Reorganized Armstrong Announces Expected Distributions to Unsecured Creditors
11 10월 2006 - 4:23AM
PR Newswire (US)
Distributions to be made in Cash and Common Shares Starting October
17, 2006; Common Shares to Be Listed on the New York Stock Exchange
'When Issued' Trading Starting LANCASTER, Pa., Oct. 10
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (the
"Company"), a global leader in the design and manufacture of
flooring, ceilings and cabinets, which emerged from Chapter 11 on
October 2, today announced the amount of the initial distributions
it expects to make to general unsecured creditors under its Chapter
11 plan ("Class 6 claimants"). Specifically, distributions to
holders of allowed unsecured claims falling in Class 6 will
commence on October 17, 2006 pursuant to its Court-approved "Fourth
Amended Plan of Reorganization, as Modified," dated February 21,
2006 (the "Plan"). Per $10,000 of such claims, an initial
distribution of 116 Common Shares of reorganized Armstrong World
Industries and approximately $2,435 in cash are expected. The
initial distributions exclude approximately $11 million of cash and
538,000 shares that are reserved from distribution due to disputed
unsecured claims in Class 6. A total of 19,418,520 shares and
approximately $407 million of cash will be distributed to creditors
in Class 6 under the Plan. Separately, in discharge of all of its
present and future asbestos-related personal injury claims, on
October 2 the Company issued under the Plan 36,981,480 Common
Shares to the Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Asbestos Personal
Injury Settlement Trust (the "Trust") and by October 17 will
distribute to the Trust approximately $738 million in cash,
representing the portion of cash distributions to which the Trust
is entitled under the Plan. All present and future asbestos-related
personal injury claims must be asserted against, and will be
resolved by, the Trust, and such claims may not be asserted against
the Company. Under the Plan, payments to unsecured creditors having
allowed claims of $10,000 or less (or who have reduced their claims
to $10,000) began on October 2. Those creditors receive
distributions entirely in cash in an amount equal to approximately
75% of their allowed claims. The cash amount to be distributed to
Class 6 creditors and the Trust includes "Available Cash" as
defined in the Plan and $775 million of the cash proceeds expected
from $800 million of term loans that the Company is arranging in
lieu of issuing notes under the Plan. These term loans are in
addition to a $300 million revolving credit facility already
established, which is currently undrawn and will be available to
support the Company's ongoing liquidity needs. The Company also
announced that its Common Shares have today been approved for
listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
"AWI." Trading on the NYSE is expected to commence tomorrow on a
"when issued" basis (AWI_wi), and "regular way" trading is
anticipated to begin on a date to be announced by the New York
Stock Exchange. "We are pleased to return to the New York Stock
Exchange, where Armstrong first began trading on July 17, 1935,"
said F. Nicholas Grasberger III, Armstrong's Senior Vice President
and CFO. "This is the renewal of a long and rewarding relationship
between Armstrong and the NYSE." "We are pleased to welcome back
Armstrong World Industries to our family of NYSE-listed companies,
resuming our 70-plus-year partnership with the company," said NYSE
Group, Inc. Chief Executive Officer John A. Thain. "We look forward
to serving Armstrong World Industries and its shareholders, and
providing the company with superior market quality and brand
visibility." For access to copies of the Plan and related exhibits,
please visit http://www.armstrongplan.com/. About Armstrong and
Additional Information Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global
leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings and
cabinets. In 2005, Armstrong's net sales totaled nearly $4 billion.
Based in Lancaster, PA, Armstrong operates 43 plants in 12
countries and has approximately 14,800 employees worldwide.
Additional information about Armstrong and the Chapter 11
reorganization is available on the Internet at
http://www.armstrong.com/ and http://www.armstrongplan.com/.
Forward-Looking Statement These materials may contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act. Such statements provide
expectations or forecasts of future events. Our results could
differ materially due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
including: lower construction activity reducing our market
opportunities; availability and costs for raw materials and energy;
risks related to our international trade and business; business
combinations among competitors, suppliers and customers; the loss
of business with key customers; and other factors disclosed in our
recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the SEC. We
undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
DATASOURCE: Armstrong World Industries, Inc. CONTACT: Media
Inquiries: Dorothy Brown Smith, Vice President, Corporate
Communication, +1-717-396-5696, or Investor Inquiries: Beth Riley,
Director, Investor Relations, +1-717-396-6354, both of Armstrong
World Industries, Inc. Web site: http://www.armstrong.com/
http://www.armstrongplan.com/
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