HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 1106 CC REG ITEM 10ECITY OF MOORPARK
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Mary K. Lindley, Assistant to the City Manager ' ' Y
DATE: October 29, 1996
SUBJECT: Consider G.I. Rubbish's Solid Waste Franchise Proposal
Executive Summary
r+ 0
11- [1:, 4�A-Lq�-C -
��. ✓. i
MR '
Over the last several weeks, staff has become concerned about the representation of the proposed
transfer of G.I. Rubbish to USA Waste. Specifically, the stars concerns include the description
of the transfer requested by G.I. Rubbish and the entities involved in the proposed action and their
relationship to one another. Staff has received answers to questions posed to G.I. Rubbish and
clarification about the proposed transfer. The information received (Attachment A) differs from
the information contained in the September 4, 1996, staff report. As a result the City Council is
being asked rescind it action of September 4 and, once again, to consider G.I. Rubbish's request
to transfer its Solid Waste Franchise Agreement in light of the new information. The Hearing to
consider G.I. Rubbish's Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan is scheduled for November 14. In order
to communicate the City Council's position on the transfer request, the Council needs to take
action prior to that date.
Background
On September 4, the City Council approved G.I. Rubbish's ( Conejo Enterprises, dba G.I.
Rubbish) request to transfer its franchise agreement to USA Waste. Following a G.I. Rubbish
Bankruptcy hearing on October 7 in which the Judge delayed approval of G.I.'s current
Reorganization Plan, the City received a letter, dated October 8, from the law firm of Nordman,
Cormany, Hair & Compton, which represents Benedor Corporation, an unsecured creditor of G.I.
Rubbish (Attachment B). From staffs view point, this letter raised some concerns about the way
the proposed franchise transfer was described to the City Council's Solid Waste Ad Hoc
Committee (Councilmember Hunter and Wozniak) and staff. Specifically, the role of Western
Waste Industries had not been articulated, and as a result, the approval action taken by the City
Council is not consistent with the actual legal transfer under review by the Bankruptcy Court.
Specifically, the Ad Hoc Committee and staff were told that G.I. Industries, the new entity formed
through the merger of Conejo Enterprises and G.I. Industries, upon the implementation of the
C A1DOC SISOLID W STIGIPLAN. AGD
G.I. Rubbish Transfer Request
2
Bankruptcy Plan, was to be a wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste Industries. After a •
discussion between the City Attorney and G.I.'s attorney as a result of the letter from Benedor, it
now appears that G.I. Industries will be a wholly -owned subsidiary of Western Waste Industries;
Western Waste is a wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste. It was also the Ad Hoc
Committee's understanding that they were meeting and negotiating with USA Waste
representatives. This contributed to the belief that the City would be dealing directly with USA
Waste through G.I. Industries. The business cards presented to the Committee identified the
representatives as USA Waste, Western Region, a USA Waste Service Company.
In an effort to get a clear legal definition of the proposed transfer and to identify Western Waste's
role with the new entity, G.I. Industries, staff sent a letter to G.I. Rubbish. The City received a
response from a USA Waste representative, dated October 21 (Attachment Q. First, this
response did not come from G.I. Rubbish as requested, and secondly, the response did not clearly
answer the questions asked in the letter from the City. Staff sent a second letter (Attachment D)
to seek further clarification from G.I. Rubbish.
After sending the second letter, the City received a Subpoena from the law firm representing
Benedor requesting any written documentation concerning G.I. Rubbish's transfer request. In the
Subpoena, USA Waste is referred to as US Waste Management. This raised a new question, and
a third letter was sent by staff to G1 Rubbish asking for clarification about who US Waste
Management is and its legal form and standing.
The City received G.I. Rubbish's response to staff's questions on October 30 (again, Attachment
A). The letter from Jeremy Richards states that the transfer approval requested by G.I. Rubbish is
as follows: upon Court approval, Conejo Enterprises (dba G.I. Rubbish) will be merged with G.I.
Industries and G.I. Industries will be the surviving entity. With the approval of the Plan, Western
Waste will "own all, or substantially all (83 %) of the issued and outstanding stock of G.I.
Industries ", making G.I. Industries a wholly -owned subsidiary of Western Waste Industries.
