUC Trust, excluding securities set aside for liquidating distributions payable as of that date, was approximately $776.6 million. As of June 30, 2015, the GUC Trust Administrator had further set aside from distribution New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $53.5 million and related Dividend Cash of $1.4 million to fund projected liquidation and administrative costs, including Dividend Taxes, and New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $252.4 million and related Dividend Cash of $6.8 million to fund potential Taxes on Distribution. See Net Assets in LiquidationDistributable Assets above.
There is no assurance that additional numbers of New GM Securities (or amount of Distributable Cash) will not be required to be set aside from distribution and sold (or appropriated) to fund additional costs and income tax liabilities, beyond what the GUC Trust Administrator has already set aside. Any sales of New GM Securities (or appropriation of Distributable Cash) that occur to fund such obligations will result in a lesser amount of New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) available for distribution to holders of GUC Trust Units. In addition, as described above under the headings Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustResidual Wind-Down Claims and Functions and Responsibilities of the GUC TrustOther Assets Received from MLC on the Dissolution Date, a portion of the GUC Trusts assets are currently segregated pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement for the satisfaction of Residual Wind-Down Claims and certain other specified costs. If such assets are insufficient to satisfy the Residual Wind-Down Claims or fund such other specified costs for any reason, the GUC Trust Administrator will similarly be required to set aside from distribution and sell (or appropriate) additional New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) in order to fund such shortfall.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements about the assets, financial condition and prospects of the GUC Trust. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the resolution of the Disputed General Unsecured Claims, the outcome of and the ultimate recovery on the Term Loan Avoidance Action, any related incurrence of Allowed General Unsecured Claims, the GUC Trusts incurrence of professional fees, tax liabilities and other expenses in connection with administration of the GUC Trust, economic conditions, changes in tax and other governmental rules and regulations applicable to the GUC Trust, fluctuations in the market price of the New GM Securities and other risks, as well as various risks and uncertainties associated with New GM, as described in New GMs periodic and current reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of the GUC Trust to control, and in many cases, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements cannot be predicted. When used in this Form 10-Q, the words believes, estimates, plans, expects, intends, and anticipates and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
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Glossary
The capitalized terms used in this Form 10-Q but not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth below. For additional information on any of the matters relating to such terms, see the disclosure in the notes to the financial statements filed with this Form 10-Q and in the Form 8-K filed by the GUC Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2012.
Administrative Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent for various lenders party to the Term Loan.
Administrative Fund means the cash contributed to the GUC Trust to be held and maintained by the GUC Trust Administrator for the purpose of paying the Wind-Down Costs.
ADR Proceedings means alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration.
Allowed General Unsecured Claims means the general unsecured claims against the Debtors that are allowed at any given time.
Avoidance Action Defense Costs means certain reasonable costs, fees and expenses which the GUC Trust is obligated to satisfy relating to defending the Term Loan Avoidance Action, subject to the right of the GUC Trust to seek disgorgement in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
Avoidance Action Trust means the trust established under the Plan for the purpose of holding and prosecuting the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Avoidance Action Trust Administrator means Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as the trustee and trust administrator of the Avoidance Action Trust.
Bankruptcy Code means title 11 of the United States Code.
Bankruptcy Court means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Certified Question means the threshold question certified by the Second Circuit to the Delaware Supreme Court on June 17, 2014 with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Closing Date means July 10, 2009, the date on which the sale of substantially all of the assets of Old GM pursuant to the MSPA was completed.
Committee means the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of the Debtors appointed by the Office of the United States Trustee in the chapter 11 cases of the Debtors.
Committee Summary Judgment Motion means the Motion of Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for Partial Summary Judgment (Docket No. 24) filed by the Committee on July 1, 2010, seeking a ruling in favor of the Committee with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment means the Committee Summary Judgment Motion and the JPMorgan Summary Judgment Motion.
Debtors means MLC and its affiliated debtors and debtors-in-possession.
Delaware Court means, with respect to the Certified Question, the Delaware Supreme Court.
DIP Credit Agreement means the Debtor-In-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2009, by and among MLC, as borrower, the guarantors named therein, the U.S. Treasury, as lender, and the Governments of Canada and Ontario, through Export Development Canada, as lenders.
DIP Lenders means the United States Department of Treasury and the Governments of Canada and Ontario, through Export Development Canada.
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Disputed General Unsecured Claims means the general unsecured claims against the Debtors that are disputed at a given time and does not include any potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims.
Dissolution Date means December 15, 2011, the date that MLC filed a Certificate of Dissolution with the Secretary of State of Delaware and was dissolved.
Distributable Cash means the amount of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held for distribution to GUC Trust beneficiaries.
District Court means, with respect to the appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and the Threshold Issues Judgment, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Dividend Cash means the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the GUC Trust that relates to dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock then held, or previously held, by the GUC Trust.
Dividend Taxes means federal income taxes incurred in respect of dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock then held, or previously held, by the GUC Trust.
Effective Date means March 31, 2011, the date that the Plan became effective.
Equitable Mootness Finding means the holding of the Bankruptcy Court in the Threshold Issues Decision and the Threshold Issues Judgment that the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions may seek authorization to file late claims in the bankruptcy cases of Old GM, but that any such claims as against the GUC Trust are equitably moot (that is, fashioning relief for the plaintiffs against the GUC Trust would be impractical, imprudent and therefore inequitable), and thus the assets of the GUC Trust cannot be used to satisfy such claims.
