Athene Life and Annuity Company v. American General Life Insurance Company ( 2020 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ATHENE LIFE AND ANNUITY
COMPANY, AMERICAN INVESTORS
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.
REVOCABLE TRUST, and
INDIANAPOLIS LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY REVOCABLE TRUST,
Plaintiffs,
C.A. No. N19C-10-055
PRW CCLD
V.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE )
INSURANCE COMPANY, ZC )
RESOURCE INVESTMENT TRUST, )
and ZC RESOURCE LLC, )
)
)
Defendants.
Submitted: February 18, 2020
Decided: May 18, 2020
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Upon Defendants ZC Resource Investment Trust and ZC Resource LLC’s
Motion to Dismiss,
GRANTED in part; DENIED in part.
Upon Defendant American General Life Insurance Company’s
Motion to Dismiss and Joinder,
GRANTED in part; DENIED in part.
Martin S. Lessner, Esquire, Richard J. Thomas, Esquire, M. Paige Valeski, Esquire,
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP, Wilmington, Delaware;
James P. Gillespie, Esquire (argued), Dustin Hillsley, Esquire, KIRKLAND &
ELLIS LLP, New York, New York; and Adam T. Humann, Esquire, KIRKLAND
& ELLIS LLP, Washington, D.C., Attorneys for Plaintiff Athene Annuity and Life
Company.
Brian C. Ralston, Esquire, POTTER ANDERSON & CORROON LLP,
Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for Plaintiffs American Investors Life Insurance
Company Revocable Trust and Indianapolis Life Insurance Company Revocable
Trust.
Kenneth J. Nachbar, Esquire, Sabrina M. Hendershot, Esquire, MORRIS,
NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorneys for
Defendant American General Life Insurance Company.
Joel Friedlander, Esquire, Christopher P. Quinn, Esquire, FRIEDLANDER &
GORRIS, P.A, Wilmington, Delaware; John L. Jacobus, Esquire (argued), J. Walker
Johnson, Esquire, Catherine D. Cockerham, Esquire, William Carson, Esquire,
STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP, Washington, D.C.; Jeffrey B. Korn, Esquire, Stuart
R. Lombardi, Esquire, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, Washington, D.C.;
Joseph G. Davis, Esquire, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, New York, New
York, Attorneys for Defendants ZC Resource Investment Trust and ZC Resource
LLC.
WALLACE, J.
-ii-
This dispute arises over the interpretation of two corporate-owned life
insurance policies (the “Policies”) and the relevant tax laws. Plaintiffs Athene Life
and Annuity Company (“Athene”), American Investors Life Insurance Company,
Inc. Revocable Trust (“American Investors”), and Indianapolis Life Insurance
Company Revocable Trust (“IndyLife”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) originally
brought suit in the Court of Chancery seeking damages for breach of contract and
tortious interference, specific performance, declaratory judgment, and injunctive
relief. Specifically, Plaintiffs allege Defendant American General Life Insurance
Company, Inc. (“American General”) breached its obligations arising under the
Policies. Plaintiffs further allege tortious interference against Defendants ZC
Resource Investment Trust (“ZCRIT”) and ZC Resource LLC (“ZC Resource”)
(together with ZCRIT, “ZC Defendants”) (together with ZCRIT and American
General, “Defendants”). The Court of Chancery found it lacked subject matter
jurisdiction and the action should be transferred to this Court for Plaintiffs to seek
the proper and adequate remedy at law. !
Before the Court is ZC Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint.
Forwarding the same facts, grounds, and arguments, American General adopts and
joins in ZC Defendants’ dismissal motion on all but the Complaint’s tortious
interference count, because American General wasn’t named in that count.
' See DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 10, § 1902 (2019).
-|-
Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges that Defendants’ unilateral implementation of
certain amendments to the Policies has harmed Athene by: (1) reducing death
benefits paid under the Policies, (2) eliminating specified returns guaranteed in
certain transaction documents, and (3) effectively foreclosing Athene from exiting
the Policies by reallocation. That is, Plaintiffs’ Complaint:
- Charges Breach of Contract and seeks Specific Performance against
American General (“Count 1”);
- Seeks Injunctive Relief and Declaratory Judgment against all Defendants
(“Count 2”);
- Charges Tortious Interference with Contract against ZC Defendants
(“Count 3”).
This is the Court’s ruling on the Defendants’ Rule 12(b)(6) Motions to Dismiss that
Complaint.
Having considered the record and the parties’ arguments, the Court concludes
that all claims against ZC Resource should be dismissed.
As to Athene’s claimed rights to the value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio?
upon Athene’s surrender or reallocation of the Policies, such issues are unripe where
Athene has failed to either surrender or reallocate. And so, the Court must dismiss
2 The Court understands well that some of the terms and circumstances introduced here are
unfamiliar to any reader not deeply entrenched in these transactions or this litigation. Take heart,
these terms and circumstances are explained more fully below.
-2-
the claims for breach of contract as well as those for specific performance,
declaratory judgment, and injunctive relief in Counts 1 and 2 related thereto.
As to the allegations concerning the reduction of death benefits paid out to
Athene due to the 55% Cap, those issues are ripe and Plaintiffs have adequately pled
those related claims for breach of contract, specific performance, injunctive relief,
and declaratory judgment found in Counts 1 and 2. And, therefore, those claims
should not be dismissed at this early stage of the litigation.
Additionally, Plaintiffs have adequately pled tortious interference against
ZCRIT in Count 3.
In short, ZC Defendants’ and American General’s Motions to Dismiss is
GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND?
