DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION FOR RECOGNITION AND CROSS-MOTION FOR DISMISSAL

ROBERT E. GERBER, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE:

In this chapter 15 case commenced by the foreign representative liquidator (the "Liquidator") of the debtors Creative Finance Ltd. ("Creative Finance") and Cosmorex Ltd. ("Cosmorex," and with Creative Finance, the "Debtors"), the Court has before it a contested motion for section 1517 recognition, and a related motion by creditor Marex Financial Ltd. ("Marex"), the Debtors' only non-insider creditor, for dismissal under section 305 of the Bankruptcy Code, by reason of the Debtors' bad faith.

The case presents two issues as to which the underlying caselaw law is thin. First, are chapter 15's statutory requirements for recognition of a foreign main proceeding satisfied when — by the debtors' design — the foreign representative's activities before his chapter 15 filing have been so minimal that the Court cannot find that the Debtors' "Center of Main Interests" ("COMI") ever changed from the nation(s) where the Debtors actually did business to the different nation in which the foreign representative was appointed?

And second, must a U.S. Bankruptcy Court tolerate debtor bad faith in a chapter 15 case that a U.S. court would never tolerate in a case under any other chapter of the Code?

It is rare in chapter 15 cases for foreign representatives to do such minimal activity on behalf of the estates for whom they have been appointed, and even rarer for that to happen by design. And while bankruptcy filings with debtor misconduct or only a single non-insider creditor are not all that rare in cases under chapter 11, they are quite unusual in cases under chapter 15. Additionally, as the Second Circuit noted in its well known Fairfield Sentry decision,1 a case of great importance here, "few courts have considered the meaning of COMI under chapter 15, especially with respect to the time frame and the factors that bear on the question."2 And while the ability of bankruptcy courts to protect against debtors' bad faith efforts to create a new COMI was expressly recognized by the Circuit in Fairfield Sentry, the Circuit there did not need to examine that ability in any significant way. For each of those reasons, this case presents issues as to which there is only modest precedent in this district and circuit.

But the proper outcome with respect to the issues before this Court is not at all in doubt. Cases that are very familiar to the international insolvency community (including, especially, the SPhinX cases,3 the Bear Stearns cases,4 and their progeny5) make clear that a COMI in the jurisdiction in which the foreign representative was appointed is essential to recognition as a foreign main proceeding. And while a COMI can (and not infrequently does) change from the jurisdiction in which a foreign debtor actually did business to a "letterbox" jurisdiction,6 it can do so only where material activities have been undertaken in the jurisdiction in which the foreign proceeding was filed — thus providing a meaningful basis for the expectations of third parties.

For reasons set forth below, the Court rules — consistent with principles articulated by the Second Circuit in Fairfield Sentry — that while the Debtors' COMI could have changed to the British Virgin Islands ("BVI") after the filing there and before the chapter 15 filing in the U.S., it did not do so here. By reason of the minimal activities by the Liquidator in the BVI, as orchestrated by the Debtors' principals, the Debtors' COMI never changed; the Liquidator never developed a COMI in the jurisdiction in which he was appointed; and chapter 15's statutory requirements for recognition as a foreign main proceeding were not satisfied. And for slightly different reasons, the Debtors never had even an "establishment" in the BVI, precluding recognition as a foreign nonmain proceeding either. As to each type of proceeding, recognition must be, and is, denied.

For that reason, the Court does not need to decide what it would have done if it had concluded that recognition had to be granted. In light of its conclusion that recognition here cannot be granted, the Court does not reach the issue of whether a foreign proceeding in which recognition has been granted is subject to abstention or dismissal under section 305.

Likewise, the Court does not need to decide what it would have done with the egregious bad faith it finds here if recognition — especially as a foreign main proceeding — had to be granted. But the Court observes that in chapter 15, as in chapter 11, U.S. courts need not tolerate debtor bad faith. Whether or not section 305 is an available mechanism to address bad faith (a matter that the Court, given its recognition ruling, does not here need to decide), other mechanisms exist under the Code. For example, although recognition as a foreign main proceeding, if granted, would make section 362 of the Code applicable to any assets in the United States,7 relief from the stay could thereafter be granted "for cause."8 And under extensive caselaw, bad faith filing is a well established basis for finding such "cause."9 Though it is unnecessary to address the problem now, the Court is confident that U.S. courts and injured creditors, here and abroad, can be protected from such debtor bad faith.

The Court's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in connection with these determinations follow.

Factual Summary

As described in more detail below, this chapter 15 case was brought as one of the several steps in a scheme by the Debtors' principal Carlos Sevilleja ("Sevilleja") — referred to by the Liquidator as "Carlos"10 — to exploit a BVI liquidation proceeding as a device to thwart enforcement of a $5 million judgment against the Debtors that Marex won in the courts of England — and the most blatant effort to hinder, delay and defraud a creditor this Court has ever seen.

In late July 2013, a lawsuit brought by Marex against the Debtors in the English High Court of Justice was nearly over. Entry of judgment for Marex against each of the Debtors was imminent. On July 19, 2013, in accordance with English practice, a judge of the English court circulated a draft ruling advising of his decision to enter judgment in favor of Marex, in excess of $5.6 million (U.S.equivalent), against each of the Debtors. He further directed that the Debtors make payment on the judgment by August 8, and restrained actions to thwart the judgment that was about to be entered. But between receipt of the draft ruling and the deadline for payment, Sevilleja caused all of the Debtors' liquid assets — over $9.5 million — to be transferred out of the Debtors' accounts in the U.K.

Though they did most of their business in the U.K. and suffered entry of a judgment there, and though their operations were directed out of Spain and Dubai, the Debtors were organized under the law of a letterbox jurisdiction — the British Virgin Islands — though they did not do business there. After an abortive effort by Marex to put the Debtors in involuntary insolvency proceedings in the BVI and to appoint an independent liquidator there (which Marex withdrew about two months later), Sevilleja caused the Debtors to file their own voluntary insolvency proceeding in the BVI, and to appoint their own liquidator — giving the Liquidator just enough funding to comply with the minimum requirements of BVI law (such as sending out notices to creditors, holding creditor meetings, and making filings with the BVI court) but not enough to pursue or investigate the transfer of the $9.5 million, or even to ascertain the location and amount of the Debtors' assets, much less liquidate them.

