JOHN T. LANEY, III, Chief Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Debtor, FMB Bancshares, Inc.'s, Motion to Dismiss the Involuntary Chapter 7 Petition (the "Motion") filed by Trapeza CDO XII, LTD ("Trapeza"). The Court heard oral arguments on the Motion on July 30, 2014, in Valdosta, Georgia. Appearing at the hearing were counsel and representatives of the Debtor, Trapeza, Wilmington Trust Company, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and the FDIC. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Court took the matter under advisement. The Court has carefully considered all the pleadings and briefs, the parties' oral arguments, and the applicable statutory and case law. For the reasons set forth below the Court will deny the Debtor's Motion to Dismiss.
The Debtor, FMB Bancshares, Inc. ("FMB Holdco") is a Georgia "bank holding company" headquartered in Lakeland, Georgia. FMB Holdco was formed in 1984. As a "bank holding company" it is subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the "Commissioner"). Farmers and Merchants Bank (the "Bank"), is a full service community bank headquartered in Lakeland, Georgia. The Bank was founded in 1907 and has a total of six branches, all of which are located in Georgia. The Bank has approximately $566,000,000 in total assets, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of FMB Holdco. Like FMB Holdco, the Bank is also subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve and the Commissioner. In addition, the Bank is also subject to regulation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC").
Trapeza is a corporate entity incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Trapeza's relationship with FMB Holdco is the result of Trapeza's investment in FMB Preferred Trust I ("FMB Trust"), a Delaware statutory trust that is also a subsidiary of FMB Holdco. Trapeza's investment in FMB Trust arises out of its ownership of $12,000,000 of the FMB
Federally insured banks and their holding companies, such as the Bank and FMB Holdco, are required to maintain certain minimum levels of "Tier 1" capital. These levels are mandated and overseen by the FDIC and the Federal Reserve. TruPS were created as a way for bank holding companies to access Tier 1 capital at attractive rates by issuing very long-term, deferrable, interest-only securities with equity like features. To achieve favorable tax treatment, a bank holding company does not issue the TruPS directly. Instead, a bank holding company forms a wholly-owned trust subsidiary, and that trust issues preferred equity securities — the TruPS — to investors. Concurrent with the issuance of the TruPS, the subsidiary trust purchases junior subordinated notes issued by the bank holding company.
The notes constitute the sole asset of the subsidiary trust. The terms of the TruPS mirror the terms of the junior subordinated notes, whereby the bank holding company is to make payment of principal and interest to the subsidiary trust pursuant to the notes, and the trust in turn uses those funds to make payments to the holders of the TruPS. The bank holding company then invests the funds from the sale of the junior subordinated notes in its operating bank in order to maintain the required minimum level of Tier 1 capital. An important feature of the junior subordinated notes, and consequently the TruPS, is an absolute right of the obligor to elect to defer all payments on the notes for up to five consecutive years.
The FMB Trust was formed in 2006 by FMB Holdco and Wilmington Trust Company (the "Trustee").
Trapeza acquired all of the FMB TruPS issued by FMB Trust. Accordingly, the FMB TruPS entitles Trapeza to receive quarterly distributions from FMB Trust. However, Trapeza's right to receive payments is subject to FMB Holdco's right to defer interest payments to FMB Trust under the terms of the Indenture. In addition, Trapeza's right to receive distributions from FMB Trust is guaranteed by FMB Holdco pursuant to the terms of a guaranty agreement entered between FMB Holdco and the Trustee.
Like many financial institutions, the Bank experienced the adverse impact of the financial recession that struck this country. Beginning in 2008 the Bank saw a drastic decrease in its revenues. In fact, in 2009 the Bank experienced a net loss of approximately $13,600,000.
As a bank holding company, rather than an FDIC insured bank, FMB Holdco is not directly subject to Prompt Corrective Action, but it is still subject to regulation by the Bank's regulators via the "source of strength doctrine," which is codified at 12 U.S.C. § 1831o-1 and 12 CFR 225.4(a) of the Federal Reserve's regulations. Essentially, the "source of strength" doctrine requires that FMB Holdco support the Bank's obligation to increase its capital cushion to minimally required levels. On November 11, 2009, as part of its support obligation, FMB Holdco was required to enter into a written agreement (the "Federal Reserve Agreement") with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Commissioner. The Federal Reserve Agreement provided that FMB Holdco and its nonbank subsidiaries, such as FMB Trust, shall not make any distributions related to subordinated debentures or TruPS without the prior written approval of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Federal Reserve, and the Commissioner.
In October 2012, the FDIC required the Bank to submit a capital restoration plan (the "Capital Plan"), which described the Bank's plan to increase its capital cushion. FMB Holdco was required to guarantee the Bank's performance under the Capital Plan. Accordingly, in January 2013, FMB Holdco entered into a Capital Maintenance Commitment and Guaranty (the "Capital Guaranty"). The Capital Guaranty may be enforced by either the FDIC or the Bank. Pursuant to the Capital Guaranty, should the Bank fail to comply with the terms of the Capital Plan, FMB Holdco must pay the Bank the lesser of five percent (5%) of the Bank's total assets or an amount necessary to bring the Bank into compliance. The Bank is currently in default of the Capital Plan. As a result, under the terms
Beginning on March 30, 2009, and continuing for each consecutive quarter, FMB Holdco elected to defer payments under the Notes to FMB Trust. Under the terms of the Notes, FMB Holdco is able to defer payments under the Notes for a maximum of five years. In January 2014, FMB Holdco sent the Trustee a request asking it to waive the expiration of the deferral period and begin a new five year deferral period. In its request, FMB Holdco cited the regulatory restrictions and its lack of funds as the reasons why it could not make any payments to FMB Trust at the expiration of the deferral period. The Trustee did not respond to FMB Holdco's request and on March 30, 2014, FMB Holdco went into default on the Notes.
On April 7, 2014, Trapeza, acting through its trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, provided FMB Holdco and the Trustee with written notice that it was accelerating the Notes and that all principal and interest under the Notes was due immediately. Although there is not a direct contractual relationship between Trapeza and FMB Holdco, Trapeza cites Section 6.10(a) of the Amended Trust Agreement as giving it authority to accelerate the Notes.
In summary, Trapeza is claiming that because it is a holder of the TruPS, FMB Holdco is directly liable to it for all amounts due and payable by FMB Holdco to FMB Trust under the terms of the Notes. On the other hand, FMB Holdco argues that it is legally barred from making any payments to FMB Trust because the Federal Reserve Agreement, Prompt Corrective Action, and the Capital Plan prohibit it from making any payments on the Notes without prior approval of its regulators. FMB Holdco does not anticipate receiving such approval because the capital levels of the Bank are not at the required minimum levels. Additionally, FMB Holdco claims that Trapeza has limited contractual rights to seek payment directly from FMB Holdco, and those rights do not include the right to file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against FMB Holdco.
FMB Holdco filed the Motion seeking to dismiss the Involuntary Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Petition pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), which is made applicable to involuntary bankruptcy cases by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1011(b).
Accordingly, FMB Holdco's motion rests on the Court's determination of three central issues: (1) Do Trapeza's limited contractual rights against FMB Holdco include the right to institute an involuntary case; (2) Is Trapeza a proper creditor
The terms of the Indenture and Amended Trust Agreement provide that following an event of default, the holders of the TruPS may enforce their rights against FMB Holdco directly. However, the right of a holder of TruPS, such as Trapeza, to take direct action against FMB Holdco is limited to certain circumstances set forth in the Indenture and Amended Trust Agreement. Specifically, Section 5.8 of the Indenture provides that Trapeza,
Likewise, Section 6.10(b) of the Amended Trust Agreement provides,
There is no dispute between the parties that an event of default occurred on March 30, 2014, when FMB Holdco failed to make the outstanding interest payments due at the end of the five year deferral period. Additionally, Trapeza properly notified FMB Holdco that it was exercising its rights under Section 6.10 of the Amended Trust Agreement and accelerating the debt owed by FMB Holdco. Therefore, whether Trapeza has standing under the Indenture and Amended Trust Agreement rests on whether an involuntary bankruptcy is a permitted means of enforcement under the Indenture and Amended Trust Agreement.
I believe it is. The Indenture and Amended Trust Agreement allow Trapeza to bring a "suit ... for enforcement of payment" against FMB Holdco.
In In re Federated Group, Inc., the Ninth Circuit interpreted an indenture provision similar to Section 5.8 of the Indenture as allowing a creditor to enforce its right to payment by instituting an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding. 107 F.3d 730, 732 (9th Cir.1997) (finding that an involuntary petition was properly filed because creditors where the holders of qualified claims under an indenture that granted them an absolute right to payment
In addition, FMB Holdco argues that because another section of the Indenture vests the Trustee with broader enforcement rights than those granted to the holders of the TruPS, such as Trapeza, that this places an additional limit on the enforcement remedies available to Trapeza. Section 5.3 of the Indenture allows the Trustee to take "such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights."
