Summary
noting that the policy behind allowing recovery even in cases of valid return is to protect creditors "from limited partners who would bail out of the partnership when prospects of financial demise appear on the horizon"
Summary of this case from In re Sharps Run Associates, L.P.Opinion
Bankruptcy Nos. 84-428-BK-J-GP, 84-431-BK-J-GP and 84-433-BK-J-GP. Adv. Nos. 85-214, 87-303 to 87-305.
August 9, 1988.
Daniel P. Levitt, Kramer, Levin, Nessen, New York City.
Gregory C. Horn, Keltner Schreiber, Los Angeles, Cal.
Lewis A. Grafman, Busch, Grafman von Dreusche, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Arthur Olick, Anderson, Russell, Kill Olick, P.C., New York City.
Ira Rubin, Goldman, Rubin Shapiro, Dayton, Ohio.
Philip A. Kantor, Mangone Schnapp, New York City.
Gruen, Muskin Thau, New York City.
Birch, Horton, Bittner, Pestinger Anderson, Washington, D.C.
Booth, Prichard Dudley, McLean, Va.
Guy R. Fairstein, Summit, Rovins Feldesman, New York City.
Christopher Sanger, Washington, D.C.
Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg Manley, New York City.
Sheldon Lowe, Botein, Hays Sklar, New York City.
Larry B. Pedowitz, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen Katz, New York City.
Roy F. Babitt, Anderson, Russell, Kill Olick, New York City.
Philip Tierney, McGuire, Woods, Battle Boothe, Alexandria, Va.
Deborah A. Reperowitz, Anderson, Russell, Kill Olick, P.C., New York City.
Jonathon H. Alden, Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Collingsworth Nelson, Inc., Tulsa, Okla.
Norman S. Buckvar, McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal Haiman Co., L.P.A., Cleveland, Ohio.
Robert L. Young, Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith Cutler, Orlando, Fla., for Kaltman et al.
Glenn E. Stern, Stern, Cook Naiditch, Monrovia, Cal.
Richard M. Estes, Christy Viener, New York City.
Stephen L. Black, Graydon, Head Ritchey, Cincinnati, Ohio.
James J. Gross, Amram and Hahn, P.C., Washington, D.C.
George L. Cass, Buchanan Ingersoll P.C., Pittsburg, Pa.
John R. Serpico, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Lawrence L. Pedley, Pedley, Ross, Ziekle Gordinier, Louisville, Ky.
David Dunn, Davis, Markel, Dwyer Edwards, New York City.
William E. Kuntz, Smith Hulsey, Jacksonville, Fla.
Stewart E. Bland, Louisville, Ky.
Jonathan R. Mook, Hirkschkop Associates, Alexandria, Va.
Jonathan A. Chandler, Sutherland, Asbil Brennan, Atlanta, Ga.
David B. Newman, Fine, Tofel, Saxl, Berelson, New York City.
John B. MacDonald, Brant, Moore, Sapp, MacDonald Wells, P.A., Jacksonville, Fla.
Richard P. Swanson, Spengler, Carlson, Gubar, New York City.
Paul R. Hejmanowski, Kionel, Sawyer Collins, Las Vegas, Nev.
Lane Mittendorf, New York City.
Glenn B. Rice, Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston Rosen, New York City.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
These consolidated adversary proceedings are before the Court on plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment as to the first cause of action against the defendants on the limited issue of liability for the return of all consideration received by the defendants in connection with the sale of their partnership interests. Also before the court is defendants' cross-motion for summary judgment on the first cause of action. A hearing on the motions was held July 15, 1988, after the submission on written memoranda of law. Upon consideration, the Court will hold in favor of plaintiff and grant his motion for partial summary judgment as to the first cause of action. The Court will deny the summary judgment motion of the defendants.
BACKGROUND
This case arises out of the defendants' investment in The Securities Group ("TSG"), The Monetary Group ("TMG") and The Securities Group 1980 ("TSG80") (the "Partnerships"). The Partnerships were three New York limited partnerships formed by Charles Agee Atkins ("Atkins"). The Securities Groups ("Groups") was a general partnership comprised of the Partnerships as general partners. Among other things, Groups was a broker-dealer that invested in United States government securities. The four partnerships are now in bankruptcy and the plaintiff, Louis Lowin, is the Post-Confirmation Administrator and former Chapter 11 Trustee of all four bankruptcy estates.
The parties do not dispute that defendants purchased interests in the Partnerships and made initial capital contributions in varying amounts.
Groups began its operations as a "joint operating account" which coordinated the activities of TSG and TMG prior to the formation of TSG80. After its formation, TSG80's activities were also coordinated through Groups. Atkins and others who acted as the management of Groups were also responsible as general partners for the management of the Partnerships and ran their operations out of New York City. As the general partners of Groups, the Partnerships are jointly liable for the debts incurred by Groups. See New York Partnership Law, Section 26(2) [McKinney's Partnership Law, Book 38, Article 3, 1948], which provides that all partners are jointly liable for the debts and obligations of a partnership.
Sometime prior to autumn of 1982, it became apparent that changes in the tax laws would no longer permit broker-dealers such as Groups to continue to defer income from year to year as had previously been the practice. These changes in turn translated into adverse tax consequences for the limited partners, as they would now be required to recognize theretofore unrecognized income of the Partnerships and pay taxes on that income without receiving equivalent cash distributions in an amount adequate to pay the taxes.
To offset these potential tax liabilities, Atkins began to arrange a sale of the limited partners' interests. One of the options explored was the merger of the Partnerships with an entity having large tax loss carryovers. However, by mid-1982, the managers settled upon the idea of selling the limited partners' interests to a new partnership to be comprised of Group's managing partners. Consequently, a new partnership was formed and named TSG Partners.
On November 15, 1982, TSG Partners made a tender offer for all the interests of the limited partners in the Partnerships. TSG Partners offered as consideration for these interests and amount equal to 105% of the net asset value of the Partnerships as of September 30, 1982.
The defendants accepted the tender offer and thereafter sold their interests to TSG Partners. The sale was consummated and on April 1, 1983, the defendants received cash and promissory notes for their interests.
TSG Partners subsequently became insolvent and filed a petition under Chapter 11, Title 11, of the United States Code. Its chief general partner, Charles Agee Atkins, also filed a Chapter 11 petition.
Subsequent to defendants' purchase of their limited partnership interests and their contribution of capital, the Partnerships and Groups were indebted to various creditors. Many of those creditors were unpaid at the time defendants received a return of their capital contributions through the sale of their limited partner interest to TSG Partners and remain unpaid today.
Plaintiff, as Post-Confirmation Administrator, has filed this and other related adversary proceedings seeking to recover for the bankruptcy estates a return of the limited partners' capital contributions which they received under the terms of the tender offer and, secondly, to compel the limited partners to honor their commitment to make additional capital contributions to the Partnerships. Although the Post-Confirmation Administrator has settled a number of these related proceedings, these consolidated actions remain pending. This proceeding is now before the Court upon the plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment as to the first cause of action.
SCOPE OF PLAINTIFF'S MOTION
In his amended complaint, plaintiff has asserted two causes of action. The first is based primarily upon Section 106(4) of the New York Limited Partnership Law [McKinney's Partnership Law, Book 38, Article 8] (the "Act"). Plaintiff contends that this statute creates an obligation on the part of defendants to return to the Partnership the consideration they received in exchange for their partnership interests under the terms of the tender offer made by TSG Partners. Section 106(4) provides:
When a creditor has rightfully received the return in whole or in part of the capital of his contribution, he is nevertheless liable to the partnership for any sum, not in excess of such return with interest, necessary to discharge its liabilities to all creditors who extended credit or whose claims arose before such return.
In addition to arguing that defendants are liable for the consideration received in the form of cash and notes from TSG Partners, plaintiff also claims that Section 106(4) dictates that defendants honor their commitments to the Partnerships to contribute additional capital to the extent necessary to pay existing creditors of the Partnerships.
The second cause of action which is not part of the motion is based upon the Certificate of Limited Partnership to which defendants subscribed when they purchased their partnership interests. Plaintiff argues that under its terms, the defendants are obligated to make additional capital contributions up to three times their initial capital commitments if necessary to pay the recourse obligations of the Partnerships.