Equitable Mootness Pleading means a pleading filed by a plaintiff in an Other Economic Loss Action or an Other Personal Injury Action which is required to show a good faith basis as to why the Equitable Mootness Finding should not apply to their Other Economic Loss Action or Other Personal Injury Action.
Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets means (i) New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) and Dividend Cash associated with such New GM Securities (only if and to the extent such New GM Securities (or Distributable Cash) and Dividend Cash (a) are not required for the satisfaction of new Allowed General Unsecured Claims and (b) have not been set aside from distribution to fund projected liquidation and administrative costs, Dividend Taxes or Taxes on Distribution of the GUC Trust) and (ii) Other Administrative Cash available, if any, for distribution to the holders of GUC Trust Units.
GUC Trust means the Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust.
GUC Trust Administrator means Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as trust administrator and trustee of the GUC Trust.
GUC Trust Agreement means the Second Amended and Restated Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2015.
GUC Trust Monitor means FTI Consulting, Inc., solely in its capacity as trust monitor of the GUC Trust.
GUC Trust Units means the units of beneficial interests in the GUC Trust distributed to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims in proportion to the amount of their claims subject to certain rounding rules set forth in the Plan and the GUC Trust Agreement. Each GUC Trust Unit represents the contingent right to receive a pro rata share of the Excess GUC Trust Distributable Assets.
Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions means the various actions (including putative class actions) filed by various plaintiffs against New GM seeking compensatory and other damages for economic losses allegedly resulting from the Ignition Switch Recall, or the underlying condition of the subject vehicles.
Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions means the various actions (including putative class actions) filed by various plaintiffs against New GM seeking compensatory and other damages for personal injury and other claims allegedly arising from accidents that occurred as a result of the underlying condition of the vehicles subject to the Ignition Switch Recall.
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Ignition Switch Recall means the ignition switch-related recalls initiated by New GM.
Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs means certain costs, fees and expenses payable under the Plan to the indenture trustees and fiscal and paying agents for the previously outstanding debt of MLC.
Initial Reporting Cash means the proceeds of approximately $5.7 million from the sale by the GUC Trust of New GM Securities shortly after the Effective Date, expressly authorized by the GUC Trust Agreement for the purposes of funding Reporting Costs.
Investment Income Taxes means federal income taxes incurred in respect of investment income earned by the GUC Trust on Distributable Cash held, or previously held, by the GUC Trust.
JPMorgan Summary Judgment Motion means the Motion of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 28) filed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on July 1, 2010, seeking a ruling in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Judgment means the Bankruptcy Courts Judgment (Docket No. 73) dated March 1, 2013 in respect of the Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment.
MDL Court means, with respect to case number 14-MD-2543 (JMF), the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
MDL Proceeding means the actions that have been transferred to and consolidated under the case number 14-MD-2543 (JMF) and are pending before the MDL Court, including certain Subject Recall-Related Actions.
MLC means Motors Liquidation Company, which dissolved on December 15, 2011.
Motions to Enforce means the series of motions filed by New GM with the Bankruptcy Court seeking to enjoin the Subject Recall-Related Actions and to enforce the Sale Order.
Motions to Withdraw the Reference means the motions filed by certain plaintiffs in Other Economic Loss Actions and/or Other Personal Injury Actions which seek to have their Equitable Mootness Pleadings and their Successor Liability Pleadings heard by the MDL Court in lieu of the Bankruptcy Court.
MSPA means the Master Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as of July 10, 2009, by and among Old GM, certain of its debtor subsidiaries and NGMCO, Inc., as amended.
New GM means General Motors Company, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
New GM Common Stock means the common stock of General Motors Company, including with respect to New GM Common Stock that has been set aside from distribution, reserved or sold, any Dividend Cash related to such New GM Common Stock.
New GM Securities means the New GM Common Stock (including with respect to New GM Common Stock that has been set aside from distribution, reserved or sold, any Dividend Cash related to such New GM Common Stock) and the New GM Warrants.
New GM Series A Warrants means the warrants to acquire shares of New GM Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, expiring July 10, 2016.
New GM Series B Warrants means the warrants to acquire shares of New GM Common Stock at an exercise price of $18.33 per share, expiring July 10, 2019.
New GM Warrants means the New GM Series A Warrants and the New GM Series B Warrants.
Order means the Bankruptcy Courts Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 72) dated March 1, 2013 in respect of the Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment.
Other Administrative Cash means the cash proceeds from the sale of any New GM Securities (or appropriation of any Distributable Cash) that have been set aside from distribution to fund the current or projected liquidation and other administrative costs or income tax liabilities of the GUC Trust, plus any Dividend Cash related to any New GM Common Stock (or Distributable Cash) so sold (or appropriated).
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Other Economic Loss Actions means the various actions (including putative class actions) filed by various plaintiffs against New GM seeking compensatory and other damages for economic losses allegedly resulting from recalls of vehicles initiated by New GM (other than the Ignition Switch Recall), or the underlying condition of those vehicles.
Other Personal Injury Actions means the various actions (including putative class actions) filed by various plaintiffs against New GM seeking compensatory and other damages for personal injury and other claims allegedly arising from accidents that occurred as a result of the underlying condition of the vehicles subject to the recalls initiated by New GM other than the Ignition Switch Recall.
Personal Injury Actions means the various actions (including putative class actions) filed by various plaintiffs against New GM seeking compensatory and other damages for personal injury and other claims allegedly arising from accidents that occurred as a result of the underlying condition of the vehicles subject to the recalls initiated by New GM.
Petition means the petition for permission to appeal the Order and Judgment directly to the Second Circuit filed by the Avoidance Action Trust on April 5, 2013.
Plan means the Debtors Second Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan, filed with the Bankruptcy Court on March 18, 2011.
QSF means Qualified Settlement Fund under applicable regulations of the United States Department of Treasury.
Recall-Related Actions means, collectively, the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions, the Other Economic Loss Actions and the Personal Injury Actions.
Reporting Costs means fees, costs and expenses of the GUC Trust directly or indirectly relating to (i) reports to be prepared and filed by the GUC Trust pursuant to applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the SEC, (ii) the transfer, registration for transfer and certification of GUC Trust Units, (iii) the application by the Committee to the Internal Revenue Service for a private letter ruling regarding the tax treatment of the GUC Trust and the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims in respect of the distribution of New GM Securities and (iv) certain legal proceedings relating to the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Residual Wind-Down Assets means the funds remaining of the approximately $42.8 million in cash and prepaid expenses transferred by MLC to the GUC Trust on the Dissolution Date to satisfy the Residual Wind-Down Claims and Residual Wind-Down Costs (which amount consisted of approximately $40.0 million in cash, including approximately $1.4 million for Avoidance Action Defense Costs, and the transferred benefit of approximately $2.8 million in prepaid expenses).
Residual Wind-Down Claims means all disputed administrative expenses, priority tax claims, priority non-tax claims, and secured claims against the Debtors that were remaining as of the Dissolution Date.
Residual Wind-Down Costs means certain costs, fees and expenses relating to satisfying and resolving the Residual Wind-Down Claims.
Resolved Disputed Claims means previously Disputed General Unsecured Claims that are subsequently allowed.
Sale Order means the Sale Order and Injunction entered by the Bankruptcy Court on July 5, 2009, approving the sale of substantially all of the assets of Old GM to New GM pursuant to Section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.
Scheduling Order means the scheduling order entered by the Bankruptcy Court on May 16, 2014.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Second Circuit means the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Subject Recall-Related Actions means the Recall-Related Actions that concern vehicles designed, manufactured or sold prior to the Closing Date, except for Personal Injury Actions related to accidents that occurred after the Closing Date.
Successor Liability Finding means the holding of the Bankruptcy Court in the Threshold Issues Decision and the Threshold Issues Judgment that any claims asserted in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury
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Actions that relate to actions of Old GM are enjoined from being pursued against New GM on successor liability grounds. Taxes on Distribution means income tax liabilities on any net capital gains realized upon the distribution of New GM Securities to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims or GUC Trust Units or by the sale of New GM Securities (unless such net capital gains are offset by deductible operating losses).
Successor Liability Pleading means a pleading filed by a plaintiff in an Other Economic Loss Action or an Other Personal Injury Action which is required to show a good faith basis as to why the Successor Liability Finding should not apply to their Other Economic Loss Action or Other Personal Injury Action.
Term Loan means the syndicated loan facility evidenced by that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2006, among General Motors Corporation, Saturn Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise revised from time to time).
Term Loan Avoidance Action means the legal action styled as Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Motors Liquidation Co. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al., Adv. Pro. No. 09-00504 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 31, 2009).
Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims means the Allowed General Unsecured Claims that arise in the amount of any recovery of proceeds if the Avoidance Action Trust Administrator is successful in its prosecution of the Term Loan Avoidance Action. For the avoidance of doubt, as used in this Form 10-Q, the amounts of Disputed General Unsecured Claims do not include any potential Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims.
Threshold Issues Decision means the Bankruptcy Courts Decision on Motion to Enforce Sale Order (Docket No. 13109) dated April 15, 2015.
Threshold Issues Judgment means the Bankruptcy Courts Judgment (Docket No. 13177) dated June 1, 2015 with respect to the Threshold Issues Decision.
Wind-Down Costs means certain fees and expenses incurred by the GUC Trust, including fees of the GUC Trust Administrator and the GUC Trust Monitor and the fees and expenses for other professionals retained by the GUC Trust, other than Reporting Costs.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. |
Disclosure under this item is not required, pursuant to the no-action letter of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the GUC Trust dated May 23, 2012.
Item 4. | Disclosure Controls and Procedures. |
During the fiscal period covered by this report, the management of the GUC Trust, with the participation of the Vice President of the GUC Trust Administrator, completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the GUC Trusts disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on this evaluation, the GUC Trusts management, including that Vice President of the GUC Trust Administrator, has concluded that, as of the end of the fiscal period covered by this report, the GUC Trusts disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no material changes in the GUC Trusts internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal period covered by this report.
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Item 1. | Legal Proceedings. |
On July 31, 2009, the Committee, on behalf of the Debtors, commenced the Term Loan Avoidance Action (Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Motors Liquidation Co. v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. et al., Adv. Pro. No. 09-00504 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 31, 2009)). Among other things, the Term Loan Avoidance Action seeks the return of approximately $1.5 billion that had been transferred to a consortium of prepetition lenders pursuant to the terms of the order approving the DIP Credit Agreement.
