This Disclosure Statement Is Being Submitted for Approval but Has Not Been Approved by the Bankruptcy Court
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Case 19-36313 Document 3231 Filed in TXSB on 11/30/20 Page 1 of 122 THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS BEING SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL BUT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE BANKRUPTCY COURT. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OF ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF THE PLAN. ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION MAY NOT BE SOLICITED UNTIL A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT HAS BEEN CONDITIONALLY APPROVED BY THE BANKRUPTCY COURT. THE INFORMATION IN THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES. IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON DIVISION ________________________________________ ) In re: ) Chapter 11 ) SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP, LLC, et al., ) Case No. 19-36313 (DRJ) ) Debtors.1 ) Jointly Administered ) _________________________________________ ) DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR JOINT CHAPTER 11 PLAN OF LIQUIDATION OF SOUTHERN FOODS GROUP, LLC, DEAN FOODS COMPANY, AND THEIR DEBTOR AFFILIATES 1 The debtors and debtors in possession in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of their respective Employer Identification Numbers, are as follows: Southern Foods Group, LLC (1364); Dean Foods Company (9681); Alta-Dena Certified Dairy, LLC (1347); Berkeley Farms, LLC (8965); Cascade Equity Realty, LLC (3940); Country Fresh, LLC (6303); Dairy Information Systems Holdings, LLC (9144); Dairy Information Systems, LLC (0009); Dean Dairy Holdings, LLC (9188); Dean East II, LLC (9192); Dean East, LLC (8751); Dean Foods North Central, LLC (7858); Dean Foods of Wisconsin, LLC (2504); Dean Holding Company (8390); Dean Intellectual Property Services II, Inc. (3512); Dean International Holding Company (9785); Dean Management, LLC (7782); Dean Puerto Rico Holdings, LLC (6832); Dean Services, LLC (2168); Dean Transportation, Inc. (8896); Dean West II, LLC (9190); Dean West, LLC (8753); DFC Aviation Services, LLC (1600); DFC Energy Partners, LLC (3889); DFC Ventures, LLC (4213); DGI Ventures, Inc. (6766); DIPS Limited Partner II (7167); Franklin Holdings, Inc. (8114); Fresh Dairy Delivery, LLC (2314); Friendly’s Ice Cream Holdings Corp. (7609); Friendly’s Manufacturing and Retail, LLC (9828); Garelick Farms, LLC (3221); Mayfield Dairy Farms, LLC (3008); Midwest Ice Cream Company, LLC (0130); Model Dairy, LLC (7981); Reiter Dairy, LLC (3675); Sampson Ventures, LLC (7714); Shenandoah’s Pride, LLC (2858); Steve’s Ice Cream, LLC (6807); Suiza Dairy Group, LLC (2039); Tuscan/Lehigh Dairies, Inc. (6774); Uncle Matt’s Organic, Inc. (0079); and Verifine Dairy Products of Sheboygan, LLC (7200). The debtors’ mailing address is 2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400, Dallas, TX 75204. Case 19-36313 Document 3231 Filed in TXSB on 11/30/20 Page 2 of 122 DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT US LLP Brian M. Resnick (admitted pro hac vice) William R. Greendyke (SBT 08390450) Steven Z. Szanzer (admitted pro hac vice) Jason L. Boland (SBT 24040542) Nate Sokol (admitted pro hac vice) Robert B. Bruner (SBT 24062637) Omer Netzer (admitted pro hac vice) Julie Goodrich Harrison (SBT 24092434) 450 Lexington Avenue 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 5100 New York, New York 10017 Houston, Texas 77010-3095 Tel.: (212) 450-4000 Tel.: (713) 651-5151 Fax: (212) 701-5800 Fax: (713) 651-5246 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Counsel to the Debtors and Debtors in Possession Dated: [●] Houston, Texas -ii- Case 19-36313 Document 3231 Filed in TXSB on 11/30/20 Page 3 of 122 PRELIMINARY STATEMENT2 THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE DEBTORS’ PLAN OF LIQUIDATION AND CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION INCLUDED HEREIN IS FOR PURPOSES OF SOLICITING ACCEPTANCES OF THE PLAN AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO DETERMINE HOW AND WHETHER TO VOTE ON THE PLAN. THE DEBTORS BELIEVE THAT THESE SUMMARIES ARE FAIR AND ACCURATE. THE SUMMARIES OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ATTACHED HERETO ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS. IN THE EVENT OF ANY INCONSISTENCY OR DISCREPANCY BETWEEN A DESCRIPTION IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN OR SUCH OTHER PLAN-RELATED DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION, THE PLAN OR SUCH OTHER PLAN-RELATED DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL GOVERN FOR ALL PURPOSES. THE STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF THE DATE HEREOF UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. HOLDERS OF CLAIMS REVIEWING THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT SHOULD NOT INFER AT THE TIME OF SUCH REVIEW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES IN THE FACTS SET FORTH HEREIN SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. EACH HOLDER OF A CLAIM ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE PLAN SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE PLAN AND THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE CASTING A BALLOT. THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL, BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, OR TAX ADVICE. ANY PERSONS DESIRING ANY SUCH ADVICE OR OTHER ADVICE SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN ADVISORS. ALTHOUGH THE DEBTORS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFICALLY NOTED, THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT HAS NOT BEEN AUDITED. