ALAN S. TRUST, Bankruptcy Judge.
Pending before this Court is the general request of the duly appointed foreign representatives in these four Chapter 15 cases for additional relief pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1521(a)
This Court has jurisdiction over this core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(a) and 157(b)(2)(A), (O) and (P), and the Standing Orders of Reference in effect in the Eastern District of New York dated August 28, 1986, and as amended on December 5, 2012, but made effective nunc pro tunc as of June 23, 2011.
The four foreign entities at issue are AJW Offshore, Ltd. ("Offshore I"), AJW
According to Petitioners
Petitioners assert that Offshore I had 44 investors, that Offshore II had 156 investors, and that Master Fund I and Master Fund II each had two investors, their feeder
On September 28, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission commenced a civil action against Ribotsky and NIR before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
On January 7, 2013, Petitioners filed petitions for recognition under Chapter 15. Following a recognition hearing held on February 4, 2013 (the "Recognition Hearing")
As part of the Verified Petition, Petitioners also sought additional relief under each subsection of § 1521(a), other than (a)(3), and not under (b).
Following recognition, this Court set a hearing for February 20 to consider Petitioners' request for additional relief (the "Additional Relief Hearing"). Due notice of the Recognition Hearing was given. One objection to Petitioners' request for additional relief was filed by the law firm of Bingham McCutchen LLP ("Bingham" and the "Bingham Objection"), which did not challenge this Court entrusting the foreign representatives with the administration and realization of the Offshore Funds' assets under § 1521(a)(5) or their general right to seek discovery. [dkt item 40].
At the Additional Relief Hearing, Petitioners withdrew without prejudice their request for additional relief under § 1521(a)(1) and (2)
"Chapter 15 implements the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross — Border Insolvency;" courts interpreting Chapter 15 are required under § 1508 to "consider its international origin, and the need to promote an application of th[e] chapter that is consistent with the application of similar statutes adopted by foreign jurisdictions in interpreting its provisions". In re Condor, 601 F.3d 319, 321 (5th Cir. 2010) (quoting 11 U.S.C. § 1508). Chapter 15 both expressly authorizes certain relief to be accorded and explicitly limits other relief which may be provided. For example, § 103(a) provides that Chapter 1, "sections 307, 362(o), 555 through 557, and 559 through 562" automatically apply in a case under Chapter 15, and § 1523(a) immediately upon recognition provides a foreign representative with standing in cases regarding the debtor pending under another chapter of the Bankruptcy Code "to initiate actions under sections 522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 550, 553, and 724(a)". 11 U.S.C. §§ 103(a); 1523(a). However, while § 1521(a)(7) authorizes a Court to grant "any additional relief that may be available to a trustee," such relief may not include "relief available under sections 522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 550, and 724(a)." 11 U.S.C. § 1521(a)(7). In other words, a foreign representative may not utilize these avoidance powers in a Chapter 15 case, and may only do so in a case pending or filed under another chapter.
Chapter 15 is silent as to the applicability or inapplicability of other sections of the Bankruptcy Code, specifically including §§ 542 and 543. Thus, determining whether Petitioners are entitled to utilize §§ 542 and 543 requires an analysis of the relevant provisions of Chapter 15 and related Bankruptcy Code provisions, case law under prior § 304
The first consideration in determining whether turnover is available as part of the "any additional relief" available under § 1521(a)(7) is statutory construction — that is, what did Congress provide under the statute. Therefore, this Court's analysis necessarily begins by looking to the language of the statute itself to determine if the statute is plain or ambiguous. Lamie v. United States Trustee, 540 U.S. 526, 534, 124 S.Ct. 1023, 157 L.Ed.2d 1024 (2004); United States v. Ron Pair Enters., 489 U.S. 235, 241, 109 S.Ct. 1026, 103 L.Ed.2d 290 (1989); see also In re Miller, 462 B.R. 421, 429 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.2011). "[I]n determining plainness or ambiguity,
However, "[s]tatutory language is ambiguous if it is susceptible to two or more reasonable meanings." Phillips, 485 B.R. at 56. In that setting, where the plain language as clarified by context fails to resolve any statutory ambiguity, a court may resort to canons of statutory construction to aid in its interpretation. United States v. Colasuonno, 697 F.3d 164, 173 (2d Cir.2012); United States v. Dauray, 215 F.3d 257, 264 (2d Cir.2000). Significantly, statutory construction is a holistic endeavor; thus, a statute must be interpreted in light of the statutory scheme as a whole. United Sav. Ass'n of Texas v. Timbers of Inwood Forest Assoc., Ltd., 484 U.S. 365, 371, 108 S.Ct. 626, 98 L.Ed.2d 740 (1988); Phillips, 485 B.R. at 59.
