Enron Corp. v. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. (In re Enron Corp.)
Enron Corp. v. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. (In re Enron Corp.)
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS COMPLAINTS
The issue presented is whether payments made by various entities in connection with certain transactions involving short-term commercial paper are “settlement payments” within the context of 11 U.S.C. § 546(e) which would, as a matter of law, preclude the relief sought by the plaintiff in the adversary proceedings and warrant dismissal of such proceedings pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7012 and Fed. Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).
The Court concludes that in order for a payment to qualify as a settlement payment protected by § 546(e) from a trustee’s avoidance powers, such payment must be common within the securities trade. Thus, whether payments that are made with respect to short-term commercial paper prior to the maturity date, at significantly above market prices and contrary to the offering documents, qualify as settlement payments is a factual issue requiring a trial. Therefore, dismissal of the adversary proceedings at this stage is improper.
FACTS
Commencing on December 2, 2001, and from time to time continuing thereafter, Enron Corporation (“Enron”) and certain of its affiliated entities, (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). On July 15, 2004, the Court entered an Order confirming the Debtors’ Supplemental Modified Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Affiliated Debtors (the “Plan”) in these cases. The Plan became effective on November 17, 2004.
On 2003, Enron filed a complaint commencing an adversary proceeding against J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. (“J.P.Morgan”) and various other defendants (together with J.P. Morgan, the “J.P. Morgan Defendants”) and filed a separate complaint commencing an adversary proceeding against Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Mass Mutual”) and various other defendants (together with Mass Mutual, the “Mass Mutual Defendants”). In each adversary proceeding, Enron sought to avoid and recover certain transfers to the defendants that it alleged were preferential or otherwise avoidable. On December 1, 2003, Enron filed amended complaints with respect to each of the adversary proceedings (each individually, as amended, the “Complaint” and together, the “Complaints”).
Prior to the petition date, Enron issued and sold unsecured commercial paper to various entities. The commercial paper was uncertificated and had maturities of up to 270 days. Pursuant to Issuing and Paying Agency Agreements between Enron and JP Morgan Chase Bank and its predecessors in interest (collectively, the “Chase Paying Agent”), the Chase Paying Agent served as issuing and paying agent in connection with Enron’s commercial paper.
The purchase and sale of Enron’s commercial paper, including each commercial paper note identified in the amended com
Each of J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman”) and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. (“Lehman”) acquired the Enron commercial paper for its own account, as a market maker, and on behalf of its respective customers, as a dealer. Those customers purchasing the Notes through one of these dealers bought them either from Enron itself or from other holders of outstanding Enron commercial paper who sold certain of their holdings before maturity. J.P. Morgan, Goldman and Lehman documented their and their customer’s purchases of Enron commercial paper through trading confirmation records (the “Confirmations”). The payment for the purchases were made through Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), a clearing agency-
As previously noted, in a series of transactions commencing on October 26 and concluding on November 6, 2001, Enron transferred over one billion dollars in connection with the Notes — $892,275,859.66 to the J.P. Morgan Defendants and $233,677,604.88 to the Mass Mutual Defendants. In the Complaints, Enron maintains that the Transfers were for the purpose of prepaying the Notes that had been sold to J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Lehman and other entities when issued. Enron maintains that the Transfers were made by Enron to prepay individual Notes prior to the maturity date of those Notes. As Enron paid approximate accrued par value
In the Complaints, Enron alleges that, prior to making the Transfers, some or all of the other defendants in each of the adversary proceedings were aware that the Transfers might be subject to avoidance as J.P. Morgan, Goldman and/or Lehman had informed them that these Transfers could be subject to avoidance as preferential transfers.
In Count I of the each Complaint, Enron seeks avoidance of the Transfers as preferential payments under section 547(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. In Count III of each Complaint, Enron seeks avoidance of the Transfers as fraudulent conveyances under section 548(a) of the Bankruptcy Code. In Count V of each Complaint, Enron seeks avoidance of the Transfers as fraudulent, pursuant to section 544(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and any applicable state fraudulent conveyance or transfer law. In Counts II, IV and VI of each Complaint, Enron seeks recovery, pursuant to section 550 of the Bankruptcy Code, of any of the Transfers that are deemed avoided, under Counts I, III and V of the respective Complaints, as preferential transfers or fraudu
On February 18 and 19, 2004, substantially all of the defendants in each of the adversary proceedings filed motions to dismiss their respective Amended Complaints.
