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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnited States Bankruptcy Court District of Delaware UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF DELAWARE x In re: Chapter 11 WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC., et al.,' Case No. 08 -12229 (MFW) Debtors. (Jointly Administered) x NOTICE OF (I) APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT; (II) HEARING ON CONFIRMATION OF THE MODIFIED PLAN; (III) ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW VOTING AND ELECTION RECORD DATE AND DEADLINE; (IV) PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE FOR VOTING ON AND MAKING ELECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE MODIFIED PLAN; (V) PROCEDURES FOR OBJECTING TO CONFIRMATION OF THE MODIFIED PLAN; AND (VI) CERTAIN OTHER INFORMATION TO PARTIES IN INTEREST IN THE CHAPTER 11 CASES OF: Washington Mutual, Inc. (Case No. 08 -12229 (MFW)) and WMI Investment Corp. (Case No. 08 -12228 (MFW)). PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that: 1. Approval of Supplemental Disclosure Statement. On March 21, 2011, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Court") held a hearing at which it approved the Supplemental Disclosure Statement for the Modified Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Affiliated Debtors Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, dated March 25, 2011 (as amended, the "Supplemental Disclosure Statement" ) of Washington Mutual, Inc. and WMI Investment Corp., as debtors and debtors in possession (collectively, the "Debtors "), and thereafter entered an order (the "Order ") with respect thereto. The Order authorizes the Debtors to solicit votes and elections with respect to the Modified Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Affiliated Debtors Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, dated as of February 7, 2011 (as it has and may be further amended, the "Modified Plan"). 2. Confirmation Hearing. A hearing (the "Confirmation Hearing ") to consider confirmation of the Modified Plan will commence at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on June 6, 2011, before the Honorable Mary F. Walrath, United States Bankruptcy Judge, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, 824 North Market Street, 5th Floor, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 (the `Bankruptcy Court"). The Confirmation Hearing may be adjourned or continued from time to time without further notice other than the announcement by the Debtors of the adjourned date(s) at the Confirmation Hearing or any continued hearing or as indicated in any notice of agenda of matters 1 The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases along with the last four digits of each Debtor's federal tax identification number are: (i) Washington Mutual, Inc. (3725); and (ii) WMI Investment Corp. (5395). The Debtors' principal offices are located at 925 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104. 2 Capitalized teens used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Supplemental Disclosure Statement or, if not defined in the Supplemental Disclosure Statement, in the Modified Plan. scheduled for hearing filed by the Debtors with the Bankruptcy Court. The Modified Plan may be modified, if necessary, prior to, during, or as a result of the Confirmation Hearing. 3. Record Date for Voting and Election Purposes. Holders of JPMC Rabbi Trust/Policy Claims (Class 5), Other Benefit Plan Claims (Class 6), WMB Vendor Claims (Class 8), Visa Claims (Class 9), Bond Claims (Class 10), WMI Vendor Claims (Class 11), General Unsecured Claims (Class 12), Late -Filed Claims (Class 12A), Convenience Claims (Class 13), and Subordinated Claims (Class 18) who hold claims against the Debtors as of March 16, 2011 (the "General Record Date ") are entitled to vote on the Modified Plan. Holders of Senior Notes Claims (Class 2), Senior Subordinated Notes Claims (Class 3), CCB -1 Guarantees Claims (Class 14), CCB -2 Guarantees Claims (Class 15), PIERS Claims (Class 16), and Preferred Equity Interests (Class 20), who hold claims against or interests in the Debtors as of the Voting and Election Deadline (as defined herein) are entitled to vote on the Modified Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, record holders, as of the General Record Date or the Voting and Election Deadline, as applicable, are only entitled to vote if they are a) record holders of claims listed on the Debtors' schedules of liabilities, to the extent that such claims (i) are listed in an amount greater than zero and are not identified as contingent, unliquidated or disputed, and (ii) have not been superseded by a filed proof of claim; or b) record holders of claims, to the extent that such claims (i) are the subject of timely filed proofs of claim, (ii) have not been disallowed, expunged, disqualified or suspended prior to the General Record Date or the Voting and Election Deadline, as applicable, and (iii) are not the subject of a pending claim objection or request for estimation as of March 16, 2011, unless a Rule 3O18(a) Motion (as defined below) has been filed. 