In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd.

406 B.R. 131, 21 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 792, 2009 Bankr. LEXIS 1203, 2009 WL 1491475
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd.. Read the opinion of the Court — 419 B.R. 875
United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida·Decided May 13, 2009·No. Nos. 9:08-bk-9197-ALP, 9:08-bk-9198-ALP, 9:08-bk-9199-ALP·Published

Opinion

[133]*133ORDER ON (1) DEBTOR’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON MOTION FOR ORDER AUTHORIZING ASSUMPTION AND SALE PURSUANT TO CONTRACTS FOR PURCHASE OF CONDOMINIUM UNITS (OWENS), AND (2) CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BY JAMES R. OWENS

ALEXANDER L. PASKAY, Bankruptcy Judge.

THIS CASE came before the Court for hearing to consider (1) the Debtor’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Motion for Order Authorizing Assumption and Sale Pursuant to Contracts for Purchase of Condominium Units (Doc. 306), and (2) the Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment filed by James R. Owens (Doc. 317).

In its Motion, the Debtor requests authority to assume a Purchase and Sale Agreement that was entered by Ecoven-ture Wiggins Pass, Ltd., as the Seller, and James R. Owens (Owens), as the Buyer. The Purchase and Sale Agreement relates to Unit 905 of a condominium development known as Aqua at Pelican Isle Yacht Club in Naples, Florida.

In his Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, Owens asserts that he terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement on May 30, 2008, prior to the filing of the Debtor’s bankruptcy Petition. Consequently, Owens contends that the Purchase and Sale Agreement was not executory as of the Petition date, and therefore is not assumable by the Debtor.

Owens further asserts that he terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with the terms of an Agreement Regarding Accommodation Payment and Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement (the Accommodation Agreement) that was executed simultaneously with the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. According to Owens, the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Accommodation Agreement constitute a single, integrated agreement between the parties. (Doc. 317, pp. 3, 7). Even if the Purchase and Sale Agreement had not been terminated prepetition, therefore, Owens asserts that the Debtor may not sever and assume only a portion of the parties’ entire agreement pursuant to § 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Background

The Debtor is the developer and owner of a luxury waterfront condominium complex known as the “Aqua at Pelican Isle Yacht Club” in Naples, Florida. The complex includes a residential tower, together with an adjacent marina and dock facility. Financing for the project was initially provided by a group of lenders led by Regions Bank, which loaned approximately $100 million to the Debtor to develop and construct the condominium units and facilities.

On February 19, 2007, while the project was in development, the Debtor entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Owens. The Agreement provided in part:

1. Owens would purchase condominium Unit 905 from the Debtor for the purchase price of $2,860,000.00. (¶¶ 1, 2). An Addendum to the agreement executed on the same day provided that Owens would also purchase the exclusive right to use a Guest Cottage for an additional purchase price of $325,000.00. Accordingly, the total purchase price for Unit 905 and the Guest Cottage was $3,575,000.00, and the total deposit to be paid by Owens was $715,000.00 (20% of the total purchase price).
2. The Debtor was subject to a pre-sale requirement by its lender, and could unilaterally terminate the agreement if it was unable to meet the pre-sale requirement. (¶ 28).
[134]*1343.Owens was entering into the agreement “with the full intention of complying” with each obligation thereunder, including the obligation to close on the purchase of Unit 905. Owens further represented that the Debtor had not made any statement indicating that Owens would not be obligated to close the purchase. (¶ 37).

It is undisputed that Owens remitted a deposit in the amount of $715,000.00 to the Debtor or the designated Escrow Agent in accordance with the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

On the same day that the parties executed the Purchase and Sale Agreement, they also executed an Agreement Regarding Accommodation Payment and Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement. The Accommodation Agreement expressly provides that the Purchase and Sale Agreement is attached to the Agreement and made a part thereof. (Recitals, p. 1).

The Accommodation Agreement further provides in part:

1. The Debtor agrees to pay Owens interest on his deposit at the rate of 25% per annum. (¶ 3). If the sale to Owens is closed, the purchase price will be reduced by the amount of the “accommodation payment.” (¶¶ 3, 6).
2. The Debtor will continue to market Unit 905, and will use diligent efforts to replace Owens’ Purchase and Sale Agreement with an agreement to sell the unit to a third party. In fact, the Debtor is obligated to accept any offer from a third party that is equal to or greater than the purchase price payable under Owens’ Purchase and Sale Agreement. (¶ 4).
3. If the pre-sale contingency required by the Debtor’s lender is satisfied, the Debtor may terminate Owens’ Purchase and Sale Agreement. (¶ 5).
4. Owens has the right to terminate the Purchase and Sale Agreement at any time after one year from the effective date of the Agreement. (¶ 8).
5. The Accommodation Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements among the parties with respect to the same subject matter. (¶ 12).

Additionally, the Accommodation Agreement provides that its terms are confidential, and that Owens agrees not to disclose such terms without the Debtor’s consent. (¶ 23).

On May 30, 2008, Owens provided written notification to the Debtor of his election to terminate the Purchase and Sale Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 8 of the Accommodation Agreement.

On June 24, 2008, the Debtor filed its Petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The condominium complex was not completely constructed as of the Petition date. On July 26, 2008, the Court entered an Order authorizing the Debtor to obtain post-petition financing from Cypress Lending Group, Ltd. in the amount of $26.1 million. (Doc. 67). The purpose of the post-petition financing was to enable the Debtor to complete the construction of the project.

In December of 2008, approximately six months after the Chapter 11 Petition had been filed, the Debtor completed the construction of a residential tower. A certificate of occupancy was granted for the tower on December 31, 2008.

Discussion

In its Motion for Summary Judgment, the Debtor asserts that, for “the avoidance of doubt, it is the standard form Purchase and Sale Agreements that the Debtors desire to assume.” (Doc. 306, p. 11). The Debtor is not seeking to assume the Accommodation Agreement.

[135]*135Owens contends, however, that he terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement prior to the filing of the Debtor’s bankruptcy Petition in accordance with the express terms of the Accommodation Agreement. Consequently, Owens asserts that the Purchase and Sale Agreement was not executory as of the Petition date, and therefore is not assumable under § 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Alternatively, even if the Purchase and Sale Agreement was not effectively terminated prepetition, Owens asserts that the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Accommodation Agreement constitute a single, integrated contract between the parties.

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In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd., 406 B.R. 131, 21 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 792, 2009 Bankr. LEXIS 1203, 2009 WL 1491475 (Fla. 2009).

406 B.R. 131 (In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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