On July 1, 2010, the Committee filed a Motion of Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for Partial Summary Judgment (Docket No. 24), or the Committee Summary Judgment Motion, seeking a ruling in favor of the Committee with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action. Also on July 1, 2010, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. filed a Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Docket No. 28), or the JPMorgan Summary Judgment Motion (and, together with the Committee Summary Judgment Motion, the Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment), seeking a ruling in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with respect to the Term Loan Avoidance Action. On the Dissolution Date, while the Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment were still pending, the right to prosecute the Term Loan Avoidance Action was transferred to the Avoidance Action Trust. To the extent that the Avoidance Action Trust Administrator is successful in obtaining and collecting a judgment against the defendant(s) therein, Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims will arise in the amount actually collected from the defendant(s), and in the name of such defendant(s).
The Avoidance Action Trust was established under the Plan and is independent of the GUC Trust. The proper beneficiaries of the proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, if any, is a matter that is currently in dispute, with both the DIP Lenders and the Committee, on behalf of the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims, claiming sole rights to such proceeds. On June 6, 2011, the Committee commenced an adversary proceeding seeking a declaratory judgment that (i) the DIP Lenders are not entitled to any proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action and have no interests in the Avoidance Action Trust, and (ii) the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims have the exclusive right to receive any and all proceeds of the Term Loan Avoidance Action, and are the exclusive beneficiaries of the Avoidance Action Trust. On December 2, 2011, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order in favor of the Committee, denying the DIP Lenders motions to dismiss and for summary judgment. On December 16, 2011, the DIP Lenders appealed this and other related rulings and decisions of the Bankruptcy Court. On July 3, 2012, the district court for the Southern District of New York vacated the Bankruptcy Courts judgment and remanded the case to the Bankruptcy Court, with instructions for the Bankruptcy Court judge to dismiss the Committees complaint without prejudice for want of subject matter jurisdiction.
On March 1, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court rendered a Decision on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 71) and entered an Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 72), or the Order, and Judgment (Docket No. 73) or the Judgment, denying the Committee Summary Judgment Motion and granting the JPMorgan Summary Judgment Motion. In connection therewith, on March 1, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court entered an Order, Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(d), and Fed.R.Bankr.P. 8001(f)(4), Certifying Judgment for Direct Appeal to Second Circuit (Docket No. 74) certifying the Judgment and the Order for direct appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On March 7, 2013, the plaintiff in the Term Loan Avoidance Action filed a notice of appeal pursuant to Fed.R.Bankr.P. 8001. On April 5, 2013, the Avoidance Action Trust filed a petition for permission to appeal directly to the Second Circuit, or the Petition. The Petition was subsequently granted and the appeal was docketed as case number 13-2187-bk before the Second Circuit. Following briefing, the Second Circuit heard oral arguments from the parties on March 25, 2014.
On June 17, 2014, the Second Circuit certified a threshold question, or the Certified Question, to the Delaware Supreme Court, or the Delaware Court, in the Term Loan Avoidance Action, as follows: Under UCC Article 9, as adopted into Delaware law by Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, art. 9, for a UCC-3 termination statement to effectively extinguish the perfected nature of a UCC-1 financing statement, is it enough that the secured lender review and knowingly approve for filing a UCC-3 purporting to extinguish the perfected security interest, or must the secured lender intend to terminate the particular security interest that is listed on the UCC-3. After accepting the question and following briefing to and oral argument before the Delaware Court, on October 17, 2014, the Delaware Court answered the Certified Question as follows: It is enough that the secured lender review and knowingly approve for filing a UCC-3 purporting to extinguish the perfected security interest. Following the Delaware Courts answer of the Certified Question, the appeal of the Bankruptcy Courts Order on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment and Judgment remained pending before the Second Circuit.
On January 21, 2015, the Second Circuit, after taking into account the Delaware Courts answer to the Certified Question, reversed the Bankruptcy Courts grant of summary judgment for the Administrative Agent, holding that the Administrative Agent had authorized the filing of the UCC-3 and thereby extinguished the perfected security interest in the relevant collateral. The Administrative Agent subsequently filed a petition for rehearing en banc, which petition was denied by the Second Circuit. On April 20, 2015, the Second Circuit issued a mandate instructing the Bankruptcy Court to enter partial summary judgment for the Committee, which judgment was entered by the Bankruptcy Court on June 12, 2015. Pursuant to a scheduling order entered by the Bankruptcy Court on May 19, 2015, the Avoidance Action Trust filed an amended complaint against the defendants to the Term Loan Avoidance Action on May 20, 2015. The Term Loan Avoidance Action remains pending before the Bankruptcy Court.
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While the successful prosecution of, and recovery under, the Term Loan Avoidance Action would result in the incurrence of additional Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims on the GUC Trust, it is not known whether holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims would benefit from any cash recovered under the Term Loan Avoidance Action. Moreover, beneficial interests in the Avoidance Action Trust (if any) remain with holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims, rather than beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units. As such, a holder of a GUC Trust Unit that does not hold a corresponding Allowed General Unsecured Claim could potentially have its recovery diluted through the incurrence of Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims by the GUC Trust, without receiving the benefit of any cash recovered pursuant to the Term Loan Avoidance Action.
Unless and until Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims arise, the potential holders of such claims will not be entitled to receive a distribution from the GUC Trust. However, once such Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims arise (if at all), the holders of such claims will be entitled to receive a distribution of Distributable Cash (including the related Dividend Cash) from the GUC Trust.