Thus, this Court will first consider the plain language of § 1521(a)(7). Section 1521(a) provides that the bankruptcy court may grant a foreign representative "any appropriate relief," including staying various aspects of court proceedings involving the debtor or its assets, suspending rights to transfer, encumber or dispose of the debtor's assets, providing for discovery, granting powers to the foreign representatives to administer the debtor's U.S. assets and, specifically as to § 1521(a)(7), "granting any additional relief that may be available to a trustee, except for relief available under sections 522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 550, and 724(a)." 11 U.S.C. § 1521(a)(7). Notably, §§ 542 and 543 are relief that may be available to a trustee and are not among those sections explicitly excluded. Thus, the plain language allows a court to allow a foreign representative to utilize turnover subject, as § 1521 requires, to sufficient protections under § 1522.
Moreover, Congress did not otherwise preclude a foreign representative from being given authority to seek turnover under § 542 or § 543. The Bankruptcy Code in § 103(a) provides that "chapters 1, 3, and 5 of this title apply in a case under chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 of this title, and this chapter, sections 307, 362(o), 555 through 557, and 559 through 562 apply in a case under chapter 15." 11 U.S.C. § 103(a). Congress did not use a limiting phrase such as "only" in listing the sections which have immediate application in Chapter 15 cases. See In re Pro-Fit Holdings, Ltd., 391 B.R. 850, 866 (Bankr. C.D.Cal.2008)
Further, if § 103 was intended to constitute the constellation of Code provisions applicable in Chapter 15, that would render § 1521(a)(7) meaningless. Section 1521(a)(7) provides that a bankruptcy court may "grant[] any additional relief that may be available to a trustee, except for" specified avoidance actions; if Congress had intended that the only powers available to a debtor or trustee which are also available to a foreign representative are those expressly incorporated by § 103, then § 1521(a)(7) serves no purpose, particularly given that § 1511 expressly authorizes a foreign representative to commence another case under another chapter of the Bankruptcy Code and § 1523 grants a foreign representative standing to bring the excluded avoidance actions in another case commenced under another chapter. Moreover, if a foreign representative was only intended to utilize turnover if another case was pending under the Bankruptcy Code, then § 1523 would grant the foreign representative standing to seek turnover in a case pending under another chapter in addition to use of the excluded avoidance powers. This Court will not adopt an analysis that renders § 1521(a)(7) meaningless. See Kawaauhau v. Geiger, 523 U.S. 57, 62, 118 S.Ct. 974, 140 L.Ed.2d 90 (1998) (courts should hesitate to "adopt an interpretation of a congressional enactment which renders superfluous another portion of that same law.")
Thus, the Bankruptcy Code does not prohibit the court from authorizing the foreign representative to employ turnover powers available under §§ 542 and 543;
An analogous situation regarding § 1521(a)(7) was addressed by the Fifth Circuit in Condor. There, a foreign representative in a foreign main proceeding filed an adversary proceeding in the United States stating claims under the domiciliary law of the foreign debtor, there Nevis,
Similarly, §§ 542 and 543 are not expressly excluded from § 1521(a)(7). Given the broad scope of relief available under Chapter 15, additional exceptions to § 1521(a)(7) should not be implied,
This Court recognizes that few courts have reached the specific issue here of whether Chapter 15 allows a foreign representative to utilize the turnover provisions of §§ 542 and 543; these courts have generally recognized a foreign representative's right to seek turnover, but not via § 542 and § 543, but rather, under § 1521(a)(5) and (b). Compare In re Lee, 472 B.R. 156, 182 (Bankr.D.Mass.2012)
While this Court will entrust the foreign representatives with the administration and realization of the Offshore Funds' assets within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States under § 1521(a)(5),
This same protection will also apply to the use of discovery under § 1521(a)(4) — discovery will only be permitted by motion on notice with an opportunity for hearing to the adverse parties and by making examination and production of documents under Rule 2004 of the Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (the "Bankruptcy Rules") available, with any discovery to be allowed to be subject to conditions imposed in accordance with § 1522. See, e.g., In re Millennium Global Emerging Credit Master Fund Ltd., 471 B.R. 342, 347 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2012) (although not reaching the issue, the court discussed that granting the foreign representative broad discovery rights under § 1521(a)(4) by making the full scope of Bankruptcy Rule 2004 available would be consistent with the main purposes of Chapter 15 and former § 304).
The legislative history to Chapter 15 directs courts to use case law interpreting former 304 in interpreting current Chapter 15 issues, unless the former 304 is contradicted by the current provisions of Chapter 15. See H.R.REP. NO. 109-31, at 145
Former § 304 authorized granted courts to order turnover of estate property upon request of a foreign representative.
Prior to the enactment of Chapter 15, several courts had suggested that turnover powers available under §§ 542 and 543 were not available to a foreign representative under a case commenced under former § 304, as former § 304(b) specifically authorized turnover. See Ma v. Cont'l Bank, N.A., 905 F.2d 1073, 1075 (7th Cir. 1990) (concluding that former § 304(b) not § 542 would permit the foreign representative to direct the stakeholder to surrender assets); In re Treco, 229 B.R. 280, 292 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.1999), aff'd, 239 B.R. 36 (S.D.N.Y.1999), rev'd on other grounds, 240 F.3d 148 (2d Cir.2001) (stating that § 542 was "inapplicable in ancillary cases" commenced under former § 304); see generally In re Koreag, Controle et Revision S.A., 961 F.2d 341, 357 (2d Cir.1992) ("[A] § 304 proceeding is not a bankruptcy case that implicates the full range of procedural and substantive provisions applicable to domestic bankruptcies."); In re Metzeler, 78 B.R. 674, 677 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.1987) ("a foreign representative may assert, under § 304, only those avoiding powers vested in him by the law applicable to the foreign estate.")
