GM, Isuzu, banks discuss restructuring initiatives

General Motors confirmed today it is in discussions with Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Isuzu’s banks, including Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., regarding a comprehensive operational and financial restructuring of Isuzu.
Isuzu announced the framework of its new three-year restructuring plan earlier today. According to the plan, GM would acquire a majority ownership of certain Isuzu diesel engine businesses and other assets strategic to GM, and complete ownership of certain diesel engine technologies, for about Y50 billion (U.S.$420 million). GM would appoint a senior executive to support Isuzu management, and Isuzu would retire GM’s existing equity in Isuzu Motors, and GM would purchase new equity for about Y10 billion (U.S.$80 million), representing a 12-percent ownership stake.
Isuzu’s broad financial restructuring would include: A debt-to-equity swap in which Y100 billion (U.S$833 million) of Isuzu debt would convert to preferred equity; new funding from lenders sufficient to execute the operational plan; and the rollover of certain of Isuzu’s current debt. In addition, the parties will develop a comprehensive operational restructuring under which Isuzu would rationalize under-performing operations as well as its overall employment levels.
Under the restructuring proposal, GM would spend a total of Y60 billion (U.S.$500 million). Of this total expenditure, about Y50 billion (U.S.$420 million) would be used to acquire a majority interest in certain of Isuzu’s diesel engine businesses and complete ownership of Duramax, Circle L 1.7-liter and V-6 diesel engine technologies. This includes an acquisition of a 60-percent interest in Isuzu Motors Polska Sp. Z.O.O (Ispol), Isuzu’s small-displacement diesel engine business based in Poland, and an increase GM’s equity investment in the U.S.-based DMAX Ltd. heavy-duty diesel engine business from 40 to 60 percent. GM also would acquire a majority interest in a new diesel engine engineering joint venture with Isuzu as well as rights to use various related technologies.
GM, which wrote down the value of its 49 percent investment in Isuzu to zero in the second quarter of 2001, would have its existing equity in the company retired as part Isuzu’s financial restructuring plan. GM would then purchase about Y10billion (U.S.$80 million) of new equity in the company, leaving GM with a 12-percent ownership stake in Isuzu Motors.
Finally, GM would identify a senior executive to be co-representative director of Isuzu, who would support Isuzu President Yoshinori Ida in implementing Isuzu’s new recovery plan.
“We believe our actions continue to reinforce a collaborative effort that provides benefits to both GM and Isuzu,” said Frederick Henderson, GM group vice president and president of GM Asia Pacific. “The initiatives would provide Isuzu additional liquidity, accelerate Isuzu’s recovery, and help establish a foundation for their future business structure. For GM, the proposals would allow us to take control of key technologies that are important to GM while maintaining our longstanding business relationship with Isuzu.”
The implementation of the Isuzu restructuring plan is dependent upon reaching satisfactory conclusions in the discussions among all parties, including definitive agreements. GM expects Isuzu and its creditors will reach agreements shortly so that GM and Isuzu can finalize agreements by calendar-year-end.