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Plan of Liquidation
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Plan of Liquidation [Abstract]  
Plan of Liquidation
  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 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 become entitled to receive a distribution of New GM Securities 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 the Bankruptcy Court has extended the time by which the GUC Trust may object to Disputed General Unsecured Claims and Administrative Expenses as defined in the Plan to September 21, 2013 (which date may be further extended by application to the Bankruptcy Court). Such claims may be prosecuted through alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration (“ADR Proceedings”), if appropriate. The GUC Trust Administrator and its professionals are currently prosecuting multiple objections to Disputed General Unsecured Claims.

To the extent that all or a portion of a Disputed General Unsecured Claim is deemed invalid—or “disallowed”—by 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 valid—or “allowed”—by 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 considered an Allowed General Unsecured Claim and will be entitled to a distribution from the GUC Trust as if it were 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 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 (that is, 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) 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) 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.

Litigation with respect to these issues is ongoing, and the rights to any recoveries on the Term Loan Avoidance Action are still disputed. In no event, however, will any funds reclaimed from the pre-petition lenders 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 of 150 million shares of New GM Common Stock issued by New GM, warrants to acquire 136,363,635 newly issued shares of New GM Stock with an exercise price set at $10.00 per share (“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 (“New GM Series B Warrants”), (such securities, “New GM Securities”). The New GM Securities were held by MLC for the benefit of the GUC Trust until the dissolution of MLC on December 15, 2011, at which time they were transferred to the GUC Trust.

In addition, the agreement governing the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Debtors and related sale documentation together provide that, in the event that the Bankruptcy Court enters an order that includes a finding that the estimated aggregate Allowed General Unsecured Claims against the Debtors exceed $35 billion, New GM will be required to issue additional shares of New GM Common Stock for the benefit of the GUC Trust’s beneficiaries (the “Additional Shares”). The number of Additional Shares to be issued will be equal to the number of such shares, rounded up to the next whole share, calculated by multiplying (i) 30 million shares (adjusted to take into account any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction with respect to such New GM Common Stock from and after the closing of such sale and before issuance of the Additional Shares) and (ii) a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the amount by which Allowed General Unsecured Claims exceed $35 billion (such excess amount being capped at $7 billion) and (B) the denominator of which is $7 billion. No Additional Shares have been issued.

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 (as the “GUC Trust Administrative Fund”) for the purpose of paying 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 professionals retained by the GUC Trust) (“Wind-Down Costs”). Cash or investments from the GUC Trust 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 provides that, if the GUC Trust Administrator determines that the GUC Trust Administrative Fund is not sufficient to satisfy the current or projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust, the GUC Trust Administrator, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, is authorized to set-aside, or “reserve,” New GM Securities from distribution for this purpose. The GUC Trust Administrator may then liquidate such reserved New GM Securities to fund the Wind-Down Costs, in most cases, with the required approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities that are reserved and/or sold in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and the cash proceeds of any such sale will be classified as “Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash” under the GUC Trust Agreement. Separate from this process of reserving, or setting aside, New GM Securities to satisfy projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust, as a matter of financial reporting, the GUC Trust records a reserve in its Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation (the source of funding of which is not addressed thereon) 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 Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and the value of any New GM Securities that are set aside for current or projected costs. Adjustments to the Reserve for Expected Costs of Liquidation as reported in the Statement of Net Assets are recorded only when there is a reasonable basis for estimation of the expected incurrence of additional costs.

The Bankruptcy Court previously approved, soon after the Effective Date, and again in March 2012 (the “March 2012 Order”), the sale of New GM Securities for 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, (ii) the transfer, registration for transfer and certification of GUC Trust Units, and (iii) the application 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 March 2012 Order additionally authorized the sale of New GM Securities for the purpose of funding accrued and projected Wind-Down Costs, as well as certain fees, costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust (as described below under the heading “-Funding for Avoidance Action Trust”). Through March 31, 2012, sales of New GM Securities to fund estimated and projected Reporting Costs, along with estimated and projected Wind-Down Costs, for calendar years 2011 and 2012 aggregated approximately $32.2 million (which amount comprised part of the GUC Trust’s Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash).

 

The Bankruptcy Court again approved in December 2012 (the December 2012 Order”), the sale of New GM Securities in an amount sufficient to generate approximately $17.9 million to fund estimated and projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses for 2013. The liquidation of such New GM Securities occurred in January 2013 for sales proceeds of approximately $18.0 million (which amount comprised part of the GUC Trust’s Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash). To the extent that any of the Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash is not ultimately required and is held by the GUC Trust at the time of its dissolution, such remaining Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash will be distributed by the GUC Trust to holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims or holders of the GUC Trust Units, as the case may be.

Through March 31, 2013, 902,228 shares of New GM Common Stock, 820,205 New GM Series A Warrants and 820,205 New GM Series B Warrants have been sold to fund estimated and projected Wind-Down and Reporting Costs through 2013.