Lacking the funding to do any more than the statutory minimum (and being disinclined to do anything more in the absence of funding), the Liquidator did nothing further. He never did anything as basic as obtaining the Debtors' ledgers and journals. Nor did he secure any bank records that Marex had not already provided to him. He took no steps to ascertain what happened to the $9.5 million. The Liquidator was informed by Marex of the transfer out of the U.K. of the $9.5 million, and the probability — especially given Sevilleja's failure to provide any information as to where the money had gone — of an obvious fraudulent conveyance. But other than sending a single e-mail to Sevilleja (stating — to respond to Marex's criticisms — little more than "I do have a statutory duty to make appropriate enquiries," and that "I should, therefore, be grateful if you could provide me with an explanation"), the Liquidator conducted no investigation and took no action. And when Sevilleja ignored that e-mail, the Liquidator did nothing further.

Though Sevilleja and his associates failed to respond to the Liquidator's e-mail, Sevilleja and other insiders nevertheless were somehow able to, and did, file proofs of claim in the BVI insolvency proceedings they had commenced — for more than $21 million against Creative Finance, and $22 million against Cosmorex. But the Liquidator took no steps to gauge the legitimacy of these insider claims.

Then, consistent with Sevilleja's plan, the Liquidator filed for chapter 15 relief in the U.S. — which, if recognition as a main proceeding were granted, would provide the benefits of the U.S. automatic stay, and preclude execution by Marex on assets Marex could find in the United States. Though Marex was the Debtors' only non-insider creditor, its judgment enforcement efforts would thereby be blocked. From beginning to end, Sevilleja's tactics were a paradigmatic example of bad faith, and the Liquidator's actions — and inaction — facilitated them.

Findings of Fact11

After a multi-day evidentiary hearing, the Court finds the following as facts.

1. Background

Creative Finance and Cosmorex, each of which was organized under the law of the BVI in 1995, were primarily engaged in foreign exchange trading, trading through accounts provided by third parties, such as Refco Capital Markets. They conducted most (and probably all)12 of their business through foreign exchange brokers located outside of the BVI. The Debtors ceased all operations and business well before the commencement of the BVI insolvency proceedings.

The Debtors' current sole director is Jose Blas Perez Alandi, an individual whose address is in Spain. Their sole shareholder is Sevilleja, an individual who does not reside in the BVI, though the record does not reflect whether he spends most of his time in Spain or Dubai.

2. The Marex Litigation

Before the BVI insolvency proceedings were commenced, Marex sued each of the two Debtors under a number of contracts in the High Court of Justice in England, Queen's Bench Division Commercial Court (the "English Court"). The contracts provided that they were governed by the laws of England and Wales, and contained clauses providing for jurisdiction in England. All of the underlying transactions between Marex and the Debtors that gave rise to the dispute were transactions entered into on Sevilleja's instructions from outside of the BVI. And at the time of the BVI insolvency proceedings, the Debtors' only physical presence in the BVI was through a registered agent and P.O. Box, and the Debtors had no directors, employees or officers located in the BVI. But two of the contracts listed the Debtors' "principal place of business office" in the BVI.13

In civil litigation in the English Court, that court may circulate a draft of its ruling in confidence to the parties prior to issuing a judgment.14 As part of this practice, the English Court also issues orders restraining the parties from any actions to frustrate the announced ruling.15 On July 19, 2013, Mr. Justice Field, the judge presiding over the contract dispute in the English Court, circulated a draft judgment embodying a ruling against each of the Debtors and in favor of Marex in an amount in excess of U.S. $5 million (equivalent) plus costs.16 The draft contained the customary language restraining the parties from taking actions in response to the draft judgment before its formal pronouncement, the breach of which "may be treated as contempt of court."17

On July 26, 2013, the English Court entered an order and judgment (the "English Judgment"), consistent with the draft ruling described above. It set August 8, 2013 as the deadline for amounts due under the English Judgment to be paid by the Debtors to Marex. The Debtors did not pursue an appeal of the English Judgment and lost the right to do so on September 30, 2013. To date, the Debtors have not paid to Marex any amounts due under the English Judgment.

Without dispute, in the time between the date the English Court announced the judgment and the date by which the Debtors were directed to pay the judgment amount, over U.S. $9.5 million was transferred from the Debtors' accounts in England to accounts overseas.18 The inference is inescapable, and the Court finds, that these transfers were orchestrated by Sevilleja in a blatant attempt to avoid payment of the English Judgment. Through post-judgment discovery in the English litigation, Marex obtained financial records from the Debtors' foreign exchange brokers and financial service providers in England.19 Documents were produced by FIXI plc ("FIXI"), FXCM Securities Limited ("FXCM") and IG Markets ("IG"), reflecting Sevilleja's deliberate depletion of liquid assets from the Debtors between June 17, 2013, about a month prior to the date the draft of the English Judgment was circulated, and August 8, 2013, the deadline set by the English Court for payment.20

The documents produced by FIXI established that Sevilleja directed the following transfers from Cosmorex's accounts with FIXI in England to an account in Gibraltar:

The documents produced by FXCM demonstrated that Sevilleja also requested the transfer of funds from Creative Finance's account with FXCM, in the amount of almost U.S. $2.5 million, and Cosmorex's account with FXCM, in an amount in excess of U.S. $1.1 million, to accounts in Dubai.22 Finally, the documents produced by IG showed that on August 5, 2013, Sevilleja requested that the balance of Cosmorex's account with IG, totaling about U.S. $4,000, be transferred to an account in Gibraltar.23 The evidence validates Marex's allegations that Sevilleja purposefully moved the Debtors' assets beyond the reach of Marex in anticipation of the English Judgment.

