19-10342 | Bankr. S.D.N.Y. | May 18, 2006
In re ENRON CORP., et al., Reorganized Debtors.
Enron Corp., Plaintiff,
v.
International Finance Corp., et al., Defendants.
United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York.
*76 Togut, Segal & Segal, LLP, New York, NY (Howard P. Magaliff, Frank A. Oswald, of Counsel), for Reorganized Debtors.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, NY (Douglas R. Davis, Stephen J. Shimshak, James H. Millar, of Counsel), for Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec.
Clayman & Rosenberg, New York, NY (Paul Hugel, of Counsel), Williams & Connolly LLP, Washington, DC (Philip J. Ward, Helen I. Dooley, of Counsel), for National Australia Bank.
OPINION GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS TO DISMISS COMPLAINT
ARTHUR J. GONZALEZ, Bankruptcy Judge.
The issue presented is whether recovery, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 550(a), of a transfer of a debtor's interest in property from a subsequent transferee requires as a prerequisite that the transfer have previously been avoided, pursuant to the trustee's avoidance powers, against the initial transferee. The Court concludes that although the two actions may be brought simultaneously, the plain language of section 550(a) requires that the transfer first be avoided, i.e., determined to be improper, prior to actual recovery from any transferee.
Procedural Background
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.
Enron commenced this adversary proceeding by filing a complaint (the "Complaint") seeking to avoid, pursuant to section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, and recover, based upon section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, certain transfers made to the defendants as constructive fraudulent transfers. Enron also seeks to disallow, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, any other claims the Defendants assert against the Debtors.
Various of the defendants filed motions to dismiss the Complaint, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). This Opinion addresses the motions to dismiss filed by Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec ("Caisse de Depot") and National Australia Bank ("Australia Bank," and together with Caisse de Depot, the "Defendants"). Motions to dismiss filed by other of the defendants were addressed in a separate Opinion issued by the Court.[1]
*77 Standard for dismissal
FED.R.CIV.P. 12(b)(6) is incorporated into bankruptcy procedure by FED. R. BANKR.P. 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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1992-09-04" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/james-walker-v-the-city-of-new-york-590220?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="590220">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. Allain, 478 U.S. 265" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1986-07-01" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/papasan-v-allain-111742?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="111742">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1995-12-28" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/hal-hirsch-v-arthur-andersen--company-sorokin-710227?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="710227">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="2000-04-04" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/walter-friedl-v-city-of-new-york-768430?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="768430">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1998-04-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cooper-v-parsky-6966224?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6966224">140 F.3d 433, 440 (2d Cir.1998). Pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 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 to relief. The purpose of the statement is to provide "fair notice" of the claim and "the grounds upon which it rests." Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1957-11-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/conley-v-gibson-105573?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="105573">355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 103, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957). The simplicity required by the rule recognizes the ample opportunity afforded for discovery and other pre-trial procedures which permit the parties to obtain more detail as to the basis of the claim and as to the disputed facts and issues. Id. 355 U.S. 41" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1957-11-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/conley-v-gibson-105573?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="105573">355 U.S. at 47-48, 78 S.Ct. at 103. Based upon the liberal pleading standard established by FED. R.Civ.P. 8(a), even the failure to cite a statute, or to cite the correct statute, will not affect the merits of the claim. Northrop v. Hoffman of Simsbury, Inc., 134 F.3d 41" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1997-11-21" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/deborah-northrop-v-hoffman-of-simsbury-750691?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="750691">134 F.3d 41, 46 (2d Cir.1997). In considering .a motion to dismiss, it is not the legal theory but, rather, the factual allegations that matter. Id.
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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1993-03-08" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/sanford-brass-joyce-mericle-brass-gustave-chew-fred-suther-john-tomaszewski-stephen-de-mitchell-v-american-film-technologies-601498?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="601498">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1991-11-08" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cortec-industries-v-sum-holding-lp-572170?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="572170">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="2002-02-21" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/lester-chambers-v-time-warner-776747?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="776747">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 *78 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, a 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" court="S.D.N.Y." date_filed="2003-08-12" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-merrill-lynch--co-research-reports-securities-litigation-2340238?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="2340238">273 F.Supp.2d 351, 357 (S.D.N.Y.2003), citing, Chambers, 282 F.3d 147" court="2d Cir." date_filed="2002-02-21" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/lester-chambers-v-time-warner-776747?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="776747">282 F.3d at 153.
To survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff only has to allege sufficient facts, not prove them. Koppel v. 4987 Corp., 167 F.3d 125" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1999-02-05" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/fed-sec-rep-p-90-v-4987-corporation-498-seventh-avenue-associates-peter-malkin-stanley-katzman-john-loehr-martin-newman-wien-761526?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="761526">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" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1998-04-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/cooper-v-parsky-6966224?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6966224">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 Complaint filed by Enron. As such, most of the following facts are taken from the Complaint and accepted as true solely for the purposes of the motions to dismiss.
FACTS
Prior to filing for bankruptcy protection, in approximately December 1999, Enron monetized a portfolio of loan facilities owned by Enron North America Corp. ("ENA") and certain other Enron affiliates in a transaction known as a "collateralized loan obligation" ("CLO"). In connection with the CLO transaction, several entities were formed including a limited partnership, ENA CLO I Holding Company I L.P. ("CLO Holding"), and a trust, ENA CLO I Trust (the "CLO Trust"). As part of the CLO transaction, the contents of the portfolio of loan facilities were transferred to CLO Holding. The CLO Trust issued several classes of notes with maturities in 2014 (the "CLO Notes"). The proceeds of the CLO Notes were used to purchase the sole limited partnership interest in CLO Holding. Security for the Notes was provided by CLO Trust's limited partnership interest in CLO Holding, without recourse to CLO Trust or any other entity. Thus, the source of funds from which the CLO Trust could make payments to holders of the CLO Notes was CLO Holding. Repayment of the CLO Notes was dependent upon payment to CLO Holding by the obligors of the collateralized loans included in the portfolio of loan facilities.
In 2000, the value of CLO Holding's portfolio of loan facilities declined and in September 2000, Enron provided credit support for the Notes by granting a "put option" to CLO Holding. Pursuant to the put option, Enron was obligated to purchase from CLO Holding up to $113 million in defaulted portfolio loans. Enron did not receive a premium payment in return for its granting of the put option. In December 2000 and, again, in June 2001, CLO Holding exercised its rights pursuant to the put option. CLO Holding transferred the funds received as a result of exercising its rights under the put option (the "Put Transfers") to the CLO Trust. In turn, the CLO Trust transferred the Put Transfers to certain holders of CLO Notes, including Caisse de Depot and Australia Bank. In exchange, these subsequent transferees of the Put Transfers transferred their CLO Notes to Enron.[2]
*79 As previously noted, Enron commenced this adversary proceeding seeking to avoid and recover the Put Transfers. Relevant to the instant Defendants, in Count II of the Complaint, Enron alleges that the Put Transfers are avoidable, pursuant to section 548(a)(1)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code, as constructive fraudulent transfers of the Debtor's interest in property and recoverable from the Defendants as mediate transferees pursuant to section 550(a)(2). In Count III of the Complaint Enron seeks disallowance, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, of any other claims against the Debtors asserted by the Defendants, as recipients of avoidable transfers.
The Defendants filed their motions to dismiss in which they seek to dismiss Counts II and III of the Complaint as filed against them alleging that as mediate, or subsequent, transferees of the Put Transfers, the transfers of a debtor's interest in property must be avoided under the Bankruptcy Code against the initial transferee prior to Enron seeking recovery from them pursuant to section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code. In addition, the Defendants argue that because the avoidance claims fail, therefore, Count III of the Complaint seeking disallowance, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 502(d), of any other claims of the Defendants against the Debtors also must be dismissed as that count is derivative of and dependent upon the viability of the claims based upon avoidance.
Enron opposes the motions to dismiss the Complaint arguing that they may seek recovery from mediate transferees regardless of whether they have first avoided the transfers as to the initial transferee. Rather, Enron contends that it must merely establish that the transfers are avoidable.
A hearing on this matter was held on April 27, 2006.
