Transworld Telecommunications, Inc. v. Pacific Mezzanine Fund, L.P. (In Re Transworld Telecommunications, Inc.)

260 B.R. 204, 2000 WL 33249208
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedJanuary 9, 2001
Docket2:00cv0667 ST. Bankruptcy No. 97C-31618. Adversary No. 98PC-2089
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 260 B.R. 204 (Transworld Telecommunications, Inc. v. Pacific Mezzanine Fund, L.P. (In Re Transworld Telecommunications, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Transworld Telecommunications, Inc. v. Pacific Mezzanine Fund, L.P. (In Re Transworld Telecommunications, Inc.), 260 B.R. 204, 2000 WL 33249208 (D. Utah 2001).

Opinion

ORDER

STEWART, District Judge.

Before the Court is Defendant’s objections to the bankruptcy court’s proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1)(non-core proceedings). The matter came regularly for hearing on Tuesday, November 21, 2000, before the Honorable Ted Stewart. After oral argument, consideration of the memoranda submitted by the parties, de novo review of the record before the court, and the pertinent law, the Court hereby enters the following findings and order:

1. The cost of money ceiling for a particular financing is to be determined as of the date a loan commitment is issued, or as of the date of the first closing of the financing. 13 C.F.R. § 107.855(b). Furthermore, the term “cash” as used in 13 C.F.R. § 107.855(h) includes all cash payments that are required under the terms of the loan, including cash payments required to be made in the future. The Court interprets 13 C.F.R. § 107.855 as a measure designed to prevent SBIA lenders from charging excess interest rates, not just a measure designed to remedy a situation where excess payments have been made.
2. The Court finds that the loan extended by Pacific Mezzanine Fund exceeded the cost of money ceiling set forth in 13 C.F.R. § 107.855. The bankruptcy court’s findings and conclusions in this respect are hereby adopted.
3. The Court finds that there is insufficient evidence in the record to support the argument that Transworld Telecommunications, Inc. relied upon the misrepresented loan balance declared by Pacific Mezzanine Fund. However, the Court nonetheless finds that Pacific did not represent to Transworld that it owed a sum certain on the loan, which sum certain was in excess of the cost of money ceiling. Pacific’s attempted retraction of this representation after being accused of violating the lending regulations is not credible and is rejected. Accordingly, Pacific *206 is bound by its representations in the letters sent to Transworld regarding the amount outstanding on the loan.
4.The Court finds that the bankruptcy’s court’s remedy wherein it recommended a judgment in the amount of $599,106.00 as the statutory penalty of twice the interest paid, (15 U.S.C.§ 687(i)(4)(B)), and a judgment that Pacific return the promissory notes secured as collateral of the loan, or if such promissory notes are sold, that Pacific return to Transworld all proceeds plus interest of the sale of the promissory notes, (15 U.S.C. § 687(i)(4)(B)), is the correct remedy mandated by the law. The bankruptcy’s recommendation is, therefore, adopted in this respect. Pacific is hereby ordered to pay Transworld $599,106.00 as the statutory penalty of twice the interest actually paid. Furthermore, Pacific is ordered to return the Wireless Holdings note and the Wireless Cable note to Transworld, or if the notes were sold, then Pacific is ordered to return all proceeds from the sale of these notes, plus fourteen percent accruing from the date of such sale, to Transworld.

SO ORDERED.

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah

PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1)

This matter came on for trial before the Honorable Glen E. Clark, Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, on May 10, 2000. Blake D. Miller appeared on behalf of Thomas A. Howard, Trustee of The TTI Trust; Steven B. Sacks and Duane H. Gillman appeared on behalf of Pacific Mezzanine Fund, L.P.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Transworld Telecommunications, Inc., (“TTI”) is a Pennsylvania corporation which, prior to the confirmation of its plan of reorganization in this case, had its principal place of business in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Pretrial Order.)

2. Thomas A. Howard, Trustee of The TTI Trust (the “Trustee”), is the successor in interest to TTI of all claims and interests related to this proceeding.

3. Pacific Mezzanine Fund, L.P., (“PMF”) is licensed under the Small Business Investment Act (“SBIA”) and is engaged in the business of providing federally leveraged loans to qualified small businesses.

4. On June 28, 1996, TTI and PMF entered into a loan agreement and related debt and security instruments under which PMF loaned $2,500,000 to TTI (the “Loan”). (Pretrial Order.)

5. The Loan was extensively negotiated by the parties at arm’s length. Both parties were represented by experienced counsel of their choosing. (Pretrial Order.)

6. The Loan provides that California law applies to its interpretation.

7. Under applicable federal law, the cost of money ceiling for the Loan is 14 percent per annum. (Pretrial Order.)

8. The Loan Agreement provides that the rate of interest payable on the Loan shall in no event exceed the maximum rate permissible under applicable law.

9. There is no evidence in the record that the interest rate or any other material term of the Loan was ever adjusted in order to prevent the Loan from exceeding the SBIA cost of money ceiling.

*207 10. The Loan Agreement provides for TTI to pay accrued interest each quarter and for interest to be compounded quarterly.

11. In the Loan Agreement, TTI represented and warranted that the Loan Agreement and the other agreements were legal, valid, and binding obligations.

12. In the Loan Agreement, TTI agreed that it would indemnify, defend, and hold PMF harmless.

13. PMF received the following collateral for the Loan (the “Collateral”).

(1) A security interest in a “put option” owned by TTI which required Videotron USA, Inc., to purchase TTI’s 200 shares of Videotron (Bay Area), Inc., for a price of not less than $2,600,000 (the “VBAI Put”).
(2) A security interest in a Promissory Note, dated April 1, 1995, from Wireless Holdings, Inc., to TTI in the principal amount of $2,375,415 (the “WHI Note”).
(3) A security interest in a Promissory Note, dated June 28, 1996, from Wireless Cable and Communications, Inc., (“WCCI”) to TTI in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “WCCI Note”). (Pretrial Order.)

14. PMF’s interest in the Collateral was duly perfected under applicable law. The WHI Note and the WCCI Note were assigned to PMF in writing, and PMF took possession of both Notes.

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Bluebook (online)
260 B.R. 204, 2000 WL 33249208, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/transworld-telecommunications-inc-v-pacific-mezzanine-fund-lp-in-re-utd-2001.