Statement from Bruce Bennett, Attorney for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Regarding the Order Issued Today by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware

LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bruce Bennett, attorney for the Los Angeles Dodgers, said:

Today's Court ruling places the Dodgers in a position to achieve a debtor-in-possession financing from Major League Baseball, under the Court's control, that is both economically favorable and consistent with the Dodgers' objective of maximizing the value of the estate in the Chapter 11 process. 

As made clear in the Order, "the Court is confident that Baseball will propose to Debtors a short form credit agreement that is genuinely unsecured in nature and contains minimal – if any – representations, covenants and warranties, no releases for prepetition actions and no default triggers for violations of Baseball's rules and regulations.  The Baseball Loan must be independent of and uncoupled from Baseball's oversight and governance of the Dodgers under the Major League Baseball Constitution.  The Court, if necessary and as always, will provide ready access to Debtors in the hopefully unlikely event that Baseball strays from its obligations to act in good faith as Debtors' lenders." 

The debtors will propose, and, to the extent authorized by the Court, implement procedures that are designed to promote a competitive sale process of exclusive cable television rights, while at the same time giving due consideration to the Fox Telecast Agreement.  The Dodgers expect that a sale or license of exclusive cable television rights will fully resolve all of the Dodgers' financial challenges as well as generate value for holders of the equity interests in the Debtors.

From the Dodgers' perspective, a short form unsecured credit agreement with MLB, when combined with other sources of revenues, should provide the Dodgers with ample liquidity to meet team payroll and other expenses, as the Dodgers proceed forward with their business plan, with the objective of emerging from the Chapter 11 process before the end of 2011. 

Media Contact:

Kekst and Company
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Sugerman Communications Group
Steve Sugerman
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[email protected]

SOURCE Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP