LAURIE SELBER SILVERSTEIN, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE.
The Court is asked to determine whether Quicksilver Resources, Inc. ("Quicksilver") granted the Second Lien Parties
On March 17, 2015, Quicksilver and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the "Debtors") each filed a voluntary case under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Debtors' cases have been jointly consolidated for procedural purposes only and are being jointly administered. The Debtors continue in the management and operation of their respective businesses and properties as debtors in possession pursuant to sections 1107 and 1108 of the Bankruptcy Code.
On March 25, 2015, the United States Trustee for Region 3 appointed an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the "Committee"). As part of its duties, the Committee investigated the liens and securities interests asserted by prepetition secured parties. On October 5, 2015, the Committee filed the Motion of the Official
Because of the sale process being pursued by the Debtors, and the auction currently scheduled for January 20, 2015, the Committee and the Second Lien Parties agreed that the three counts of the Complaint seeking declarations with respect to Quicksilver's hydrocarbon interests would be litigated on an expedited basis to facilitate a possible credit bid by the Second Lien Parties. The parties, therefore, entered into an expedited discovery and hearing schedule
A three day evidentiary trial was scheduled for December 14-16, 2015. As a result of the discovery and negotiations between the Committee and the Second Lien Parties, however, the factual issues were narrowed considerably, and the three-day trial turned into a one hour legal argument on agreed facts and documents, and simultaneous written submissions.
By way of background, and to frame the issues, the Court takes the following information from the Declaration of Vanessa Gomez LaGatta In Support of First Day Pleadings.
Quicksilver is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of onshore and natural gas in North America and is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Quicksilver's oil and natural gas properties are primarily located in Texas and in the Canadian provinces of Columbia and Alberta. Quicksilver's four development and exploration areas include: (i) the Barnett Shale in the Fort Worth Basin in north-central Texas; (ii) the Delaware basin in western Texas; (iii) the Horn River Basin in British Columbia, Canada; and (iv) the coalbeds of the Horseshoe Canyon in Alberta, Canada. The Barnett Shale is one of the Debtors' core production and development areas. As of December 31, 2014, the Debtors had a total of 980 (587.7 net) producing wells in the Barnett Shale. The Debtors' west Texas assets are an oil and gas exploration opportunity. The Debtors did not recognize a material amount of proved reserves from their west Texas assets in 2014. The Canadian assets are held by non-debtor Canadian entities.
On December 7 and 10, 2015 respectively, the Parties entered into two stipulations: the Stipulation and Agreement by and among the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, the Second Lien Parties and the Debtors
In the Pre-Trial Stipulation, the parties agree that the following facts are admitted and require no proof:
Quicksilver's approximately 7500 real property interests fall into one of three categories: (i) Unencumbered Real Property Interests; (ii) Encumbered Real Property Interests; and (iii) Disputed Real Property Interests. The Unencumbered Real Property Interests are: (i) the Quicksilve's real property interests located in western Texas; and (ii) 1,342 real property interest consisting of: (a) 889 oil and gas leases not listed on any "Exhibit A" to the applicable Mortgages; (b) 450 real property interests owned by debtor Cowtown Pipeline L.P. ("CPLP") such as easements, rights of ways, permits and licenses related primarily to water and gas lift pipeline, roads, and railroads ("TXPLs"); (c) two deeded properties owned by CPLP, and (d) one surface interest owned by CPLP. The Disputed Real Property Interests are 510 real property interests consisting of 413 TXPLs, 39 surface interests, and 58 deeded properties. The Encumbered Real Property Interests are Quicksilver's property interests located within the state of Texas that are not included within the definition of either Unencumbered Real Property Interests or Disputed Real Property Interests.
