In re Brooklyn Fox Corp.

6 Misc. 2d 501, 162 N.Y.S.2d 101, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3311
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 19, 1957
StatusPublished

This text of 6 Misc. 2d 501 (In re Brooklyn Fox Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Brooklyn Fox Corp., 6 Misc. 2d 501, 162 N.Y.S.2d 101, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3311 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1957).

Opinion

J. Vincent Keogh, J.

In October of 1956, the Brooklyn Fox Corporation presented for approval by this court under section 122-a of the Real Property Law, a plan for the extension of a mortgage on its property and of an outstanding issue of income bonds secured by that mortgage, from the present maturity date of August 1, 1957, to August 1, 1967. It also sought the extension to July 31, 1967 of a 20-year lease on the theatre portion of its premises, which currently contains an expiration date of July 31,1957.

The petitioner is a New York corporation owning and operating the Fox Theatre & Office Building located at Flatbush Avenue and Nevins Street in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York. The property is on an irregularly shaped plot and comprises most of the area contained in a triangular block bounded by Flatbush Avenue, Nevins and Livingston Streets approximating 28,815 square feet. The improvements were erected in 1927 and include a 12-story cellar and penthouse office and store structure known as No. 1 Nevins Street, at the corner of Flatbush Avenue, and a motion picture theatre equal to approximately eight stories of the office building height, and with cellar and subcellar.

The petitioner was organized pursuant to a plan of reorganization approved by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by order dated April 16, 1937. The reorganization was effected in behalf of the holders of $5,650,000 principal amount of first mortgage fee 6%% gold bonds of Flatbush Avenue and Nevins Street Corporation. In accordance with the plan, each holder of a $100 gold bond was entitled to receive $50 in principal amount of petitioner’s income bonds and voting trust certificates representing one share of the petitioner’s capital stock.

[504]*504The assets of the Flatbush Avenue and Nevins Street Corporation were conveyed to petitioner under the plan and it then executed a mortgage and deed of trust constituting a mortgage lien on its property, securing $2,825,000 of its 3% income bonds due August 1, 1957. It issued such income bonds totalling $2,825,000 to the holders of the first mortgage fee 6%% gold bonds, totalling $5,650,000, and delivered 56,500 shares of its capital stock to voting trustees for distribution of voting trust certificates representing such stock to the holders of the gold bonds. It also entered into a lease dated July 30, 1937 with Fabian Brooklyn Theatres, Inc. for a term of 20 years expiring July 31, 1957, concurrently with the maturity of the new income bonds.

At the time of the 1937 reorganization, large amounts of New York City real estate taxes and penalties were due and owing, and it became necessary to raise sufficient funds to pay these taxes and the expenses of reorganization, and to provide working capital for the new corporation. For this purpose, petitioner borrowed $725,000 from RFC Mortgage Company on a first mortgage on its property, and $75,000 from Simon H. Fabian on a second mortgage.

The income bondholders’ mortgage securing the income bonds thus became and constituted a third mortgage, junior in lien to the first and second mortgages aforesaid.

Under the 1937 plan, the net income from the property was to be applied first to the payment of interest on the income bonds up to 3% per annum, and the balance, if any, deposited in a sinking fund for the purchase and retirement of income bonds at prices not exceeding the face amount of the bonds. Upon reduction of the outstanding bonds to $1,800,000, the excess of net income was to be allocated one half to the sinking fund and the balance to corporate purposes, including payment of dividends.

The theatre lease provides for a minimum rental of $150,000 per armnm plus additional rent of 17%% of the annual gross receipts of the theatre in excess of $1,500,000. The lessee is also required to pay 62% of the cost of heating the theatre and office building, to maintain the theatre premises and make all repairs thereto except structural repairs, to contribute $1,000 a year to a fund for structural repairs, and to absorb a portion of any increase in real estate taxes over a stipulated amount.

At the time of the presentation of the petitioner’s plan in October of 1956, the income bonds had been reduced from $2,825,000 to $2,532,150, the voting trust agreement had terminated and there were outstanding 56,500 shares of capital stock. [505]*505The income bonds and capital stock were owned by a large number of persons some of whom owned income bonds but no stock; others owned stock but no income bonds; some owned both.

Currently, the outstanding bonds amount to $2,494,700, of which $1,233,350 are held or controlled by a group referred to herein as the Fabian Interests ”, consisting of Simon H. Fabian, Eleanor Fabian Rosen, and corporations in which he or members of his family have a financial interest. One million two hundred sixty-one thousand and three hundred fifty dollars are held by. numerous other persons. The current outstanding stock amounts to 55,571 shares, of which 19,030 shares are widely held, and 36,721 shares are owned by the “ Fabian Interests ”. The tenant is still Fabian Brooklyn Theatres, Inc., but it has sublet the theatre premises to Fabian Enterprises, Inc., which is now the tenant in possession. Fabian Enterprises, Inc. is wholly owned and controlled by either Simon H. Fabian or various of the “ Fabian Interests ”.

The petitioner’s original plan, dated October 16, 1956, provided for the extension of the maturity date of the mortgage and outstanding income bonds to August 1, 1967, with no other changes being made. The theatre lease was likewise to be extended for 10 years to July 31, 1967, with no other changes being made therein.

The plan came on to be heard after notice to all interested parties, including bondholders and stockholders, and publication in the New York Times on the 20th day of November, 1956. Two hundred sixty-four income bondholders, holding bonds in the outstanding amount of $1,702,750 were present or represented by counsel, including the $1,233,350 owned by the Fabian Interests ”. Two hundred thirty-four of the income bondholders owning $262,800 in principal amount of income bonds were represented by the Brooklyn Fox Theatre and Office Building bondholders committee, which appeared through attorneys.

There were numerous hearings, conferences and consultations concerning the within application. Witnesses were produced and testimony was adduced. Experts, designated by the court, testified and were cross-examined. Exhibits were offered in evidence. Extensive oral argument and discussion was permitted and encouraged in view of the special and unique nature of the reorganization process. Various alternate plans of reorganization and amendments were filed, - together with briefs or memoranda on the facts and the law.

[506]*506In an effort to narrow the area of difference among the interested parties, the court conferred with representatives of the petitioner and the bondholders.

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Bluebook (online)
6 Misc. 2d 501, 162 N.Y.S.2d 101, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3311, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-brooklyn-fox-corp-nysupct-1957.