3. The Refco Claims

Marex also discovered that after the efforts of Sevilleja to spirit away the liquid assets of the Debtors, the Debtors' only remaining material assets were allowed unsecured claims against the estate of Refco Capital Markets in a chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, In re Refco Inc., Case No. 05-60006, 2006 WL 3409088 (S.D.N.Y. Nov.16, 2006) (the "Refco Case"), before Judge Drain of this Court.24 Creative Finance holds a claim in the amount of about U.S. $65 million, and Cosmorex holds a claim in the amount of about U.S. $106 million (together, the "Refco Claims").25 Shockingly — though consistent with the earlier events just described — despite having received an interim distribution in excess of U.S. $1.7 million from the Refco Case in August 2013,26 the Debtors possessed no liquid assets as of the commencement of the BVI proceedings a few months later.27 That $1.7 million had disappeared too.

4. The Domestication Proceeding

In an attempt to enforce the English Judgment in the U.S. (and in particular, to capture any future28 distributions on account of the Debtors' Refco Claims), Marex commenced an action (the "Domestication Proceeding") on August 29, 2013 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, to have the English Judgment recognized and domesticated by a New York court. On October 30, 2013, an order granting Summary Judgment in Lieu of Complaint was entered in the Domestication Proceeding. About 10 days later, the New York County Clerk entered judgments (the "Domestication Judgments") against each of the Debtors in favor of Marex for the full amount of the English Judgment, and counsel for Marex served notice upon the Debtors.

On September 6, 2013 (after the Domestication Proceeding had been commenced, but before the Domestication Judgments had been entered), Marex applied to the High Court of Justice, British Virgin Islands (Commercial Division) (the "BVI Court") to place the Debtors in liquidation and appoint a liquidator. On November 18, 2013 (due, Marex says, to cost implications),29 Marex withdrew its applications to commence liquidation against the Debtors in the BVI. The Liquidator says that Marex's withdrawal was because Marex opted "to seize the Debtors' assets for its own benefit" after securing the Domestication Judgments,30 and the Court agrees in part; it finds that the last thing Marex wanted was to share the recovery on its judgments with insiders of the Debtors who might (and later did) file claims against the Debtors' assets. But while the Court finds that Marex was undoubtedly attempting to protect its own interests and to act for its own benefit, the Court further finds that Marex was the Debtors' only non-insider creditor. The Court further finds that Marex's measures were a response to the Debtors' machinations, and though Marex can be criticized for inconsistent measures to collect on its judgments, Marex's actions pale by comparison to the Debtors' outrageous conduct, and provide no reason for disregarding the latter.

5. Debtors' Commencement of BVI Insolvency Proceedings

After the Domestication Judgments were entered and served, Marex continued to pursue efforts to recover on its judgments, now by seeking to effect its judgment execution by garnishment on further distributions that might thereafter be made on the Debtors' Refco Claims. In December 2013, Marex entered into a stipulation with the Trustee of the Refco Private Actions Trust, the Refco Litigation Trust, and the Refco Plan Administrator (the "December Stipulation"). Among other things, the December Stipulation directed that future distributions to which the Debtors would be entitled from the Refco estate would be paid directly to Marex instead.31

But shortly after Marex served the Domestication Judgments, Sevilleja directed that the Debtors be put into liquidation in the BVI. To accomplish that, he issued shareholder's resolutions on December 12, 2013, which he signed as sole shareholder. The resolutions provided for the appointment of the Liquidator — not just any liquidator, but this particular Liquidator, by name.32 Just before his appointment (but on the same day, December 12, 2013),33 the Liquidator entered into an indemnity agreement (the "Indemnity Agreement") with Creative Finance Dubai, an entity affiliated with Sevilleja, under which Creative Finance Dubai agreed to indemnify the Liquidator for his costs and expenses in conducting the BVI insolvency proceedings. But the indemnification obligation was unsecured, and the Liquidator had no realistic means of enforcing it against an entity in Dubai for any costs and expenses not already advanced or collateralized. The Liquidator received the initial funding that would allow the Liquidator to carry out his basic statutory duties34 — but no more than that.

On December 16, 2013, the Liquidator verbally informed Marex's BVI counsel of his appointment,35 and the next day, the Liquidator sent notice of his appointment, as well as information regarding the first meetings of creditors, to any known creditors.36 Despite having been apprised of the commencement of the BVI insolvency proceedings (and by conduct that troubles this Court, though not as much as the Debtors' conduct and the Liquidator's inaction does), Marex did not, at any point in time, notify the Liquidator of the then-pending negotiation of the Refco Claims December Stipulation. Rather (by conduct that once again troubles the Court, but once again not as much as the Debtors' conduct and the Liquidator's inaction does), Marex submitted the December Stipulation to the Court in the Refco Case for approval without informing Judge Drain of the Debtors' BVI insolvency proceedings.37 In fact, the Liquidator did not become aware of the December Stipulation's negotiation and execution until he received a letter from Refco's Plan Administrator on December 27, 2013.38

But while the Refco Plan Administrator's letter informed the Liquidator of the pending December Stipulation before Judge Drain, the Liquidator did not object to the approval of the December Stipulation in the Refco Case. On December 30, 2013, with no objections having been filed, Judge Drain so-ordered the December Stipulation. The Liquidator did not appeal the entry of the order approving the December Stipulation.

