King Resources Stockholders' Protective Committee v. Baer

651 F.2d 1326
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedJune 9, 1980
DocketNos. 77-2002 to 77-2007
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 651 F.2d 1326 (King Resources Stockholders' Protective Committee v. Baer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
King Resources Stockholders' Protective Committee v. Baer, 651 F.2d 1326 (10th Cir. 1980).

Opinion

HOLLOWAY, Circuit Judge.

These appeals are from an order of the district court confirming a plan of reorganization of King Resources Company under Chapter X of the now-superseded Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 501 et seq. (1976). Numerous issues are raised concerning the central questions of mootness, the finding of insolvency, and the finding that the plan is fair and equitable, and feasible, inter alia. We will now outline only a brief historical view of the case and will treat the factual details as we concentrate on the questions presented.

We are addressing the issue whether the plan was fair and equitable, and feasible in detail in our separate opinion today in Nos. 77-1969 and 1971, Citibank N.A. v. Baer, 651 F.2d 1341. Our opinion in Citibank expresses fully our reasons for upholding the finding of the fairness of the plan, which is outlined there, and we will in this opinion treat separate challenges to the plan made in these appeals. In like manner, our Citibank opinion also upholds the finding of insolvency and discusses some separate contentions made in Citibank on that issue.

Reorganization proceedings began on August 14, 1971, when an involuntary petition for reorganization of the debtor, King Resources Company (KRC), was filed.1 The proceedings finally resulted in an amended plan of reorganization which was approved by the creditors and subsequently confirmed by the district court on October 7, 1977. (I App. 109-11). The reorganization plan provides for a debt-free reorganized company, Phoenix Resources Company. Under the plan, secured creditors of KRC would receive cash for their claims to the extent of their collateral and general unsecured creditors with claims of $200 or less would also be paid in cash. Two classes of stock in the new company would be issued to the remaining creditors.

The stock is divided into Class A stock with a $20 liquidation preference issued to senior debt holders and Class B stock (virtually identical to Class A stock except for the liquidation preference) issued to debenture holders. Other creditors receive equal amounts of Class A and B stock. Old shareholders of KRC receive nothing under the reorganization plan due to the determination that KRC was insolvent. The only shareholders of KRC receiving new stock under the reorganization plan include those members of a class who sued KRC on the basis of fraud and settled for a general unsecured claim in the amount of $12 million. Members of this class, known as the Dietrich class, would receive stock in the reorganized company proportionate to their individual claims. (I App. 61-82).

[1331]*1331The appellants here include (1) King Resources Stockholders’ Protective Committee and Aminex Resource Corporation (the Committee); (2) John M. King, IV, Carlynn Ann King, Mark M. King and Sally A. King (the King children); (3) Central National Bank of Cleveland (Central National); (4) Floyd E. Dickerson, Trustee in Bankruptcy for John McCandish King (Dickerson), (5) Consolidated Oil & Gas, Inc. (Consolidated); and (6) Harvey L. Davis (Davis). The ap-pellees include (1) Charles A. Baer, Trustee, King Resources Company, Debtor, and International Resources Limited, a subsidiary to original debtor (Trustee); (2) Texas International Company (Texas International); (3) First Jersey National Bank, European American Bank & Trust Company and The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as liquidators of the Franklin National Bank (First Jersey); and (4) Citibank, N.A., and United Bank of Denver, N.A., as Indenture Trustees (Indenture Trustees).

The appellees all challenge the appellants’ assertions and Texas International and First Jersey additionally argue that the appeals should be dismissed as moot due to substantial consummation of the reorganization plan. We turn to the mootness question first.

I. MOTION TO DISMISS

We deal first with the motion to dismiss by Texas International since a determination that dismissal .is appropriate would necessarily dispose of the other issues raised. 2 Texas International and First Jersey argue that this appeal should be dismissed for three reasons. First, it is argued that the reorganization plan has been substantially consummated within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 629 which prohibits, after substantial consummation, any “proposed alteration or modification [which] materially and adversely affects the participation provided for any class of creditors or stockholders by the plan.” The appellees argue that because the relief requested by various appellants would materially and adversely affect participation rights under the plan, such relief is precluded by § 629.

Second, it is argued that this court could not follow the recommendations of some appellants and reverse the confirmation order because a new plan of reorganization would necessarily involve cancellation of shares held by good faith purchasers who are not parties to this action. Hence, they could not be divested of their shares and as a result, no effective relief could be fashioned even if there were a reversal. Consequently the appeal is moot.3 Finally, it is argued that this court is without jurisdiction to hear this appeal. The basis of this argument is that once the plan has been substantially consummated, no court has the power to decide whether or not to allow a modification in contravention of § 629. (Texas International Brief 48-67, First Jersey Brief 8-11).

We recognize that it is the duty of the courts to decide actual controversies by a judgment which can be carried into effect, and not to give advisory opinions on moot questions or abstract propositions. Mills v. Green, 159 U.S. 651, 653, 16 S.Ct. 132, 40 L.Ed. 293. And we agree with Texas International that, inasmuch as the confirmation order was not stayed pending appeal, we could not compel third parties who have subsequently made good faith purchases of stock in the reorganized company to return their stock. See Bankruptcy Rule 10-801(2) (“Unless an order approving [1332]*1332a sale of property or issuance of a certificate of indebtedness is stayed pending appeal, the sale to a good faith purchaser or the issuance of a certificate to a good faith holder shall not be affected by the reversal or modification of such order on appeal whether or not the purchaser or holder knows of the pendency of the appeal.”); In re Rock Industries Machinery Corp., 572 F.2d 1195, 1199 (7th Cir.) (knowledge of the grounds for appeal likewise does not vitiate “good faith” status of purchaser.). Hence, if we assumed that the only effect of reversal on appeal would be to order the impossible, we would not address the merits of the appeal. See, e. g., Matter of Combined Metals Reduction Co., 557 F.2d 179, 186-91 (9th Cir.) (dismissing appeals involving consummated sales of property on the basis of mootness.)

However, just as in

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Related

Sherman v. Rose
18 F. App'x 718 (Tenth Circuit, 2001)
King Resources Company v. Baer
651 F.2d 1326 (Tenth Circuit, 1980)

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651 F.2d 1326, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/king-resources-stockholders-protective-committee-v-baer-ca10-1980.