Western Waste Industries is currently a wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste Industries.
According to Mr. Richards' letter, Western Waste Industries' Board "will have the power to vote
that stock and appoint the Board of Directors." In addition, Mr. Richards states that "all issued
and outstanding stock of Western Waste is owned by USA Waste, which has the power to
appoint the Western Waste Board."
Representatives of USA Waste continue to state that day -to -day management of G.I. Industries,
including the City's solid waste services, will continue to be the responsibility of Mike Smith, Mr.
Smith will report to Leslie Bitterson, Regional Vice President (Western Region), USA Waste.
Based on the information contained in this staff report, the City Council is being asked to rescind
its action of September 4 and consider G.I.'s request to transfer its Solid Waste Franchise
Agreement to G.I. Industries, a wholly -owned subsidiary of Western Waste Industries. To restate
C ADOC SISOLID WSTIGIPLAN. AGD
00012N
G.I. Rubbish Transfer Request
3
the conditions included in the City Council's approval on September 4, approval was given
pending the following: 1) approval of G.I. Rubbish's Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan by the
Court; 2) a deposit by G.I. of $80,000 to the City five days following the Court's approval of the
sale; 3) G.I. approves and signs an amendment to the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement amending
the term; and 4) G.I. and USA Waste approve and sign a franchise transfer document that records
the transfer. Should the City Council choose to approve G.I. Rubbish's request, it may want to
reconfirm the aforementioned conditions and include Western Waste Industries as a signatory to
the documents identified.
4p
Recommendation 1� \a
Staff recommends that the City Council: 1
1. Rescind its action of September 4; �V
2 TO Rubbish's request transfer its Solid Waste
Franchise Agreement to G.I. Industries; ate- COQ►
3. Direct staff to communicate the Council's actions to the Judge in the G.I. Rubbish
Bankruptcy case.
Attachments
C ADOC SISOLID W STIGIPLAN. A(TD /I ����,
,LrrV129
10/29/96 TUE 1.9:51 FA.'ti
P.A.CHULSKI
STANG
�L1EHL
YOUNG
L A W O F K I C E S
MARC A. DEILTNSAN
ANDREW W. CAINE
LINDA F CANTOR
LARRY W. CAURIEL
BRAD R. COURHALL
STANLYY E. GOLDICH
MORA GRASSGREEN
RtaiARD J. CRUnXP
HARRY D. HOCHNIAN
IItA D. KHARASOI
ALAN J. KORNFEtfi
RODERT D. ORGEL
RICKARD M. PACWUL$KI
JEFTREY N. POMtRANTZ
10MMY V, RICHAADS
JAMES L STANC
CATHERINE A. STBINER
TIIOMSLR4 YOUNG
DEAN A. ZtEHL
Of coutiml
ELLEN M. ISENDElt
nRADLEY E. BROOK
JAMES V-T. HUNTER
GEORGE A. JUAREZ
LINDA A. KIMIOS-
IA1N A. W. NASATIIe
AMY L WIMAN
AIWOI,D M, QUrMaR
WILLIAM L. AAMSEYER
ADRIAN P. ROSCmF.R
DON WILLENBURC
•A LAW CORPORATION
FItOV05IONAL CORPORATION
CENTURY crry NOM BUILDING
IMOO .SANTA MONICA BLVD. Surm x200
LOS ANCP.(&s, CALIFORNIA 90067
FACSIMILE 3101201 0760
TELP.PHONE 310/277 69M
?002
October 29, 1996
Ms. Mary K. Lindley
Assistant to The City Manager
City of Moorpark
799 Moorpark Avenue
Moorpark, CA 93021
Re: In re G.I. Industries, Inc.
In re Conejo Enterprises, Inc.
Proposed Plan Of Reorganization
Dear Mary:
I am in receipt of your letters dated October 24 and
October 25, 1996, addressed to Mike Smith. I am hereby
responding to the issues raised in your letters on behalf of
G.T. Industries, Inc. ('G.I.") and its wholly owned
subsidiary, Conejo Enterprises, Inc. ( "Conejo").