6. Subsequent Proceedings in the BVI

On January 2, 2014, the Liquidator held the first meetings of creditors at his offices in the BVI.39 The minutes of the meetings note that although Marex had submitted proofs of claim in the BVI proceedings, Marex did not submit a proxy or attend those meetings. The minutes also show that only insiders (or proxies for insiders) attended.40

On February 10, 2014, the BVI Court entered an order that:

Additionally, on the same day, a creditors' committee for Cosmorex (the "Committee") was appointed. It was composed solely of three insiders — Creative Finance Dubai (the same entity that had executed the Indemnification Agreement); Sarina Management Limited; and Sevilleja associate Erik Franx.42 It has not been disputed that Creative Finance Dubai is an entity related to the Debtors,43 and that Sarina Management Limited is controlled by Sevilleja.44 Likewise, the third member of the Committee, Erik Franx, is a former officer of Cosmorex and served as an assistant to Sevilleja.45

Also on February 10, 2014, the Liquidator issued a report (on what appears to be a PowerPoint) to creditors of the Debtors. As the Liquidator reported, Marex holds the only non-insider claim.46

As stated by the Liquidator, the total of the claims asserted against Debtor Creative Finance was about U.S. $29 million,47 comprised of:

And as stated by the Liquidator, the total of the claims asserted against Debtor Cosmorex was U.S. $32,464,652.4350 comprised of the following:

7. Actions — and Inaction — by Liquidator After His Appointment

With the commencement of the BVI proceedings, the directors and principals of the Debtors ceased to have any power or duties. Rather, as a matter of BVI law, the Liquidator thereby became the sole manager of the Debtors.52 But he did nothing to either manage or liquidate the Debtors other than performing the minimum functions required by BVI statutes53 — performing administrative tasks (such as opening bank accounts for the Debtors,54 and gathering and preparing required documents55), and providing notice of the commencement of the BVI insolvency proceedings and the appointment of a liquidator to relevant parties;56 calling for creditors to file claims;57 holding the first meeting of creditors;58 and issuing the formal 60-day reports.59

After his appointment, and before the filing of the Chapter 15 petitions in this Court, the Liquidator never collected any assets60 of the Debtors, nor did he liquidate any assets.61 He did not shut down any businesses of the Debtors,62 pay any taxes,63 or bring any causes of action on behalf of the Debtors' estates.64 Nor did he conduct any investigation,65 despite circumstances crying out for investigation here.

Likewise, with the exception of coming to an agreement with Marex's UK counsel on the fee component of Marex's claim,66 the Liquidator did not pay or even settle any claims. In fact, he told this Court that the claims adjudication process did not move beyond a low-level initial analysis.67 This Court was told that the Liquidator had collected the books and records from both the director and registered agent of the Debtors, and that his staff had begun an "initial investigation of the Debtors' liabilities."68 But when probed with respect to what he had done and what he had not, the Liquidator admitted that he had not even collected the Debtors' journals and ledgers.69 The books and records that had been collected were solely those that Marex provided to him.70 The Liquidator did not secure any bank records on his own.

And despite having retained the Liquidator and having initiated the BVI insolvency proceedings, Sevilleja did not provide the Liquidator with the Debtors' financial records.71 Nor did the Liquidator do anything more than the most minimal steps to get them. Though it was his legal obligation to do so, Sevilleja never turned over the Debtors' financial records.72

Counsel for the Liquidator explained in oral argument that BVI law provides for consequences for failing to produce the documents. And he explained that under BVI law, "if you don't fulfill your obligations, you get fined."73 But then:

Further evidencing his failure to manage the Debtors' affairs after his appointment was the Liquidator's inaction with respect to the $9.5 million of missing assets. After receiving a list of the accounts, dates, and amounts of the transfers from Marex (and not by his own effort), the Liquidator's only attempt to collect more information was the dispatch of a single e-mail, to "Carlos" and his associates — remarkable for its purpose (to respond to Marex's criticisms); for its timidity; for its lack of concern (if not also outrage) over what the individuals who had retained him had done; for its focus on ensuring no more than that his "duties are fulfilled"; and for its lack of follow-up. In that e-mail, sent to the Debtors' directors and principals, including Sevilleja, on April 4, 2014, the Liquidator stated:

In response to questioning focusing on the substance and tone of that e-mail, the Liquidator conceded that his e-mail was "benign."76 But he asserted that it was a strategic attempt to begin a dialogue with Sevilleja.77 If that is true, the Court is astounded by the lack of action following that supposed beginning. Sevilleja, perhaps not surprisingly, never responded. And the Liquidator never did anything further — not by way of subpoena, not by way of letter, not even by picking up the phone.78 And at the trial on this contested petition for recognition, the Liquidator made it clear that without further funding, he would not pursue an investigation into the fraudulent transfer claims.79

Though Sevilleja and his associates failed to respond to the Liquidator's e-mail, Sevilleja and other insiders nevertheless were able to, and did, file proofs of claim in the BVI insolvency proceedings they'd commenced — for more than $21 million against Creative Finance, and $22 million against Cosmorex. But the Liquidator took no steps to gauge the legitimacy of those insider claims.

Upon its review of the entirety of the evidence, the Court finds that the Liquidator did no more than the bare minimum necessary to comply with his statutory duties, if that, and that the limited activities he undertook fell far short of being sufficient to justify a finding that the Debtors' COMI moved to the BVI. If compliance with the bare minimum necessary to comply with statutory duties nevertheless required material effort, the Court could then find that the COMI had changed. But the activities here fell far short of anything that could legitimately be characterized as "material effort."

Though managing a liquidation requires less effort than running an active business, here even the most basic activities — such as getting bank records, ledgers, journals and back-up documents for cash receipts and expenditures — were not undertaken. Nor were available financial records analyzed except in the most perfunctory manner. And the failure to pursue, by more than a single, hesitant e-mail, the disappearance of $9.5 million — the entirety of the Debtors' liquid assets — further reinforces the Court's finding of how minimal the Liquidator's efforts were here.

It is possible that the reason the Liquidator did so little here was that Sevilleja and his associates failed to cooperate and ensure payment for the work that had to be done. But without needing to make a finding as to whether, as a matter of professionalism or BVI law, the work should have been done anyway, the Court finds simply that it was not done.

8. Factual Findings re Liquidator's Management of the Debtors

The Court expresses no view as to whether the Liquidator's conduct was or was not sufficient, under BVI law, to ensure that his "duties [were] fulfilled." That is a matter for the BVI courts. But this Court finds as a fact that the Liquidator never managed the Debtors' business, nor took the necessary steps to liquidate them, in any material way — and, as a finding of fact, that his efforts were so minimal that the Debtors' COMI never shifted from Spain, Dubai, or (possibly) England, where Sevilleja actually did business,80 to the BVI.

Likewise, the Court finds that just as the Liquidator failed to do enough to manage the Debtors so that their COMI would change, he failed to do enough to support a finding that the Debtors had an "establishment" in the BVI. The Debtors never conducted any nontransitory economic activity in the BVI; did not conduct business in the BVI; and never had a seat for local business activity in the BVI.