4. Voting and Election Deadline. All votes to accept or reject and all elections with respect to the Modified Plan must be actually received by the Debtors' voting and tabulation agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC, at the applicable address set forth below, by no later than 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 13, 2011 (the "Voting and Election Deadline "). Any failure to follow the instructions included with your Ballot or Election Form, as the case may be, may disqualify your Ballot, your vote, and/or your elections. Master Ballots: Washington Mutual Ballot Processing c/o Kurtzman Carson Consultants 599 Lexington Avenue, 39th Floor New York, New York 10022 All Other Ballots: Washington Mutual Ballot Processing c/o Kurtzman Carson Consultants 2335 Alaska Avenue El Segundo, California 90245 2 00 IKC0001_ 38948 _DOMESTIC_294 /005404/0216166 5. Parties in Interest Not Entitled to Vote. Holders of unimpaired claims in classes deemed to accept the Modified Plan and holders of claims and equity interests in classes deemed to reject the Modified Plan are not entitled to vote and will not receive a Ballot. Further, holders of Claims in Class 17A and Class 19 are similarly not entitled to vote and will not receive a Ballot. Such holders instead will receive a Notice of Non- Voting Status rather than a Ballot. If you have timely filed a proof of claim and disagree with either (a) the Debtors' objection to your claim and believe that you should be entitled to vote on the Plan or (b) the Debtors' classification or request for estimation of your claim and believe that you should be entitled to vote on the Modified Plan in a different amount or class, then you must serve on the parties identified in paragraph 6 below and file with the Court a motion (a "Rule 3018(a) Motion ") for an order pursuant to Rule 3018(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the "Bankruptcy Rules ") temporarily allowing your claim in a different amount or in a different class for purposes of voting to accept or reject the Modified Plan. All Rule 3018(a) Motions must be filed on or before the 10th day after service of notice of an objection or request for estimation, if any, as to your claim, but in no event later than April 15, 2011. As to any creditor filing a Rule 3018(a) Motion, such creditor's Ballot will not be counted except as may be otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court. Creditors may contact Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC at (888) 830 - 4644 to receive an appropriate Ballot for any claim for which a proof of claim has been timely filed and a Rule 3018(a) Motion has been granted. Rule 3018(a) Motions that are not timely filed and served in the manner set forth above shall not be considered. 6. Objections to Confirmation. The deadline to object or respond to confirmation of the Modified Plan is May 13, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) (the "Objection Deadline "). Objections and responses, if any, to confirmation of the Modified Plan, must (a) be in writing, (b) conform to the Bankruptcy Rules and the Local Rules, (c) set forth the name of the objecting party, the nature and amount of claims or interests held or asserted by the objecting party against the Debtors' estates or property, and (d) provide the basis for the objection and the specific grounds therefore. Registered users of the Bankruptcy Court's case filing system must electronically file their objections and responses. All other parties in interest must file their objections and responses in writing with the Bankruptcy Court, 824 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 (Attn: Chambers of the Hon. Mary F. Walrath). Any objections or responses must also be served upon the following parties so as to be received by no later than the Objection Deadline: Debtors Office of the U.S. Trustee Washington Mutual, Inc. Office of the U.S. Trustee for the D. Del. 925 Fourth Avenue 844 King Street, Suite 2207, Lockbox 35 Seattle, Washington 98104 Wilmington, Delaware 19899 -0035 Attn: Charles Edward Smith, Esq. Attn: Jane Leamy, Esq. 3 Counsel to the Debtors Co- Counsel to the Debtors Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Richards Layton & Finger P.A. 767 Fifth Avenue One Rodney Square New York, New York 10153 920 North King Street Attn: Brian S. Rosen, Esq. Wilmington, Delaware 19899 Attn: Mark D. Collins, Esq. ' Special Litigation and Conflicts Counsel to the Debtors Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP 55 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10010 Attn: Peter Calamari, Esq. Counsel to the Equity Conunittee Co- Counsel to the Equity Conunittee Busman Godfrey LLP Ashby & Geddes, P.A. 1201 Third Ave., Suite 3800 500 Delaware Avenue, 8th Floor Seattle, WA 98101 P.O. Box 1150 Atha: Justin A. Nelson, Esq. Wilmington, Delaware 19899 Attn: William P. Bowden, Esq. Counsel to the Creditors' Conunittee Co-Counsel to the Creditors' Conunittee Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld LLP Pepper Hamilton LLP One Bryant Park Hercules Plaza Ste 5100 New York, New York 10036 1313 N. Market Street Attn: Fred S. Hodara, Esq. Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Attn: David B. Stratton, Esq. Counsel to JPMorgan Chase Co- Counsel to JPMorgan Chase Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Landis Rath & Cobb LLP 125 Broad Street 919 Market Street, Suite 1800 New York, New York 10004 P.O. Box 2087 Attn: Stacey R. Friedman, Esq. Wihnington, DE 19899 Attn: Adam G. Landis, Esq. Counsel to FDIC j Co- Counsel to FDIC DLA Piper LLP (US) Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP 1251 Avenue of the Americas The Brandywine Building • New York, New York 10020 1000 West Street, 17th Floor Attn: Thomas R. Califano, Esq. ! Wihnington, Delaware 19801 Attn: M. Blake Cleary, Esq. • • IF ANY OBJECTION TO CONFIRMATION OF THE MODIFIED PLAN IS NOT FILED AND SERVED STRICTLY AS PRESCRIBED HEREIN, THE OBJECTING PARTY MAY BE BARRED FROM OBJECTING TO CONFIRMATION OF THE MODIFIED PLAN AND MAY NOT BE HEARD AT THE HEARING. 7. Parties That Will Not Be Entitled to Vote or Receive Any Distribution. Any holder of a Claim that is scheduled in the Debtors' schedules of assets and liabilities, statements of financial affairs and schedules of executory contracts and unexpired leases at $0, or in an unknown amount, or as disputed, contingent, or unliquidated, and that has not filed a timely proof of claim, shall not be treated as a creditor with respect to such Claim for purposes of receiving distributions under the Modified Plan. PLEASE NOTE THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING YOUR FAILURE TO FILE A 4 001 KC0001 _38948 _DOMESTIC_294 /005404/02 1 6 1 5 PROOF OF CLAIM OR BE SCHEDULED, YOUR RIGHTS MAY NEVERTHELESS BE IMPAIRED BY THE MODIFIED PLAN. 8. Additional Information. Any party in interest wishing to obtain information about the solicitation procedures or copies of the Prior Disclosure Statement, the Supplemental Disclosure Statement, or the Modified Plan should contact the Debtors' voting agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC at (888) 830 - 4644. Interested parties may also examine the Prior Disclosure Statement, the Supplemental Disclosure Statement, and the Modified Plan free of charge at www.kccllc.netlwamu. In addition, the Prior Disclosure Statement, the Supplemental Disclosure Statement, and the Modified Plan are on file with the Court and may be examined by accessing the Court's website: www.deb.uscourts.gov. Note that a PACER password and login are needed to access documents on the Court's website. A PACER password can be obtained at: www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. 9. Executory Contracts. a) Cure of Defaults for Assumed Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases: Except to the extent that different treatment has been agreed to by the non - debtor party or parties to any executory contract or unexpired lease to be assumed or assumed and assigned pursuant to Section 36.1 of the Modified Plan, the Debtors will within at least (20) days prior to the Confirmation Hearing, file with the Bankruptcy Court and serve by first class mail on each non - debtor party to such executory contracts or unexpired leases to be assumed pursuant to Section 36.1 of the Modified Plan, a notice, which shall include the cure amount as to each executory contract or unexpired lease to be assumed or assumed and assigned. If you are a party to such executory contracts or unexpired leases to be assumed or assumed and assigned by the Debtors, you must file and serve any objection to the assumption or the cure amounts listed by the Debtors within twenty (20) days of the date of service of such notice. If there are any objections filed, the Bankruptcy Court shall hold a hearing on a date to be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Notwithstanding Section 36.1 of the Modified Plan, the Debtors retain their rights to reject any of their executory contracts or unexpired leases that are subject to a dispute concerning the amounts necessary to cure any defaults as of the Effective Date. b) Bar Date for Filing Proofs of Claim Relating to Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases Rejected Pursuant to the Modified Plan: Proofs of Claim for damages, if any, arising out of the rejection of an executory contract or unexpired lease pursuant to the Modified Plan, if not already evidenced by a filed proof of Claim, must be filed with the Bankruptcy Court and served upon the attorneys for the Debtors, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10153 (Attn: Brian S. Rosen, Esq.), or the Liquidating Trustee, no later than thirty (30) days after the later of (a) the date of entry of an order approving the rejection of such executory contract or unexpired lease, or (b) the date of entry of the Confirmation Order. All such proofs of Claim not filed within such time will be forever barred from assertion against the Debtors, or their properties or agents, successors, or assigns, including, without limitation, the Reorganized Debtors and the Liquidating Trust. 