Section 303(b) of the Bankruptcy Code allows a creditor to place a debtor into an involuntary bankruptcy in certain situations. Pursuant to § 303(b) an involuntary bankruptcy case may be commenced by a petitioning creditor under either subparagraph (1), "by three or more entities, each of which is ... a holder of a claim against such person that is not contingent as to liability or the subject of a bona fide dispute as to liability or amount," or subparagraph (2) if there are fewer than twelve such holders, excluding employees and insiders, "by one or more of such holders." For the purposes of § 303, "such holders" refers to those creditors holding claims that are "not contingent as to liability" or "the subject of a bona fide dispute as to liability or amount." Additionally, § 303(b) requires the petitioning creditors under subparagraph (1) or a sole petitioning creditor under subparagraph (2), have at least $15,325.00 in qualifying claims. Since Trapeza is the sole petitioning creditor, § 303(b)(2) is applicable to the instant matter.
The petitioning creditor bears the burden of establishing that it is a qualified creditor under § 303(b). In re DSC, Ltd., 486 F.3d 940, 944 (6th Cir.2007); In re Bimini Island Air, Inc., 370 B.R. 408, 412 (Bankr.S.D.Fla.2007). A qualified creditor is one whose claim is not contingent as to liability or subject of a bona fide dispute. 11 U.S.C. § 303(b); see also In re Brooklyn Resource Recovery, 216 B.R. 470, 478 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.1997) (citing In re Better Care, Ltd., 97 B.R. 405, 418 (Bankr.N.D.Ill. 1989) (holding that the burden is on the petitioning creditor to show that it is the holder of a claim that is not contingent or the subject of a bona fide dispute as to liability or amount.)). Therefore, Trapeza bears the burden of establishing that it is
"Although the Bankruptcy Code does not define the term contingent, a claim is `contingent' within the meaning of § 303(b) when the debtor's obligation to pay does not come into being until the happening of some future event and that event was within the contemplation of the parties at the time their relationship originated." 2 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 303.10 (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer eds., 16th ed.). Put another way, a claim is contingent if "an alleged debtor's legal duty to pay does not come into existence until triggered by the occurrence of an extrinsic event and such extrinsic event or occurrence was one that was reasonably contemplated by the parties at the time the event giving rise to the claim occurred." In re Rosenberg, 414 B.R. 826, 844 (Bankr.S.D.Fla.2009).
A classic example of a claim that is contingent as to liability is that of a guarantor of payment where the obligation of the guarantor remains contingent until it is clear that the principal obligator is unable to pay. Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 303.10. Another example of a contingent debt is where a debtor owes a sales agent commission only if potential purchasers actually buy the goods. Id. In such a scenario, the debtor would only be liable for the commissions once the sales were made. Therefore, its obligation is "contingent" upon the sale. On the other hand, a claim is not "contingent as to liability" when "all events have occurred which allow a court to adjudicate a claim and determine whether or not payment should be made." In re Taylor & Associates, LP, 193 B.R. 465, 473 (Bankr.E.D.Tenn.1996) (citing In re Longhorn 1979-II Drilling Program, L.P., 32 B.R. 923, 927 (Bankr.W.D.Okla. 1983)), remanded on other grounds, In re Taylor & Associates, L.P., 249 B.R. 431 (E.D.Tenn.1997). At that point, "the contingency is applicable only to payment and is only a condition of payment." Id. Thus, a claim is not contingent merely because the debtor lacks the ability to pay.
Here, FMB Holdco claims that its obligations to Trapeza under the TruPS are "contingent as to liability." In support of that claim FMB Holdco argues that its obligations to Trapeza are "contingent" because FMB Holdco is prohibited by Prompt Corrective Action, the "source of strength" doctrine, and the Federal Reserve Agreement from making any payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes and consequently on the TruPS. FMB Holdco argues that the "triggering event" which would give rise to its liability to pay the TruPS is the fulfillment of its obligations under the Federal Reserve Agreement and obtaining permission from its regulators to make distributions. Until such a release, FMB Holdco maintains that its obligations to Trapeza pursuant to the Indenture and the TruPS are "contingent."
