NAOMI REICE BUCHWALD, District Judge.
The three parties to this consolidated action call upon the Court to interpret provisions in the trust indentures that govern six collateralized debt obligations
The parties agree that their motions turn on the interpretation of the CDO indentures annexed to the pleadings, the contents of which are not in dispute. Although the six indentures are not identical, the parties further agree that the differences among them are immaterial for present purposes. We follow the lead of the Trustee and Zions in focusing on the terms of the April 23, 2003 indenture for the "Tropic I" CDO, which we shall call the "Indenture."
The parties' dispute centers on a subordination feature, known as the "Senior Overcollateralization Test," which is found in the indentures governing the six CDOs involved in this litigation. As discussed in greater detail in Part I.B below, Zions, which owns $78 million in junior notes issued by Tropic I, contends that in 2011-2012 the Trustee, misinterpreting the Senior Overcollateralization Test, paid Tropic I's senior noteholders approximately $5 million in distributions that should have been paid to Zions instead. The Trustee, joined by HRUN (a noteholder in three of the CDOs, but not Tropic I), defends the amounts it distributed on the basis of its "dynamic" interpretation of the Senior Overcollateralization Test.
In the CDO transactions, special purpose vehicles called issuers issued notes to investors. The proceeds of the issuance were used to acquire portfolios of collateral, such that returns on the collateral are to be used to make interest and principal payments to the noteholders. Zions Br. at 2-3; Trustee Br. at 1. The notes were issued in classes of various seniority; in general, more senior notes had a lower interest rate but a higher priority of payment than more junior notes. Trustee Br. at 1; Zions Br. at 3. Pursuant to the indentures, the Trustee is responsible for making quarterly payments to noteholders, to the extent that funds are available. The order and priority of payments to the various classes of noteholders is established by a mechanism known to the parties as a "payment waterfall" or "waterfall."
The Senior Overcollateralization Test, which is the subject of the instant dispute, is one of the Overcollateralization Tests. It is undisputed that the purpose of the Senior Overcollateralization Test is to protect senior noteholders against the risk of default from a decline in the value of the CDO's collateral, and that it serves that purpose by requiring the Trustee to redeem a quantity of senior notes when the ratio of the value of collateral to the value of outstanding senior notes falls below a constant ratio defined by the CDO's indenture. See Trustee Br. 20; HRUN Br. 8; Zions Ans. ¶ 17.
Section 11.1 of the Indenture, which is entitled "Disbursements of Monies from Collection Account," specifies the steps of the payment waterfall. Section 11.1 provides, in relevant part:
Indenture § 11.1, at 84-77 (emphasis added). The parties' dispute turns on the meaning of the phrase "an O/C Redemption in the amount, if any, required to be paid in order to satisfy the Senior Overcollateralization Test" in Section 11.1(c)(i)THIRD. If too much money is paid to holders of Class A-1L, A-2L, and A-3L Notes (the "Senior Class A Noteholders" or "Senior Noteholders") pursuant to Section 11.1(c)(i)THIRD (and pursuant to Section 11.1(c)(ii)FIRST, which incorporates Section 11.1(c)(i)THIRD by reference), then not enough may be available to make payments to more junior noteholders.
Other provisions of the Indenture are relevant to this dispute. Section 9.2, which is entitled "Mandatory Redemption," provides, in relevant part:
Indenture § 9.2, at 73. Section 11.2, in turn, which is entitled "Mandatory Redemptions with Respect to Overcollateralization Tests and Interest Coverage Tests and Rating Confirmation Failure," provides in relevant part:
Indenture § 11.2, at 88 (emphases added).
The Indenture's definitions of several terms, as set out in Section 1.1 ("Definitions"), are also particularly relevant. The "Senior Overcollateralization Test" is defined as:
Indenture § 1.1, at 21.
Indenture § 1.1, at 21 (italics in original). An "O/C Redemption" is defined in relevant part as:
Indenture § 1.1, at 15 (underlining in original).
Additionally, Annex A, which is entitled "Methodology for Calculating the Amount of an O/C Redemption," provides, in relevant part:
Indenture Annex A, at B-1 (italics and underlining in original). The parties call the method specified in Annex A the "Annex A Calculation" or "Annex A Formula."