In addition, the Defendants argue that as a consequence of the Transfers not being subject to avoidance, the Counts of the Complaints which seek recovery of any avoided transfers, pursuant to section 550 of the Bankruptcy Code, or disallowance, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, of other claims by the Defendants until the avoided Transfers are recovered also must be rejected. Certain of the Defendants also move to dismiss the counts of the Complaints seeking to disallow their other claims based on the fact that they have not filed any proofs of claim against the Debtors.
Enron opposes the Motions to Dismiss. Enron argues that, as a matter of law, the safe harbor provided for securities transactions by the Bankruptcy Code does not apply to the Transfers. First, Enron contends that the Transfers are not within the ambit of the protection afforded by the safe harbor provisions of the Bankruptcy Code because the Transfers were not purchases of securities. Rather, Enron maintains that the Transfers were payments for the early redemption of the Notes. Further, Enron contends that as prepayments for the Notes, the transactions were contrary to the terms of the pertinent offering documents. Enron maintains that it prepaid and redeemed the commercial paper by making full payment prior to its maturity. Therefore, Enron argues that the Transfers, made for early redemption of commercial paper at significantly above market price and contrary to the terms of the offering documents which prohibited such prepayments, were not “settlement payments” commonly used in the securities trade as required by section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. Enron also argues
Enron concedes that a finding that there is an avoidable transfer is a predicate to its recovery, pursuant to section 550 of the Bankruptcy Code, or to the disallowance of defendants’ other claims, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code. Enron, however, maintains that the Transfers are not protected from avoidance by the safe harbor provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, can be recovered and that until the payments or their value are recovered, they form the basis upon which to disallow defendants’ other claims. Enron, however, does not oppose the request of those Defendants who did not file a proof of claim to be excluded from Enron’s disallowance claim under section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code.
A hearing on this matter was held before the Court on September 21, 2004.
DISCUSSION
Fed.R.CivP. 12(b)(6) is incorporated into bankruptcy procedure by Fed. R. BankrP. 7012(b). In considering a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim for relief, the court accepts as true all material facts alleged in the complaint and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. Walker v. City of New York, 974 F.2d 293, 298 (2d Cir. 1992). The motion to dismiss is granted only if no set of facts can be established to entitle the plaintiff to relief. Id.
In considering such a motion, although a court accepts all the factual allegations in the complaint as true, the court is “not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Attain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 106 S.Ct. 2932, 2944 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986). Thus, where more specific allegations of the complaint contradict such legal conclusions, “[g]eneral, conclusory allegations need not be credited.” Hirsch v. Arthur Andersen & Co., 72 F.3d 1085, 1092 (2d Cir. 1995). Rather, to withstand a motion to dismiss, there must be specific and detailed factual allegations to support the claim. Friedl v. City of New York, 210 F.3d 79, 85-86 (2d Cir. 2000).
“Although bald assertions and conclusions of law are insufficient, the pleading standard is nonetheless a liberal one.” Cooper v. Parsky, 140 F.3d 433, 440 (2d Cir. 1998). Pursuant to Fed.R.CivP. 8(a), which is made applicable to adversary proceedings by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7008, in asserting a claim, the pleader need only set forth a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled
In reviewing a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) motion, a court may consider the allegations in the complaint; exhibits attached to the complaint or incorporated therein by reference; matters of which judicial notice may be taken; Brass v. Am. Film Technologies, Inc., 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir. 1993); and documents of which plaintiff has notice and on which it relied in bringing its claim or that are integral to its claim. Cortec Indus, v. Sum Holding, L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 48 (2d Cir. 1991). However, mere notice or possession of the document is not sufficient. Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 153 (2d Cir. 2002). Rather, a necessary prerequisite for a court’s consideration of the document is that a plaintiff relied “on the terms and effect of a document in drafting the complaint.” Id. As such, the document relied upon in framing the complaint is considered to be merged into the pleading. Id. at 153 n. 3 (citation omitted). In contrast, when assessing the sufficiency of the complaint, the Court does not consider extraneous material because considering such would run counter to the liberal pleading standard which requires only a short and plain statement of the claim showing entitlement to relief. Id. at 154. Nevertheless, in considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court may consider facts as to which the court may properly take judicial notice under Fed.R.Evid. 201. In re Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 273 F.Supp.2d 351, 357 (S.D.N.Y. 2003), citing, Chambers, 282 F.3d at 153.
To survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff only has to allege sufficient facts, not prove them. Koppel v. 1987 Corp., 167 F.3d 125, 133 (2d Cir. 1999). A court’s role in ruling on a motion to dismiss is to evaluate the legal feasibility of the complaint, not to undertake to weigh the evidence which may be offered to support it. Cooper v. Parsky, 140 F.3d 433, 440 (2d Cir. 1998).
Thus, for the purposes of the Motion to Dismiss, the Court accepts as true all of the material allegations in the Plaintiffs complaint.
Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code provides a “safe harbor” for certain types of transactions. The purpose of section 546 is “to protect the nation’s financial markets from the instability caused by the reversal of settled securities transactions.” Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (In re Kaiser Steel Corp.), 913 F.2d 846, 848 (10th Cir. 1990) (hereinafter, “Kaiser I”).
The routine purchase and sale of a security includes two opportunities for settlement, “street-side settlement” between the brokers and the clearing agencies and “customer-side settlement” between the broker and its customer. See Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Pearl Brewing Co. (In re Kaiser Steel Corp.), 952 F.2d 1230, 1237-38 (10th Cir. 1991) (hereinafter “Kaiser II”). The proper functioning of the system depends on the “guarantees of performance made by all the parties in the chain affirming that they will honor their obligations despite a default by another party in the system.” See Jackson v. Mishkin (In re Adler, Coleman Clearing Corp.), 263 B.R. 406, 476 n. 47 (S.D.N.Y. 2001).
In the securities industry, “any transfer of cash or securities made to complete a securities transaction is considered a settlement payment.” Walsh v. The Toledo Hosp. (In re Fin. Mgmt. Seis., Inc.), 261 B.R. 150, 154 (Bankr.W.D.Pa. 2001). A settlement payment is a payment made to discharge a settlement obligation. Kaiser II, 952 F.2d at 1238 (citing Division of Market Regulation, Securities and Exchange Commission, The October 1987 Market Break at 10-5 (1988) (SEC Report)).
In enacting the section 546(e) exception to the avoidance powers, the goal was to preserve the stability of these settled transactions to the extent that they are not fraudulent as defined in section 548(a)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code. Jackson v. Mishkin (In re Adler, Coleman Clearing Corp.), 263 B.R. 406, 477 (S.D.N.Y. 2001). If settled transactions could be reversed, it would undermine confidence in the system of guarantees and could lead to the “ripple effect” of bankruptcy filings by other participants in the chain of guarantees. Id. The purpose of section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code was “to minimize the displacement caused in the commodities and securities markets in the event of a major bankruptcy affecting those industries.” Jewel Recovery, L.P. v. Gordon, 196 B.R. 348, 353 (N.D.Tex. 1996) (quoting, H. Rep. No. 420, 97th Cong.2d Sess. 1 (1982), reprinted in 1982 U.S.C.C.A.N. 583).
When first enacted, section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code only applied to commodities market, however, in 1982, its scope was expanded to protect the securities market. Kaiser I, 913 F.2d at 848-49. Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code provides that
Notwithstanding sections 544, 545, 547, 548(a)(1)(B), and 548(b) of this title, the trustee may not avoid a transfer that is a margin payment, as defined in section 101, 741, or 761 of this title, or settlement payment, as defined in section 101 or 741 of this title, made by or to a commodity broker, forward contract merchant, stockbroker, financial institution, or securities clearing agency, that is made before the commencement of the case, except under section 548(a)(1)(A) of this title.
11 U.S.C. § 546(e).
Section 548(d)(2)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in relevant part, that
a ... stockbroker, financial institution, or securities clearing agency that receives a ... settlement payment, as de*685 fined in section ... 741 of this title, takes for value to the extent of such payment.