General Motors Product Recalls.
In its annual report on Form 10-K filed February 4, 2015, New GM disclosed that, since the beginning of 2014, New GM had recalled approximately 2.6 million vehicles to repair ignition switches or to fix ignition lock cylinders, or the Ignition Switch Recall, and had recalled an additional 33.4 million vehicles to address certain electrical and other safety concerns, including approximately 12.1 million vehicles to rework or replace ignition keys. New GM does not consider any of these 12.1 million vehicles to be a part of the Ignition Switch Recall.
Many of the vehicles affected by the foregoing recalls were manufactured or sold prior to July 10, 2009, or the Closing Date, the date on which the sale of substantially all of the assets of Old GM pursuant to the MSPA was completed.
In its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed July 23, 2015, New GM also disclosed that, as of July 20, 2015, 100 putative class actions have been filed against New GM in various federal and state courts seeking compensatory and other damages for economic losses allegedly resulting from one or more of the recalls announced in 2014 and/or the underlying condition of vehicles covered by those recalls. Certain of these 100 cases, or the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions, concern the Ignition Switch Recall, certain other cases, or the Other Economic Loss Actions, concern recalls other than the Ignition Switch Recall, and yet others concern both the Ignition Switch Recall and one or more other recalls (such actions are described herein interchangeably as Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions or Other Economic Loss Actions). In addition, New GM disclosed that, as of July 20, 2015, 172 putative class actions have been filed against New GM in various federal and state courts seeking compensatory and other damages for personal injury and other claims allegedly arising from accidents that occurred as a result of the underlying condition of the vehicles subject to the recalls initiated by New GM. Certain of these 172 cases, or the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, concern the Ignition Switch Recall, certain other cases, or the Other Personal Injury Actions, concern recalls other than the Ignition Switch Recall, and yet others concern both the Ignition Switch Recall and one or more other recalls (such actions are described herein interchangeably as Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions).
Since June 2014, 204 Recall-Related Actions have been transferred to the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, or the MDL Court, and have been consolidated into a single case, case number 14-MD-2543 (JMF), or the MDL Proceeding. On October 14, 2014, the plaintiffs in certain Recall-Related Actions filed two amended and consolidated complaints in the MDL Proceeding that concern vehicles designed, manufactured or sold prior to the Closing Date.
Concurrently with the proceedings before the MDL Court, New GM has taken steps in the Bankruptcy Court to enjoin the Subject Recall-Related Actions. In that respect, beginning on April 21, 2014, New GM filed a series of motions with the Bankruptcy Court seeking to enjoin the Subject Recall-Related Actions and to enforce the Sale Order and Injunction entered on July 5, 2009, or the Sale Order (under which all product liability and property damage claims arising from accidents or incidents prior to the Closing Date were to remain with Old GM as general unsecured claims), or the Motions to Enforce.
Beginning on May 16, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court entered a series of scheduling orders which identified a number of threshold issues to be resolved by the Bankruptcy Court, including (i) whether plaintiffs procedural due process rights were violated in connection with the 363 Transaction, (ii) if such due process rights were violated, what is the appropriate remedy, (iii) whether any or all of the claims asserted in the Subject Recall-Related Actions are claims against Old GM and/or the GUC Trust, and (iv) whether any such claims against Old GM and/or the GUC Trust should be dismissed as equitably moot. The GUC Trust appeared as a party in interest with respect to New GMs Motions to Enforce and filed briefs in opposition thereto, asserting that none of the claims of the plaintiffs in the Subject Recall-Related Actions may be properly asserted against Old GM or the GUC Trust.
On April 15, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court rendered a decision, or the Threshold Issues Decision, on the threshold issues holding (among other things) that the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions may seek authorization to file late claims in the bankruptcy cases of Old GM, but that any such claims as against the GUC Trust are equitably moot (that is, fashioning relief for the plaintiffs against the GUC Trust would be impractical, imprudent and therefore inequitable), and thus the assets of the GUC Trust cannot be used to satisfy such claims, or the Equitable Mootness Finding.
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On June 1, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court issued a judgment, or the Threshold Issues Judgment, which clarifies the terms of the Threshold Issues Decision and distills the Bankruptcy Courts holdings into a binding order. The Threshold Issues Judgment provides, in pertinent part, the following:
(i) The plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions suffered a due process violation with respect to the Sale Order, whereas the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions did not suffer a due process violation with respect to the Sale Order;
(ii) As a result of the due process violation, the provisions of the Sale Order which purport to shield New GM from any liability associated with its independent post-Sale actions can be modified, and the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions may proceed against New GM with respect to its independent post-Sale actions;
(iii) Any claims asserted in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions that relate to actions of Old GM are enjoined from being pursued against New GM on successor liability grounds, or the Successor Liability Finding;
(iv) The Equitable Mootness Finding is applicable to plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, and thus, the assets of the GUC Trust cannot be utilized to satisfy any claims that may be filed by such plaintiffs after the date of entry of the Threshold Issues Judgment;
(v) Although the Equitable Mootness Finding does not apply automatically to plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions, such plaintiffs must file a pleading, or an Equitable Mootness Pleading, with the Bankruptcy Court asserting a good faith basis as to why the Equitable Mootness Finding should not apply to their Other Economic Loss Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions. In any Equitable Mootness Pleading, plaintiffs are not permitted to re-litigate issues of law that were addressed in the Threshold Issues Decision. If a plaintiff in an Other Economic Loss Action or Other Personal Injury Action fails to file a timely Equitable Mootness Pleading, or if the Bankruptcy Court denies the relief requested by the plaintiff in the Equitable Mootness Pleading, the GUC Trust is permitted to seek dismissal of the applicable Other Economic Loss Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions. However, in the event that the Bankruptcy Court grants the relief requested by any plaintiff in a timely Equitable Mootness Pleading, such plaintiff could seek to assert claims against the GUC Trust, which claims (if allowed) could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust. To date, the plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions have not asserted the aggregate amount of their claims; and
(vi) Pursuant to section 502(j) of the Bankruptcy Code, assets of the GUC Trust may be used to satisfy previously allowed or disallowed claims that are reconsidered for cause. Hence, any person who holds a previously allowed or disallowed claim may seek to have that claim reconsidered by the Bankruptcy Court, and in the event that any such claimant prevails in an application for reconsideration, the resulting additional allowed claims could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust.