Finally, the Indenture sets up a distinction between "Calculation Dates" and "Payment Dates." In general, Calculation Dates and Payment Dates occur quarterly on fixed dates, with each Calculation Date preceding its associated Payment Date by approximately eight days.
According to the identical petitions filed by the Trustee in each of the six consolidated cases, the dispute between the Trustee and Zions as to Tropic I arose as follows:
Pet. ¶¶ 16-17 (emphases added and footnote omitted). Thus, as to Tropic I, the issue is whether the Trustee's interpretation of the Senior Overcollateralization Test and related provisions of the Indenture incorrectly led it to redeem an excessive amount (in the approximate amount of $5 million) of notes held by the Senior Noteholders, leaving insufficient funds available to make payments due to Zions, a junior noteholder. As described in Part II.A below, the decisive question is whether the Trustee's "dynamic" approach to calculating the amount of O/C Redemptions is authorized by the Indenture.
The Trustee alleges (and no party disputes) that the other CDOs "have relevant indenture terms that are identical in all material respects" to those involved in the Tropic I CDO. Pet. ¶ 28. With respect to the two CDOs called "Tropic III" and "Soloso 2005-1," the Trustee alleges that on Payment Dates when the Senior Overcollateralization Test was failing, the Trustee applied the same "dynamic" approach as it applied with respect to Tropic I. Pet. ¶¶ 32, 36. Unlike with Tropic I, however, no Tropic III or Soloso 2005-1 noteholder has challenged the Trustee's interpretation of the Senior Overcollateralization Test and related provisions. Pet. ¶¶ 33, 37.
The three remaining CDOs in suit are called "Tropic II," "Tropic IV," and "Soloso 2007-1." With respect to these CDOs, the Trustee alleges that on Payment Dates when the Senior Overcollateralization Test was failing, "the amounts to be distributed from the available collections have been insufficient to satisfy the distribution amount required by a single Annex A Calculation." Pet. ¶¶ 40, 44, 48. As a result, the Trustee has not been presented with the opportunity to apply the Annex A Calculation dynamically. However, if on a future Payment Date sufficient collections
The instant litigation began on September 30, 2013, when the Trustee filed six identical verified petitions for trust instructions in Minnesota state court, pursuant to a Minnesota statute that authorizes a trustee to petition for a court order:
Minn.Stat. § 501B.16. In these petitions, the Trustee seeks "entry of an order confirming that (a) it has correctly interpreted the relevant terms in each indenture pertaining to distribution of principal and interest proceeds following the failure of an overcollateralization test; and (b) in those instances where there has been an overcollateralization test failure, it has properly distributed interest proceeds to investors." Pet. ¶ 6; see id. WHEREFORE ¶ c(i). The Trustee also seeks judicial approval of "payment from the [CDOs] of any fees and expenses incurred by the Trustee" in connection with the petitions. Id. ¶ 50; see id. WHEREFORE ¶ c(ii).
Under Minnesota procedure, adverse parties need not be named in a petition for trust instructions. Instead, the petitioner must give notice to the trust's beneficiaries, who may then appear as interested parties. Minn.Stat. §§ 501B.18, 501B.21; see In re Trusteeship Created by Am. Home Mortgage Inv. Trust 2005-2, No. 14 Civ. 2494(AKH), 2014 WL 3858506, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. July 24, 2014). On October 7, 2013, Zions removed each action to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. In its six apparently identical (but for their captions) notices of removal, Zions alleged that, as a "party in interest," it had standing to remove the action because it was "the beneficial owner of notes in four of the six ... CDOs: Tropic I CDO, Tropic II CDO, Tropic CDO III, and Tropic CDO IV." Doc. 1, at ¶¶ 7-8.
Zions then moved to transfer the six actions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, noting that the trust indentures were negotiated and drafted in New York and are governed by New York law. Doc. 18, at 2; see, e.g., Indenture § 13.10(a), at 92 ("This Indenture... shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York...."). On the Trustee's consent, the Minnesota federal district court ordered the transfer of the six actions to this Court. Doc. 24. On January 14, 2014, this Court signed a stipulation of the Trustee and Zions consolidating the six
On February 28, 2014, HRUN filed an Answer in which it "consents to the relief that the Trustee seeks." Doc. 34, at 9. On the same day, Zions filed an "Answer and Affirmative Claim to the Res." Doc. 35 ("Zions Ans." and "Zions Aff. Claim"). In this pleading, Zions alleges that it is an owner of $78 million in Tropic I notes. Zions Aff. Claim ¶¶ 1, 6; see also Zions Ans. ¶ 17. Zions also alleges that it "owns notes issued by the Tropic II CDO and the Tropic III CDO." Zions Aff. Claim ¶ 6. Zions alleges that it is entitled to a declaration approving its interpretation of the Senior Overcollateralization Test and related provisions of the Tropic I Indenture and an instruction to the Trustee to pay $4,931,044.90 plus interest from funds held back from Tropic I. Zions Aff. Claim WHEREFORE ¶¶ A, B.
On May 23, 2014, notice having been provided to other CDO noteholders and none having come forward, the Trustee, HRUN, and Zions each moved for judgment on the pleadings. Docs. 41, 45, 50. The motions were fully briefed on June 20, 2014.
Tropic I is the only CDO as to which we perceive an actual controversy among the parties to this litigation. Given the implications of this for the Court's subject-matter jurisdiction, we address Tropic I separately from the other five CDOs.
The general principles applicable to judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c) to the interpretation of contracts are familiar and not in dispute. "Judgment on the pleadings is appropriate where material facts are undisputed and where a judgment on the merits is possible merely by considering the contents of the pleadings." Sellers v. M.C. Floor Crafters, Inc., 842 F.2d 639, 642 (2d Cir.1988). "In evaluating a Rule 12(c) motion, the court must view the pleadings in the light most favorable to, and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party." Madonna v. United States, 878 F.2d 62, 65 (2d Cir.1989). However, "[t]he Court need not accord `[l]egal conclusions, deductions or opinions couched as factual allegations... a presumption of truthfulness.'" In re Bakery & Confectionery Union & Indus. Int'l Pension Fund Pension Plan, 865 F.Supp.2d 469, 471-72 (S.D.N.Y.2012) (quoting In re NYSE Specialists Sec. Litig., 503 F.3d 89, 95 (2d Cir.2007)), aff'd sub nom. Alcantara v. Bakery & Confectionery Union & Indus. Int'l Pension Fund Pension Plan, 751 F.3d 71 (2d Cir. 2014).
The pleadings are "deemed to include any written instrument attached to [them] as an exhibit, materials incorporated in [them] by reference, and documents that, although not incorporated by reference, are integral to the complaint." Sira v. Morton, 380 F.3d 57, 67 (2d Cir.2004) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). If the allegations of a pleading "are contradicted by documents made a part thereof, the document controls and the court need not accept as true the allegations of the [pleading]." Sazerac Co. v. Falk, 861 F.Supp. 253, 257 (S.D.N.Y. 1994); see, e.g., Feick v. Fleener, 653 F.2d 69, 75 & n. 4 (2d Cir.1981). Thus, a motion for judgment on the pleadings "can be particularly appropriate in breach of contract cases involving legal interpretations of the obligations of the parties." VoiceAge Corp. v. RealNetworks, Inc., 926 F.Supp.2d 524, 529 (S.D.N.Y.2013).
In determining the meaning of a contract, this Court will "look to all corners of the document rather than view sentences or clauses in isolation." Int'l Klafter Co. v. Cont'l Cas. Co., 869 F.2d 96, 99 (2d Cir.1989) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Kass v. Kass, 91 N.Y.2d 554, 566, 673 N.Y.S.2d 350, 696 N.E.2d 174 (1998). "[W]hen parties set down their agreement in a clear, complete document, their writing should as a rule be enforced according to its terms." W.W.W. Assocs., Inc., 77 N.Y.2d at 162, 565 N.Y.S.2d 440, 566 N.E.2d 639. In other words, our "primary objective is to give effect to the intent of the parties as revealed by the language they chose to use." Bolt Elec., Inc. v. City of New York, 223 F.3d 146, 150 (2d Cir.2000).