On June 21, 2013, the Debtors entered into that certain Second Lien Credit Agreement dated as of June 21, 2013 (the "Second Lien Credit Agreement") among Quicksilver, as borrower; the Second Lien Administrative Agent; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent; Bank of
On the same day, Quicksilver also issued that certain second lien senior secured floating rate notes due 2019 indenture (the "Second Lien Indenture") dated as of June 21, 2013 with Quicksilver as issuer, Cowtown Pipeline Funding, Inc., Cowtown Pipeline Management, Inc., Cowtown Pipeline L.P., Cowtown Gas Processing L.P., QPP Parent LLC, QPP Holdings LLC, Barnett Shale Operating LLC, Silver Stream Pipeline Company LLC as guarantors and BNYM as trustee and second lien collateral agent.
Also on June 21, 2013, Quicksilver entered into that certain Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of As-Extracted Collateral, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement (collectively, as filed or recorded in the appropriate office of recorder of deeds for the applicable jurisdiction in which the subject real property is located, the "Mortgages") from Quicksilver as mortgagor to BNYM, as second lien agent, or alternatively, to Linda Daugherty, as trustee for the benefit of BNYM, as second lien agent, for itself and for the ratable benefit of the other secured parties dated as of June 21, 2013, as amended or modified. Defendant Linda Daugherty is the trustee under the Mortgages (in such capacity, the "Mortgages Trustee").
The Mortgages are identical except with respect to the "Exhibit A" accompanying each mortgage. The Exhibit A accompanying each of the Mortgages describes certain property interests in the corresponding county. Of particular importance to the instant dispute are the following two stipulations: (i) The Mortgages were properly filed, each with its respective Exhibit A, in Denton County, Hill County, Hood County, Johnson County, Parker County, Somervell County, and Tarrant County, Texas and (ii) none of the Disputed Real Property Interests are expressly listed on any Exhibit A to any of the applicable Mortgages.
In addition to the Stipulations, the parties tendered to the Court an agreed set of exhibits. The agreed exhibits are: (i) the Second Lien Credit Agreement, (ii) the Mortgages for Hood County, Johnson County, Parker County, Hill County, Denton County, Somervell County and Tarrant County, Texas; (iii) the Second Lien Indenture; and (iv) the Real Estate Stipulation.
The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157(a) and (b) (1). Venue is proper in the Court pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409. Consideration of this adversary proceeding constitutes a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A), (K) and (O).
There is a split in case law regarding which party bears the burden of proof in an action to avoid a lien under section 544(a). Certain courts have required the moving party to prove facts showing that a hypothetical creditor or purchaser could avoid the liens.
The questions before the Court are whether the granting language in the Mortgages convey to the Second Lien Parties liens and security interests on the Disputed Real Property Interests and, if so, whether such liens and security interests are perfected.
The Committee argues that Section 2.01 of the Mortgages grant liens only on the Oil and Gas Properties that are specifically listed on each Exhibit A to the accompanying Mortgages.
The Second Lien Parties argue that subsections (a) and (e) in Section 2.01 both grant a lien on the Disputed Real Property Interests.
Texas law governs the interpretation of the Mortgages,
To apply this case law, the Court starts with the granting language of the Mortgages. Consistent with the requirement to consider all relevant parts of a deed, it helps to have a general understanding of the structure of the granting clause.
The introductory clause of Section 2.01 of the Mortgages, entitled "Grant of Liens," generally provides that to secure payments of its obligations to the Second Lien Parties, Quicksilver is granting a lien on all of its properties rights and interests listed in clauses (a) through (e) located in the State of Texas or the Outer Continental Shelf. Subsections (a) through (e) provide, in relevant part, the following categories of interests:
On a high level read, by Section 2.01, Quicksilver grants liens in five categories of interests, some of which are overlapping, and only some of which are proscribed by the descriptions on Exhibit A. In subsection (a), Quicksilver grants liens on all Oil and Gas Properties described on Exhibit A. In subsections (b) through (d), Quicksilver grants liens on data, books and records concerning the Oil and Gas Properties, all rights titles and interests in all Hydrocarbons relating to Oil and Gas Properties, and all property that may be subjected to a Lien held by Quicksilver. None of the grants in (b) through (d) are restricted to Exhibit A. Finally, subsection (e) grants liens on two categories of property. Like subsection (a), the first category grants liens on the Oil and Gas Properties described in Exhibit A. The second category grants liens on "all other rights, titles, interests and estates, and every part and parcel thereof." This second category is not limited to the real estate interests listed on Exhibit A.
