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Exhibit 99.1
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND
RELEASE
This Settlement Agreement and
Release (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
December 18, 2006 by and between Dana Corporation ("Dana") and
its affiliated debtors and debtors in possession (collectively, the
"Debtors" and individually a "Debtor"), and Dana Credit Corporation
("DCC") and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively with
DCC, "Dana Credit"). The Debtors and DCC are sometimes collectively
referred to herein as the "Parties."
Recitals
This Agreement is made with
respect to the following facts:
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2006
(the "Petition Date"), the Debtors commenced reorganization cases
by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title
11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the
"Bankruptcy Court"), jointly administered under case number
06-10354 (BRL);
WHEREAS, DCC is a subsidiary of
Dana but is not a Debtor;
WHEREAS, Dana and its non-debtor
and debtor subsidiaries file a consolidated federal tax return and
file consolidated or combined state tax returns where
allowable;
WHEREAS, tax benefits and
liabilities as between Dana and Dana Credit are computed under an
intercompany tax sharing agreement between Dana and DCC (the "Tax
Sharing Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Debtors and Dana
Credit are also parties to various leases, agreements and
arrangements that give rise to intercompany claims by and between
them;
WHEREAS, DCC is indebted under
notes issued from time to time under a number of note agreements
(the "DCC Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of
approximately $399 million;
WHEREAS, excluding certain
contingent claims asserted by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation and other contingent and/or unliquidated claims that
are not expected by DCC to become fixed and liquidated claims, DCC
represents that it has no debt other than the approximately $420
owed under the DCC Notes and, at any given time, amounts that may
be due for professional fees and ordinary course operating
expenses;
WHEREAS, following Dana’s
bankruptcy filing in March 2006, the holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of DCC Notes formed an Ad Hoc
Committee of DCC Noteholders (the "Ad Hoc Committee") which has
asserted that the DCC Notes became immediately due and payable
without notice, presentment, demand, protest or other action of any
kind as a result of the commencement of Dana’s
bankruptcy;
WHEREAS, the Debtors and Dana
Credit assert various claims against each other, including but not
limited to claims related to transfers;
WHEREAS, the holders of the DCC
Notes (the "DCC Noteholders") also assert various claims against
the Debtors and DCC;
WHEREAS, on August 25, 2006,
the Debtors, Dana Credit and certain DCC Noteholders entered into a
tolling agreement (the "Tolling Agreement") which extended any
applicable statute of limitation for claims Dana Credit or the DCC
Noteholders might assert against the Debtors;
WHEREAS, on July 7, 2006, the
Debtors filed a Motion for Order Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule
3003(3) Setting a Final Date to File Proofs of Claim (the "Bar Date
Motion"). The Bar Date Motion sought an order setting
September 21, 2006 (the "Bar Date") as the last day for
creditors to file proofs of claim against the Debtors. The relief
requested in the Bar Date Motion was granted by an order entered on
July 19, 2006 (the "Bar Date Order");
WHEREAS, on September 20,
2006, Dana Credit, the DCC Noteholders and the Debtors filed a
Stipulation and Proposed Order requesting an extension of the Bar
Date with this Court;
WHEREAS, on October 16, 2006,
this Court "So Ordered" the Stipulation extending the Bar Date,
solely for Dana Credit and the DCC Noteholders, through and
including October 23, 2006;
WHEREAS, on October 19, 2006,
Dana Credit, the DCC Noteholders and the Debtors filed a
Stipulation and Proposed Order extending the Bar Date, solely for
Dana Credit and the DCC Noteholders to December 7, 2006 (the
"Second Stipulation");
WHEREAS, on October 31, 2006,
the Court "So Ordered" the Second Stipulation extending the Bar
Date, solely for Dana Credit and the DCC Noteholders, through and
including December 7, 2006; and
WHEREAS, DCC, the Ad Hoc Committee
and the Debtors have been engaged in settlement discussions for
several months and have reached an agreement regarding the terms of
a proposed forbearance agreement between DCC and the DCC
Noteholders (the "Forbearance Agreement"). The Forbearance
Agreement will be substantially in the form of the agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit "A." Pursuant to the terms of the
proposed Forbearance Agreement, signatory DCC Noteholders (the
"Forbearing Noteholders") agree to release any and all claims they
may have against Dana and for the period (the "Forbearance Period")
commencing on the effective date of the Forbearance Agreement and
ending twenty-four months after the Implementation Date (as such
term is defined therein), unless terminated sooner on account of a
breach of the Forbearance Agreement, and the Forbearing Noteholders
will not exercise rights or remedies under any of the DCC Note
documents or applicable law. A condition of the Forbearance
Agreement is the settlement of the claims asserted by Dana Credit
against the Debtors and the settlement of certain claims the
Debtors assert against Dana Credit.