9. Proceedings in this Court

The Liquidator filed this chapter 15 case on February 19, 2014, about two months after the December 12, 2013 date on which the Debtors had issued resolutions appointing him and the December 12, 2013 date of the Indemnity Agreement, and nine days after the February 10, 2014 date his appointment had been approved by the BVI Court. On the same day that this chapter 15 case was filed, the Liquidator sought recognition in this Court of the BVI insolvency proceeding as a foreign main proceeding, or, alternatively, as a foreign nonmain proceeding.

The chapter 15 case was filed here before the Liquidator had made any investigation, or any inquiry at all, with respect to the missing funds. As noted above, his one and only inquiry to Sevilleja about the missing funds was made by e-mail dated April 4, 2014, about six weeks after the chapter 15 filing in this Court.

In March 2014, Marex and the Liquidator learned that further distributions might be forthcoming soon thereafter in the Refco Case.81 Marex desired to capture Refco Case distributions to satisfy its judgments, and the Liquidator advised the Court of his possible desire to seek a TRO, or other section 1519 interim relief, to prevent payments from going to Marex until the Liquidator's request for recognition, then scheduled to be heard on March 26,82 was decided. At a status conference on March 5, 2014, it was determined that a three-way stipulation would be drafted providing that if and when the Refco estate made any further distributions to the Refco creditor community, it would pay those distributions into the registry of the Court, and get the same kind of dispensation that a stakeholder would get in an interpleader action.83 If approved, the stipulation would then be so-ordered by each of this Court and Judge Drain.84 It would preserve the status quo through the time the Court ruled on recognition.85

The contemplated stipulation (the "Standstill Stipulation") was thereafter executed and so-ordered by each of this Court and Judge Drain.86 It provided, in accordance with the Court's earlier direction, that further distributions on the Refco Claims would be deposited into the Court's registry. The Court's records reflect that four such distributions (two for each of the two Debtors) were thereafter placed in the Court's registry, and that the Court now holds a total of $1,744,678.80 — with $692,590.56 having been received on the Refco claims of Debtor Creative Finance, and $1,052,088.24 on the Refco claims of Cosmorex.

10. Factual Findings re Bad Faith

The Court further finds, as a fact, should it ever become material in any proceedings to follow,87 that Sevilleja and his associates — and hence the Debtors — were guilty of bad faith in numerous respects. They included, without limitation (wholly apart from moving the $9.5 million in Debtor assets out of the U.K. in the face of an imminent adverse ruling from the English Court), attempting (unfortunately, successfully) to control a BVI liquidator, who was supposed to act as an independent fiduciary, by the purse strings; failing to respond to the Liquidator's inquiries; depriving the Liquidator of the resources he needed to properly do his job; and orchestrating this entire chapter 15 case to deprive their only noninsider creditor of much or all of the fruits of its judgments.88

Discussion

The Liquidator, as the foreign representative of Debtors Creative Finance and Cosmorex, seeks recognition by this Court of the Debtors' BVI foreign proceedings in the U.S. as a "foreign main proceeding," under section 1517(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code or, alternatively, as a "foreign non-main proceeding" under section 1517(b)(2). The Debtors' sole non-insider creditor Marex opposes this request; Marex asserts that recognition should be denied:

Marex also seeks dismissal, under section 305, by reason of the Debtors' bad faith, and as addressed in the post-argument briefing, seeks alternative relief that would address the Debtor abuses by means other than section 305.

The Court addresses these in turn.

I.

Recognition

A. The Statutory Scheme

Section 1517 of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in relevant part:

"Upon recognition of a foreign main proceeding, Section 1520 provides certain automatic, nondiscretionary relief, including an automatic stay of all proceedings against the debtor in the United States."89 A discretionary stay is also available under section 1521 of the Code, regardless of whether a foreign main proceeding is recognized.90

Finally, section 1506 provides an "overriding public policy exception to all of Chapter 15 ..."91 Section 1506 provides that:

Thus, subject to any constraints section 1506 might impose, recognition, by reason of section 1517(a)'s use of the word "shall," is mandatory in instances in which the requirements of section 1517 have been satisfied.92

But recognition is not a "rubber stamp exercise,"93 and the ultimate burden of proof for each of section 1517's requirements is on the foreign representative.94 For speed and convenience in instances in which the COMI is obvious and undisputed,95 section 1516(c)96 provides a presumption that the COMI is the place of the debtor's registered office, though this presumption is rebuttable.97 Section 1516(c) "does not tie the hands of a court to examine the facts more closely in any instances where the court regards the issues to be sufficiently material to warrant further inquiry."98 And in that event, the petitioner still has the burden of persuasion.99

For the finding of an "establishment" that is a requirement for finding a nonmain proceeding, there is no comparable presumption,100 and the existence of an "establishment" must be established by evidence, with the petitioner once again having the burden.101

B. Effect of section 1506

As noted, section 1517's "statutory mandate" is subject to a public policy exception, embodied in section 1506, which permits a court to refuse recognition `if the action would be manifestly contrary to the public policy of the United States.'"102 But even though, as discussed above, the Court has found bad faith on the part of the Debtors (and though that bad faith must be imputed to the Liquidator, even if he was not trying to assist the individuals who had retained him), and even though anything this Court might do to facilitate the Debtors' conduct could legitimately be said to be contrary to U.S. public policy, the Court does not consider it appropriate to invoke section 1506 under the facts present here.

The Court comes to that view for several reasons. First, while U.S. courts have scrutinized the goals of a party,103 or the fairness of a foreign judicial system or the substance of its laws,104 in considering the section 1506 public policy exception, the Court has seen no precedent applying that exception to the misbehavior of a party alone. The Court has been faced with bad faith filings in U.S. chapter 11 cases as well, and while it has repeatedly taken action to deal with the abusers, it has not elevated its concerns as to the debtor misconduct to the level of public policy. It does not seem right to find a violation of U.S. public policy when U.S. debtors sometimes engage in the same or similar bad faith, under U.S. law.

