On April 25, Judge Robreno of the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia held a status conference in Armstrong's Chapter 11 case.
Armstrong's Attorney, Stephen Karotkin, advised the court that Armstrong was pursuing an appeal to the Third Circuit Court
of Appeals of Judge Robreno's denial of Plan confirmation. Armstrong has requested that the appellate court expedite the appeal,
but the Unsecured Creditors Committee has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The Third Circuit
has not announced yet how it will proceed with these requests. Judge Robreno ordered the parties to submit written status
reports updating him on the progress with the appeal and the parties' discussions.
April 7, 2005 -- A conference hearing will be held on April 25, 2005 with Judge Eduardo C. Robreno.
Feb 24, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Armstrong Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACKHQ) today announced that
Wednesday, February 23rd, Judge Robreno issued a ruling finding that the AWI Plan of Reorganization was not confirmable. The
judge found the provision in the Plan that provides warrants to existing equity violated the strict priority rule of bankruptcy.
The company is studying Judge Robreno's opinion to understand the full extent of the judge's concerns. AWI's course of action
will be determined after a careful review of Judge Robreno's opinion and the company has discussed the options with its advisors
and the other constituencies in the case. Armstrong's emergence from bankruptcy will be substantially delayed.
December 16, 2004 -- At a hearing held December 15, 2004 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, Judge Eduardo
C. Robreno considered objections to confirmation of Armstrong's plan of reorganization pursuant to chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code. The objections were offered by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and opposed by the Company and the Asbestos
Claimants Committee and Future Claimants’ Representative. The judge indicated he would probably issue a ruling on confirmation
in January 2005.
November 5, 2004 -- Counsel for Armstrong World Industries, Inc. complied with U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno’s
order directing Armstrong to file a case status report on or before July 28, 2004. The order indicates that a status conference
will be scheduled and held after the Judge has had an opportunity to review the status reports. To date, the Judge has not
scheduled the status conference.
June 29, 2004 -- U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno, a Philadelphia jurist recently appointed to supervise Armstrong’s
Chapter 11 case, has issued an order directing Armstrong to file a case status report on or before July 28, 2004. The order
indicates that a status conference will be scheduled and held after the Judge has had an opportunity to review the status
reports.
May 27, 2004 -- The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (UCC) in Armstrong’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case asked the 3rd
Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday to recuse District Judge Alfred Wolin from further participation in Armstrong’s case. The
court previously had recused Judge Wolin in asbestos-related cases under his supervision involving Owens Corning, Grace and
USG.
June 16, 2004 -- Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has assigned the Armstrong World Industries,
Inc., Chapter 11 case to the Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. Judge Robreno replaces Judge Alfred M. Wolin, Senior District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey, who
has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2004.
January 8, 2004 – Armstrong Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: ACKHQ), the holding company of Armstrong World Industries, Inc., announced
today that at a special meeting of its shareholders held yesterday approval was received for its conditional dissolution.
The dissolution is subject to Armstrong World Industries’ reorganization under Chapter 11 being confirmed and consummated.
November 12, 2003 -- Armstrong’s emergence from Chapter 11 will most likely be delayed beyond year-end due to a procedural
issue involving the U.S. District Court. The issue does not affect the content of the Company’s Plan of Reorganization (POR).
The recent delay arose when U.S. District Court Judge Alfred Wolin was asked by lawyers representing creditors in the Owens-Corning
bankruptcy to step down in that case. Judge Wolin oversees five asbestos Chapter 11 cases including Armstrong World Industries’.
The next move falls to the U.S. Court 3rd Circuit of Appeals. Pending this decision, Judge Wolin has decided not to sit concurrently
with Judge Newsome at the upcoming confirmation hearing. Since a district court ruling is required to confirm our POR, our
emergence will be delayed. The Appeals Court has not said when it will reach a decision. When the matter of the District Court
Judge is decided, remaining steps in Armstrong’s case will be rescheduled.
December 22, 2003 – At the omnibus hearing on Friday, December 19, 2003, Bankruptcy Judge Randall J. Newsome overruled one
last objection (by ACandS) to the proposed confirmation order and signed the order, which still needs the approval of District
Court Judge Alfred Wolin to become final. Judge Newsome then said good-bye to the case, concluding his remarks by complimenting
the professional work of the advocates who had appeared before him. He said he was pleased that the Armstrong case had progressed
so quickly, faster than most asbestos-related bankruptcy cases under his two-year supervision.
November 20, 2003 – Judge Newsome announced proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law that would dismiss all remaining
objections and approve Armstrong World Industries, Inc.’s Plan of Reorganization (POR). However, confirmation of the POR now
requires action by the U.S. District Court on the Bankruptcy Court’s recommendations. The timing of that is uncertain. Armstrong
hopes to be able to consummate the POR and emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2004.
October 31, 2003 – Wilmington, Delaware, Bankruptcy Court Judge Randall J. Newsome denied a request by the Unsecured Creditors
Committee to delay the POR confirmation hearing by a month and that the voting deadline, which had beet set as October 31,
be moved back for a third time. The Committee’s spokesperson said that creditors wanted to wait and see what, if anything,
develops in Congress on asbestos reform legislation.
October 10, 2003 – Judge Newsome ruled in favor of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. in a dispute with insurer Century Indemnity
Co. over asbestos personal injury claims. The judge said Century Indemnity must make payments it missed in 2002 and in January
2003 on a $43.6 million settlement with Armstrong dating back to 2000.
August 29, 2003 – Judge Newsome granted Armstrong’s motion to extend the voting deadline on the POR from September 23 to October
17. Armstrong had received a request for the extension from the Unsecured Creditors Committee. The judge also ruled in favor
of a motion filed by the Official Committee for Asbestos Claimants and Legal Representative for Future Asbestos Claimants
to allow disclosure of non-public rulings and materials from Armstrong’s insurance coverage arbitration with Liberty Mutual.
August 27, 2003 – Bankruptcy court judge Randall J. Newsome approved a $7 million settlement between Armstrong and its last
79 property damage claimants. The settlement, noted Armstrong, “would avoid the complexities associated with litigating the
merits” of the claims. It also would avoid the need to include a property-damage payment mechanism in the reorganization plan.
On May 30, 2003, Armstrong received approval of its Disclosure Statement in the Chapter 11 reorganization case from the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
On May 23, 2003, Armstrong filed its fourth amended Plan of Reorganization and proposed Disclosure Statement in its Chapter
11 case with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
On December 20, 2002, Armstrong filed its initial proposed Disclosure Statement. The filing of a Plan of Reorganization on
November 4, 2002 preceded it. The filings are critical steps forward in the resolution of Armstrong’s Chapter 11 case. The
Plan provides for a mechanism to resolve Armstrong’s liability for present and future asbestos personal injury claims with
finality. Filing the Plan means Armstrong is on a path toward emerging from Chapter 11 and will continue operating its business
as usual.
On December 6, 2000, Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (the major operating subsidiary of Armstrong Holdings, Inc., and its
only substantial asset), filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in Delaware to resolve
its liability for asbestos personal injury claims. Armstrong Holdings, Inc. and several subsidiaries of Armstrong World Industries,
Inc. (Armstrong Wood Products, Inc. (formerly known as Triangle Pacific Corp.), WAVE (Armstrong's ceiling grid systems joint
venture with Worthington Industries), Armstrong Canada, Armstrong DLW AG and its other non-U.S. operating subsidiaries) were
not part of the filing.
Press Releases detailing the progress of Armstrong’s Chapter 11 case can be found in the Pressroom section at left under Chapter
11 Communications.
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