Similar to the Equitable Mootness Finding, the Successor Liability Finding does not apply automatically to plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions, and the Threshold Issues Judgment contains procedures for such plaintiffs to contest the applicability of the Successor Liability Finding to their individual Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions.
Following entry of the Threshold Issues Judgment, plaintiffs in certain Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions filed Equitable Mootness Pleadings, or reservations of rights thereto, and plaintiffs in certain Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions filed pleadings contesting the applicability of the Successor Liability Finding, or the Successor Liability Pleadings. In addition, certain of such plaintiffs have sought to have the Equitable Mootness Pleadings and the Successor Liability Pleadings heard by the MDL Court in lieu of the Bankruptcy Court, or the Motions to Withdraw the Reference. The GUC Trust intends to vigorously oppose the Equitable Mootness Pleadings and the Motions to Withdraw the Reference.
The Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment are subject to appeal by plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, and certain of these plaintiffs have filed notices of appeal. Subsequent to such filings, New GM and the GUC Trust each filed notices of cross-appeal with respect to the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment. In a separate order entered on June 1, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court certified its Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment for a direct appeal to the Second Circuit. In the event that the Second Circuit accepts the certification, the appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment will be heard directly by the Second Circuit, bypassing the intermediate appeal to the District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the District Court. Alternatively, if the Second Circuit denies the certification, the appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment will be heard by the District Court. Appellate proceedings have been stayed, except for certain procedural steps, until a time when the Second Circuit rules on the certification.
If the Bankruptcy Courts Equitable Mootness Finding is not overturned on appeal, the claims of the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions have been determined to be equitably moot and, as a result, such claims (even if allowed by the Bankruptcy Court) may not dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust.
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However, in the event that the decision is overturned with respect to the Equitable Mootness Finding, it is possible that those plaintiffs could seek to assert claims against the GUC Trust, which claims (if allowed) could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust.
On July 1, 2015, the GUC Trust announced that the GUC Trust was exploring, together with certain plaintiffs to the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions, Other Economic Loss Actions, Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions, a potential global resolution of all disputes between the GUC Trust on the one hand and such plaintiffs on the other, relating to the Subject Recall-Related Actions and related appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment, or the Potential Resolution. At the present time, settlement discussions have not materially progressed, and the GUC Trust intends to continue vigorously defending its positions in the Motions to Enforce litigation and the related appeals.
Other Matters
In addition, the GUC Trust has been named a defendant in two actions by individual plaintiffs with separate personal claims against Old GM. One of these claimants is seeking, in light of the recalls by New GM, to overturn the terms of a previous settlement with Old GM for personal injuries/wrongful deaths that occurred prior to the Closing Date. Although the GUC Trust and New GM have defeated a recent effort by that claimant to obtain relief in the Bankruptcy Court from her settlement, the claimant intends to appeal that ruling. Neither plaintiff has asserted a claim for specified monetary damages, but the GUC Trust intends to vigorously defend its position against such claimants.
Other than the foregoing, during the quarter ended June 30, 2015, no material changes occurred with respect to any legal proceedings relating to the GUC Trust, as compared to the disclosures included in the GUC Trusts prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. |
No assurance may be given that claims relating to accidents or other incidents, including recalls involving General Motors vehicles manufactured or sold prior to July 10, 2009, and/or settlements previously reached with plaintiffs asserting such claims, will not adversely affect the GUC Trust, its assets or the Plan.
In its annual report on Form 10-K filed February 4, 2015, New GM disclosed that, since the beginning of 2014, New GM had recalled approximately 2.6 million vehicles to repair ignition switches or to fix ignition lock cylinders, or the Ignition Switch Recall, and had recalled an additional 33.4 million vehicles to address certain electrical and other safety concerns, including approximately 12.1 million vehicles to rework or replace ignition keys. New GM does not consider any of these 12.1 million vehicles to be a part of the Ignition Switch Recall.
Many of the vehicles affected by the foregoing recalls were manufactured or sold prior to July 10, 2009, or the Closing Date, the date on which the sale of substantially all of the assets of Old GM pursuant to the MSPA was completed.