First, with respect to your October 24 letter,
notwithstanding the request in your October 17 letter that
G.T. respond to certain inquiries set forth therein, the
Company believed that it would be more appropriate for
USA Waste Services, Inc. ( "USA Waste ") and Western
Waste Industries ( "Western Waste ") to respond to that letter
because it was in a better position to more accurately address
many of the questions raised. We apologize for any
inconvenience and delay that may have been caused as a
result. G.I. is happy to respond to the inquiries in your
October 24 letter as follows:
PAWPa0100WR1C0RR1121867,1
I
-OW130
OCT 29 '96 19 :52 310 201 0760 pone A;)
lui4 Zji0o iur. i;i:a.t. �-9..1
. 4;
1' A C H U L S K T Ms. Mary K. Lindley
S T A N G October 29, 1996
ZIEHL Paget
YOUNG
I. n w o F r t t e
L On the Effective Date of the proposed plan of
reorganization, as such plan may be further amended (the
"Plan "), Conejo will be merged into G.I., with G.I. being
the surviving corporation. As a result of certain stock
transfers that have already taken place and additional
transfers from Manuel Asadurian, Sr.; Sam Asadurian and
Carl Asadurian (collectively, the "Asadurians ") to Western
Waste, which it is anticipated will take place on or about the
Effective Date, Western Waste will own all, or substantially
all of the issued and outstanding stock of G.I. Prior to May
of 1996, Western Waste was a publicly held corporation. In
May of 1996, Western Waste became a wholly -owned
subsidiary of USA Waste, which is itself a publicly -held
corporation.
2. As more fully set forth in subparagraph 1,
above, the current legal names of the entities involved in the
Plan related transactions are as follows:
corporation;
(a) Conejo Enterprises, Inc., a California
(b) G.I. Industries, Inc., a Utah corporation;
(c) Western Waste Industries, a California
corporation; and
(d) USA Waste Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
As noted above, unless the Plan is modified to eliminate the
proposed merger, Conejo Enterprises, Inc. will not survive
confirmation of the Plan, but the three other entities will
F:\WP1301001T TORZ121567.1
r
000131
OCT 29 '96 18 =52 310 201 0760 PAGF_A7
Ia 003
10/29/96 TUE 19:5 .1. FAX :y:.`.
P A c: H U L S K t Ms. Mary K. Lindley
S T A N G October 29, 1996
ZIEHL Page
YOUNG
LA W 0J71,1cs5
maintain their separate legal identity and names after the
Effective Date.
3. As more fully set forth in subparagraph 1,
above, since May of 1996, Western Waste has been a
wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste. Western Waste
currently owns approximately 39% of the issued and
outstanding stock of G.I. and, in the event the Plan is
confirmed and the Asadurians sell their G.I. stock, Western
Waste will own approximately 83 % of the issued and
outstanding stock of G.I. as of the Effective Date,
4. As of the Effective Date, G.I. will be wholly,
or substantially wholly -owned by Western Waste and
Western Waste will, in turn, be a wholly -owned subsidiary
of USA Waste.
5. Western Waste is incorporated in the State of
Delaware and USA Waste, in the State of Delaware.
6. As of the Effective Date, substantially all of the
issued and outstanding stock of G.T. will be held by Western
Waste, whose Board will have the power to vote that stock
and appoint the Board of Directors of G.I. In turn, all of the
issued and outstanding stock of Western Waste is owned by
USA Waste, which has the power to appoint the Western
Waste Board.
As has been stated repeatedly, the day -to -day management of
G.I. and, in particular, the day -to -day responsibilities of
Mike Smith, will not change upon confirmation of the Plan.
Mike Smith will report to Leslie N. Bittenson, Regional Vice
President (Western Region), USA Waste.
F, WP130100UMCORR1121967.1
w
Z 004
(ML32
OCT 29 196 19 53 310 201 0760 PArF.Aa
10i29i96 TUE 19 52 FAC,.
PAC H U I, SKI
Ms. Mary K. Lindley
S T A N G October 29, 1996
ZIEHL Page
YOUNG
L n w o V r• i c F. s
7. While I do not wish to rephrase Mr. Hutton's
letter of October 21, I believe that rather than using the
words "form" and "substance ", his letter might more
accurately have drawn a distinction between the legal
structure of the transaction and the organizational structure of
the transaction. From a legal standpoint, G,I. will be a
wholly, or substantially wholly -owned subsidiary of Western
Waste, which is in turn a wholly -owned subsidiary of USA
Waste. However, from an organizational standpoint, USA
Waste will exercise general oversight and control over G.I.,
although as set forth in paragraph 6, above, day -to -day
control of the G.I, will remain vested with Michael E.