Discussion
Section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in relevant part, that
Except as otherwise provided in this section, to the extent that a transfer is avoided under section 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, 553(b), or 724(a) of this title, the trustee may recover, for the benefit of the estate, the property transferred, or, if the court so orders, the value of such property, from
(1) the initial transferee of such transfer or the entity for whose benefit such transfer was made; or
(2) any immediate or mediate transferee of such initial transferee.
11 U.S.C. § 550(a).
The alleged fraudulent transfers at issue stem from payments made pursuant to CLO Holding's exercises of the put option. The Defendants assert that they were two-steps removed from the alleged fraudulent transfers and, therefore, were mediate transferees. After CLO Holding exercised the put option, Enron paid the funds to CLO Holding as initial transferee. In turn, CLO Holding transferred the funds to the CLO Trust, an immediate transferee. The CLO Trust then distributed those funds to holders of the CLO Notes, including the Defendants. As mediate transferees, the Defendants argue that pursuant to *80 the express terms of section 550(a), recovery is only available from them after Enron avoids the initial transfer of the Debtor's interest in property. Alternatively, the Defendants argue that to recover, at a minimum, Enron must be able to show that the transfer is avoidable which it cannot do here because the statute of limitations for avoiding the transfer against the initial transferee has run.
The Defendants argue that their interpretation of section 550(a) is further bolstered by the fact that there are two separate statutes of limitations for avoidance and recovery. Section 546(a) sets forth the statute of limitations for an avoidance action and section 550(f) sets forth the limitation period for a recovery. Specifically, the limitation in section 550(f) allows one year to pursue recovery, and that period starts to run once the trustee avoids the transfer sought to be recovered. Thus, the Defendants argue, if there is no avoidance prior to seeking recovery, there is no starting point for the limitations period for recovery to commence.
Enron argues that it only need establish that a transfer to an initial transferee was avoidable under section 548(a)(1)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code to enable it to recover the transfer from a subsequent transferee without naming the initial transferee as a party. Alternatively, Enron argues that if the initial transferee is required to be named as a defendant, equitable considerations warrant not enforcing that requirement in the instant matter because the initial transferee was dissolved.
In countering Enron's request that equity intervene, the Defendants argue that Enron's failure to bring an avoidance action against the initial transferee resulted from its own decision not to commence such action prior to the running of the statute of limitations. In addition, to the extent Enron argues, in equity, that such action could not be brought within the statute of limitations because CLO Holdings, as the initial transferee, was dissolved, the Defendants assert that Enron itself caused the dissolution.
Section 550(a) permits recovery only to the extent that a transfer is avoided. 11 U.S.C. § 550(a). The language of the statute is plain and requires that prior to actual recovery by a subsequent transferee, the transfer of a debtor's interest in property to the initial transferee must be avoided. Weinman v. Simons (In re Slack-Horner Foundries Co.), 971 F.2d 577" court="10th Cir." date_filed="1993-08-06" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-slack-horner-foundries-company-debtor-jeffrey-a-weinman-trustee-v-george-l-simons-587735?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="587735">971 F.2d 577, 580 (10th Cir.1992).
Enron cites IBT Int'l Inc. v. Northern (In re Int'l Admin. Svcs., Inc.), 408 F.3d 689" court="11th Cir." date_filed="2005-05-03" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/ibt-international-inc-v-northern-in-re-international-administrative-services-inc-76965?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="76965">408 F.3d 689 (11th Cir.2005), to argue that an action does not have to first be brought against the initial transferee prior to seeking recovery from subsequent transferees. In concluding that a prior action against the initial transferee was not required, the Int'l Admin. Svcs. court addressed its concern that "any streetwise transferee would simply re-transfer the money or asset in order to escape liability" thereby resulting in an endless chain of transfers. Id. at 704. The initial solution to this concern proposed by the Int'l Admin. Svcs. court was to "simultaneously avoid a transfer under § 544 and seek recovery under § 550." Notwithstanding this proposal, which would still result in the avoidance of the transfer prior to the actual recovery, the Int'l Admin. Svcs. court cited Kendall v. Sorani (In re Richmond Produce Co., Inc.), 195 B.R. 455" court="N.D. Cal." date_filed="1996-04-09" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/kendall-v-sorani-in-re-richmond-produce-co-1886088?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1886088">195 B.R. 455 (N.D.Cal.1996) to support the proposition that a transfer could be recovered from a mediate transferee, irrespective of whether the initial transferee had been sued. Int'l Admin. Svcs., 408 F.3d 689" court="11th Cir." date_filed="2005-05-03" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/ibt-international-inc-v-northern-in-re-international-administrative-services-inc-76965?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="76965">408 F.3d at 706, citing, Richmond Produce, 195 B.R. 455" court="N.D. Cal." date_filed="1996-04-09" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/kendall-v-sorani-in-re-richmond-produce-co-1886088?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1886088">195 B.R. at 463. Thus, the Int'l Admin. Svcs. court concluded that a plaintiff was permitted to bypass the initial transferee *81 and collect from subsequent transferees without first establishing the liability of the initial transferee.
The plain language of section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, however, provides that recovery may be sought "to the extent that a transfer is avoided under [the avoidance sections]". Thus, a prerequisite to the ultimate recovery is the actual avoidance of a transfer. Further support is found in the fact that in those sections of the Code where it was intended that a court merely determine whether a transfer was avoidable, the term "avoidable" is utilized. See Enron Corp. v. Avenue Special Situations Fund II, LP. (In re Enron Corp.), 340 B.R. 180" court="Bankr. S.D.N.Y." date_filed="2006-03-31" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/enron-corp-v-avenue-special-situations-fund-ii-lp-in-re-enron-corp-1851878?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1851878">340 B.R. 180, 190 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2006) (concluding that a debtor is not required to obtain a judicial order concerning the avoidance action upon which a Bankruptcy Code section 502(d) disallowance is predicated prior to seeking disallowance because section 502(d) refers to avoidable transfers rather than avoided transfers).
Enron cites to the legislative history of section 550 to argue that the "to the extent that" language merely incorporates the safe harbor protections and recognizes that transfers may be avoided in part and that only the avoided portion is recoverable. If this were the sole intent, this purpose would have been accomplished by providing "to the extent that a transfer is avoidable." However, the plain language requires avoidance prior to actual recovery. Thus, as articulated by the Defendants, although a portion of a transfer may be protected by the safe harbor provided by section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, that portion of a transfer that is not protected must be avoided before recovery can be sought from a subsequent transferee.[3]
In this respect it is important to note that the Code separates the concepts of avoiding a transfer and recovering that transfer. Savage & Assocs, P.C. v. BLR Svcs. SAS (In re Teligent, Inc.), 307 B.R. 744" court="Bankr. S.D.N.Y." date_filed="2004-04-13" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/savage--associates-pc-ex-rel-teligent-inc-v-blr-services-sas-in-re-teligent-inc-1843029?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1843029">307 B.R. 744, 749 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2004). See also The House and Senate Report to the Reform Act of 1978 to the effect that "section 550 prescribes the liability of a transferee of an avoided transfer, and enunciates the separation between the concepts of avoiding a transfer and recovering from the transferee." HR Rep No. 595, 95th Cong, 1st Sess 375-376 (1977); S Rep No. 989, 95th Cong, 2d Sess 90 (1978). Indeed, as noted by the Teligent court, "avoidance is merely a determination that the transfer was improper." Teligent, 307 B.R. 744" court="Bankr. S.D.N.Y." date_filed="2004-04-13" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/savage--associates-pc-ex-rel-teligent-inc-v-blr-services-sas-in-re-teligent-inc-1843029?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1843029">307 B.R. at 749. Thus, it is first necessary to establish that the transfer was improper and then to establish from whom one may recover it pursuant to § 550(a). Id. The language in section 550(a) referencing "to the extent that a transfer is avoided" applies not only prior to recovery from subsequent transferees *82 but also prior to recovery from the initial transferee. Thus, prior to recovery even from the initial transferee, it is necessary to establish that the transfer was improper under one of the Bankruptcy Code avoidance sections and to determine the amount of that liability. It is not clear how a determination can be made concerning the propriety of the transfer or the amount of the liability on the initial transfer absent the participation of the initial transferee. That is because it is not clear who would have knowledge of the defenses available to the initial transferee. Upon consideration of the initial transferee's defenses and once the amount of its liability is established, that amount can be sought from any of the transferees, including subsequent transferees, subject to any of their additional defenses. Nevertheless, while avoidance must be established before recovery is effectuated, the two actions may be brought simultaneously as long as the recovery is not effected until the transfer has been established to be improper.[4]
Further, allowing Enron to merely show that the initial transfer was avoidable prior to recovery rather than actually establishing that it were avoided would lead to an absurd result in the context of the two separate statutes of limitations found in sections 546(a) and 550(f). As previously noted, section 550(a) applies to the recovery from the initial transferee as well as to recovery from subsequent transferees. Section 550(f)[5] provides the applicable statute of limitations for recovery actions under section 550(a). Thus, if it were only necessary to establish that the transfer was avoidable, then the section 546(a)[6] statute of limitations for commencing an avoidance action would be rendered nugatory; as the trustee could still recover even from the initial transferee under the "avoidable" theory even though an avoidance action had not been commenced within the requisite two-year statute of limitations.