Here, as noted above, Chapter 15 does not have a specific provision authorizing turnover under § 542 or § 543, but does have the general incorporation of powers available to a trustee under § 1521(a)(7), subject to the protection of affected interests under § 1522; read together, these provisions harmonize the turnover provisions of former § 304, and do not reflect a legislative intention to eradicate a foreign representative's ability to seek turnover.
"Central to Chapter 15 is comity." Ad Hoc Group of Vitro Noteholders v. Vitro S.A.B. de CV (In re Vitro S.A.B. de CV), 701 F.3d 1031, 1043 (5th Cir.2012); Condor, 601 F.3d at 321 (Chapter 15 "directs courts [pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1508] to `consider its international origin, and the need to promote an application of th[e]
In re British Am. Ins. Co. Ltd., 2013 WL 765373, at *2 (Bankr.S.D.Fla. Feb. 28, 2013) (quoting United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Cross-Border Insolvency: Guide to Enactment of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, at part 2 ¶ 12, U.N. Doc. A/CN.9/442 (Dec. 19, 1997), available at http://www.uncitral.org/ pdf/english/texts/insolven/insolvency-e.pdf ["Model Law"]). Comity has been defined as the "recognition which one nation allows within its territory to the legislative, executive or judicial acts of another nation, having due regard both to international duty and convenience, and to the rights of its own citizens, or of other persons who are under the protections of its laws." Vitro, 701 F.3d at 1043-44, quoting Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U.S. 113, 164, 16 S.Ct. 139, 40 L.Ed. 95 (1895). Post-recognition relief, such as the additional relief sought by Petitioners, "is largely discretionary and turns on subjective factors that embody principles of comity." In re Bear Stearns High-Grade Structured Credit Strategies Master Fund, Ltd., 389 B.R. 325, 333 (S.D.N.Y.2008); British Am., 2013 WL 765373, at *25 (same).
Petitioners' general request for the use of § 542 or § 543 powers pursuant to § 1521(a)(7) is consistent with principles of international comity. As noted in Condor, while § 1521(a)(7) allows a bankruptcy court to grant a foreign representative additional relief other than under §§ 522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 550, and 724(a), "[t]his exception does not exist in the Model Law." Condor, 601 F.3d at 323. The Model Law at Article 21 would provide for "[g]ranting any relief that may be available to [insert the title of a person or body administering a reorganization or liquidation under the law of the enacting State] under the laws of this State." Model Law, Art. 21 at ¶ 1(g). The Model Law at Article 22 would require that for any grant of relief under Article 21, "the court must be satisfied that the interests of the creditors and other interested persons, including the
As Judge Kimball noted in British American, the Model Law has been enacted in the following countries: Australia (2008), British Virgin Islands, overseas territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2003), Canada (2005), Colombia (2006), Eritrea (1998), Great Britain (2006), Greece (2010), Japan (2000), Mauritius (2009), Mexico (2000), Montenegro (2002), New Zealand (2006), Poland (2003), Republic of Korea (2006), Romania (2002), Serbia (2004), Slovenia (2007), South Africa (2000), Uganda (2011), and the United States of America (2005). British Am., 2013 WL 765373, at *2; UNCITRAL, Status: 1997-Model Law on Cross-border Insolvency, http:// www.uncitral.org/uncitral/en/uncitral_ texts/insolvency/1997Model_status.html (last visited March 12, 2013).
For the foregoing reasons, this Court will entrust the foreign representatives with the administration and realization of the Offshore Funds' assets within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States under § 1521(a)(5), will authorize Petitioners to seek turnover of any of the Offshore Funds' assets located within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States under § 542 or § 543, and will permit Petitioners to seek discovery or seek examination or production of documents pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2004, subject to the requirement that any request for turnover or for discovery must be sought by motion on notice in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 2002.
An order consistent herewith shall issue.
11 U.S.C. § 1509(f). However, this generalized request for relief is not properly now before the Court, and the Court advised Petitioners at the Additional Relief Hearing that it was not considering this request at this juncture.
11 U.S.C. § 1521(a)(1)-(2).
Pro-Fit Holdings, Ltd., 391 B.R. at 866.
CLARK, CHAPTER 15 § 7[2]; see also Leif M. Clark & Karen Goldstein, Sacred Cows: How to Care for Secured Creditors' Rights in Cross-Border Bankruptcies, 46 TEX. INT'L L.J. 513, 529 ("An additional section that a foreign representative might think to use in making a request for turnover of assets is § 1507.").
11 U.S.C. § 304(c) (2000), repealed by BAPCPA § 802(d)(3).
11 U.S.C. § 1507.