The text of section 1506 requires that denial of rights available under chapter 15 — including recognition — be confined to instances where granting those rights would be manifestly contrary to the public policy of the U.S. "The statutory wording requires a narrow reading" of that exception.105 As this Court noted in Millard, the exception "is intended to be invoked only under exceptional circumstances concerning matters of fundamental importance for the United States."106

As offended as the Court is by the Debtors' conduct here, the Court believes that section 1506 is inappropriately invoked to deal with it. On the facts here, whether recognition is appropriate (as either a foreign "main" or "nonmain" proceeding) turns on compliance with the requirements of section 1517 alone.

C. Requirements of section 1517

As noted above, in instances in which section 1506 does not justify a different result, recognition is mandatory when each of the requirements of section 1517(a) has been satisfied. Plainly the Liquidator has satisfied two of the three requirements — subsections (2) and (3) — of section 1517(a).107 But under the facts as the Court has found them here, the Liquidator has not satisfied the requirements of subsection (1), wholly apart from the Debtors' bad faith.

Section 1517(a)(1) requires the Court to find that the BVI proceedings are foreign "main" proceedings or "nonmain" proceedings within the meaning of Bankruptcy Code section 1502. Marex contends that the Debtors' BVI proceedings do not qualify as either because the Debtors do not have their COMI in the BVI (as required for a "main" proceeding finding), or an "establishment" in the BVI (as required for a "nonmain" proceeding finding). The Court agrees.

1. "Main" Proceeding

A "foreign main proceeding" is defined in section 1502(4) as a "foreign proceeding pending in the country where the debtor has the center of its main interests." Though as noted, the Code establishes a presumption, under section 1516(c), for the determination of COMI that can be used in easy cases, that presumption is rebuttable, and the Court's hands are not tied when the issues are sufficiently material to warrant further inquiry.108 Thus reliance on the presumption is especially inappropriate in a case where there is a substantial dispute.109 Given the evidence the Court heard here, strongly leading to a contrary conclusion, the Court cannot rely on the presumption.

"Chapter 15 does not define COMI,"110 nor is COMI defined elsewhere in the Code, such as in chapter 1, where most of the Code's definitions can be found. Nor does the Code prescribe the type of evidence that should be considered in a COMI analysis. Because COMI is not statutorily defined, courts are free to develop and consider the particular factors that may be relevant, dependent upon the facts and circumstances present.111 In his decision in SPhinX-Bankruptcy,112 Judge Drain of this Court identified factors courts might look to in making a COMI determination. He stated:

In Fairfield Sentry, the Circuit quoted Judge Drain's "widely adopted list of COMI factors" approvingly — noting also, however, Judge Drain's "warning ... against mechanical application."114 And further to that latter idea, the Circuit added that "[t]his exclusive list is a helpful guide, but consideration of these specific factors is neither required nor dispositive."115 Any relevant activities, including liquidation activities and administrative functions, may be considered in the COMI analysis.116

The "relevant principle," as the Second Circuit explained in Fairfield Sentry, "is that the COMI lies where the debtor conducts its regular business, so that the place is ascertainable by third parties."117 "A COMI that is regular and ascertainable is not easily subject to tactical removal."118

In Bear Stearns, Judge Lifland denied foreign "main" recognition, and in Basis Yield, this Court found material issues of fact as to the propriety of foreign "main" recognition (notwithstanding the section 1516 presumption) with respect to Cayman liquidation proceedings where recognition was sought virtually immediately after the filing of the proceedings in the Cayman Islands. In each of those cases, the Cayman Islands was a letterbox jurisdiction. The evidence showed (or at least strongly suggested) that the foreign debtors had been organized under Cayman law for tax119 or regulatory reasons; had principal places of business elsewhere in the world before their Cayman filings; and had done little or no business in the Cayman Islands before U.S. recognition was sought — impairing the U.S. courts' ability to find that the debtors' COMIs had shifted from the nations where they previously did business to the Cayman Islands.

But after Bear Stearns and Basis Yield were decided, the Second Circuit held, in Fairfield Sentry, that the relevant time for measuring COMI is the time at which the U.S. chapter 15 petition was filed — not the earlier time at which the foreign insolvency proceeding was commenced.120 The effect of that holding is that in instances in which a foreign representative has engaged in significant pre-U.S. filing work to operate (or even liquidate) the foreign debtor in the jurisdiction where the foreign insolvency proceeding was commenced (even if in a letterbox jurisdiction), the COMI can be found to have shifted from the foreign debtor's original principal place of business to the new locale. Though Fairfield Sentry's holding would not have made a difference in Bear Stearns or Basis Yield (because each was filed in the U.S. virtually immediately after the Cayman filing), Fairfield Sentry now provides a means for U.S. recognition of letterbox jurisdiction insolvency proceedings — so long as the estate fiduciaries in those jurisdictions do enough work.

And since Bear Stearns and Basis Yield were decided, foreign representatives from letterbox jurisdictions (such as the Cayman Islands and BVI) have increasingly frequently filed their U.S. chapter 15 cases after they had undertaken substantial work in their letterbox jurisdictions. In such cases, courts in this district — including Judge Lifland, the author of Bear Stearns-Bankruptcy, and this Court, the author of Basis Yield, have readily granted recognition to proceedings emanating from letterbox jurisdictions based on the foreign representatives' material efforts to manage or liquidate their debtors' businesses before coming to the U.S.

