In re Rosewood at Providence, LLC

470 B.R. 619, 2011 WL 6780890, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 5139
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Georgia
DecidedDecember 27, 2011
DocketNo. 10-50418-JDW
StatusPublished

This text of 470 B.R. 619 (In re Rosewood at Providence, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Rosewood at Providence, LLC, 470 B.R. 619, 2011 WL 6780890, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 5139 (Ga. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JAMES D. WALKER, JR., Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on confirmation of Debtor’s second amended plan of reorganization. This is a core matter within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(L). After considering the pleadings, the evidence, and the applicable authorities, the Court enters the following findings of fact and conclusions of law in conformance with Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052.

Findings of Fact

Background

Debtor, Rosewood at Providence, operates a single-asset real estate development consisting of medium-rise luxury condominiums in Charlotte, North Carolina. On February 11, 2010, Debtor filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition. Debtor continues to operate its business and manage its property as a debtor-in-possession. On March 14, 2011, Debtor filed its second amended plan of reorganization and disclosure statement. The Court set a deadline of April 18, 2011, for casting ballots and filing objections to the plan.

Star Electric Company, Batson-Cook Company (Debtor’s general contractor), and Rosewood at Providence Homeowner’s Association, Inc. (“HOA”) filed objections to confirmation based on unresolved water intrusion issues affecting the condominium units and voted to reject the plan. Branch Banking & Trust Company (“BB & T”) filed an objection alleging multiple failures to comply with the confirmation requirements and other provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. BB & T also voted to reject the plan. The Court held a hearing on the plan and disclosure statement on April 20, 2011, during which Debtor introduced evidence of the plan’s compliance with the requirements for confirmation.

BB & T and the Multi-Lender Agreement

On April 14, 2006, Debtor entered into a Construction Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with multiple lenders to finance the development of condominium units that are owned by Debtor and that [622]*622serve as collateral for the loans.1 The Loan Agreement provides that Debtor will “borrow from each Lender” and that each lender will “make advances of its Pro Rata Share of the Loan proceeds.” (Loan Agreement § 2.1(a), docket no. 561, exhibit A.) On the petition date, three lenders were parties to the Loan Agreement: (1) MV Rosewood as successor to Regions Bank, N.A. and PNC Bank, N.A.; (2) First Tennessee Bank; and (3) BB & T as successor to Colonial Bank, N.A. (the “secured lenders”). In connection with the Loan Agreement, Debtor executed a promissory note in favor of Colonial Bank, which is now held by BB & T. The note requires Debtor to pay Colonial Bank “under that certain Construction Loan Agreement ... as agent for the benefit of the Lenders[.]” (Promissory Note, docket no. 561, exhibit E; First Amended and Restated Promissory Note, docket no. 561, exhibit F.) The obligations governed by the Loan Agreement are divided in approximate proportion as follows: MV Rosewood holds 76%, First Tennessee holds 13%, and BB & T holds 11%.2

The Loan Agreement provides for the appointment and authorization of an administrative agent. Debtor and BB & T agree that the administrative agent is MV Rosewood (as successor of Regions Bank). Section 7.1 of the Agreement sets forth the scope of the agent’s authority in relevant part as follows:

(a) Each lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 7.93) appoints, designates and authorizes Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein [.]
(c) In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to Borrower or Guarantor, no individual Lender or group of Lenders shall have the right, and the Administrative Agent ... shall be exclusively entitled and empowered on behalf of itself, and the Lenders, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loan and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the lenders and the Administrative Agent ... allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same[J
[623]*623Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of the Lenders except as approved by the Required Lenders or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claims of the Lenders except as approved by the Required Lenders in any such proceeding.

Loan Agreement § 7.1 (emphasis added). The Loan Agreement defines “Required Lenders” as “Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments^]” Loan Agreement § 1.1. Because MV Rosewood holds approximately 76% of the commitments under the Loan Agreement, it is the sole required lender.

Debtor’s second amended plan of reorganization classifies the secured lenders in Class IB. No other creditors are included in the class. Section 3.2.2 of the plan makes the following provisions for Class IB: Debtor’s remaining condominium units, along with certain other claims and interests of Debtor will be transferred to Newco, a newly created limited liability company. Newco will be owned by the secured lenders on the effective date of the plan in pro-rata shares equal to each lender’s interest in the Loan Agreement. The secured lenders will receive the LLC membership shares in exchange for full satisfaction of their claims4 and the assumption of exit financing. MV Rosewood will provide the exit financing to Debtor in the amount of $2.25 million, which will be secured by a first priority lien in the remaining units. In addition, § 10.7 of the plan provides for the release of all liens on the condominium units other than the Class 1A mechanics’ liens and the exit financing lien.

The Plan

Debtor’s plan is a liquidating plan. It provides for seven classes of claims as follows:

• Class 1A: Allowed secured claims of materialmen whose liens are senior to the members of Class IB.
• Class IB: Allowed secured claims of the secured lenders under the Loan Agreement.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
470 B.R. 619, 2011 WL 6780890, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 5139, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-rosewood-at-providence-llc-gamb-2011.