NOW, THEREFORE, for mutual
consideration, which is hereby acknowledged, (including the
covenants, promises, releases warranties, representations and
payments contained herein) the Parties, each intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
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1. Settlement.
1.1 Settlement Effective
Date.
(a) The effective date of this Agreement ("Settlement
Effective Date") shall be the date on which each of the conditions
to the effectiveness of the Settlement has been satisfied or
waived, in writing, by each of the parties hereto.
(b) This Agreement is conditioned upon:
(i) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parties;
(ii) The
satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent to the
effectiveness of the Forbearance Agreement; and
(iii) The
entry by the Bankruptcy Court of an order approving the terms of
this Agreement and such order becoming final and non-appealable
(the "Approval Order").
1.2 Settlement Terms
(a) Allowance of Prepetition Intercompany Claim. All of
Dana Credit’s prepetition claims against the Debtors,
including any claims arising from or related to the Tax Sharing
Agreement, shall be allowed as a general unsecured claim in favor
of DCC against Dana in the aggregate amount of $325,000,000 (the
"Intercompany Claim") and shall not be subject to reduction for any
reason, including, without limitation, on account of any right of
setoff or recoupment. Dana hereby waives any and all rights to
reduce the allowed amount of the Intercompany Claim. It is
acknowledged by Dana that the Intercompany Claim accrued and
continues to accrue interest at the Federal Judgment Rate from the
Petition Date through and including the date on which the
Intercompany Claim is paid in full or is otherwise discharged;
provided, however that Dana does not waive its right to object to
the allowance of any claim for interest accruing on the
Intercompany Claim pursuant to Bankruptcy Code section 502(b) and
DCC does not waive any of its rights to oppose any such objection
on any basis. The Intercompany Claim may not be amended at any time
and, except for the Intercompany Claim, Dana Credit shall not
assert any other prepetition claims against any of the Debtors.
(b) Sale or Transfer of Intercompany Claim. If DCC
intends to sell, assign or participate out all or any portion of
the Intercompany Claim or any interest therein (a "Proposed Sale")
prior to the effective date of a plan of reorganization in the
Debtor’s bankruptcy cases, it will provide Dana’s
official creditor, equity and retiree committees (the "Committees")
and the Ad Hoc Committee no less than 10 days written notice
(the "Notice") of such intention. If, prior to the expiration of
the 10-day notice period, any of the Committees or the Ad Hoc
Committee serves on Dana, DCC, the other Committees and the Ad Hoc
Committee (if it is not the serving party), and files with the
Bankruptcy Court, under seal, a written objection to a Proposed
Sale, then no sale shall take place pending the determination of
the Bankruptcy Court at a hearing to be scheduled by Dana on the
first available date that is at least 21 days after delivery
of the Notice. All pleadings filed with the Bankruptcy Court with
regard to a Proposed Sale will be sealed and Dana, DCC, the
Committees and the Forbearing Noteholders shall have standing to
appear and be heard on all issues with regard to a Proposed Sale,
including any
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(c) objection to the Proposed Sale by either Committee that
could have been raised absent the settlement. All parties will
cooperate and respond to informal and expedited information and
discovery requests in a manner that takes into account the
accelerated hearing schedule. Dana, DCC, and the Committees will
use their best efforts to ensure any distributions of securities
made on account of the Intercompany Claim pursuant to a plan
receive the benefit of the exemption from securities laws set forth
in section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.
(d) Termination of Tax Sharing Agreement. The Tax
Sharing Agreement shall be deemed terminated as of the Settlement
Effective Date.
(e) Waiver of Administrative Claims. Dana Credit hereby
waives and releases any claims against the Debtors for amounts due
Dana Credit after the Petition Date and through the Settlement
Effective Date.
(f) Administrative Claims Following Settlement Effective
Date. After the Settlement Effective Date, the Debtors and Dana
shall, on a monthly basis, settle their intercompany obligations.