But apart from ruling that it would be the state of affairs at the time of chapter 15 filing that matters for COMI purposes, and discussing the standards for finding a COMI, Fairfield Sentry sent still another important message. The Circuit noted the "concern about possible COMI manipulation,"121 and ruled that a court "may look at the period between the commencement of the foreign proceeding and the filing of the Chapter 15 petition to ensure that a debtor has not manipulated its COMI in bad faith."122 Though the relevant time for the determination of COMI is the time of the chapter 15 petition, it is "subject to an inquiry as to whether the process has been manipulated."123 That caveat was important enough to get across that the Fairfield Sentry court mentioned it, one way or another, seven times.124

As Judge Lifland recognized in Fairfield Sentry in his decision that later was affirmed first by the District Court and then by the Circuit, when a foreign representative relocates all of the primary business activities of a debtor to his or her location, the COMI may "become lodged with the foreign representative."125 Judge Lifland thus granted foreign main proceeding recognition in Fairfield Sentry-Bankruptcy;126 Judge Kimball did so in British American-Recognition127 (for one of the two foreign proceedings whose affairs he needed to consider128) and in Isle of Venice-Recognition;129 and this Court did so with respect to several of the letterbox jurisdiction chapter 15 filings on its watch.130

But here, the Court has found that the Liquidator's efforts were so minimal that the Court cannot find the necessary change in COMI. In the two months between the time Sevilleja retained him and the time he filed his chapter 15 case in this Court, the Liquidator failed to do the basic things that can under normal circumstances cause a change in COMI — even in a liquidation.

2. "Nonmain" Proceeding

The Court likewise concludes that it cannot find the BVI proceeding to be a nonmain proceeding either, though for slightly different reasons. The Debtors never had an "establishment" in the BVI before the Liquidator was retained, and the types of things the Liquidator did (and, for that matter, did not do) were not of the type that could permit an "establishment" to be found.

The term "foreign nonmain proceeding" is defined in the Code. It means "a foreign proceeding, other than a foreign main proceeding, pending in a country where the debtor has an establishment."131 "Establishment," unlike COMI, is likewise defined in the Code. "Establishment" means any place of operations where the debtor carries out a nontransitory economic activity.132 "Establishment" has been described as a "local place of business."133

To have an establishment in a country, the debtor must conduct business in that country.134 "The location should constitute a `seat for local business activity' for the debtor."135 The terms "operations" and "economic activity" require a showing of a local effect on the marketplace, more than mere incorporation and record-keeping and more than just the maintenance of property.136

In British American-Recognition, Judge Kimball found that British American Insurance lacked an establishment in the Bahamas. It was undisputed that the debtor there "had no business operation in the Bahamas other than the judicial manager's activities pursuant to his appointment."137 And the estate fiduciary's "retention of counsel and accountants, investigation of assets and liabilities, and reporting to the Bahamas Court did not constitute business activities of [British American Insurance]."138 He further observed that in Bear Stearns-District, Judge Sweet had rejected the same argument — that these kinds of things showed an establishment in the Cayman Islands139 — and observed that the Ran-District court came to the same view.140

The Court reaches the same conclusions as to the failure to show an establishment in the BVI that the courts in Bear Stearns-District, Ran-District, and British American-Recognition did. Here, there was no nontransitory business activity in the BVI, and thus the Liquidator did not make a showing of an "establishment" in the BVI. The Court cannot grant recognition as a foreign nonmain proceeding either.

II.

The Alternative Arguments

A. Use of Section 305

Perhaps in part because this Court suggested, in dictum, in its opinion in In re Millard,141 that section 305 of the Code142 might be available to address debtor bad faith,143 Marex asked this Court to rule that this case should be dismissed for that reason. Ultimately, the Court does not need to decide the issue, as the Court is denying recognition for failure to establish a COMI (or, for that matter, an establishment) in the BVI. Thus there would be no continuing chapter 15 case to dismiss in any event.

B. Remedies for Bad Faith

It perhaps deserves emphasis that the bad faith of Sevilleja and his associates (and hence the Debtors) — which if necessary, could be imputed to the Liquidator under familiar agency principles144 — was not germane to this Court's recognition analysis. As discussed above, recognition turned solely on the requirements of section 1517, and the Liquidator's failure to show a COMI (or establishment) in the BVI, by reason of his minimal effort in managing the Debtors' affairs. But though, here too, the Court does not need to decide what it would have done if it had been compelled to grant recognition here, the Court believes it desirable to note that even in chapter 15, U.S. bankruptcy courts are not helpless in the face of bad faith filing, including of the type this Court has found here.

When recognition is granted as a foreign main proceeding, provisions of other chapters of the Bankruptcy Code become applicable. Section 1520(a)(1) provides, for example, that upon recognition as a foreign main proceeding, "sections 361 and 362 apply with respect to the debtor and the property of the debtor that is within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States." Section 362 of the Code provides for the automatic stay. And — as Sevilleja intended — if recognition were granted, it would trigger the application of section 362 of the Code and in the first instance block Marex's ability to recover any part of the Refco Case distributions under Marex's judgment execution. That is why this chapter 15 case was filed.

But section 362, in addition to imposing the stay in the first place, also provides means to obtain relief from the stay. Under section 1520, section 362 of the Code applies in its entirety — including its section 362(d)(1), which authorizes relief from the stay "for cause." And relief from the stay, for cause, has long been a classic remedy for bad faith filing.145

Reasonable people might question whether relief from the stay is a fully satisfactory substitute for keeping those with bad faith out of the U.S. courts completely. But section 362(d)(1) nevertheless provides at least one means to ensure that the U.S. courts are not wholly helpless to deal with instances of bad faith.

Also, in determining how courts might deal with bad faith if recognition were required, or seemingly required, courts in the future might wish to be mindful of the Second Circuit's repeated reminders in Fairfield Sentry that a bankruptcy court is free to examine circumstances "to ensure that a debtor has not manipulated its COMI in bad faith."146 In Fairfield Sentry, the Circuit repeatedly voiced its sensitivity to the concern that chapter 15 could be invoked in bad faith, and addressed it specifically in the context of the COMI determination.147 Implicit in that is a willingness to conclude that a bad faith invocation of the Code, even in the face of a literal compliance with the requirements of section 1517, can trump any apparent COMI premised on the locale of a foreign representative's activities. That principle could have significance, for example, if the foreign proceeding had been commenced for the improper reasons Sevilleja commenced it here, but the Liquidator had done more work than he did.