Similarly, Enron's reading of section 550(a) would render the avoidance provisions nugatory, in practice even if not in theory, if one considers that interpretation in light of the statute of limitations provisions of section 550(f). If the transfer only need be "avoidable" under section 550(a) for recovery, a trustee likely would not prosecute an avoidance action directly under section 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, 553(b), or 724(a) for the simple reason that to do so would implicate an additional procedural burden the statute of limitations provision of section 550(f)(1) not ameliorated *83 by a potential benefit. That is, if the trustee's pursuit of an avoidance action under those sections made the statute of limitations provision of section 550(f)(1) operative, and if under section 550(a) no such avoidance action need be brought prior to recovery under that section, then the trustee would generally not bring an avoidance action, as any such action would be unnecessary and only serve to constrain the trustee. In addition, if the trustee were not required to bring an avoidance action prior to the recovery action, there would effectively be no statute of limitations under section 550(f). If section 550(f)(1) did not apply because the trustee did not bring a prior avoidance action, the only limitation on the recovery action under section 550(a) would be section 550(f)(2). As the trustee generally determines when to seek the closing of a case, there would be in practice no statute of limitations to prevent the trustee from bringing recovery actions. The Court cannot conclude that the brief language of section 550(a) was intended to thus render the avoidance and statute of limitations provisions ineffective and meaningless. The Court notes, however, that section 546(a) would not be rendered nugatory if "avoidable" is read to include the defense of the statute of limitations. The Defendants raised this interpretation in the alternative in their briefs, asserting that the transfer at issue here is not "avoidable" because the section 546(a) statute of limitations has expired. The Court recognizes that such a reading would ameliorate the concerns just expressed. However, this reading is both logically strained and legally incorrect. A statute of limitations provides a procedural defense to an action but does not resolve in any way the merits of that action. Thus, a transfer that could be avoided but for section 546(a) is nonetheless avoidable even though the trustee would be barred from bringing an avoidance action under sections 544, 545, 547, 548, or 553. Therefore, the Court does not agree that the expiration of the statute of limitations would render an otherwise avoidable transfer not avoidable.
Moreover, the distinct use of the term avoided in section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and the term avoidable in section 502(d) is consistent with the differing purposes of the two sections. The use of the term avoided in section 550(a) requires that a transfer be avoided, i.e., that a transfer be found to have been improper and to determine the amount of the liability before one can rightfully seek to recover it from any party. On the other hand, the purpose of section 502(d) is to ensure that a creditor not receive any distribution from the estate prior to paying any amount owed to the estate and to prevent the estate from taking on the added burden of having to collect from a creditor. If the estate had to actually avoid a transfer before it could temporarily disallow a claim under section 502(d), it would then subject itself to the added burden of collecting any distribution made, if and when it ultimately avoided the improper transfer.
Finally, with respect to Enron's equitable argument, the Court finds that even if equitable considerations were sufficient to eliminate the statutory requirement that the transfer first be avoided an issue which the Court does not reach the equitable arguments presented by Enron would not warrant such relief under the circumstances presented here for the reasons advanced by the Defendants, including the fact that Enron had opportunity to bring the avoidance action against the initial transferee and, further, that Enron, itself, caused the dissolution of the initial transferee, making such avoidance action against the initial transferee impossible.