Smith.
With reference to your October 25 letter, I believe
that either Mr. Etchingham is ignorant of the true facts, or
he is being deliberately misleading. There is no such entity
as "U.S. Waste Management." I believe that Mr.
Etchingham is referring to USA Waste Services, Inc.
Additionally, Mr. Etchingham is incorrect when he states
that USA Waste "merged" with Western Waste in May of
1996. On the contrary, Western Waste merged into a
wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste, Riviera Acquisition
Corp., with Western Waste the survivor of the merger. By
this transaction, Western Waste became and remains a
wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste. There was a
"merger" in the sense that USA Waste assumed ownership
and control of Western Waste, but, as a legal matter,
Western Waste retained its separate legal identity.
I trust the foregoing adequately responds to all of the
questions you have raised regarding confirmation of the Plan
and once again apologize for not directly responding to your
F: \W M0 ] oowRXC0RR1121867.1
Z005
OCT 29 '96 18:53 310 P01 07A0 pore aq
10/29/96 TLTE 2.9:52 F;b.: 2006
P A C T-T U L S K T Ms. Mary K. Lindley
S T A N G October 29, 1996
ZXEHL Page 5
YOUNG
L 4 W D F F I C" F 5
October 17 letter. If there are any further questions, or if
you require any additional clarification,` lease do not hesitate
to contact me as soon as possible. � 1
Very truly
JVR/Jg
cc: Cheryl J. Kane, Esq.
Michael E. Smith
Joel Ohlgren, Esq.
Lawrence A. Bass, Esq.
F:\WF\30100\JVRNC0RR\121867.1
1.34
OCT 29 196 19:53 310 201 0760 Parr A9
OCT- 1F_) —t996
wiyw H. ww
r+MVV vr° ;;pw
"-Mb1" •%&
0"W"Of" At ►y1� a.
.W�r�i�rrwj �w�
/Mi1L M..11M -.M
A� r 0A 5L IW1 -i-W
IN�fr w.Igy�..
M.AW.
O&AMI's
OMrM7�O�.�d1-
ew
woNwr �, IIMr
.ash" r6 MMw. W.
L
...rw+. o•or�.reM
wwev waa.Iq
113-
LAW OFMCCO OF
NARr*"LN, CORMANY. HAIR & COMPTON
'0060 Tow" cc"Tcn orwo
a rN Fwc,►
fter owcoo mm o (oo
1nXMA n. C^UrOnfWA 9=11 -0100
(al00) 4GS_1000
(aao+) COO-00014
erm Ri ooF1 FAX (906) D8B4W7,
-STH FLOOR FAX MM SOR -7760
October 8, 1990
Cheryl J. Kane
Attorney at Law
Burke, Williams i Sorenson
611 Weat sixth street, suite 2500
Los Angeles, California 90017
PACE 5
(� Prac h hl& n lJ
amR"000"
(1..• 7.M
ourw L 000*A".
VWAQV 9V%6*4HMSC.
WCOO *6643¢e
VYf ai'ACSI>MtSLE 413w436- 27�f1�D 1rIR8T C8$ ]�AYL
Re: In re Conejo Waterpariaes, Inc., VSBC Case loo. xV 94-
11e70 -JM and In re 62 industries, Ines, OABC Cage
Yo. 02- 71021 -R1!/ City of moorpark's Conditional
Consent to Merger of Conejo Enterprises dba G.Z.
Rvbbisb Into CT Industries and Related Xatters
Dear X9. Kane:
My law firm rAprPsents Benedor Corporation ( "Benedor "), an
uneecured creditor of Conejo Enterprises, Inc. dba C._. Rubbish
(I'Conejo „) in the ahOVA- referenced bankruptcy cases. Yesteraay
bankruptcy Judge Robin Riblet continued the confirmation
hearing involving G.T. Industries, Ync.'s (11G.i.'slr) 9th
Amended Consolidating Plan Of Reorganization With Conejo
( "G.I.•s Plan ") to November 14, 1996 at 9:00 a.m.