Thus, the applicable Debtor shall timely make cash payments to the
applicable Dana Credit entity of all rental or other amounts that
become due after the Settlement Effective Date under any lease of
real or personal property between such Debtor and a Dana Credit
entity or pursuant to any other arrangement where a Debtor uses
property of a Dana Credit entity and vice versa; provided, however,
that such payments shall be net of any amounts owed to any Debtor
by any Dana Credit entity after the Settlement Effective Date for
ordinary course operating expenses. With respect to tax liabilities
and attributes after the Settlement Effective Date, if a state or
federal tax or attribute is incurred in a jurisdiction where Dana
ordinarily files a consolidated or combined return, Dana will
include any Dana Credit liability in its consolidated or combined
return and there will be no obligation on the part of Dana Credit
to reimburse Dana for any tax liabilities included in such return
or for Dana to reimburse Dana Credit for any tax attributes. Dana
Credit will continue to file tax returns and pay any tax
liabilities in jurisdictions where tax returns are not filed on a
consolidated or combined basis with Dana.
(g) Release of Real Property Escrow Funds to Dana. Dana
Credit shall consent to the release to Dana of the currently
escrowed proceeds from the sale of the Richards Road and Owensboro
properties and hereby waives any right to receive any portion of
the proceeds from such escrow accounts.
(h) Extension of Time to Assume or Reject Leases. The
time for the Debtors to assume or reject unexpired leases of
non-residential real property between the Debtors, as lessee, and
Dana Credit, as lessor, shall be extended until the date of entry
of an order confirming a plan of reorganization in the
Debtors’ cases.
2. Releases .
2.1 Debtors’ Release
. Except for the rights expressly arising out of, provided for, or
reserved in this Agreement, upon the Settlement Effective Date,
Dana Credit hereby releases, waives, withdraws, dismisses and
forever discharges the Debtors and their respective parents,
subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, principals, directors,
officers, shareholders, employees, agents, attorneys, successors,
assigns, insurers, heirs and executors (excluding any Dana Credit
entity), from any and all liabilities, torts, causes of action, or
any debts, obligations, sums of money,
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accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, covenants, contracts,
controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses,
judgments, executions, costs, claims and demands whatsoever in law
or in equity and any other obligation of any kind or nature whether
known, unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent,
concealed or hidden, latent or patent, (including but not limited
to any claims existing or that otherwise might arise under the Tax
Sharing Agreement), which any Dana Credit entity has against any
Debtor as of the date of this Agreement.
2.2 Dana Credit Release.
Except for the rights expressly arising out of, provided for, or
reserved in this Agreement, or with respect to any representations
expressly made in the Settlement Agreement, upon the Settlement
Effective Date, the Debtors hereby release, waive, withdraw,
dismiss and forever discharge Dana Credit and their respective
parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, principals,
directors, officers, shareholders, employees, agents, attorneys,
successors, assigns, insurers, heirs and executors from any and all
liabilities, torts, causes of action, or any debts, obligations,
sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, covenants,
contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, variances,
trespasses, judgments, executions, costs, claims and demands
whatsoever in law or in equity and any other obligation of any kind
or nature whether known, unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed
or contingent, concealed or hidden, latent or patent (including but
not limited to any claims existing or that otherwise might arise
under the Tax Sharing Agreement ), which any Debtor has against
Dana Credit as of the date of this Agreement.
2.3 With respect to the releases
set forth in sections 2.1 and 2.2 above, each of the Parties, upon
such releases becoming effective, shall be deemed to have
expressly, knowingly and intentionally waived for themselves and
for their respective legal successors and assigns, the benefits and
rights of any statute, rule, doctrine or common law principal of
any jurisdiction whatsoever that provides, in substance, that a
general release does not extend to claims which the releasing party
does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of
executing the release, which if known would have materially
affected the decision to execute the release. The Parties each
acknowledge that they have received independent legal advice from
their attorneys with respect to this waiver and acknowledge that
this waiver is a material inducement to and consideration for each
Party’s execution of the Agreement.
2.4 Each Party acknowledges that
its counsel has reviewed this Agreement and it, he, or she, has
been advised by such counsel concerning the import and effect and
the advisability of entering into the releases and waivers
contained in sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 of the Agreement. Each
Party understands that the releases set forth herein are intended
to be full and complete releases of any and all claims or causes
held by the releasing Parties against the releasees, including
those claims or causes of action which may not yet exist because
they are inchoate, and any and all claims or causes of action that
might now exist but are not presently known to the Parties. Each
Party understands and acknowledges that the significance and
consequence of its waiver set forth in section 2.3 is that even if
such Party eventually suffers or discovers additional claims or
damages, no claim could be made for those claims or damages that
are covered by the release given hereunder. Each Party also
acknowledges that it intends these consequences even as to claims
or damages that may exist as of the date hereof, but which for
whatever reason such Party does not know exists, and which, if
known, would materially affect such Party’s decision to
execute this Agreement. The Parties intend this Agreement to be
binding upon them regardless of any claims of mistake of law or
fact, duress, or any other circumstance whatsoever in connection
with any matter hereby dealt with or the negotiation and
documentation of this
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Agreement. In entering into this Agreement and releases provided
for herein, each Party recognizes that no facts or representations
are ever absolutely certain. Accordingly, except for
representations explicitly set forth in this agreement, each Party
assumes the risk that its understanding of the facts or the law was
incorrect and the Parties shall not be entitled to set aside this
Agreement or the releases provided for herein by reason thereof.
The finality of the releases under this Agreement is a material
factor inducing the Parties to enter into this Agreement. The
Parties acknowledge that this Agreement has been negotiated at
arm’s length by each of the Parties hereto and that each
Party has participated in the drafting of this Agreement.
2.5 The Parties represent and
warrant that they currently own the claims and causes of action
being released herein and have the legal right and authority to
release and relinquish the claims now being released, as set forth
hereinabove.
3. No Admissions . This Agreement is a settlement
and compromise of disputed claims and any payment made hereunder is
not (and is not to be construed as) an admission of liability by
any Party. All parties should be presumed to have entered into this
Agreement solely to avoid the costs and inconvenience of litigating
their respective claims.
4. Advice of Counsel . Each of the Parties to this
Agreement has read this Agreement and acknowledges that he, she or
it has had the advice of counsel, and that no promise or
representation of any kind, other than those set forth in this
Agreement, has been made by any other Party or their
representatives concerning the subject matter thereof.
5. Construction and Interpretation . Unless the
context requires otherwise, singular nouns and pronouns used in
this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and pronouns
of one gender shall be deemed to include the equivalent pronoun of
the other gender. In the event of an ambiguity in, or controversy
or claim arising out of, or relating to, the interpretation,
application, or enforcement of, this Agreement, the Parties agree
that no one will resolve any ambiguity in, or controversy or claim
arising out of, or relating to, interpretation, application, or
enforcement of, this Agreement by any rule providing for
interpretation against the Party who causes the ambiguity to exist
or against the draftsman.
6. Notices . Any notice given or demand made
pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by hand-delivery,
overnight mail or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the following addresses:
If to the Debtors :
Debra Grassgreen
Pachulski Stang Ziehl Young Jones & Weintraub LLP
150 California Street, 15 th
Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
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If to Dana Credit Corporation:
Robert S. Hertzberg
Pepper Hamilton LLP
420 Lexington Avenue
Suite 2320
New York, NY 10170-2399
If to Forbearing Noteholders or Ad Hoc Committee :
Matthew Cantor
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Citigroup Center, 153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-4675
7. Continuing Jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court
. This Agreement is subject to and contingent upon the approval
by the Bankruptcy Court. The Bankruptcy Court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to determine as a core proceeding any dispute or
controversy with respect to the interpretation or enforcement of
this Agreement . The Bankruptcy Court will retain
jurisdiction over a Proposed Sale of the Intercompany Claim
pursuant to the procedures described in paragraph 1.2
(b) above.
8. Execution of the Agreement . This Agreement may
be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
9. Effective Recitals . The Recitals to this
Agreement shall have the same binding force and effect as the
numbered paragraphs of this Agreement.
10. Integration . This Agreement together with the
Forbearance Agreement and the Security Agreement that will be
contemporaneously executed embodies the entire agreement and
understanding by and between the Parties hereto relating to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior proposals,
negotiations, agreements and understandings relating to such
subject matter. No modification, amendment or waiver hereof shall
be valid unless made in writing and signed by each party
hereto.
11. Biding on Successors and Assigns . This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
respective successors, predecessors, heirs, assigns, officers,
directors, shareholders, employees, agents, and attorneys of the
Parties to the extent provided by law
12. Titles and Captions . The Parties have
inserted the paragraph titles in this Agreement only as a matter of
convenience and for reference, and the paragraph titles in no way
define, limit, extend, or describe the scope of this Agreement or
the intent of the Parties in including any particular provision in
this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties,
intending to be legally bound, have caused their duly authorized
representatives to sign this Agreement:
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For the Debtors:
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For Dana Credit:
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/s/ Ted Stenger
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/s/ Joseph A. Beham
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CRO
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Exhibit A
FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT
This FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT, dated
as of December 18, 2006 (this " Agreement "), is
entered into by and among DANA CREDIT CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the " Company "), and each of the noteholders a
party hereto (collectively, the " Forbearing
Noteholders " and individually each a " Forbearing
Noteholder ").
PRELIMINARY ST
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