As distilled from the full text, and as relevant to address the parties' arguments regarding subsection (e), Section 2.01 provides:
The Second Lien Parties argue that the bolded language above is a blanket lien on all of Quicksilver's real property interests in the State of Texas. They argue that in order to give meaning to each word and clause in subpart (e), it must be read as granting not only a lien on the Oil and Gas Properties described on Exhibit A, but also a general lien on "all other" property owned by Quicksilver, including the Disputed Real Property Interests. Otherwise, the Second Lien Parties argue, subsection (e) would be wholly duplicative of subsection (a). The Committee argues that to so find would be inconsistent with a general read of the Mortgages, and, in particular with the defined terms. Further, the Committee argues that subsection (e) is a curative provision meant to pick up defects in any cut off rights on leases on each accompanying Exhibit A.
The Court agrees with the Second Lien Parties. First, as stated above, the Court finds that a plain reading of subsection (e) reflects that it contains two clauses, divided by the conjunction "and."
Additionally, this reading is consistent with case law applying Texas law to interpret similar language. Courts applying the Texas rules of construction to contracts that purport to convey real property interests have determined that the phrase "all the right, title, interest and estate" is blanket language that refers to all of a grantor's property rights. For instance, in Cornerstone I
This interpretation is also consistent with case law holding that Texas law will give effect to a general granting clause that broadens a specific granting clause unless there is a conflict or "repugnance" between the specific granting clause and the general granting clause.
Here, the general grant in the second clause in subsection (e) is not inconsistent with or repugnant to the specific grant in subsection (a) or the first clause in subsection (e). Subsection (a) grants a lien on oil and gas interests. Subsection (e) grants liens on those same oil and gas interests, as well as on additional oil and gas interest. Subsection (e), therefore, does not contradict the specific grant in subsection (a) or the first clause of subsection (e), but, instead, "enlarges the grant described in the ... preceding language."
The Committee argues that subsection (e) is not a general lien granting provision, but that it is a curative provision. The Committee relies on the bolded language below:
At trial, the Committee argued that subsection (e) only acts when "there is a defect or a problem" with a lien granted under subsection (a).
Further, the Court's interpretation is consistent with the intent of the parties as expressed in the Mortgages. First, the only specific reference to the intent of the parties is found in the defined term Hydrocarbon Interests.
Second, the introductory clause to the Mortgages provides that the Mortgages are for the benefit of the Mortgages Trustee with respect to all "Mortgaged Property." Mortgaged Property means "the Oil and Gas Properties described in clauses (a) through (e) of Section 2.01." And, the definition of "Oil and Gas Properties" includes an expansive list of property rights related to the extraction of oil and gas, including:
Both of these defined terms, which are expansive in breadth and not limited to the interests defined on Exhibit A to each of the Mortgages, further demonstrate Quicksilver's intent to convey a blanket lien on its real estate interests, and in particular, the types of interests which make up the Disputed Real Property Interests.
The Court's interpretation, consistent with Texas law, gives unique meaning to subsection (e) and reflects the intent of the parties as expressed in the Mortgages; the Committee's reading does not. As a result, the Court is not persuaded by the Committee's argument.
Subsection (a) grants a lien on: "All rights, titles, interest and estates now owned or hereafter acquired by [Quicksilver] in and to the Oil and Gas Properties described on Exhibit A." (Emphasis in original.) As with subsection (e), a proper interpretation of subsection (a) requires the Court to attempt to give meaning to every one of the Mortgages' pertinent terms. The Court interprets the phrase "the Oil and Gas Properties described on Exhibit A" (emphasis added) to mean that subsection (a) grants a lien on real property interests that are both included in the definition of Oil and Gas Properties and included on Exhibit A. That is, the definition of "Oil and Gas Properties" identifies the universe of rights that may be listed in an Exhibit A, but Exhibit A, itself, determines the subset of Oil and Gas Properties actually conveyed in subsection (a). As the Disputed Real Property Interests are not listed on an Exhibit A, subsection (a) does not grant a lien on those interests.