P- Anador is particularly interested in Judge xiblaat's
aYF+ivvdl of d.I.'a Plan which is oonditionod upon the
following:
i_ G.I. obtaining consents by each of the local
municipalities, including Moorpark, to (a) the gale of C.X.
otock ownership to, Western waste induetrien and (b) the
aaaiVjnU*nt of tho variouaa municipal franchise agreements from
Conejo to G.I.; and
2. C.I.•a Plan providing protocticma to Bonedor whnrahy
the value of the mergea Conejo /G.I. assets remA in the same or
increase pending the outcome of Benedor's claim li'tigatinn with
Conejo.
OW1,33
JAN 03 100 22:01 213 236 2700 PAGE.03
OC7 -1_ @- .qaF _.2 � iLs 27�_1E a. e41e5
iu PACE
Cheryl J. Kane
Attorney at Law
October a, 1996
Page 2
Obviously some of the moat. valuable assets of the merged
Conejo /G.z. are the current solid waste franchise agreemento
with the Cities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark ae
well as the County of Ventura. Consequently at yesterday'a
hearing, Benedor made reference to the City of KoorparK's
Conditional consent datod SopYawber 10, 1996 (the "Conditional
Consent ") which appeared to violate the Court's condition or
protecting nenedor bocause t:ha Conditional Consent states that
Moorpark approved Conejo's request for the transfer of the
solid waste franohise agreement from Conejo tv V.B.&. Waste
rather than G.I.
In agreement with Benedor's voiced concern that allowing
the transfer of Moorpark's franchise to U.S.A. Waste violatan
the court's condition Lo, protect Benedor by maintaininq
Conejo /s. I .' a combined assort value, Judge Riblet requested that
the City of Moorpark files an amended pleading which corrects
the apparent mistake related to trio transfer of Moorpark's
solid waste collection rranchise with Conajo. G.T.IS attorney
also reproaented to tha Bankruptcy Court that Moorpark's
Conditional ConsentO6 referenoe to the transfer of the
frenchiac to U.S-A. Waste was in error. Please confirm that
MoorparXIa consent to G.I.'s Plan includas consents both to the
sale of G.I. stock ownernhi.p from the Asadurians and others to
Western Waste IndusLtles and the tranefor of the Moorpark
franchise from Conejo to G.I. Also please confirm that
Moorparx's conditl.utial consent does riot requires the transfer of
the Moorpark franch i.ne with either Conejo or the merged C . Y . to
either Western Maine or U.S.A Waste.
zn a related matter, GY'a counsel, Jeremy Richards, esq.,
stated that tha tarn of the Moorpark franchise agreement was
not being changrci at all pursuant to the conditional consent of
the City of Moorpark and that the franchise►, agreement has
always provided Cor a two year term with 2 throe-year options.
("13f;
JAN 03 '00 22:01 213 236 2700 PAGE.04
2
n.q9h x.05/06
PACE 3
Charyl J. Kane
Attorney at Law
October 8, 1996
Page 3
This geese to contradict the August: 21f 1996 Moorpark Staff
report Which states that the current Solid Waste Agreement
between Koorpark and Cone7o has a rive year term from December
230 1995 to December 22, ;000_ The Conditional Consent
requires an amended term of two years to begin following the
sale of G.=. stock to western Waste and an extension to the
veer 2000 it t?!o city council dose uot�ake a tion to find_tbat
AcrragAS03. Apperantly the required terra amendment wac inaarted
to address the Moorpark Ad Roc committeefs concerns referred to
below. please confirM your understanding and explain whether
Moorpark's conditional consant requires an amendment to the
term of the franchise agreement.
At the October 7th hearing, Judge Riblot alas asked
western waste's counsel for clarification of the current legal
status of Wastern Waste industries in light of the Auguat 21,
1996 city or Moorpark Staff Report which states that "there in
no longer a company known as 'wey.Larn waste." WestarnF9 Counsel
otated that western'waste Industries continues to exist an a
wholly owned subsidiary of U.S.A. Waste and that Western Waste
industries will continue to maintain a presence Ln southern
California And own G1 Industries, Inc. which, in turn, will
maintain ownership of the Xonrpaz:k Franchine as Reorganized
Debtor after Conelo.is merged into at. The Staff Report also
mentions that KoorparkPs Ad xnc: C0=ittee "expressed coneerna
about Western Waste's reputation of corruption on the part of
high level staff." please confirm and explain whether the
continued involvement of Western waste with C.T. and the
Moorpark franchises Affects Moorpark's conditional consant to
C.I -10 Plan.
Finally, what is the status of Moorpark's Conditional
consent in light of the Bankruptcy Court's refusal to approve
C.I_'a plan at he8,ring an October 7, 19967 Do you expect that
cunejo Will deposit a rrannhise Transfer Fee tit the amount of
$80,000 with the city of Moorpark on or before October izo
19967
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in responding
to this Setter. Aline, please add iRe to your narvice list with
respect to doCunants which relate to G.Z.'!. Plan, moorparklc
Conditional Consent:, or the bankruptcy cases raferred to above.
Pleaao do not hea►iLate to call me if you have any queotions
OWIL37
JAN 03 '00 22 :01 213 23F �)7AA parr Ac�
ID: PAGE
Cheryl J, Kane
Attorney at Law
October 8, 1996
Page 4
related to the matters rere.rred to above or any other matter.
very truly yours,
HORDMAN, CoMgANY, HAIR & COMPTON
Gerald M. Ct C sham
GME: tgb
CC: Denedor Corporatian
William H. Hair, Esq.
Jeremy Richards, Ecq.
t3M.1xl/f0669.=
I
TOTAL P.06
JAN 03 100 22:Rl onr^= n�
4
A USA VJASTE SERVICES COG7PANY
October 21, 1996
Mary K. Lindley
Assistant to the City Manager
City of Moorpark
799 Moorpark Avenue
Moorpark, CA 93021
Dear Ms. Lindley:
f1EGEIVED
OCT 2 4 1996
CfTY OF MOORPARK
709 MOORPARK AVENUE
M00805R529 -0864 021
21061 S. Westem Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 222 -8614
(310) 212 -7094 Fax
By way of introduction, I am Regional Counsel for USA Waste Services
(USA Waste).
Your letter of October 17, 1996 has been forwarded to me from Mike Smith of G.I.
Industries for my review and response.
I have reviewed all of the of recent correspondence, and wish to confirm
understandings of you and the City Council at the time the transfer was that the
accurate, and were consistent with prior correspondence received by the City from
Industries or Western Waste Industries. If there has been an approved were
that it has resulted from the difference between the form of the t y m G.I.
y confusion, it appears
substance. In essence, the onl transaction and its
Industries will become a second -tier hollytowned subsidiary of USA was that G.I.
a first -tier wholly -owned subsidia Waste rather than
Waste, is also under the ownership and control of tUSArsWaste subsidiary,
transaction is that G.I. Industries will be under the ownership, m ry' Western
the effect of the
Of USA Waste. management and control
The City's understandings, as set forth in the second paragraph of
correct in substance. The action requested from the City was totransf
from Conejo Enterprises; Inc. to G.I. Industries, a USA Waste Your letter, are
Waste will have ± transfer the franchise
he ultimate control and ownership over the stock of G.I. Industries
and substantive control over its operations. Company. USA
membership of the G.I. Industries Board of DirectorsA Waste will also determine the
Day to day operations will be the responsibility of Mike Smith
Les Bittenson, Regional Vice President for USA Waste. ' who will in turn report to Mr. Bittenson was asked to
assume the role of President and Chief Operating Officer of Western Waste
by John Drury, Chief Executive Officer of USA Waste by
USA WastefWestem Waste merger and, for the purpose of integrating Western ern of the
into USA Waste. Since completion of the merger Mr. Bittenson has Wes Waste
appointed as a corporate officer of USA Waste, and reports directly to Mr. addition rybeen
Drury.
.OWIL39
BH- 107.96
USA WASTE 21061 S. Western Ave.
WESTERN REGION ' Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 222 -8614
(310) 212 -7094 Fax
Mary K. Lindley
October 21, 1996
Page 2 of 2
As can be seen, both ultimate legal ownership and substantive control of G.I. Industries
will, upon approval of the Plan of Reorganization, reside with USA Waste and its
management team.