As to Tropic I, the Trustee and Zions disagree on the manner in which, when making quarterly payments pursuant to Sections 11.1(c)(i)THIRD and 11.1(c)(ii)FIRST of the Indenture, the Trustee is required to calculate the "payment [to Senior Noteholders] of principal as an O/C Redemption in the amount, if any, required to be paid in order to satisfy the Senior Overcollateralization Test."
Trustee Br. at 8-9 (emphases added). Zions responds that the Indenture does not contemplate dynamic application of the Annex A Calculation, and that instead the Indenture unambiguously provides that a single "payment of an `O/C Redemption' in an amount determined by the Annex A Formula is sufficient to remedy a failure of the Senior Overcollateralization Test." Zions Br. at 10.
We agree with Zions. Upon failure of the Senior Overcollateralization Test, Section 11.1(c)(i)THIRD requires "an O/C Redemption in the amount ... required to be paid in order to satisfy the Senior Overcollateralization Test." Indenture § 11.1(c)(i)THIRD, at 86. An "O/C Redemption" is defined as a redemption of notes "to the extent necessary such that the Overcollateralization Tests ... are satisfied, such test to be calculated according to the method prescribed by Annex A." Indenture § 1.1, at 15 (underlining in original). Annex A, entitled "Methodology for Calculating the Amount of an O/C Redemption," describes the method that the Trustee shall use to calculate "the amount... to be applied ... as an O/C Redemption... in order to satisfy such Overcollateralization Test(s)," including "the Senior Overcollateralization Test." Indenture Annex A, at B-1. Annex A describes that method as yielding an "O/C Redemption Amount." Id. (underlining in original). These provisions harmoniously indicate that the result of the Annex A Formula is the amount of an O/C Redemption to be made upon failure of the Senior Overcollateralization Test, in order to satisfy that test. Nothing in these provisions suggests that that anything more is required to satisfy the Senior Overcollateralization Test or that the Annex A Formula should be repeated or otherwise applied "dynamically."
In arguing otherwise, the Trustee relies on language in the Indenture's Sections 9.2 and 11.1(c)(i)THIRD, and the definition of an "O/C Redemption" that contemplate a redemption in the amount necessary to "satisfy" the Senior Overcollateralization Test. The Trustee argues that Zions' position would effectively nullify these provisions, because (according to the Trustee) the Senior Overcollateralization Test cannot be satisfied until the Senior Overcollateralization Ratio is restored to 106%. A major flaw in this argument is that Annex A expressly describes the method by which to calculate the amount that will "satisfy" the Senior Overcollateralization Test. Accordingly, in the context of an O/C Redemption, the result of the method described by Annex A is the amount required to satisfy the Senior Overcollateralization
Similarly, the Trustee points out that Section 11.2 requires redemption in the amount "necessary to cause [the Senior Overcollateralization Test] to be met." But Section 11.2 expressly provides that the Trustee's redemption of notes shall be done "pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 11.1." As already discussed, Section 11.1 provides for redemption in the amount that results from application of the Annex A Formula. Thus, the Indenture's provisions can be reconciled even without the application of the "rule of construction that a specific contract provision should prevail over a general one," Sompo Japan Ins. Co. of Am. v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 762 F.3d 165, 179 (2d Cir.2014), which would otherwise favor adherence to the detailed method for calculating the amount of an O/C Redemption that Annex A provides.
Most fundamentally, the Trustee's approach fails because it cannot be reconciled with the plain language of either Annex A or the Indenture when read as a whole. The Trustee stresses that there is no provision in the Indenture that expressly prohibits a dynamic or repetitious application of the Annex A Calculation. But we find it much more telling that there no provision that approves of such an approach. The Indenture sets forth an intricate, specific approach for determining the amount of payments due to the various classes of noteholders at each step in the waterfall, including the detailed method in Annex A for calculating the amount of an O/C Redemption upon failure of an Overcollateralization Test. If a dynamic approach were meant by the Indenture, it would be plainly described in the Indenture. As Zions argues, "[i]f the drafters of the Indenture had intended for the O/C Redemption to be calculated by reference to the amount required to ensure that the ratio of collateral to senior notes was 106% following all distributions on the Payment Date, they could easily have set forth a formula in Annex A that expressly provided for this result." Zions Br. at 12 (italics in original). Of course, the drafters did not do so. Any "dynamic" interpretation of the Indenture would either redefine or nullify Annex A and cause severe tension with the Indenture's other provisions. Thus, we agree with Zions that when the Senior Overcollateralization Test is failing as of a given Calculation Date, payment of an O/C Redemption in the amount determined by the Annex A Formula is sufficient to remedy a failure of that test.
