Elawyers Elawyers
Ohio| Change

In re Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC, 3:17-cv-00275-GCM. (2017)

Court: District Court, W.D. North Carolina Number: infdco20170721561 Visitors: 5
Filed: Jun. 12, 2017
Latest Update: Jun. 12, 2017
Summary: ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BY AND AMONG THE COLTEC PARTIES, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, SPX, AND FMPC GRAHAM C. MULLEN , District Judge . Having considered the "Debtors' Motion for Order Approving Settlement Agreement With Zurich American Insurance Company, SPX, and FMPC" (the "Motion"), including the "Settlement Agreement and Release Among the Coltec Parties, Zurich, SPX and FMPC" (the "Settlement Agreement"), which is attached as an exhibit to the Motion, and
More

ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BY AND AMONG THE COLTEC PARTIES, ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, SPX, AND FMPC

Having considered the "Debtors' Motion for Order Approving Settlement Agreement With Zurich American Insurance Company, SPX, and FMPC" (the "Motion"), including the "Settlement Agreement and Release Among the Coltec Parties, Zurich, SPX and FMPC" (the "Settlement Agreement"), which is attached as an exhibit to the Motion, and any objection to the Motion, it is hereby

FOUND AND DETERMINED THAT:

A. The Court has jurisdiction over the Motion under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. This matter is a "core proceeding" under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2). Venue of this bankruptcy case and the Motion in this district is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.

B. Due and adequate notice of the Motion was provided to necessary parties in interest, including designated representatives of GST Asbestos Claimants and Coltec Asbestos Claimants, and a reasonable opportunity to object or be heard with respect to the Motion and relief requested in the Motion and in this Order has been provided to all parties in interest.

C. The Settlement Agreement is the product of arm's length, good faith negotiations by and among (i) the Coltec Parties, (ii) Zurich, and (iii) SPX and FMPC.2

D. The Coltec Parties' interests in the Scheduled Zurich Policies are being sold to and transferred to Zurich free and clear of all Claims and interests in the Scheduled Zurich Policies held by the Coltec Parties and free and clear of all Claims by the Coltec Parties that could give rise to a claim for defense, indemnity, or insurance coverage under the Scheduled Zurich Policies.

E. Subject to entry of this order approving the Motion, the Coltec Parties have agreed to identify Zurich and its parent corporations, divisions, assigns, predecessors and successors, and their shareholders, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives, as Asbestos Protected Parties pursuant to Sections 7.3.10, 8.2, and 1.1.21(f) of the Plan.

F. Zurich is a "good faith" purchaser of the Scheduled Zurich Policies within the meaning of Section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code and is entitled to all the protections of that section with respect to the Scheduled Zurich Policies.

G. The relief sought in the Motion is in the best interests of the Debtors, their respective estates, and their creditors.

H. The legal and factual bases set forth in the Motion establish just cause for granting the relief sought in the Motion. Accordingly, it is hereby

ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT:

1. The Motion is GRANTED in its entirety, and all objections to the Motion are overruled.

2. The findings of fact set forth above and the conclusions of law stated herein shall constitute the Court's findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 7052, made applicable pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9014. To the extent any finding of fact later shall be determined to be a conclusion of law, it shall be so deemed, and to the extent any conclusion of law shall later be determined to be a finding of fact, it shall be so deemed.

3. The Settlement Agreement and any agreements, documents, and instruments executed by agreement of the Parties in connection with or pursuant to the Settlement Agreement are approved in all respects.

4. The Coltec Parties are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to take all necessary acts to carry out and implement the Settlement Agreement in accordance with its terms and conditions.

5. The Coltec Parties are authorized to execute any other documentation and perform such other ministerial tasks as may be necessary to effectuate the Settlement Agreement.

6. Subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement, upon satisfaction of all conditions to the effectiveness of the Settlement Agreement and receipt in full of the Settlement Amount by the Coltec Parties, the Parties shall be deemed to have released each other as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

7. Payment in full of the Settlement Amount by Zurich shall (i) terminate any and all obligations whatsoever of Zurich to the Coltec Parties and SPX Parties under, arising out of, related to, or in connection with the Scheduled Zurich Policies, and bar any further Claims or requests for coverage under any and all coverages of the Scheduled Zurich Policies that might be made by the Coltec Parties or the SPX Parties; and, without limiting the foregoing, (ii) terminate any and all obligations whatsoever of Zurich to the Coltec Parties and the SPX Parties arising out of, related to, or in connection with Asbestos Claims, and bar any further Asbestos Claims or requests for coverage with respect to Asbestos Claims under the Zurich Policies.

8. Payment of the Settlement Amount by Zurich shall constitute a purchase by Zurich from the Coltec Parties of any and all of the Coltec Parties' rights and interests in the Scheduled Zurich Policies, free and clear of any liens, Claims or interests within the meaning of Sections 363(b)(1) and (f) of the Bankruptcy Code to the fullest extent permissible under the Bankruptcy Code and any other applicable law. Accordingly, without the need for any further action, all rights, title and interest of the Coltec Parties in the Scheduled Zurich Policies shall be conveyed, assigned, and transferred to Zurich upon its payment in full of the Settlement Amount to the Coltec Parties.

9. Pursuant to Sections 105 and 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, and subject to Zurich's payment in full of the Settlement Amount to the Coltec Parties, all Entities on notice of the Motion (including Entities on notice through a court-appointed representative) that have held or asserted, that hold or assert, or that may in the future hold or assert any Claims or interests against any of the Scheduled Zurich Policies, whenever or wherever arising or asserted (including all Claims or interests in the nature of or sounding in tort, contract, warranty or any other theory of law, equity or admiralty) shall be permanently stayed, restrained, and enjoined from asserting any such Claim or interest against Zurich and from continuing, commencing, or otherwise proceeding or taking any action against Zurich to enforce such Claim or interest or for the purpose of directly or indirectly collecting, recovering, or receiving payments from Zurich under the Scheduled Zurich Policies with respect to any such Claim or interest.

10. Subject to the occurrence of the Effective Date, Zurich and its parent corporations, divisions, assigns, predecessors and successors, and their shareholders, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives shall be protected from Asbestos Claims under the Settlement Agreement, the Plan, and the Asbestos Channeling Injunction as an Asbestos Protected Parties.

11. Notwithstanding Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h), this Order shall be effective and enforceable immediately upon its entry, and the sale approved by this Order may close upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section II of the Settlement Agreement.

12. Notice of the hearing on the Motion was fair and adequate under the circumstances and complied in all respects with the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, the local rules of the Court, and the procedural due process requirements of the United States Constitution.

13. All parties in interest have had the opportunity to object to the relief requested in the Motion and to the extent that objections to the Motion have not been withdrawn, waived, or settled, such objections and all reservations of rights included in such objections are overruled on the merits. Any party who did not object, or who withdrew its objections, to the Motion is deemed to have consented to the relief requested, including to the sale of the Scheduled Zurich Policies authorized under this Order pursuant to Section 363(f)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code.

14. Zurich is a "good faith" purchaser of the Scheduled Zurich Policies within the meaning of Section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code and shall have all the protections of that section with respect to the Scheduled Zurich Policies.

15. This Court shall retain exclusive jurisdiction to decide any dispute arising under or related to, or any action brought to enforce the terms of, the Settlement Agreement.

SO ORDERED.

FootNotes


1. The debtors in these jointly administered cases are Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC; Garrison Litigation Management Group, Ltd.; The Anchor Packing Company and OldCo, LLC, successor by merger to Coltec Industries Inc.
2. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Motion and the Settlement Agreement.
Source:  Leagle

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer