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REMY WORLDWIDE: Wants to Assume Caterpillar Inventory Agreement
Remy Worldwide Holdings Inc. and its debtor-affiliates ask authority from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to assume an inventory purchase agreement with Caterpillar Inc.
The Debtors sold their diesel engine remanufacturing business to Caterpillar for roughly $158 million, pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated Jan. 29, 2007. The Debtors also entered into outsourcing agreements with Caterpillar, which will become the Debtors' exclusive supplier of remanufactured heavy duty starters and alternators. Caterpillar would acquire certain machinery and equipment related to the heavy duty starter and alternator remanufacturing business.
The initial closing occurred June 25, 2007. On the same day, the parties amended the Asset Purchase Agreement to provide, for among other things, the Debtors' sale, for $7.16 million, certain inventory, machinery, equipment and other assets used designing, remanufacturing, assembling, testing, marketing and selling remanufactured heavy duty rotating electrics, including starters and alternators in North America through the Debtors' facilities in Mississippi.
Kenneth J. Enos, Esq., at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, in Wilmington, Delaware, the Debtors' proposed co-counsel, told the Court that under a related inventory purchase agreement, Remy Reman, L.L.C. and Remy International, Inc., would sell to Caterpillar Reman Acquisition Two LLC:
1. alternator core work-in-process inventory having an aggregate purchase price of $87,000;
2. alternator new parts having an aggregate purchase price of $1.28 million;
3. starter core inventory having aggregate value of $2,421,000;
4. starter core work-in-process inventory having an aggregate purchase price of $2.29 million; and
5. starter new parts having an aggregate purchase price of $748,000.
Mr. Enos says the Inventory Purchase Agreement contemplates the transfer of Inventory aggregating roughly $6.80 million.
The Inventory Purchase Agreement also provides that Caterpillar may elect to adjust purchase prices for the starter core inventory using the per unit market value of the Purchased Inventory as determined using a methodology agreed to between the parties. If either party disagrees with the adjusted inventory value for the starter core inventory, the parties will resolve the disagreement using dispute resolution process applicable to alternator core inventory set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
Mr. Enos said the purchase price does not include any sales, use, excise or other taxes that the Debtors may be required to pay in connection with the Inventory sale. The amount of any applicable present or future tax will be paid by Caterpillar as an additional charge or, in lieu of that, Caterpillar will provide the Debtors with a tax exemption certificate acceptable to the relevant taxing authorities.
The parties also agreed to certain indemnification provisions.
The Debtors further ssought permission to continue the transfer of the remainder of the Purchased Inventory, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.
Assumption of the Inventory Purchase Agreement is in the best interest of the Debtors, their estates and creditors, Mr. Enos contended. He explained that the sale will result in lower product costs for the Debtors and represented the highest or otherwise best offer for the Purchased Assets.
Mr. Enos also asserted that the the sale of the remainder of the Purchased Inventory is an integral part of the Caterpillar transaction, which has been substantially consummated.
The purchase price, Mr. Enos said, was determined after good faith, arm's-length negotiations. "Accordingly, the Debtors will realize consideration for the Purchased Assets and the Remainder of the Purchased Inventory that will be fair and reasonable," Mr. Enos maintained.
About Remy Worldwide
Based in Anderson, Indiana, Remy Worldwide Holdings Inc. acts as a holding company of all the outstanding capital stock of Remy International Inc. Remy International --http://www.remyinc.com/ -- manufactures, remanufactures and distributes Delco Remy brand heavy-duty systems and Remy brand starters and alternators, locomotive products and hybrid power technology. The company also provides a worldwide components core-exchange service for automobiles, light trucks, medium and heavy-duty trucks and other heavy-duty, off-road and industrial applications. Remy has operations in the United Kingdom, Mexico and Korea, among others.
The company and its debtor-affiliates filed for Chapter 11 protection on Oct. 8, 2007 (Bankr. D. Del. Cases No. 07-11481 to 07-11509). Douglas P. Bartner, Esq., Fredric Sosnick, Esq., and Michael H. Torkin, Esq., at Shearman & Sterling LLP, represent the Debtors' in their restructuring efforts. Pauline K. Morgan, Esq., Edmon L. Morton, Esq., and Kenneth J. Enos, Esq., at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, serve as co-counsels to the Debtors. The Debtors' claims agent is Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC and their restructuring advisor is AlixPartners, LLC.
At Sept. 30, 2006, Remy Worldwide's balance sheet showed total assets of $919,736,000 and total liabilities of $1,265,648,000. (Remy Bankruptcy News; Issue No. 3, Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc., http://bankrupt.com/newsstand/ or 215/945-7000).
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