There may have been confusion because of the precise form and mechanics of the
transaction, as presently before the Bankruptcy Court. This issue was discussed in a
June 28, 1996 letter from Les Bittenson to City Manager Steve Kueny. The Plan before
the Bankruptcy Court was to transfer the G.I. Industries shares to Western Waste.
During the Plan process, USA Waste assumed ownership and control of Western
Waste. The USA Waste/Westem Waste merger was completed in May, 1996. As of
the date of the merger Western Waste was no longer a public company and became a
wholly -owned subsidiary of USA Waste. However, rather than risk further delay it was
decided by USA Waste to leave the form of the transaction as it had been previously
presented to the Bankruptcy Court The form of this transaction in no way changes the
fact that Western Waste is now wholly -owned and controlled by USA Waste. USA
Waste determines the membership of the Western Waste Board of Directors.
I hope that this explanation clarifies the situation, and we apologize if there has been
any misunderstanding. The bottom line is that both the City's understandings and our
understandings of the substantive effect of the transaction were accurate and in
agreement at the time the City Council took action approving the transfer.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or if I can be further
assistance.
Sincerely,
E. William Hutton
Regional Counsel
cc: Steve Kueny, City Manager
Cheryl Kane, City Attorney
Jeremy Richards, Esq.
Mike Smith
Joel Ohlgren, Esq.
000 140
BH- 107.96
MOORPARK
o
m
799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 5re-y -6864
October 24, 1996
Mr. Michael E. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
G.I. Industries
P.O. Box 647
Simi Valley, CA 93062
Dear Mike:
On October 22, the City received a letter from Mr. William Hutton, Regional Counsel from USA
Waste, Western Region dated October 21, 1996. I was disappointed that the response to the
City's request for clarification came from USA Waste rather than from G.I.'s legal representative,
as I had requested.
The City has a contractual relationship with Conejo Enterprises Inc., dba G.I. Rubbish, and G.I.
Rubbish has requested the City's approval to transfer its Solid Waste Franchise Agreement. In
order to fully evaluate the request, it is imperative that the City have a full and accurate
accounting of the transfer action being requested. I think that we all agree that some confusion
has been created as demonstrated in the various correspondence the City has received from the
parties involved. Further more, it is imperative that the City receive this accounting from G.I.
Rubbish as the party with the direct relationship with the City and as the party making the request
for the transfer approval. I would prefer the accounting be provided by your legal representative
since what we are requesting is a legal description of the transfer proposed by G.I. Rubbish.
Again, let me state that the City is requesting a specific response from G.I. Rubbish which
includes:
1) a legal description of the proposed transfer;
2) the current legal name of the three entities involved (G.I. Rubbish, Western Waste,
and USA Waste Services) and their legal name if the current Bankruptcy Plan is
approved and implemented,
3) the current legal relationship between G.I. Industries and Western Waste
Industries, G.I. and USA Waste Services, and Western Waste and USA Waste
Services;
000l4l
PAUL W. LAWRASON JR. JOHN E. WOZNIAR ELOISE BROWN PATRICK HUNTER
BERNARDO M. PEREZ Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember
Councilmember
Mr. Michael Smith
October 24, 1996
Page 2
4) upon approval of the current Bankruptcy Plan, the proposed legal relationship
between G.I. Industries and Western Waste, G.I. and USA Waste Services, and
Western Waste and USA Waste Services;
5) the State of incorporation or registration for Western Waste and USA Waste
Services; and
6) the identification of who, upon the approval of the current Bankruptcy Plan, will
have control over G.I. Industries stock and the appointment of its board of
directors.
In the letter from USA Waste, Mr. Hutton provided generalities by using phases like "in essence ",
"a second -tier wholly -owned subsidiary", "correct in substance ", and "substantive control ". Such
phases only lead to more questions. Mr. Hutton also states that the confusion may have resulted
from the "difference between the form of the transaction and the substance ". I would like to
know what that difference is.
I would appreciate a prompt reply. If you or your attorney needs to contact me, I can be reached
at (805) 529 -6864, extension 217.
Sincerely,
Mary K. Lindley
Assistant to the City Manager
cc: The Honorable City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
C:IDOCSI WPDOCSIG1RUB.LTR
VVu4z