The Second Lien Parties argue that subsection (a) grants a lien on all the property interests that are listed on Exhibit A as well as all the surface interests that are "used" for the properties listed on Exhibit A.
The Committee argues that the plain meaning of subsection (a) can only be interpreted as limiting the grant of liens to properties described on Exhibit A.
The Court agrees with the Committee. The Second Lien Parties' interpretation requires a strained reading of the phrase "described on" in subsection (a). The relevant portion of subsection (a) grants a lien on "the Oil and Gas Leases described on Exhibit A." (Emphasis added.) Black's Law Dictionary defines "description" as a limiting term that means "[a]n enumeration or specific identification of something."
Moreover, the Second Lien Parties' position that the use of the term "Oil and Gas Properties" together with the intent language in the definition of Hydrocarbon Interests means that subsection (a) conveys a lien on all interests appurtenant to interests described on Exhibit A creates a fundamental inconsistency, or in the terms used by the Texas courts, a repugnancy. If the intent language in the term Hydrocarbon Interests is read into the specific grant in subsection (a), then subsection (a) would, in effect, grant a lien "on the interests that are listed on Exhibit A, including the interests that are not listed on Exhibit A." Because such an interpretation creates a "necessary contradiction of the grant," it violates Texas rules of construction.
Additionally, the interpretation advanced by the Second Lien Parties would render large parts of subsections (b) through (e) superfluous. Subsection (g) of the definition of Oil and Gas Properties is broad enough to include many of the specific grants in subsections (a) through (e). As the Court must attempt to give meaning to each subsection in Section 2.01, the Court cannot conclude that subsection (a) provides a grant on interests appurtenant to Exhibit A.
The interpretation applied by the Court is consistent with Texas rules of construction. The Court's interpretation gives meaning to every word in subsection (a), gives an ordinary meaning to the words in subsection (a) because it applies "described" as a limiting term, and reduces redundancy by ensuring that each subsection in Section 2.01 provides a unique grant. As a result, the Court is not persuaded to adopt the Second Lien Parties' interpretation.
The Committee alternatively argues that the Mortgages' description of the Disputed Real Property Interests is insufficient to
Texas case law requires courts to "apply a strict application of the statute of frauds, [but] allow for a liberal construction of the words describing the land."
While subsection (e), itself, does not contain a geographic limitation, the entire grant of interests conveyed are limited by Section 2.01 to properties, rights and interests located in (or [that] cover or relate to properties located in) the State of Texas or the Outer Continental Shelf or such other offshore area adjacent to the State of Texas. This geographic description, separated by the words "or" produces three separate geographical descriptions: (i) the State of Texas; (ii) the Outer Continental Shelf and (iii) such other offshore area adjacent to the State of Texas.
Under Texas law, "[a] conveyance of real property or an interest in real property or a mortgage or deed of trust is void as to a creditor or to a subsequent
The Mortgages provide for a general grant of all Quicksilver's real property interests in the state of Texas. As discussed above, this general grant satisfies the statute of frauds. Further, the Mortgages were properly filed in Denton County, Hill County, Hood County, Johnson County, Parker County, Somervell County, and Tarrant County, Texas. As a result, the Second
Lien Parties hold perfected liens on all of Quicksilver's real property interests located in those counties. The parties did not stipulate that each of the Disputed Real Property Interests are located in those seven counties.
For the reasons provided, the Court finds that the Second Lien Creditors hold a perfected lien on the Disputed Real Property Interests located in Denton County, Hill County, Hood County, Johnson County, Parker County, Somervell County, and Tarrant County, Texas. The parties should submit an appropriate form of order.