The Trustee argues that, should the Court agree with Zions' interpretation of the Indenture, the Court should defer setting the amount of Zions' entitlement to the held-back proceeds of Tropic I's liquidation, so that the Trustee may first attempt a calculation according to Zions' methodology. Trustee Br. at 21. Zions does not object to this sensible proposal. Accordingly, the Trustee and Zions are directed to confer and advise the Court
It is axiomatic that the federal courts are vested with only limited subject-matter jurisdiction. Among the jurisdictional limitations imposed by the case or controversy of Article III of the Constitution is the requirement of "a substantial controversy, between parties having adverse legal interests." Port Wash. Teachers' Ass'n v. Bd. of Educ. of Port Wash. Union Free Sch. Dist., 478 F.3d 494, 501 (2d Cir.2007) (internal quotation marks omitted); see, e.g., MedImmune, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc., 549 U.S. 118, 127, 127 S.Ct. 764, 166 L.Ed.2d 604 (2007). Here, aside from Tropic I, the Court does not perceive an actual controversy among parties with adverse legal interests.
In its "Affirmative Claim to the Res," Zions does not allege that Zions is entitled to any relief as to the five CDOs other than Tropic I, even though it alleges that it owns notes in Tropic II and Tropic III. Zions Aff. Claim ¶ 6. Zions does not even assert an interest in Tropic IV, Soloso 2005-1 or Soloso 2007-1.
As described in Part I.C above, this action was commenced as six separate state-court actions under a state statute that authorizes judicial instruction of trustees without any apparent requirement of adverse parties. See Minn.Stat. § 501B.16. Such a power to supervise trusts and instruct their trustees is a common incident of a court of equity. See generally Restatement (Third) of Trusts § 71 (2007). Thus, it is understandable that the Minnesota legislature has conferred that power upon the Minnesota state courts of general jurisdiction. But although "it is a traditional judicial office to give instructions to trustees who have substantial questions concerning their duties, .... it is arguable that unless there is an actual controversy between trustee and beneficiary, or the conditions for an interpleader are present, a federal court has no power to instruct the trustee on his duties." First Nat'l Bank of Chi. v. A.M. Castle & Co. Emp. Trust, 180 F.3d 814, 819 (7th Cir.1999). To the extent that there is no actual controversy, there can be no constitutional basis for this Court to exercise jurisdiction.
"When a case has been removed from state court to federal court, `[i]f at any time before final judgment it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction,
Nonetheless, since the parties have not briefed this jurisdictional issue, we invite an explanation of any basis for federal subject-matter jurisdiction. Any party wishing to argue for the existence of jurisdiction over the non-Tropic I petitions may submit a letter brief not to exceed four pages within two weeks. Any opposition will be due one week later.
For the foregoing reasons, Zions' motion for judgment on the pleadings (Doc. 50) is granted with respect to Tropic I to the extent that the Court endorses Zions' interpretation of the contested provisions of the Tropic I Indenture. Wells Fargo's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Doc. 41) is denied on the merits with respect to Tropic I. The Court reserves judgment on the amount of distribution to which Zions is entitled. Wells Fargo and Zions are directed to confer and to advise the Court by March 27, 2015, as to whether further proceedings will be required as to Tropic I.
Wells Fargo's motion is denied with respect to the other CDOs for apparent lack of federal subject-matter jurisdiction. HRUN's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Doc. 45) is denied in full for apparent lack of federal subject-matter jurisdiction. Any party wishing to contend that the Court should not sever the proceedings with respect to the five CDOs other than Tropic I and remand those proceedings to Minnesota state court may submit a letter brief not to exceed four pages by March 27, 2015. Any opposition will be due by April 3, 2015.