In his motion for summary judgment, plaintiff seeks a determination that defendants are liable under the first cause of action in an amount, not to exceed the shortfall in the Partnerships' obligations, equal to the cash and principal amount of the notes received in the tender offer, plus interest. Since the amount of creditor's claims against the Partnerships has not been finally determined, plaintiff's motion is limited solely to the issue of liability. The issues of additional capital contributions, recourse obligations and the actual amount of defendants' liability are not presently before the Court.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff's argument is premised upon the conclusion that the sale by defendants of their partnership interests amounted to a "return of capital" within the meaning of New York Partnership Law Section 106(4) and that defendants must now return for the benefit of unpaid creditors the consideration they received in the tender offer.
Thus, the first issue to be addressed is whether the sale of a limited partnership interest amounts to a "return of capital." Whitley v. Klauber, 51 N.Y.2d 555, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569 (1980), appears to be a case on point. There, the New York Court of Appeals held that, for purposes of Section 106(4), the sale of a partnership interest pursuant to a tender offer does indeed amount to a return of capital. Said the Court:
. . . As to the Partnership Law, six of us agree that the strong policy enunciated by Section 106 permitting a creditor who was such when a limited partner's capital was returned to him to recover from the limited partner to the extent of the capital returned, with interest, even though return of the capital was entirely proper, mandates the conclusion that a transaction or series of transactions in which all general and limited partners dispose of their interest in the limited partnership leaving a creditor unpaid constitutes a return of capital notwithstanding that in form it is the sale of the limited partners' interest.
51 N.Y.2d at 560, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569.
In reaching its conclusion, the Court determined that the effect upon creditors is the decisive factor in whether a specific transaction amounts to a return of capital. Explained the Court:
[P]rimary in the determination whether a particular transaction constitutes a return of capital is not the limited partner's purpose or intent but its effect upon partnership creditors.
51 N.Y.2d at 563, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569.
Here, the defendants received cash and promissory notes in exchange for their partnership interests. However, the net effect of these transactions upon partnership creditors appears to be a reduction in the amount of capital left to satisfy their claims. Whitley v. Klauber makes it clear that the fact that the limited partners sold their interests to a third party rather than receiving a direct return of capital from the Partnerships would not alter this finding. This Court finds that the promissory notes defendants received constitute a return of capital contributions as much as did the cash. Both of these issues were raised in Whitley and were summarily dismissed. Said the Court:
On the basis of that overriding purpose, we and other courts have held limited partners liable under subdivision (4) of section 106 notwithstanding the absence of fraud, the fact that property other than cash is received by the limited partner or the fact that the transaction takes the form of a sale of limited partners' interests to a third-party, rather than a distribution by the partnership itself.
51 N.Y.2d at 563, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569. The Court went on to add:
Receipt by the limited partners of property (here Bermec stock) rather than cash does not change the result. While subdivision (3) of section 105 of the Partnership Law restricts a limited partner to receipt of cash for his contribution unless the partnership certificate states otherwise or all members consent, that provision has no bearing upon the interpretation of subdivision (4) of section 106, intended as it is to protect creditors.
51 N.Y.2d at 565, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569.
Several older cases stand for the proposition that notes given by the general partner or by an outside third party to a limited partner constitute a return of capital. For example, in Beers v. Reynolds, 11 N.Y. 97 (1853), the Court held that a limited partner who had sold his interest to a general partner by taking back a note secured by a chattel mortgage on both partnership property and property of the general partner had received a return of capital. Similarly, in Neil v. United States, 195 F.2d 336 (5th Cir. 1952), a transaction in which a general partner used cash, his own personal assets and his own promissory note to buy out the limited partners was found to be a return of capital.
As these cases were cited with approval by the Court of Appeals in Whitley, the Court must view them as the clearest and most recent statement of New York law. In their cross-motion the defendants cite several old lower New York court decisions [ George v. Carpenter, 25 N.Y.S. 1086 (N.Y.Sup.Ct. 1893), aff'd 147 N.Y. 686, 42 N.E. 723 (App.Div. 1895); Lachaise v. Marks, 4 E.D. Smith 610 (Common Pleas 1855)] in arguing that the notes should not be considered a return of capital. However, the Court finds that the rationale of Klauber effectively overrules those cases. Hence, the full amount received by the defendant in the tender offer, both cash and notes, is subject to being refunded under Section 106(4) of the Act.