10. Releases and Injunctions. The Modified Plan contains releases of certain persons and entities, including, among others, the Debtors, JPMC, and the FDIC all as more specifically set forth in the Modified Plan, together with an injunction which, among other things, states that all Entities who have held, hold 5 or may hold Claims or any other debt or liability that is discharged or Equity Interests or other right of equity interest that is terminated or cancelled pursuant to the Modified Plan or the Global Settlement Agreement, or who have held, hold or may hold Claims or any other debt or liability that is discharged or released pursuant to Section 43.2 hereof, are permanently enjoined, from and ® after the Effective Date, from (a) commencing or continuing, directly or indirectly, in any manner, any action or other proceeding (including, without limitation, any judicial, arbitral, administrative or other proceeding) of any kind on any such Claim or other debt or liability that is discharged or Equity Interest that is terminated, cancelled, assumed or transferred pursuant to the Plan against any of the Released Parties or any of their respective assets, property or estates, (b) the enforcement, attachment, collection or recovery by any manner or means of any judgment, award, decree or order against any of the Released Parties or any of their respective assets, property or estates on account of any Claim or other debt or Liability that is discharged or Equity Interest that is terminated, cancelled, assumed or transferred pursuant to the Plan, (c) creating, perfecting, or enforcing any encumbrance of any kind against any of the Released Parties or any of their respective assets, property or estates on account of any Claim or other debt or liability that is discharged or Equity Interest that is terminated, cancelled, assumed or transferred pursuant to the Plan, and (d) except to the extent provided, permitted or preserved by sections 553, 555, 556, 559 or 560 of the Bankruptcy Code or pursuant to the common law right of recoupment, asserting any right of setoff, subrogation or recoupment of any kind against any obligation due from any of the Released Parties or any of their respective assets, property or estates, with respect to any such Claim or other debt or liability that is discharged or Equity Interest that is terminated, cancelled, assumed or transferred pursuant to the Modified Plan, including as follows: "43.6 Releases by Holders of Claims. (a) Global Third Party Releases. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Confirmation Order, on the Effective Date, for good and valuable consideration, and to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, each Entity that (i) has held, currently holds or may hold a Released Claim, (ii) is entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, a distribution or satisfaction of its claim pursuant to the Plan, and (iii) elects, by not checking or checking the appropriate box on its Ballot or election form, as the case may be, to grant the releases set forth in this Section 43.6, on their own behalf and on behalf of anyone claiming through them, shall be deemed to have and hereby does irrevocably and unconditionally, fully, finally and forever waive, release, acquit and discharge each and all of the Released Parties from any and all Released Claims and/or any claim, act, fact, transaction, occurrence, statement, or omission in connection with or alleged in the Actions or in the Texas Litigation, or that could have been alleged in respect of the foregoing or other similar proceeding, including, without limitation, any such claim demand, right, liability, or cause of action for indemnification, contribution or any other basis in law or equity for damages, costs or fees incurred by the releasors herein arising directly or indirectly from or otherwise relating thereto; provided, however, that each Entity that has elected not to grant the releases set forth in this Section 43.6, including, without limitation, any Entity that fails to execute and deliver a release following notice in accordance with the provisions of Section 32.6(c) hereof, shall not be entitled to, and shall not receive, any payment, distribution or other satisfaction of its claim pursuant to the Plan; and, provided, further that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 43.6(a) to the contrary, the foregoing release shall not extend to acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Released Parties (other than with respect to the JPMC Entities and their respective Related Persons); and, provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of this Section 43.6(a), "Released Parties" shall not include Related Persons other than (i) Related Persons of the JPMC Entities and (ii) Related Persons of the FDIC Receiver and FDIC Corporate." Several creditors and parties in interest have opposed the breadth and scope of the Modified Plan's proposed releases and contend that they are not in accordance with applicable law. "43.7 Injunction Related to Releases. Except as provided in the Plan or the Confirmation Order, as of the Effective Date, all Entities that hold, have held, or may hold a Released Claim or Equity Interest that is released pursuant to Section 43.6 of the Plan, are, and shall be, permanently, forever and completely stayed, restrained, prohibited, barred and enjoined from taking any of the following actions, whether directly or indirectly, derivatively or otherwise, on account of or based on the subject matter of such discharged Released Claims or such Equity Interests: (i) commencing, conducting or continuing in any manner, directly or indirectly, any suit, action or other proceeding (including, without limitation, any judicial, arbitral, administrative or other proceeding) in any forum; (ii) enforcing, attaching (including, without limitation, any prejudgment attachment), collecting, or in any way seeking to recover any judgment, award, decree, or other order, (iii) creating, perfecting or in any way enforcing in any matter, directly or indirectly, any Lien; (iv) setting off, seeking reimbursement or contributions 6 001 KC000I _3 8948_DOMESTI C_294/005404/021614 from, or subrogation against, or otherwise recouping in any manner, directly or indirectly, any amount against any liability or obligation owed to any Entity released under Section 43.6 hereof, and (v) commencing or continuing in any manner, in any place of any judicial, arbitration or administrative proceeding in any forum, that does not comply with or is inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or the Confirmation Order." "43.8 Exculpation. The Debtors, the Debtors' officers and directors serving during the period from the Petition Date up to and including the Effective Date, the Creditors' Committee and each of its members in their capacity as members of the Creditors' Committee, the Equity Committee and each of its members in their capacity as members of the Equity Committee, and each of their respective professionals shall not have or incur any liability to any Entity for any act taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases (including any actions taken by the Creditors' Committee after the Effective Date), the formulation, preparation, dissemination, implementation, confirmation or approval of the Plan or any compromises or settlements contained therein, the Disclosure Statement and the Supplemental Disclosure Statement related thereto, the Global Settlement Agreement, or any contract, instrument, release or other agreement or document provided for or contemplated in connection with the consummation of the transactions set forth in the Plan and the Global Settlement Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 43.8, shall not affect the liability of any Entity that otherwise would result from any such act or omission to the extent that such act or omission is determined in a Final Order to have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct; and, provided, further, that, unless otherwise ordered by the Bankruptcy Court in connection with the Dime Warrant Litigation, the foregoing provisions of this Section 43.8 shall not affect the liability of any member of the Debtors' Board of Directors and officers with respect to actions asserted in the Dime Warrant Litigation and relating to the period from the Petition Date up to and including the Effective Date. Nothing in the foregoing Section 43.8 shall prejudice the right of any of the Debtors, the Debtors' officers and directors serving during the period from the Petition Date up to and including the Effective Date, the Creditors' Committee and each of its members in their capacity as members of the Creditors' Committee, the Equity Committee and each of its members in their capacity as members of the Equity Committee, and each of their respective professionals to assert reliance upon advice of counsel as a defense with respect to their duties and responsibilities under the Plan." If you do not object to the Modified Plan or if your objections are overruled, you will be bound by the confirmation of the Modified Plan. HOLDERS OF CLAIMS WHO CHOOSE TO NOT GRANT THE RELEASES PROVIDED IN SECTION 43.6 OF THE MODIFIED PLAN, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO THE MODIFIED PLAN. DATED: March 30, 2011 Wilmington, Delaware RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A. WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP One Rodney Square 767 Fifth Avenue 920 North King Street New York, New York 10153 Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Telephone: (212) 310 -8000 Telephone: (302) 651 -7700 Facsimile: (212) 310 -8007 Facsimile: (302) 651 -7701 Attorneys for Debtors and Debtors in Possession 7 Washington Mutual, Inc. c/o Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC 2335 Alaska Ave El Segundo, CA 90245 005404 o PRF 38948 0005986 CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS 1126E STATE RD 434 WINTER SPRINGS FL 32708 001 KC0001 _38948_DOMESTIC_294/005404/021613