11 U.S.C. § 548(d)(2)(B).
Thus, section 546(e) and section 548(d)(2)(B) provides a safe harbor for settlement payments. In connection with the securities trade, “settlement payment” is defined in section 741(8) of the Bankruptcy Code which provides that:
“settlement payment” means a preliminary settlement payment, a partial settlement payment, an interim settlement payment, a settlement payment on account, a final settlement payment, or any other similar payment commonly used in the securities trade.
11 U.S.C. § 741(8).
In Enron Corp. v. Bear Stearns Int’l Ltd. (In re Enron Corp.), 323 B.R. 857, 865 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2005), this Court considered the arguments concerning the breadth of the term “settlement payment” and concluded that because the definition merely lists types of settlement payments, the reference in section 741(8) to “or any other similar payment commonly used in the securities trade” provided a basis upon which to get around the circularity of the definition and discern the meaning of the term “settlement payment.” Id. at 870. In Kipperman v. Circle Trust F.B.O. (In re Grafton Partners, L.P.), 321 B.R. 527, 538 (9th Cir. BAP 2005), the bankruptcy appellate panel determined that the clause made clear that to come within the definition, the payment must be “restricted to the securities trade and must be ‘commonly used.’” Id.
Even where a broad interpretation has been ascribed to the term “settlement payment,” it has been observed that the term had to be interpreted as it was “plainly understood within the securities industry.” See Kaiser II, 952 F.2d at 1237; see also, Official Comm, of Unsecured Creditors v. Asea Brown Boveri, Inc. (In re Grand Eagle Cos., Inc.), 288 B.R. 484, 492 (Bankr.N.D.Ohio 2003) (noting that the term settlement payment has been characterized as a technical word or term of art which requires reference to the industry usage of the term at the time of enactment); Adler, 263 B.R. at 475 (noting that it is clear that the provision is to be “defined with reference to the common understanding, practice and usage in the securities industry”). As such, to discern whether a payment is protected by the safe harbor provisions, a court must examine the operation of trades in the securities industry. Grafton, 321 B.R. at 538.
The transactions at issue were made prior to the maturity date of the Commercial Paper and contrary to the terms of the pertinent Offering Memorandum, which prohibited prepayment. Moreover, Enron has alleged that the payments were made at par, which was significantly more than the prevailing market price at the time of the Transfers. Enron maintains that early redemptions and prepayments are rare in the Commercial Paper market, especially when contrary to governing documents and at prices significantly higher than the prevailing market price, and therefore are unique and cannot be considered common in the securities industry. As the payments were contrary to the parties’ intentions at the time of the issuance of the offering documents, Enron argues that the Transfers were not to settle securities trades but, rather, were to prepay debt similar to the manner in which any borrower repays the principal and interest on a loan. At a minimum, Enron argues that evidence must be presented for the Court to determine whether the prepayment of commercial debt is ordinary or routine.
The Court concludes that because the § 546(e) safe harbor only pro
Further, evidence is also necessary as to whether the Transfers were made to retire and extinguish the debt or to trade the securities. If the payments were made to retire the debt, the Court would need to address the issue of whether such payments — which were not then for the purchase, sale or loan of securities but were to satisfy the underlying debt obligation — are nonetheless settlement payments for purposes of § 546(e).
In opposing the constructive fraud claims, certain Defendants argue that the transfers were made for value, because they retired antecedent debt. This argument, however, is premature. First, a trial is required to resolve the factual issue of whether the Transfers were made to repurchase the Notes or to retire the debt represented by the Notes. At that juncture, if the Court concluded that the Transfers were made to repurchase the Notes, then there would be no transaction involving the payment of an antecedent debt to which to apply the “transfer for value” argument. Nevertheless, even upon such a finding, the Court would yet have to address the issue of whether the short-term commercial paper at issue qualifies as a security within the scope of section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code. The Court, however, would not have to address this latter issue if it were determined that the Transfers were made to retire the debt represented by the Notes.
The Court concludes that to qualify as a settlement payment protected by section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code from avoidance, the payment must be common in the securities trade. This is a factual issue requiring a trial. Further, evidence is required on whether the Transfers were a result of the defendants’ manipulation. Therefore, the defendants’ request for dismissal of the adversary proceedings at this stage should be denied.
