In re Energy Future Holdings Corp.

593 B.R. 217
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in In re Energy Future Holdings Corp.. Read the opinion of the Court — 575 B.R. 616
United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware·Decided October 31, 2018·No. Case No. 14-10979 (CSS) (Jointly Administered); Related Docket No.: 13102·Published

Opinion

Administrative Claim EFIH EFH NextEra Termination Fee 94.6% 5.4% Debtors' Professional Fees 84% 16% E-Side Committee Professional Fees 12% 88% Substantial Contribution Claim 95% 5%

INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

1. This contested matter relates to the allocation of certain reserves and administrative expenses incurred in the above-captioned chapter 11 cases (the "Chapter 11 Cases") as between the estate of Energy Future Holdings Corp. ("EFH") and the estate of Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company, LLC ("EFIH" and, together with EFH and certain affiliates and subsidiaries thereof, the "E-Side Debtors").4

I. The Debtors

2. On April 29, 2014 (the "Petition Date"), EFH, EFIH, and dozens of affiliated entities filed petitions under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (collectively, the "Debtors"). These Chapter 11 Cases are jointly administered but not substantively consolidated. (See Final Order Directing Joint Administration , entered June 5, 2014 [D.I. 849].)

3. As of the Petition Date, EFH was a holding company that owned interests in two main businesses. Through its indirect ownership of Texas Competitive Electric Holding Company, LLC ("TCEH"), EFH owned 100% of the interest in the "T-Side" Debtors' electricity generation and competitive retail businesses, among other things. The T-Side Debtors emerged from bankruptcy on October 3, 2016. (ELX-407, Notice of Entry of TCEH Confirmation Order and Occurrence of TCEH Effective Date , filed Oct. 3, 2016 [D.I. 9742] (the "T-Side Effective Date").)

4. Through its ownership interest in EFIH, EFH also indirectly owned an approximately 80% economic interest in Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor"), a regulated utility and the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas. (ELX-009, Decl. of Paul Keglevic in Support of First Day Motions , filed Apr. 29, 2014 [D.I. 98].) A transaction monetizing EFIH's interest in Oncor-in a change-of-control transaction that required regulatory approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas ("PUCT") to close-was a critical component of the Debtors' reorganization efforts.

*223II. The Sempra Plan and Creation of the PAB

5. On September 7, 2017, the Court authorized the Debtors to enter into a merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") with Sempra Energy ("Sempra")-a California-based utility holding company-pursuant to which Sempra would, among other things, acquire EFH's indirect economic interests in Oncor. (ELX-557, Order Authorizing Entry Into Merger Agreement and Approving Termination Fee, Authorizing Entry Into and Performance Under Plan Support Agreement , filed Sept. 7, 2017 [D.I. 11873].)

6. The Merger Agreement was a critical component of The First Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Energy Future Holdings Corp., Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company LLC, and the EFH/EFIH Debtors Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the "Plan"), which was confirmed by order of the Court on February 27, 2018 (the "Confirmation Order"). (ELX-635, Order Confirming the First Amended Plan of Reorganization , filed Feb. 27, 2018 [D.I. 12763].) Paragraph 150 of the Confirmation Order prohibited any allocation of administrative expenses that would render the EFH estate administratively insolvent. (Id. at ¶ 150.)

7. The PUCT approved the Sempra transaction on March 8, 2018, and the Plan became effective on March 9, 2018. (PAB-X635, Notice of Entry of EFH Confirmation Order and Occurrence of EFH Effective Date , filed Mar. 9, 2018 [D.I. 12801] (the "E-Side Effective Date").)

8. The Plan created the EFH Plan Administrator Trust (the "Trust") to resolve disputed claims and administer the winding-up of the estates. The Trust contains cash contributions from Sempra in connection with consummating the Plan, additional cash on hand, and "the Causes of Action the EFH Plan Administration Board is permitted to pursue and settle under the Plan." (PAB-X627, First Amended Supplement to First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, Ex. C (EFH Plan Administrator Trust Agreement) at Recitals ¶ E, filed Feb. 22, 2018 [D.I. 12685-8]; ELX-635 [D.I. 12763] ¶ 134.)

9. The EFH Plan Administration Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), which the Court approved pursuant to the Confirmation Order, governs the Trust. (ELX-635, ¶ 74 [D.I. 12763]; PAB-X627 at Ex. C [D.I. 12685-8].)

10. The EFH Plan Administrator Board (the "PAB") is the trustee of the Trust. (PAB-X627, Ex. C at Preamble [D.I. 12685-8].) As a fiduciary for unsecured creditors of the EFH and EFIH estates, the PAB is charged with effectuating the Plan and administering the Trust by paying claims, resolving and litigating disputed claims, and taking actions necessary to wind up the estates. (Id. at Art. I.1.2; ELX-635, ¶ 90 [D.I. 12763].)

III. The Allocation Dispute

11. At the hearing with respect to confirmation of the Sempra Plan held on February 26 and 27, 2018 (the "Sempra Confirmation Hearing"), the Court found that the E-Side Debtors could, in their discretion, establish a segregated escrow account in the amount of $275 million (the "NextEra Plan Reserve") on account of a $275 million administrative expense claim for a termination fee (the "Termination Fee") asserted by NextEra Energy, Inc. ("NextEra") that had been ultimately disallowed by this Court5 but was then on direct *224appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the "Third Circuit"). (ELX-634, 2/26/18 Hr'g Tr. at 233:1-3.) The Court approved the NextEra Plan Reserve as a valid exercise of the E-Side Debtors' discretion. (ELX-635, 2/27/18 Confirmation Order [D.I. 12763] ¶ 150.) The Court also stated that the NextEra Plan Reserve would "preserve the integrity of the judicial process" with respect to NextEra's appeal of the Reconsideration Order (as defined below). (ELX-735, 2/27/18 Hr'g Tr. at 15:14-17.)6

12. Although the Court approved the NextEra Plan Reserve, the Court denied NextEra's request that the E-Side Debtors hold approximately $60 million in a reserve with respect to NextEra's then-pending administrative expense application (the "NextEra Reimbursement Application"), which application sought payment for various costs and expenses purportedly incurred by NextEra in connection with its pursuit of the NextEra merger transaction in the event that the Termination Fee was disallowed by a final order (the "NextEra Reimbursement Claim"). In re Energy Future Holdings Corp. , 588 B.R. 371 (Bankr. D. Del. 2018) ; (ELX-634, 2/26/18 Hr'g Tr. at 233:10-23.) The costs and expenses were purportedly incurred by NextEra between July 29, 2016 and July 6, 2017. (See ELX-625, 2/20/18 NextEra Reimbursement Application [D.I. 12671] ¶ 43.)7 The NextEra Reimbursement Claim is not the subject of the Court's ruling.

13.

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In re Energy Future Holdings Corp., 593 B.R. 217 (Del. 2018).

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