In its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed July 23, 2015, New GM also disclosed that, as of July 20, 2015, 100 putative class actions have been filed against New GM in various federal and state courts seeking compensatory and other damages for economic losses allegedly resulting from one or more of the recalls announced in 2014 and/or the underlying condition of vehicles covered by those recalls. Certain of these 100 cases, or the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions, concern the Ignition Switch Recall, certain other cases, or the Other Economic Loss Actions, concern recalls other than the Ignition Switch Recall, and yet others concern both the Ignition Switch Recall and one or more other recalls (such actions are described herein interchangeably as Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions or Other Economic Loss Actions). In addition, New GM disclosed that, as of July 20, 2015, 172 putative class actions have been filed against New GM in various federal and state courts seeking compensatory and other damages for personal injury and other claims allegedly arising from accidents that occurred as a result of the underlying condition of the vehicles subject to the recalls initiated by New GM. Certain of these 172 cases, or the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, concern the Ignition Switch Recall, certain other cases, or the Other Personal Injury Actions, concern recalls other than the Ignition Switch Recall, and yet others concern both the Ignition Switch Recall and one or more other recalls (such actions are described herein interchangeably as Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions).
Since June 2014, 204 Recall-Related Actions have been transferred to the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, or the MDL Court, and have been consolidated into a single case, case number 14-MD-2543 (JMF), or the MDL Proceeding. On October 14, 2014, the plaintiffs in certain Recall-Related Actions filed two amended and consolidated complaints in the MDL Proceeding that concern vehicles designed, manufactured or sold prior to the Closing Date.
Concurrently with the proceedings before the MDL Court, New GM has taken steps in the Bankruptcy Court to enjoin claims in the Recall-Related Actions that concern vehicles designed, manufactured or sold prior to the Closing Date, except for Personal Injury Actions related to accidents that occurred after the Closing Date (or collectively, the Subject Recall-Related Actions). In that respect, beginning on April 21, 2014, New GM filed a series of motions with the Bankruptcy Court seeking to enjoin the Subject Recall- Related
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Actions and to enforce the Sale Order and Injunction entered on July 5, 2009, or the Sale Order (under which all product liability and property damage claims arising from accidents or incidents prior to the Closing Date were to remain with Old GM as general unsecured claims), or the Motions to Enforce.
Beginning on May 16, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court entered a series of scheduling orders which identified a number of threshold issues to be resolved by the Bankruptcy Court, including (i) whether plaintiffs procedural due process rights were violated in connection with the 363 Transaction, (ii) if such due process rights were violated, what is the appropriate remedy, (iii) whether any or all of the claims asserted in the Subject Recall-Related Actions are claims against Old GM and/or the GUC Trust, and (iv) whether any such claims against Old GM and/or the GUC Trust should be dismissed as equitably moot. The GUC Trust appeared as a party in interest with respect to New GMs Motions to Enforce and filed briefs in opposition thereto, asserting that none of the claims of the plaintiffs in the Subject Recall-Related Actions may be properly asserted against Old GM or the GUC Trust.
On April 15, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court rendered a decision, or the Threshold Issues Decision, on the threshold issues holding (among other things) that the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions may seek authorization to file late claims in the bankruptcy cases of Old GM, but that any such claims as against the GUC Trust are equitably moot (that is, fashioning relief for the plaintiffs against the GUC Trust would be impractical, imprudent and therefore inequitable), and thus the assets of the GUC Trust cannot be used to satisfy such claims, or the Equitable Mootness Finding.
On June 1, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court issued a judgment, or the Threshold Issues Judgment, which clarifies the terms of the Threshold Issues Decision and distills the Bankruptcy Courts holdings into a binding order. The Threshold Issues Judgment provides, in pertinent part, the following:
(i) The plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions suffered a due process violation with respect to the Sale Order, whereas the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions did not suffer a due process violation with respect to the Sale Order;
(ii) As a result of the due process violation, the provisions of the Sale Order which purport to shield New GM from any liability associated with its independent post-Sale conduct can be modified, and the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions may proceed against New GM with respect to its independent post-Sale conduct;
(iii) Any claims asserted in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions that relate to the conduct of Old GM are enjoined from being pursued against New GM on successor liability grounds, or the Successor Liability Finding;
(iv) The Equitable Mootness Finding is applicable to plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, and thus, the assets of the GUC Trust cannot be utilized to satisfy any claims that may be filed by such plaintiffs after the date of entry of the Threshold Issues Judgment;
(v) Although the Equitable Mootness Finding does not apply automatically to plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions, such plaintiffs must file a pleading, or an Equitable Mootness Pleading, with the Bankruptcy Court asserting a good faith basis as to why the Equitable Mootness Finding should not apply to their Other Economic Loss Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions. In any Equitable Mootness Pleading, plaintiffs are not permitted to re-litigate issues of law that were addressed in the Threshold Issues Decision. If a plaintiff in an Other Economic Loss Action or Other Personal Injury Action fails to file a timely Equitable Mootness Pleading, or if the Bankruptcy Court denies the relief requested by the plaintiff in the Equitable Mootness Pleading, the GUC Trust is permitted to seek dismissal of the applicable Other Economic Loss Actions or Other Personal Injury Actions. However, in the event that the Bankruptcy Court grants the relief requested by any plaintiff in a timely Equitable Mootness Pleading, such plaintiff could seek to assert claims against the GUC Trust, which claims (if allowed) could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust. To date, the plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions have not asserted the aggregate amount of their claims; and
(vi) Pursuant to section 502(j) of the Bankruptcy Code, assets of the GUC Trust may be used to satisfy previously allowed or disallowed claims that are reconsidered for cause. Hence, any person who holds a previously allowed or disallowed claim may seek to have that claim reconsidered by the Bankruptcy Court, and in the event that any such claimant prevails in an application for reconsideration, the resulting additional allowed claims could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust.