As of March 31, 2013, New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value of $41.0 million have been reserved, or set aside, for projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses to be incurred beyond December 31, 2013. Accordingly, such New GM Securities are not available for distribution to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust Units.

Funding for Potential Tax Liabilities

The GUC Trust is subject to U.S. federal income tax on realized gains from the disposition of shares of New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants that were transferred by MLC to the GUC Trust on December 15, 2011 (such taxes, “Taxes on Distribution”). The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the GUC Trust Administrative Fund may not be utilized to satisfy any Taxes on Distribution. As such, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, to reserve, or set aside, from distribution an amount of New GM Securities, the liquidated proceeds of which would be sufficient to satisfy any current or potential Taxes on Distribution. The GUC Trust Administrator may then liquidate such reserved New GM Securities to fund the Taxes on Distribution, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, but without the necessity of obtaining approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities that are reserved or sold in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and the cash proceeds of any such sale will be classified as “Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash” under the GUC Trust Agreement.

During the year ended March 31, 2013, the GUC Trust Administrator reviewed the current and potential Taxes on Distribution. As a result of such review, the GUC Trust Administrator determined that it was necessary to reserve, or set aside, New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value of $407.3 million for potential Taxes on Distribution based on the GUC Trust’s method for calculating potential gains on distributions or sales of New GM Securities (reduced by current period and carryforward net operating losses and future deductible expenses at March 31, 2013), as well as the GUC Trust’s method for converting the potential tax liability to the number of securities to be reserved. Accordingly, such New GM Securities are not currently available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units. The GUC Trust Administrator intends to continue to reevaluate the reserve, or set aside, of New GM Securities on a quarterly basis.

The New GM Securities transferred from MLC to the GUC Trust still held at March 31, 2013 have a tax basis of approximately $1,073 million ($19.87 per share of New GM Common Stock, $11.38 per warrant for the New GM Series A Warrants and $7.88 per warrant for the New GM Series B Warrants) . Such tax basis will be used to determine the taxable gain or loss on the disposition of New GM Securities since their transfer. As described in Note 9, for financial reporting purposes, the GUC Trust recorded a deferred tax liability for the fair value of New GM Securities in excess of their tax basis at March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Funding for Avoidance Action Trust

Based on an analysis of the Avoidance Action Trust and its potential funding sources, the GUC Trust Administrator, in conjunction with the Avoidance Action Trust Administrator determined that it would be in the best interest of the holders of Allowed General Unsecured Claims to fund certain fees, costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust, subject to approval of the Bankruptcy Court. In March 2012, the Bankruptcy Court approved the sale of New GM Securities aggregating approximately $13.7 million and the transfer of the sales proceeds to the Avoidance Action Trust for such funding. The sale occurred in March 2012 comprising 269,422 shares of New GM Common Stock, 244,929 New GM Series A Warrants and 244,929 New GM Series B Warrants. The sales proceeds were held by the GUC Trust at March 31, 2012 pending receipt of written confirmation from the Internal Revenue Service that the transfer of such sale proceeds would not affect its prior rulings regarding the tax characterization of (i) the 2009 section 363 sale by MLC and MLC’s subsequent liquidation and (ii) the GUC Trust as a “disputed ownership fund” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.468B-9. Such sale proceeds were transferred to the Avoidance Action Trust in May 2012 following receipt of such written confirmation.

 

MLC Wind-Down

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 Trust an amount of cash necessary (the “Residual Wind-Down Assets”) to satisfy the ultimate allowed amount of such Residual Wind-Down Claims (including certain 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”).

Should the Residual Wind-Down Costs and the Residual Wind-Down Claims be less than the Residual Wind-Down Assets aggregating approximately $42.8 million (including certain prepaid expenses assigned to the GUC Trust and approximately $1.4 million designated for payment of the Avoidance Action Defense Costs) transferred to the GUC Trust on December 15, 2011, 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 GUC Trust Administrative Cash. If there is no remaining Other GUC Trust Administrative Cash, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized to, with GUC Trust Monitor approval, reserve and, with Bankruptcy Court approval, sell New GM Securities to cover the shortfall. To the extent that New GM Securities are reserved and sold to obtain funding to complete the wind-down of the Debtors, such securities 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. After the GUC Trust has concluded its affairs, any funds remaining that were obtained from the New GM Securities sold 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. If the actual amount of Avoidance Action Defense Costs exceeds the corresponding cash of $1.4 million received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date, a new Residual Wind-Down Claim will arise in the amount of such shortfall.

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 for the purposes of funding (1) 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, or the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs, and (2) 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 of $1.4 million 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.

In addition, on December 15, 2011, MLC transferred the remaining New GM Securities to the GUC Trust that were previously reported as Securities Due From Motors Liquidation Company and have since been reported as Holdings of New GM Securities.