To be sure, courts dealing with the issue might need to examine the tension between the Supreme Court's decision in Marrama v. Citizens Bank of Massachusetts148 (which was decided before Fairfield Sentry) and Law v. Siegel,149 decided after it. While all would likely agree that one cannot negate or ignore a requirement of the Code, or otherwise contradict it (with or without reliance on section 105(a) of the Code, upon which the Marrama court relied in part), the Second Circuit imposed its good faith requirement in a different way in Fairfield Sentry. In essence the Circuit declared that a COMI manipulated in bad faith would not be a valid COMI upon which to rely at all. Though in concept it should be impossible, attempts to create, manipulate, or otherwise change a COMI in bad faith can occur in a host of different ways. It is at least arguable that the combination of Marrama and Fairfield Sentry is another means to avoid invocation of the chapter 15 statutory scheme in bad faith.

III.

Remedy; Effective Date of Order

While the Code speaks directly to the effect of an order granting recognition, it does not do likewise with respect to the effect of an order denying it. Obviously, upon the denial of recognition, the foreign representative (here the Liquidator) becomes ineligible to obtain the benefits of section 1520, or to obtain the additional relief potentially available under section 1521. Also, when recognition is denied, a U.S. court must consider the extent to which any interim relief, previously authorized under section 1519 or otherwise, should come to an end.

Here the Court ultimately was not asked to, nor did it, enter any interim relief under section 1519 or otherwise. But the Court (joined by Judge Drain) so ordered the Standstill Stipulation. From this Court's perspective, that stipulation served as an alternative to section 1519 relief.

With recognition having been denied, the purpose for which the Court "so ordered" — i.e., approved — the Standstill Stipulation has come to an end. This Court's approval of the Standstill Stipulation terminates as of the date this Decision and Order becomes effective (the "Effective Date"). Until now, the Standstill Stipulation has prevented Marex from seeking a release of the Refco Case distributions from the registry of the Court. But as a consequence of this Decision and Order, any and all such restraints will be, and hereby are, lifted as of the Effective Date. Likewise, the need for the Refco estate to place distributions in the registry of the Court, rather than by paying them to Marex pursuant to a judgment enforcement garnishment, will terminate on the Effective Date as well.

Nevertheless, it is necessary that the release of funds from the Court registry be approved by a judge of this Court. Any such request can and should now go to Judge Drain. To the extent the request requires permission from this Court, such a request can be made at any time after the Effective Date.

Finally, for the reasons just noted and for any others for which it matters, the Court has considered what date the Effective Date should be. To the extent the Court might select any date after the date of entry of this Decision and Order, the Court would effectively be issuing a stay under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007. With that in mind, the Court has concluded that its order should become effective 14 calendar days from the date of this Decision and Order, but no more than that, and that any further stay of effectiveness must be sought and obtained in the district court.

The decision as to whether or not to grant a stay of an order pending appeal lies within the sound discretion of the court.150 In the Second Circuit, courts have historically considered four factors when determining whether to issue a stay of an order pending appeal:

Since Hirschfeld was decided, the likelihood of success requirement has possibly evolved somewhat, with a panel of the Circuit, in Mohammed v. Reno, having thereafter stated that "ultimately," it saw "considerable merit" in an approach expressed by the D.C. Circuit under which "[t]he necessary `level' or `degree' of possibility of success will vary according to the court's assessment of the other [stay] factors"152 — though that panel did not say (and possibly could not say) that its view as to this would trump the likelihood of success articulation appearing in Hirschfeld. Nevertheless, a district judge in this district has seemingly read Mohammed this way,153 though it later applied the Hirschfeld likelihood of success standard in lieu of Mohammed's.154

The appropriate inquiry calls for a balancing of the four factors.155 But the moving party must show satisfactory evidence on all four criteria.156

Here the Court assumes that very shortly after the Effective Date, Marex will seek to enforce its garnishment of the distributions from the Refco estate, including by way of application to Judge Drain to cause the funds now in the Court registry to be released in favor of Marex. Whether irreparable injury to the Liquidator would exist as a consequence of Marex enforcing its judgments would turn on the ability of Marex to pay back any sums it would thereby recover if an appellate court ultimately determined that recognition should have been granted on the facts of this case. At this point, the Court has no evidence on this either way. But the Court assumes, for the brief 14-day stay it will impose, that Marex might not be able to return any recovery it obtains.157 If a request for any further stay of the Effective Date is made, Marex can advise the court hearing the request as to its ability to pay back any sums Marex might recover, and/or the two sides can further confirm or refute the assumptions the Court has made up to this point.

As for the second ground, the Court finds no significant injury to Marex (or any other party) if the brief 14-day stay is issued. The stay only modestly delays Marex's ability to make a request to Judge Drain to release funds from the Court registry, and the Court has no doubt that those funds will remain safely in the Court registry until they are properly released. Marex is not materially injured by waiting an additional 14 days to obtain funds that are being safely maintained.

On the third ground, the Court does not see a substantial possibility of a reversal. Not surprisingly, the Court believes that it has come to the right result. But beyond that, the Court does not see the issues as even close.

With respect to the public interest, the Court sees a strong public interest in foreign representatives' ability to administer the estates for which they have responsibility in instances in which there are non-insider creditors to protect. On the facts here, however, the Court finds that any action by the Liquidator with either the purpose or effect of further benefitting Sevilleja and his associates would not at all be in the public interest, and, to the contrary, would run contrary to it.

On balance, the Court finds enough to warrant a 14-day stay to provide the Liquidator time to get a fresh look on appeal (and to prove up, if he can, an entitlement to a longer stay), but the Court believes that a stay of no more than that should now be granted.

Conclusion

For the reasons described above, the Court concludes that the Liquidator has failed to meet the requirements of section 1517(a)(1) of the Code, by reason of his inability to show sufficient activity in the BVI to cause the Debtors' COMI to shift from Spain, Dubai or the U.K. to the BVI or to show even an establishment in the BVI. Thus recognition, as either a foreign main proceeding or a foreign nonmain proceeding, must be, and is, denied.

Marex's cross motion for dismissal under section 305 is moot.

The effectiveness of this Decision and Order will be stayed for 14 calendar days, but no more than that. Any further stay must be sought and obtained in the district court.

SO ORDERED.