If, after trial, it is found that the payments were to retire and extinguish the debt, the Court would need to address the issue of whether such payments qualify as settlement payments for purposes of § 546(e).
Further, the Defendants’ arguments with respect to “transfer of value” concerning the constructive fraud claims are premature as a trial is required to resolve the factual issue of whether the Transfers were made to repurchase the Notes or to retire the debt represented by the Notes. This is because if the Transfers were to purchase the Notes, there would be no antecedent debt to which to apply the value argument.
In addition, even if the payments were to repurchase the Notes, the Court would have to address the issue of whether the short-term commercial paper at issue qualifies as a security within the scope of section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.
Counsel for the Debtors is to settle an order consistent with this Court’s Memorandum Opinion.
. The J.P. Morgan defendants are J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.; Allstate Life Insurance Company; DNB Asset Management (US), Inc., formerly known as Skandia Asset Management Inc.; UBS Global Asset Management (Americas) Inc., formerly known as Brinson Partners, Inc.; UBS Short-Term
The Mass Mutual Defendants are Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co.; J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.; Goldman Sachs & Co.; David L. Babson & Company, Inc.; MTB Investment Advisors, Inc. Dk/a Allied Investment Advisors Inc.; Bank One Ohio Trust Company; Mass Mutual Prime Fund; CM Life Surplus Inv. Account; Mass Mutual Holding Co. — Seg. 83; Mass Mutual Core Bond Fund; CIA Internal Hedge Fund; Mass Mutual Balanced Fund; Mass Mutual Life Ins. Co. Gia Pooled Short Term Inv.; Mass Mutual; Investors Bank &
. The approximate accrued par value paid was the price originally paid for the commercial paper plus accrued interest.
. Several of the defendants filed pleadings indicating that they joined in the motions to dismiss filed by others and certain of those defendants filed their own motions to dismiss in addition to joining in the motions filed by others. Also, a few defendants filed their motions to dismiss subsequent to February 18 or 19, 2004.
. Enron, however, does oppose such relief with respect to Banco Espirito Santo which, according to Enron, did file a proof of claim contrary to the assertion in its motion.
. Pursuant to various stipulations and orders entered by the Court, certain of the defendants have been dismissed from these adversary proceedings.
. The Defendants attached a copy of the Confirmations to their motion and contend that even though Enron did not attach them to the Complaint, it relied on them in formulating the Complaint and therefore, the Confirmations can be considered by the Court. Enron argues that the Confirmations were not integral to the Complaint and that Enron only used them to ascertain the names of the parties to sue and the amounts of the trades. The Court finds that whether or not it considers the Confirmations is irrelevant to the outcome of this motion to dismiss because the characterizations of the transaction in the Confirmations are not dispositive. The Confirmations were created by the defendants without any input from or ratification by Enron. Under the circumstances present here, Enron cannot be bound, on a substantive basis, by the descriptions of the transactions contained in the Confirmations.
. The Defendants argue that even assuming that the “commonly used in the securities trade” phrase modifies all of the entries in § 741(8), it is the payment itself and not the transaction that must be common in the securities trade and that payment of money must be considered common in the securities trade. The Court, however, concludes that the analysis is not as narrowly focused as suggested by the Defendants. Rather, it is the payment as associated with the transaction that must be considered as a whole in determining whether the settlement payment is common in the securities trade.
. As a preliminary matter, certain of the foreign defendants alleged that they have insufficient contact with the forum to warrant a finding that they are subject to personal jurisdiction. For the reasons argued by Enron, including that the causes of action in the Complaints stem from the commercial paper transaction which the defendants conducted here, either directly or through an agent, the Court concludes that, at least for the purposes of the motion to dismiss, Enron has made a prima facie showing of the minimum contacts required to support specific jurisdiction over those defendants.
The Court has also considered the other arguments raised by certain Defendants in support of their respective motions to dismiss and finds them insufficient to warrant dismissal of the Complaints.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re ENRON CORP. Reorganized Debtors. Enron Corp. v. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. Defendants Enron Corp. v. Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published