I do not agree. FMB Holdco's argument concerns its ability to pay, rather than its legal duty to pay. FMB Holdco has a present legal obligation to pay Trapeza under the Notes and the FMB TruPS because all "triggering" events have occurred. The terms of the Notes provide that FMB Holdco is to make quarterly interest payments to FMB Trust. In turn, FMB Trust is to make quarterly distributions to the holders of the FMB TruPS. Trapeza, as a holder of the FMB TruPS is entitled to receive a quarterly
As we previously established, Trapeza has rights under the Amended Trust Agreement and Indenture to seek payment directly from FMB Holdco. FMB Holdco does not dispute that it is in default on the Notes, only that its debt to Trapeza is contingent because FMB Holdco is legally barred from making any payments to FMB Trust or Trapeza under the terms of the Federal Reserve Agreement. However, FMB Holdco's inability to pay, be it the result of the Federal Reserve Agreement or FMB Holdco's lack of funds, does not make its debt to Trapeza "contingent as to liability" within the meaning of § 303(b).
For the purposes of 303(b) a claim is "contingent" when the debtor's obligation to pay does not arise until the happening of some future triggering event. See In re Rosenberg, 414 B.R. at 844. Here, FMB Holdco's direct obligations to Trapeza under the Amended Trust Agreement and Indenture were not enforceable unless FMB Holdco defaulted on the Notes or there was a default on the TruPS. That is precisely what happened. Once the default occurred, the direct obligation was "triggered" and FMB Holdco was liable to Trapeza for any amount due to FMB Trust under the Notes. The fact that FMB Holdco entered into an agreement with its regulators after it agreed to the terms of the Indenture does not supersede Trapeza's right to enforce the terms of the Indenture and seek payment directly from FMB Holdco. FMB Holdco is asking the Court to allow it to forgo one contractual obligation in favor of another, and to hold it harmless for that breach. The Court will not choose one contract over another when FMB Holdco is legally obligated under both. FMB Holdco's inability to satisfy its obligations to Trapeza does not affect its duty to do so or render those obligations "contingent."
Finally, FMB Holdco moves for discretionary abstention under 11 U.S.C. § 305(a). Section 305(a) of the Bankruptcy Code provides that after notice and a hearing a court "may dismiss ... or suspend" an involuntary bankruptcy case at any time if "the interest of creditors and the debtor would be better served by such dismissal or suspension." 11 U.S.C. § 305(a)(1). Abstention is an extraordinary measure and should only be exercised in unusual situations. In re Kennedy, 504 B.R. 815, 828 (Bankr.S.D.Miss.2014); In re First Financial Enterprises, Inc., 99 B.R. 751, 754 (Bankr.W.D.Tex.1989). "The party seeking abstention bears the burden of proof and it is substantial. To carry this substantial burden, the party seeking abstention must show that the court's voluntary refusal to exercise jurisdiction better serves both the debtor and [the] creditors." In re Kennedy, 504 B.R. at 828 (internal citations omitted).
The Eleventh Circuit has not directly addressed the issue of abstention under § 305.
Additionally, some courts have acknowledged that abstention may be appropriate in situations where the bankruptcy action is essentially a two-party dispute, provided the petitioning creditor can obtain adequate relief in a non-bankruptcy forum. In re Kennedy, 504 B.R. at 829; In re Axl Industries, Inc., 127 B.R. at 485. However, § 303(b)(2) specifically envisions two party dispute situations because in certain situations it allows a single creditor holding a claim in excess of $15,325 to commence an involuntary bankruptcy case, so long as the claim is not contingent as to liability or subject to a bona fide dispute. 11 U.S.C. § 303(b)(2) (stating an involuntary petition may be commenced "by one or more [creditors]") (emphasis added); In re Kennedy, 504 B.R. at 829. Moreover, the Court recognizes that these are merely factors for a court to consider and no one factor standing alone represents a threshold issue that requires abstention. It is at the discretion of the court to weigh each factor in reaching its decision.
Here, abstention under § 305(a) is not appropriate. FMB Holdco moves this Court to abstain from exercising jurisdiction because (1) allowing the case to proceed would cause excessive interference and entanglement with FMB Holdco and the Bank's regulators, (2) bankruptcy is not in the best interest of FMB Holdco or Trapeza, and (3) this case is essentially a "two-party" dispute that would be more appropriately resolved in a court of general jurisdiction. I do not agree and will address each argument in turn.
