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Plan of Liquidation
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Text Block [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 16, 2014 (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. As of March 31, 2014, there were approximately $79.5 million in Disputed General Unsecured Claims, which amount has been significantly reduced from approximately $8,154 million as of the Effective Date.

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 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 (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 (with the Term Loan Avoidance Action currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit), 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”). 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.

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 (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 March 31, 2014, the remaining Administrative Fund aggregated $11.6 million (consisting of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities aggregating $10.6 million and prepaid expenses of $1.0 million). Of that amount, approximately $8.0 million has been separately designated for the satisfaction of certain costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust (other than Reporting Costs (as defined below)) and $3.6 million is available for other Wind-Down Costs, which funds must be exhausted prior to the use of any Other Administrative Cash (as defined below) for such purposes. 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 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 (as defined below) 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 from distribution for these purposes. The GUC Trust Administrator may then liquidate such “set aside” New GM Securities to fund the Wind-Down Costs and/or Reporting Costs with the required approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities that are set aside 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 (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 will be reflected in the financial statements of the GUC Trust at the time of liquidation, the setting aside of New GM Securities, including Dividend Cash, itself is not reflected in the 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 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 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 Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and the value of any New GM Securities 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 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 Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation, see Note 8.

The Bankruptcy Court previously approved in March 2012, and December 2012, 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 for the purpose of funding certain fees, costs and expenses of the Avoidance Action Trust (as described below under the heading “—Funding for Avoidance Action Trust”). Through March 31, 2013, sales of New GM Securities to fund projected Reporting Costs and Wind-Down Costs through calendar year 2013 aggregated approximately $50.2 million, including the Initial Reporting Cash (which amounts comprised part of the GUC Trust’s Other Administrative Cash). Such securities sold aggregated 902,228 shares of New GM Common Stock, 820,205 New GM Series A Warrants and 820,205 New GM Series B Warrants. There have been no subsequent sales of securities to fund Wind-Down Costs and Reporting Costs.

As of March 31, 2014, Other Administrative Cash aggregated $13.2 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 March 31, 2014, New GM Securities with an aggregate fair market value as of that date of $51.6 million and related Dividend Cash of $0.2 million have been set aside for projected GUC Trust fees, costs and expenses to be incurred beyond 2014, including $3.5 million set aside for projected income taxes on dividends received or declared 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 are currently not available for distribution to the beneficiaries of the GUC Trust Units.

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 shares of New GM Common Stock and New GM Warrants (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”). The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the Administrative Fund may not be utilized to satisfy any Taxes on Distribution or Dividend Taxes. As such, the GUC Trust Administrator is authorized, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, to set aside from distribution certain numbers of New GM Securities, the liquidated proceeds of which, along with the related Dividend Cash, would be sufficient to satisfy any potential Taxes on Distribution or Dividend Taxes. The New GM Securities that are set aside for Dividend 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 then liquidate such “set aside” New GM Securities to fund the Taxes on Distribution or Dividend Taxes, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, but, with respect to Taxes on Distributions, without the necessity of obtaining approval of the Bankruptcy Court. New GM Securities that are set aside and subsequently 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, 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 Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. In the event such set-aside New GM Securities were sold to fund Taxes on Distribution or Dividend Taxes, the proceeds of such sale would be reflected in Cash and Cash Equivalents and/or Marketable Securities until expended to pay Taxes on Distribution or Dividend Taxes. While the set-aside New GM Securities 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 Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust.

During the year ended March 31, 2014, 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 March 31, 2014) of $536.3 million and related Dividend Cash of $2.2 million should be set aside for potential Taxes on Distribution based on (1) the GUC Trust’s method for calculating potential net gains on distributions or sales of New GM Securities (reduced by carryforward net operating and capital losses and future deductible expenses at March 31, 2014) and (2) the GUC Trust’s method for converting the potential tax liability to the number of securities to be set aside. 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 numbers of New GM Securities set aside on a quarterly basis.

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. Subsequently, the GUC Trust filed its U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended March 31, 2013 with the Internal Revenue Service using the new tax position described above. 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 reflected in the amounts recognized in current and deferred income tax liabilities and the income tax benefit (provision) in the GUC Trust’s financial statements since September 30, 2013. By contrast, as a conservative measure, the calculation of the “set aside” of New GM Securities for potential Taxes on Distribution utilizes the prior tax position rather than the new tax position. The calculation of the “set aside” of New GM Securities for potential Taxes on Distribution will not reflect the new tax position unless and until the new tax position has been sustained on examination by the Internal Revenue Service, or the liability of the GUC Trust for Taxes on Distribution otherwise has been finally determined in accordance with Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, for all applicable income tax returns, including the GUC Trust’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2014 and subsequent years.

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 transferred to the Avoidance Action Trust in May 2012.

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 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”). 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 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 to cover the shortfall. To the extent that New GM Securities are set aside 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. Although any such sale of set aside New GM Securities would be reflected in the financial statements of the GUC Trust in the period of sale, the setting aside of New GM Securities and related Dividend Cash itself would not be reflected in the 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 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 $0.7 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, Other Administrative Cash or the sale of New GM Securities. As of March 31, 2014, $30.5 million in Residual Wind-Down Assets were held by the GUC Trust, which are recorded in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and other assets and deposits in the accompanying Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. By comparison, there were approximately $13.1 million in Residual Wind-Down Claims against such assets as of March 31, 2014, 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 for the purposes of funding (1) $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, or the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agent Costs, and (2) $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 March 31, 2014, funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs held by the GUC Trust approximated $0.5 million and are recorded in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation.