Plan of Liquidation

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [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 reflected liquidated disputed claims and a Bankruptcy Court ordered distribution reserve for unliquidated disputed claims (“Disputed General Unsecured Claims”), but did not reflect Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims. The total aggregate amount of general unsecured claims, both allowed and disputed, asserted against the Debtors, inclusive of the 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 became entitled to receive a distribution of Distributable Cash from the GUC Trust if, and to the extent that, such Disputed General Unsecured Claims became Allowed General Unsecured Claims (such claims, “Resolved Disputed Claims”). Under the GUC Trust Agreement, the GUC Trust Administrator had the authority to file objections to such Disputed General Unsecured Claims and such claims could be prosecuted through alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration, if appropriate. As of December 31, 2019, there were no remaining Disputed General Unsecured 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, among other things, sought 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). As previously disclosed and as further described in Part II, Item 1 (“Legal Proceedings”), a settlement was reached among the parties to the Term Loan Avoidance Action pursuant to which approximately $231.0 million was recovered on July 1, 2019 by the Avoidance Action Trust from the defendants to the Term Loan Avoidance Action. Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, on July 1, 2019, such defendants received Allowed General Unsecured Claims against the GUC Trust in the amount so disgorged to the Avoidance Action Trust (such allowed general unsecured claims “Resolved Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims,” and together with Resolved Disputed Claims, the “Resolved Allowed Claims”). Accordingly, the holders of the Resolved Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims became entitled to receive a distribution from the GUC Trust of approximately $68.5 million. As of December 31, 2019, approximately $67.8 million had been distributed by the GUC Trust to such holders. Pursuant to the Plan, no funds reclaimed from the prepetition lenders in the Term Loan Avoidance Action were transferred to or otherwise benefited the GUC Trust or will be distributed on account of GUC Trust Units.

Upon the dissolution of MLC on December 15, 2011, MLC transferred $0.5 million to the Avoidance Action Trust for the purposes of funding any potential public reporting requirements of the Avoidance Action Trust, in which funds the GUC Trust holds a residual interest to the extent unused by the Avoidance Action Trust. The expected repayment aggregated approximately $0.4 million and was accrued in the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Such expected repayment was included in other assets in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation as of March 31, 2019. The balance was collected during the quarter ended December 31, 2019.

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 that would have expired on 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 that would have expired on 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.

As described above, pursuant to the Liquidation Order, during July and August 2015, all of the GUC Trust’s holdings of New GM Securities were liquidated and, following such liquidation, the GUC Trust’s Distributable Assets principally consist of Distributable Cash. Substantially all of such Distributable Cash is invested in certain marketable securities as permitted under the GUC Trust Agreement.

Prior to the liquidation of all of its holdings of New GM Common Stock, the GUC Trust received dividends on such New GM Common Stock 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. When the portion of Distributable Cash applicable to the proceeds from the liquidation of New GM Common Stock is distributed to holders of subsequently allowed Disputed General Unsecured Claims, Term Loan Avoidance Action Claims and GUC Trust Units, then the dividends relating to such Distributable Cash are also distributed to such holders. When, however, 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 such Distributable Cash are applied to such costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust and (just like the appropriated Distributable Cash) are maintained as Other Administrative Cash (as defined below). Because such dividends are applied to the same purposes as the associated Distributable Cash, any references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to Distributable Cash should be understood to include the dividends relating to such Distributable Cash, unless expressly stated otherwise. The amount of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held by the GUC Trust that relates to dividends received by the GUC Trust on New GM Common Stock previously held by the GUC Trust is referred to as Dividend Cash and is included in the amount of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities held for distribution to GUC Trust beneficiaries that is referred to herein as Distributable Cash (except to the extent of dividends relating to appropriated Distributable Cash that is classified as Other Administrative Cash following such appropriation).

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 December 31, 2019, the remaining Administrative Fund aggregated approximately $1.2 million (consisting of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities). Such remaining amount of the Administrative Fund has been designated for the satisfaction of certain specifically identified costs and liabilities of the GUC Trust, and such amount may not be used for the payment of Trust Professionals fees and expenses or other Wind-Down Costs. Pursuant to the GUC Trust Agreement, 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 SEC, (ii) the transfer, registration for transfer and certification of GUC Trust Units, (iii) the application by the Committee to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) 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. The GUC Trust Agreement provides that the Administrative Fund may not be utilized to satisfy any Reporting Costs.

The GUC Trust Agreement provides that, to the extent 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 Distributable Cash from distribution for these purposes. The GUC Trust Administrator may then appropriate such Distributable Cash to fund the Wind-Down Costs and/or Reporting Costs with the required approval of the Bankruptcy Court. Distributable Cash that is set aside and/or appropriated in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and any appropriation of Distributable Cash (including related Dividend Cash) will be classified as “Other Administrative Cash” under the GUC Trust Agreement. The setting aside (or appropriation) of Distributable Cash, including Dividend Cash, itself is not, and has not been, reflected in the Condensed Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust. Separate from this process of setting aside (or appropriating) Distributable Cash to satisfy unfunded projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust, as a matter of financial reporting, the GUC Trust records reserves 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 reserves reflected in the Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation and the amount of any Distributable Cash that is set aside (or appropriated) for current or projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust. Adjustments to the Reserves 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 accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation, see Note 6.

Prior to the liquidation of all New GM Securities in July and August 2015 described above, the GUC Trust was authorized, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, to set aside from distribution New GM Securities for the funding purposes described above and to sell such set aside New GM Securities with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court. 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 approximately $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). Prior to the liquidation of all New GM Securities described above, sales of New GM Securities to fund projected Wind-Down Costs and Reporting 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 Trust’s 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. In December 2015, February 2017, March 2018 and January 2019, the Bankruptcy Court approved the appropriation of Distributable Cash aggregating approximately $48.0 million to fund the projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust through calendar year 2019. Such appropriation reduced Distributable Cash and increased Other Administrative Cash. As of December 31, 2019, Other Administrative Cash aggregated approximately $29.6 million (including interest income received on marketable securities and cash equivalents). In January 2020, the Bankruptcy Court approved the appropriation of Distributable Cash aggregating approximately $10.8 million to fund the projected costs and expenses of the GUC Trust through calendar year 2020. Such appropriation reduced Distributable Cash and increased Other Administrative Cash subsequent to December 31, 2019. 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 GUC Trust Units.

As of December 31, 2019, Distributable Cash of approximately $80.7 million was set aside for projected GUC Trust fees, costs, expenses to be incurred beyond 2019. Accordingly, such Distributable Cash is not available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units. Set aside and/or appropriated Distributable Cash is reflected in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in the Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation until expended.

Funding for Potential Tax Liabilities on Dispositions of New GM Securities, Dividends on New GM Common Stock and Investment Income

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 on investment income earned on holdings of marketable securities and cash equivalents (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 Distributable Cash in amounts that would be sufficient to satisfy any potential Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. Any Distributable Cash that is set aside for Dividend Taxes and Investment Income Taxes is included in the set-aside for Wind-Down Costs described above in “Funding for GUC Trust Costs of Liquidation.” The GUC Trust Administrator may appropriate such set aside Distributable Cash to fund any such 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. Any Distributable Cash that is appropriated in this manner will not be available for distribution to the beneficiaries of GUC Trust Units, and the appropriation of Distributable Cash (including Dividend Cash) will be classified as “Other Administrative Cash” under the GUC Trust Agreement. Set aside and/or appropriated Distributable Cash is reflected in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities until expended to pay any Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. While any set-aside or appropriated Distributable Cash (including Dividend Cash) is not available for distribution, there is no corresponding liability or reserve related to any such set-aside assets reflected in the Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation or any of the other financial statements of the GUC Trust.

Prior to the liquidation of all New GM Securities in July and August 2015 described above, the GUC Trust was authorized, with the approval of the GUC Trust Monitor, to set aside from distribution New GM Securities to fund potential Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes and Investment Income Taxes and to sell such set aside New GM Securities 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.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the GUC Trust Administrator reviewed the potential Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes and Investment Income Taxes. As a result of such review, the GUC Trust Administrator determined that no Distributable Cash should be set aside for potential Taxes on Distribution, Dividend Taxes or Investment Income Taxes. As a result of the application of Section 505(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, the GUC Trust’s federal income tax returns for the year ended March 31, 2019 and all prior years are no longer subject to examination by the IRS, and no income taxes may be assessed for the year ended March 31, 2019 or any prior year. However, the GUC Trust’s remaining capital loss carryovers and net operating loss carryovers are still subject to examination by the IRS in subsequent years if those losses, if any, are utilized. Such utilization (on a net basis) is not expected as a result of the sale of all previously held New GM Securities in the year ended March 31, 2016. Accordingly, no income taxes are expected to be paid in the future. See Note 7 and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Income Taxes” in Item 2 (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) below for more information regarding income taxes and remaining capital and net operating loss carryovers generated in prior years that are still subject to examination by the IRS, and which potentially could succeed to Claimants (as defined below pursuant to tax rules) and the material uncertainties associated therewith. The GUC Trust Administrator intends to continue to reevaluate the amount of Distributable Cash set aside on a quarterly basis.

For additional information regarding set aside Distributable Cash, see “Net Assets in Liquidation—Distributable Cash Set Aside from Distribution” in Item 2 (“Management’s 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 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). To the extent that the Residual Wind-Down Claims and the Residual Wind-Down Costs are less than the Residual Wind-Down Assets, any excess funds will be returned to the DIP Lenders. Also, while not expected, if 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, appropriate Distributable Cash to cover the shortfall. To the extent that Distributable Cash is set aside and/or appropriated to obtain funding to complete the wind-down of the Debtors, such 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. The setting aside or appropriation of Distributable Cash (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. Rather, such set aside or appropriated Distributable Cash (including Dividend Cash) is reflected in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation until expended. 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 by the GUC Trust exceeded the corresponding cash of $1.4 million received by the GUC Trust from MLC on the Dissolution Date by approximately $30.2 million. As a result, new Residual Wind-Down Claims arose in the amount of such excess. As a result of the Term Loan Avoidance Action settlement described above and in Part II, Item 1 (“Legal Proceedings”) and by virtue of the terms of the associated settlement agreement, the GUC Trust is not responsible for payment of any further Avoidance Action Defense Costs.

As of December 31, 2019, Residual Wind-Down Assets aggregating approximately $0.2 million were held by the GUC Trust and were recorded in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. There were no remaining expected Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs against such assets as of December 31, 2019. Accordingly, the GUC Trust expects to return the remaining Residual Wind-Down Assets to the DIP Lenders upon the winding up and conclusion of the GUC Trust. A corresponding amount is recorded in the reserves for Residual Wind-Down Claims and Costs in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation.

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 December 31, 2019, funds designated for the Indenture Trustee / Fiscal and Paying Agents Costs held by the GUC Trust approximated $0.1 million and are recorded in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities in the accompanying Condensed Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation. None of the approximately $2.0 million in funds designated for Reporting Costs remained as of December 31, 2019.