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DEBTORS AND THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISORS. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION, WHILE PRESENTED WITH NUMERICAL SPECIFICITY, IS NECESSARILY BASED ON A VARIETY OF ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT, ALTHOUGH CONSIDERED REASONABLE BY MANAGEMENT, MAY NOT BE REALIZED AND ARE INHERENTLY SUBJECT TO 2 Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Liquidation of Southern Foods Groups, LLC, Dean Foods Company, and Their Debtor Affiliates (including all exhibits and schedules attached thereto, and as may be amended, altered, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “Plan”); provided, that capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein or in the Plan, but are defined in title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the “Bankruptcy Rules”), shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Bankruptcy Code or the Bankruptcy Rules, as applicable. -iii- Case 19-36313 Document 3231 Filed in TXSB on 11/30/20 Page 4 of 122 SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS, ECONOMIC, COMPETITIVE, INDUSTRY, REGULATORY, MARKET, AND FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE DEBTORS’ CONTROL. THE DEBTORS CAUTION THAT NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION OR THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECTED RESULTS. SOME ASSUMPTIONS INEVITABLY WILL NOT MATERIALIZE. FURTHER, EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OCCURRING SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION WAS PREPARED MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ASSUMED AND/OR MAY HAVE BEEN UNANTICIPATED AND, THUS, THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE EVENTS MAY AFFECT FINANCIAL RESULTS IN A MATERIALLY ADVERSE OR MATERIALLY BENEFICIAL MANNER. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THEREFORE, MAY NOT BE RELIED UPON AS A GUARANTEE OR OTHER ASSURANCE OF THE ACTUAL RESULTS THAT WILL OCCUR. NO PARTY IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PLAN OTHER THAN THAT WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. NO REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THE DEBTORS OR THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE DEBTORS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. ANY INFORMATION, REPRESENTATIONS, OR INDUCEMENTS MADE TO OBTAIN AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE PLAN OTHER THAN, OR INCONSISTENT WITH, THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND IN THE PLAN SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON BY ANY HOLDER OF A CLAIM. WITH RESPECT TO CONTESTED MATTERS, ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER PENDING, THREATENED, OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION OR ACTIONS, THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE, AND MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED BY ANY PARTY AS, AN ADMISSION OF FACT, LIABILITY, STIPULATION, OR WAIVER, BUT RATHER AS A STATEMENT MADE IN SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT WILL NOT BE ADMISSIBLE IN ANY NON-BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING NOR WILL IT BE CONSTRUED TO CONSTITUTE ADVICE ON THE TAX, SECURITIES, OR OTHER LEGAL EFFECTS OF THE PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THE HOLDERS OF CLAIMS AGAINST, OR INTERESTS IN, THE DEBTORS. THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1125 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE AND BANKRUPTCY RULE 3016(B) AND NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR OTHER NON-APPLICABLE BANKRUPTCY LAWS. THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE “SEC”), NOR HAS THE SEC PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN. SEE ARTICLE VIII OF THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT, ENTITLED “CERTAIN RISK FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED PRIOR TO VOTING,” FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH A DECISION BY A HOLDER OF AN IMPAIRED CLAIM TO ACCEPT THE PLAN. -iv- Case 19-36313 Document 3231 Filed in TXSB on 11/30/20 Page 5 of 122 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ARTICLE I INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1 A. Purpose of the Disclosure Statement