The fact that the notes eventually became worthless due to TSG Partner's inability to pay does not change the result. The notes were considered valuable when accepted by the limited partners and its present worth has little relevance to the question now. This same conclusion was reached in Whitley. There, the limited partners received stock in a third party corporation in exchange for their limited partnership interests. Like the situation here, the corporation in that case eventually went bankrupt and the stock became worthless. However, the court considered this fact to be immaterial as the stock was considered valuable consideration at the time it was accepted by the limited partners and the subsequent misfortunes of the corporation had no bearing on their characterization as a return of capital.
In actions to recover a return of capital contributions under Section 106(4), there is no need to prove an evil intent. Specifically, Section 106(4) has no requirement that the return of capital be fraudulent, wrongful or designed to deceive creditors in order to be avoided. Instead, it simply speaks in terms of returned capital which is "rightfully received." Other sections such as Section 106(2)(a) and (b) of the Act were designed to deal with situations in which the contribution of capital was wrongfully returned. Therefore, the Court concludes that the plaintiff need not prove fraud or other wrongdoing in connection with the tender offer in order to recover from the defendants.
Additionally, for purposes of Section 106(4), it does not matter that there may have been sufficient capital remaining in the partnership after the withdrawal to pay all then existing creditors. If the remaining capital becomes depleted at any time after the withdrawal, the withdrawing limited partners must reimburse the partnership so that it may pay creditors who existed at the time of the withdrawal. See Kittredge v. Langley, 169 N.E. at 631; Whitley v. Klauber, 51 N.Y.2d at 563-64, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569. In view of the pronouncements of these New York cases, the court again rejects defendants' contention that the notes did not constitute a return of capital because there was no actual payment made on them.
Also, by virtue of Section 108(7) of the New York Partnership law the defendants are not relieved of liability because they assigned their interests to TSG Partners. Section 108(7) of the Act states:
The substitution of the assignee as a limited partner does not release the assignor from liability to the partnership under sections ninety-five and one hundred and six.
This statute has been held to apply to assignments of interest pursuant to a tender offer. See Whitley v. Klauber, supra.
The defendants have argued that Whitley is inapplicable to the present action as some of the limited partners have chosen to retain their interests rather then to tender their interests pursuant to the tender offer. The Court finds, however, that to accept such an argument would be putting form ahead of substance. Therefore, the Court concludes that the sale of the vast majority of the partnership interests is tantamount to a complete bail out of the limited partners.
Obviously, the New York courts are far more concerned with the protection of creditors than with the protection of limited partners who had received a return of their capital. For instance, in Whitley the Court said:
That the purpose of the subdivision is the protection of creditors is crystal clear not only from the explicit reference to "creditors who extended credit or whose claims arose before such return" but also from the imposition of liability under its provision even though the contributor has "rightfully received the return."Whitley echoes the sentiments expressed in Kittredge v. Langley, 252 N.Y. 405, 169 N.E. 626 (1930), wherein Justice Benjamin Cardozo stated:
[A] special [limited] partner is liable, to the extent of his withdrawn capital for the payment of a partnership liability, where the assets left with the general partners irrespective of their valuation at the time of dissolution, are thereafter found to be inadequate.
* * * * * *
We think his obligation to creditors to the extent of his limited liability can be discharged by nothing less than payment.
. . . The special partner does not relieve himself of liability by withdrawing his contribution. He remains liable as before, though as before his liability is limited.
. . . The conclusion is hardly thinkable that the special partner may keep the cash, and leave the creditors with nothing. His contribution, like the capital of a corporation, and to a similar extent, is to be treated as a trust fund for the discharge of liabilities.
. . . The special partner insists that the risk of change was on the creditors. We think it was on him.
Id. 169 N.E. at 631.
This Court will defer to the wisdom of the New York Court and will follow its precedence by imposing liability upon the defendants.
Plaintiff contends that the present action is not barred by the three year statute of limitations applicable to liabilities created by statute, Section 214(2) New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (McKinney's Book 17B) [C.P.L.R. 214(2)], or any other statute of limitations. Plaintiff points out that the only case that has addressed the applicable limitations period for a claim under Section 106(4) is again Whitley v. Klauber.
There, the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court decision which squarely held that the statute of limitations under Section 106(4) of the Act does not begin to run until the creditor has obtained a judgment. Said the Court:
Respondents contend that the present claim is barred by the statute of limitations, asserting that plaintiff's cause of action accrued either in August 1966 when BWF distributed the Bermec stock to the limited partners, or no later than March 1971, when Bermec filed for reorganization under bankruptcy laws. However, in order for plaintiff to proceed against the limited partners, it would be necessary for him to establish the unavailability of partnership assets to satisfy his claim. This did not occur until conclusion of the prior litigation against the partnership and its corporate general partner when judgment in that action was entered March 7, 1977.
Whitley v. Klauber, 417 N.Y.S.2d 959, 965, 69 A.D.2d 99 (1st Dept. 1979).
Here, a determination has been made as to the validity of only six claims, the earliest of which was allowed on September 11, 1986. Thus, if C.P.L.R. 214(2) is the applicable statute of limitation, it will not expire until September 11, 1989. The Court concludes, therefore, that plaintiff's action is not time barred under C.P.L.R. 214(2) or any other statute of limitations.
The Court finds that New York law is abundantly clear on the issues thus presented. The policies embodied in Section 106(4) and Section 108(7) of the Act mandate that creditors be protected from limited partners who would bail out of the partnership when prospects of financial demise appear on the horizon.
Plaintiff contends that the Whitley decision mandates that he be granted partial summary judgment as to the first cause of action on the issue of liability under Section 106(4) upon showing that the following facts are not in dispute: (1) defendants were limited partners of the Partnerships and made capital contributions to the Partnerships; (2) defendants subsequently received a return of their capital contributions by means of a tender offer; (3) at the time defendants received a return of their capital contributions, there existed creditors of the Partnerships; and (4) creditors of the Partnerships who existed at the time the defendants received a return of their capital contributions remain unpaid today.
Plaintiff's contention is borne out by the language of the Whitley decision, wherein the court states:
What a limited partner will be permitted to contest in an action by a partnership against which a judgment establishing its liability to a creditor has been obtained is only whether he is in fact a limited partner, whether he received a return of capital, whether the judgment creditor was one whose claim arose before that return, and whether the amount sought by the partnership as return of capital was necessary to discharge the partnership liability (that is, whether the partnership had other means for discharging the liability).
51 N.Y.2d at 571, 435 N.Y.S.2d 568, 416 N.E.2d 569.
As plaintiff has moved for summary judgment as to the first cause of action on the issue of liability only, it is not now necessary to show the final element mentioned above, that is, that the return of capital is necessary because the Partnerships will have no other means to pay creditors. That issue is better left until a final determination can be made regarding claims against the Partnerships' bankruptcy estate. Thus, plaintiff's motion is limited in scope to a determination that defendants will be liable as limited partners for the shortfall between assets of the Partnerships and claims of creditors that are eventually allowed in bankruptcy, subject only to the amount of returned capital contributions plus interest.
The documentary evidence before the Court in affidavits and exhibits leaves no doubt that the elements the plaintiff must prove are no longer at issue in this case. Indeed, defendants have stipulated away most of the facts which would establish their defenses, to wit:
1. the defendants were limited partners of the Partnerships and made capital contributions to the Partnerships;
2. the defendants subsequently received a return of their capital contributions by means of a tender offer;
3. At the time that the defendants received a return of their capital contributions, there existed creditors of the Partnerships; and
4. The creditors of the Partnerships who existed at the time defendants received a return of their capital contributions remain unpaid today.
Defendants have failed to muster adequate evidence to rebut the conclusion that there remain no material issues of fact regarding the present motion. Accordingly, the Court finds that the motion for summary judgment as to the first cause of action should be granted as to the defendants' liability only. For the reasons above stated the Court also finds that defendants' motion for summary judgment should be denied.
The Court will enter a separate order in accordance with this opinion.