Bendix Corp. v. Taxation Div. Director

10 N.J. Tax 46
CourtNew Jersey Tax Court
DecidedJune 30, 1988
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 10 N.J. Tax 46 (Bendix Corp. v. Taxation Div. Director) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Jersey Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bendix Corp. v. Taxation Div. Director, 10 N.J. Tax 46 (N.J. Super. Ct. 1988).

Opinion

LASSER, P.J.T.C.

Plaintiff, Bendix Corporation (“Bendix”), contests a corporation business tax (N.J.S.A. 54:10A-1 et seq.) deficiency assessment resulting from the addition by the Director, Division of Taxation, of three items of income to Bendix’s income for its fiscal year ended September 30, 1981. Bendix contends that this income was not earned as part of Bendix’s unitary business, and that the Director’s inclusion of these items violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The three items of income which Bendix claims may not constitutionally be included by the Director in the income tax measure of its corporation business tax liability are:

(a) capital gain of approximately $211.5 million realized on Bendix’s sale of its 20.6% stock interest in Asarco, Inc. (“Asarco”);
(b) capital gain of approximately $41.9 million realized on Bendix’s sale of the stock in its wholly-owned subsidiary, United Geophysical Corporation (“UGC”); and
[48]*48(c) interest of approximately $3.4 million earned on the proceeds of the sale of Bendix’s interest in Asarco and UGC.

In the event the court determines that these items of income are properly includable, Bendix seeks an adjustment of the fiscal 1981 allocation factor in accordance with N.J.S.A. 54:10A-8, contending that the statutory allocation factor used by the Director does not reflect the receipts, payroll or property of Asarco and UGC. Director denies that the assessment is either improper or unconstitutional or that the allocation factor operates unfairly.

I.

In 1981 Bendix1 was a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, and had its principal office and commercial domicile at Bendix Center, Southfield, Michigan. Bendix was incorporated in Delaware in 1929 as a manufacturer of aviation and automotive parts.2

Over the years, Bendix developed into a multinational corporation with activities, either directly or through subsidiaries or other operating units, in all 50 states and 22 foreign countries. Bendix’s core businesses expanded along several basic lines, so that for the period 1970 to 1981 there were four major Bendix operating groups (the “major groups”): (a) automotive, (b) aerospace/electronics, (c) industrial/energy, and (d) forest products. For operational purposes, the various Bendix subsidiaries or other operating units were included by Bendix in one of the major groups, based on the type of business activity engaged in by that subsidiary or operating unit. Each subsidiary or operating unit had its own management which, in turn, reported to the chief executive of the major group in which the subsidiary or operating unit was included. The chief executives of the [49]*49major groups reported directly to the chairman and chief executive officer of Bendix.

In 1937, Bendix obtained a certificate of authority to transact business in New Jersey. At all times relevant to this action, it was qualified to transact business in New Jersey, and its New Jersey activities consisted primarily of the operation of several Bendix units in the aerospace group at Teterboro, New Jersey, including aerospace flight systems, guidance systems and test systems, and the manufacture of electric power-generating systems at a plant in Eatontown, New Jersey.

The Bendix Aerospace Flight Systems Division at Teterboro developed and manufactured flight control systems, cockpit displays, flight and engine instrumentation, air data computers, engine control systems, air inlet control systems, pressure and position sensors and transducers, and weapon release and control systems. In addition, supporting maintenance and customer service were provided for all of the manufactured products.

The Bendix Guidance Systems Division at Teterboro developed and manufactured inertial guidance equipment, gyroscopic devices, stabilization and control systems for space programs, and specialized missile and drone equipment.

The Bendix Test Systems Division at Teterboro developed and manufactured complete support systems for analog, digital, microwave and other devices, including the evaluation of test requirements, design and fabrication of test hardware and software, validation of test hardware compatibility, system configuration management, and logistic support of test systems. These three divisions performed their own research, engineering, marketing, accounting and computer services necessary to support their basic manufacturing operations.

Other Bendix aerospace group activities in New Jersey included Bendix computer-aided engineering at Teterboro, which supported the computer-aided engineering requirements of all Bendix aerospace businesses worldwide, and a small Bendix Avionics Division service facility in Morristown, New Jersey, [50]*50which serviced and supported general aviation customers in central New Jersey.

The Bendix Electric Power Division in Eatontown developed and manufactured complete electric power-generating and control systems, including brushless AC and DC generators, solid-state control and static power conversion equipment, power-control and load-sensing components, electric-starting systems, electric-system test and checkout systems, and other related electric-power system components. This division also performed the research, engineering, marketing, accounting and computer services necessary to support its basic manufacturing operations.

In addition to the activities of Bendix’s Aerospace and Electric Power Divisions, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bendix, conducted two operations in New Jersey: (1) its Marine Science Services Division at Teterboro provided information to the worldwide ocean-going shipping industry, including ocean current and weather information, and (2) pursuant to a contract with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), facilities management and maintenance support services were provided at an EPA facility in Edison, New Jersey.

Bendix also sold, both on a wholesale and retail basis, its full range of products to New Jersey customers, and stored inventory in New Jersey at locations owned by others.

II.

Since 1965, Bendix had been pursuing an aggressive policy of growth through acquisition, acquiring approximately 35 companies by 1980. This was part of Bendix’s program of selective acquisitions and divestitures of companies or assets which would enhance Bendix’s existing product areas.

By internal memorandum dated March 31, 1978 to the members of the long-range planning committee, William M. Agee, Bendix’s chairman, stated:

[51]*51We believe ourselves to be strong enough financially and managerially to warrant several moves aimed at growth and diversification for the 80’s.
° Growth and diversification in the Industrial/Energy area.
° Growth and rebalancing in the forest products area.
° Investment in other basic resources that are now depressed and undervalued but that offer strong profit possibilities for the 80’s.
° Restructuring of Bendix Home Systems with a view to possible withdrawal in the next few years.

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10 N.J. Tax 46, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bendix-corp-v-taxation-div-director-njtaxct-1988.