Similar to the Equitable Mootness Finding, the Successor Liability Finding does not apply automatically to plaintiffs in the Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions, and the Threshold Issues Judgment contains procedures for such plaintiffs to contest the applicability of the Successor Liability Finding to their individual Other Economic Loss Actions or the Other Personal Injury Actions.
Following entry of the Threshold Issues Judgment, plaintiffs in certain Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions filed Equitable Mootness Pleadings, or reservations of rights thereto, and plaintiffs in certain Other Economic Loss Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions filed pleadings contesting the applicability of the Successor Liability Finding, or the Successor Liability Pleadings. In addition, certain of such plaintiffs have sought to have the Equitable Mootness Pleadings and the Successor Liability Pleadings heard by the MDL Court in lieu of the Bankruptcy Court, or the Motions to Withdraw the Reference. The GUC Trust intends to vigorously oppose the Equitable Mootness Pleadings and the Motions to Withdraw the Reference.
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The Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment are subject to appeal by plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions, and certain of these plaintiffs have filed notices of appeal. Subsequent to such filings, New GM and the GUC Trust each filed notices of cross-appeal with respect to the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment. In a separate order entered on June 1, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court certified its Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment for a direct appeal to the Second Circuit. In the event that the Second Circuit accepts the certification, the appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment will be heard directly by the Second Circuit, bypassing the intermediate appeal to the District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the District Court. Alternatively, if the Second Circuit denies the certification, the appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment will be heard by the District Court. Appellate proceedings have been stayed, except for certain procedural steps, until a time when the Second Circuit rules on the certification.
If the Bankruptcy Courts Equitable Mootness Finding is not overturned on appeal, the claims of the plaintiffs in the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions and the Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions have been determined to be equitably moot and, as a result, such claims (even if allowed by the Bankruptcy Court) may not dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust. However, in the event that the decision is overturned with respect to the Equitable Mootness Finding, it is possible that those plaintiffs could seek to assert claims against the GUC Trust, which claims (if allowed) could dilute the recoveries of holders of Units in the GUC Trust.
On July 1, 2015, the GUC Trust announced that the GUC Trust was exploring, together with certain plaintiffs to the Ignition Switch Economic Loss Actions, Other Economic Loss Actions, Ignition Switch Personal Injury Actions and Other Personal Injury Actions, a potential global resolution of all disputes between the GUC Trust on the one hand and such plaintiffs on the other, relating to the Subject Recall-Related Actions and related appeals of the Threshold Issues Decision and Threshold Issues Judgment, or the Potential Resolution. At the present time, settlement discussions have not materially progressed, and the GUC Trust intends to continue vigorously defending its positions in the Motions to Enforce litigation and the related appeals.
In addition, the GUC Trust has been named a defendant in two actions by individual plaintiffs with separate personal claims against Old GM. One of these claimants is seeking, in light of the recalls by New GM, to overturn the terms of a previous settlement with Old GM for personal injuries/wrongful deaths that occurred prior to the Closing Date. Although the GUC Trust and New GM have defeated a recent effort by that claimant to obtain relief in the Bankruptcy Court from her settlement, the claimant intends to appeal that ruling. Neither plaintiff has asserted a claim for specified monetary damages, but the GUC Trust intends to vigorously defend its position against such claimants.
Accordingly, no assurance may be given that personal injury, property damage and other claims relating to New GMs recalls involving General Motors vehicles manufactured or sold prior to the Closing Date and/or settlements previously reached with certain plaintiffs who asserted personal injury, property damage or other claims due to incidents or accidents that occurred prior to the Closing Date, will not adversely affect the GUC Trust, its assets or the Plan.
Other than the foregoing, there have been no material changes regarding risk factors from what was previously included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2015.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. |
Disclosure under this item is not required, pursuant to the no-action letter of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the GUC Trust dated May 23, 2012.
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities. |
Disclosure under this item is not required, pursuant to the no-action letter of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the GUC Trust dated May 23, 2012.
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. | Other Information. |
None.
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Item 6. | Exhibits. |
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
31 | Section 302 Certification. | |
32 | Section 906 Certification. | |
101 | The following financial statements and notes thereto from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation (Liquidation Basis) as of June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, (ii) Condensed Statements of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation (Liquidation Basis) for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, (iii) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Liquidation Basis) for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and (iv) Notes to Condensed Financial Statements. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 11, 2015
MOTORS LIQUIDATION COMPANY GUC TRUST | ||
By: | Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely in its capacity as trust administrator and trustee of the Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust | |
By: | /s/ David A. Vanaskey | |
Name: | David A. Vanaskey | |
Title: | Vice President of Wilmington Trust Company |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
31 | Section 302 Certification. | |
32 | Section 906 Certification. | |
101 | The following financial statements and notes thereto from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Motors Liquidation Company GUC Trust, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation (Liquidation Basis) as of June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, (ii) Condensed Statements of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation (Liquidation Basis) for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, (iii) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Liquidation Basis) for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and (iv) Notes to Condensed Financial Statements. |