*84 Conclusion
An action to establish that a transfer is improper under one of the avoidance sections of the Bankruptcy Code may be brought simultaneously with an action, pursuant to section 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, to recover that improper transfer. However, the plain language of section 550(a) requires that the transfer first be established as improper and avoided under one of the avoidance sections of the Bankruptcy Code prior to actual recovery from any transferee. Thus, because the Complaint does not seek to initially avoid the transfer as against the initial transferee, the Complaint seeking recovery from the Defendants is properly dismissed as against them.
Counsel for Caisse de Depot is to settle an order consistent with this Opinion.
NOTES
[1] In Count I of the Complaint, Enron alleges that certain transfers of the debtor's interest in property are avoidable as constructive fraudulent transfers pursuant to section § 548(a)(1)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code and recoverable under section 550(a)(1). In Count II of the Complaint, Enron alleges that other transfers are avoidable as constructive fraudulent transfers, pursuant to section 548(a)(1)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code, and recoverable from certain of the Defendants as mediate transferees pursuant to section 550(a)(2). In Count III of the Complaint, Enron seeks disallowance, pursuant to section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, of any other claims against the Debtors asserted by the Defendants, as recipients of avoidable transfers. This Opinion does not address Count I of the Complaint as Enron has not alleged any such transfers to Caisse de Depot or Australia Bank. Rather, that aspect of the Complaint was addressed in a separate Opinion that was issued by the Court addressing the motions to dismiss filed by other defendants. See Enron Corp. v. International Finance Corp., et al., 341 B.R. 451" court="Bankr. S.D.N.Y." date_filed="2006-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/enron-corp-v-international-finance-corp-in-re-enron-corp-1857167?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1857167">341 B.R. 451 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2006).
[2] The portfolio of loan facilities continued to decline in value as a result of payment defaults on the underlying loans. In spring 2001, Enron purchased all of the then-outstanding CLO Notes from certain of the other defendants in this adversary proceeding at face value plus accrued interest. Thus, the price Enron paid to purchase the CLO Note, was above market value. In exchange, those defendants transferred their CLO Notes to Enron or ENA through certain intermediaries. As previously noted, those transactions involving particular intermediaries were addressed in a separate Opinion issued by the Court
[3] The Court recognizes that there has been some disagreement concerning the proper construction of the phrase "to the extent that a transfer is avoided under . . ." and, in particular, the phrase "is avoided." The Court finds that the phrase "is avoided" is a combination of the present tense of the verb "to be" and the adjective "avoided." As an adjective. "avoided" is formed from the past participle of the verb "to avoid," the same adjective form found in the adjectives "fried," "canned," "wrecked," etc. In this context. "avoided" means "having the quality of having been avoided." Therefore, the Court concludes that the trustee must avoid the transfer before damages may be recovered.
Even if, as found by one court, the legislative history suggests that the term should be read in the present perfect tense, see Crafts Plus +, Inc. v. Foothill Capital Corp., In re Crafts Plus +, Inc., 220 B.R. 331" court="Bankr. W.D. Tex." date_filed="1998-04-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/crafts-plus-inc-v-foothill-capital-corp-in-re-crafts-plus-inc-1958791?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1958791">220 B.R. 331, 335 (Bankr. W.D.Tex.1998), then it would be read as "has been avoided," and this would still result in an interpretation that necessitates the actual avoidance prior to recovery from a transferee.
[4] Moreover, once it is established that the initial transfer was improper, it appears although the Court does not reach this issue that recovery can be sought from the initial or subsequent transferees, in any order, as long as the total recovery does not exceed the amount of damages.
[5] Section 550(f) of the Bankruptcy Code provides
(f) An action or proceeding under this section may not be commenced after the earlier of
(1) one year after the avoidance of the transfer on account of which recovery under this section is sought; or
(2) the time the case is closed or dismissed.
[6] Section 546(a) of the Bankruptcy Code provides
(a) An action or proceeding under section 544, 545, 547, 548, or 553 of this title may not be commenced after the earlier of
(1) the later of
(A) 2 years after the entry of the order for relief; or
(B) 1 year after the appointment or election of the first trustee under section 702, 1104, 1163, 1202, or 1302 of this title if such appointment or such election occurs before the expiration of the period specified in subparagraph (A); or
(2) the time the case is closed or dismissed.