First, FMB Holdco argues that allowing the case to proceed will cause unnecessary interference with the regulatory schemes that FMB Holdco and FMB Bank are currently operating under. In support, FMB Holdco relies on the case of In re First Financial Enterprises, Inc., 99 B.R. 751. In that case the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas decided to abstain from exercising jurisdiction over a voluntary Chapter 11 petition filed by a parent holding company because the court found that the petition had been filed in "an attempt by the Debtor and its sole shareholder to halt the state court receivership of the debtor's subsidiary insurance companies," which themselves were not eligible for bankruptcy. Id. at 755. In In re First Financial Enterprises, the state appointed receiver of the subsidiary insurance companies was already involved in hotly contested state court litigation against the sole shareholder of the parent holding company, and the proposed plan
Here, neither FMB Holdco nor the Bank is in a state court receivership. In fact, there is not any state or federal court litigation, outside of this bankruptcy action, currently pending between the parties. Unlike the holding company in In re First Financial Enterprises it does not appear to the Court that Trapeza is attempting to accomplish through this bankruptcy what it could not accomplish through litigation in another court. In fact, FMB Holdco acknowledges that Trapeza could seek to enforce its rights in another court. The holding company in In re First Financial Enterprises, sought to halt a state court receivership that was already in place by placing the parent holding company in bankruptcy, a remedy that was not available to the subsidiary insurance company. Trapeza has not attempted to circumvent a state court action and has simply chosen what it feels is the best alternative.
Additionally, allowing the bankruptcy to proceed will not cause excessive entanglement with the regulation of the Bank. The restrictions placed on the Bank by its regulators are in place to help strengthen the Bank and help the Bank replenish its capital reserves. Any potential purchaser of the Bank would be subject to the same regulation and be required to recapitalize the bank as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval for control of the Bank. Thus, the bankruptcy would not cause excessive entanglement with the Bank's regulators.
Next, FMB Holdco argues that abstention is proper because bankruptcy is not in the best interest of FMB Holdco or Trapeza because a liquidation of FMB Holdco's stock in the Bank would yield an amount that is less than the face value of the FMB TruPS, destroy the value of FMB Holdco common stock, and end the Bank's existences as a community bank. Section 305 allows abstention when dismissal is in the best interest of both the debtor and the creditors. FMB Holdco has argued and presented evidence that its financial condition is improving and that if it continues on its current upward trend FMB Holdco will eventually be able to repay its obligations to Trapeza. Thus, bankruptcy is not in the best interest of FMB Holdco. However, § 305 permits abstention only when dismissal is in the best interest of both the debtor and its creditors. Trapeza represents the sole non-insider creditor of FMB Holdco and has chosen to file this bankruptcy.
Finally, FMB Holdco argues that this case is a two-party dispute that would be more appropriately decided in a court of general jurisdiction. Some courts have acknowledged that abstention may be appropriate where the bankruptcy action is essentially a two-party dispute and the petitioning creditor can obtain adequate relief in a non-bankruptcy forum. In re Kennedy, 504 B.R. at 829 (citing In re Mountain Dairies, Inc., 372 B.R. 623 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2007) and In re Spade, 258 B.R. 221 (Bankr.D.Colo.2001), for the proposition that abstention may be possible in a two-party dispute situation, but ultimately finding that abstention was not proper based on the facts of the case before it.); see also In re Axl Industries, Inc., 127 B.R. at 485. However, § 305 "specifically contemplates a two-party dispute by allowing a single creditor holding a claim greater than $15,325.00 that is not contingent as to liability or subject to a bona fide dispute to file an involuntary petition." Id. (citing 11 U.S.C. § 303(b)(2)). Additionally, even those courts acknowledging the "two party" dispute theory recognize that abstention may be appropriate only where there is another forum available to adequately protect the interest of the parties. See In re Spade, 258 B.R. at 234.
Here, there is no dispute that Trapeza could seek to enforce its rights in another forum as the Indenture specifically allows Trapeza to file a "suit" to enforce payment. However, Trapeza chose this Court and jurisdiction in this Court is proper. Dismissal would likely result in a long protracted litigation in a court of general jurisdiction and force Trapeza to wait even longer for any recovery of its investment. FMB Holdco may be correct in that this Court is not the best forum, but Trapeza is a proper creditor under § 303(b)(2) and jurisdiction in this Court is appropriate under § 303. Therefore, the Court will not exercise the extraordinary power of abstention because it is not clear to the Court that both the debtor and creditors would be better served by this Court relinquishing jurisdiction, and the court is not certain that Trapeza could obtain adequate relief in another forum.
For the reasons stated in this opinion, the Court will deny the Motion to Dismiss the Involuntary Chapter 7 Petition.