In October 2000, American Investors Life Insurance Company, Inc.
(“American Investors”) purchased a group-variable life-insurance policy from
American General (the “American Investors Policy”) and paid a $100 million
premium.’ In June 2001, Indianapolis Life Insurance Company (“Indianapolis
Life”) purchased a substantially similar group-variable life-insurance policy from
American General (the “Indianapolis Life Policy”) and paid a $50 million premium.>
The American Investors Policy and the Indianapolis Life Policy together comprise
the Policies.° The documents and agreements evidencing and supporting the two
Policies mirror each other in all material respects.’ American Investors and
Indianapolis Life merged into Athene, which owns the beneficial interest in the
Policies.®
> Unless otherwise noted, the facts recited herein are drawn from the well-pled allegations of the
Verified Complaint (“the Complaint”), together with its attached exhibits. See D.I. 1.
4 Ver. Compl. § 24; Ex. A.3.
5 Id.9 25.
6 Jd. 26.
7 Td.
8 Id. 427.
American General afforded Athene different investment options reflecting
different investment philosophies and risk profiles.? Each investment portfolio was
managed by ZC Trust.'!? ZC Resource is one of ZC Trust’s trustees.'!! American
General offered Athene the ability to allocate premium payments among different
investment options.'? The value of the Policies is based on the performance of the
investments to which Athene allocates its cash value.!?
The premiums paid by the policy owner are invested on its behalf, and the
growth on the investments is used to pay the death benefits, which are unencumbered
by income or capital gains tax, as long as appropriate strictures are followed.'4
Athene chose to invest all of the Policies’ cash value in a portfolio named the SVP!>
Balanced Portfolio (the “SVP Balanced Portfolio”).'!© Athene allocated the $150
million in premiums—which funded Athene’s cash value in the Policies—to the
? Id. 430.
10 Td.
Jd. 21.
2 Td. 430.
3 14.4 6.
4 Id. 28.
An acronym for “stable-value protection.”
'6 Ver. Compl. 4 6.
SVP Balanced Portfolio.'!” That investment option was made available by American
General and offered by ZC Trust.'®
The SVP Balanced Portfolio has two components. The first is an equity and
bond portfolio (the “Corresponding Portfolio”).!? The second is, as Plaintiffs
describe it, a guarantee (the “SVP Product”) from non-party Zurich Insurance
Company (“Zurich Insurance”), and is calculated as “the difference between (i) the
total value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio and (ii) the net asset value of the
Corresponding Portfolio.””°
A. THE ORIGINAL TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS
According to the Complaint, each of the Policies was governed by six
documents.”!._ The five documents relevant here (the “Original Transaction
Documents” or “Transaction Documents”) are: (1) the Policy Document; (2) a
Private Placement Memorandum from American General for the Policy; (3) an
additional Private Placement Memorandum from ZC Resource; (4) a Commitment
Letter from American General to Athene, and (5) a Commitment Letter from ZC
17 Id. § 29.
18 Id. 9§ 29-30.
19 Id 931.
0 Id. 431-32.
21 Jd. 935.
Resource to American General.” The Original Transaction Documents for the two
policies mirror each other in all material respects.”
Relevant within the Original Transaction Documents is each of the American
General Commitment Letters and ZCRIT Commitment Letters pledge that American
General and ZCRIT, respectively, “will not modify, amend or change any of the
Transaction Documents in any way which could change in any material respect the
rights of the Owner and/or the terms and conditions of the transactions reflected in
the [Transaction] Documents.”*4
Section 13 of each of the American General Commitment Letters also states
that: first, American General is obligated to “enforce for the benefit of the Owner
all of their respective rights under all of the... Transaction Documents”; and second,
“[t]he intent of this paragraph is that [American General] will not make or agree to
any changes in any Transaction Documents that would prevent the Owner from
realizing in all material respects the benefits of the transactions reflected in the
[Transaction] Documents.””> Similarly, the ZC Trust Commitment Letters also
provide that “[t]he intent . . . is that the Trust [ZC Trust] will not make or agree to
2 Id.
23 Td
4 Td. 99 36(d), (e).
23 Id. | 36(d).
any changes in any Transaction Documents that would prevent the Owner from
realizing in all material respects the benefits of the transactions reflected in the Trust
[Transaction] Documents.””°
Under the Original Transaction Documents, the parties contemplated that the
total value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio would grow at a fixed crediting rate that
would be reset periodically based on a formula that would reflect market conditions
and amortize the value of the SVP Product over time.?’ Under this approach, ZC
Trust and Zurich Insurance established a floor crediting rate of 0% to ensure that
Athene would not experience a negative return.*® In practice, this meant that the
overall value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio would not decrease over time, even in
years when the market performed poorly, because Athene was guaranteed a non-
negative return.”?
The Original Transaction Documents note that federal tax law imposes certain
investment-diversification requirements on life-insurance policies, including that no
single investment may constitute more than 55% of a portfolio.*° American General
26 Id. 4 36(e).
27 Td. § 33.
28 Id.
29 Td.
3° Id. 438.
reserved the right to manage the investments to comply with the diversification
tules.*! American General also agreed to indemnify Athene if the Policies were
found to violate tax law.*?
According to the Original Transaction Documents, Athene could exit its
investment in the SVP Balanced Portfolio, either by switching to another investment
portfolio offered by American General (“reallocation”),*? or by exercising its right
to “surrender” and receiving the value of its investment.** If Athene chose to
reallocate its investment, the value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio would be
reallocated over four years, through five installments, to another investment
portfolio.*> If Athene chose to “surrender” its Policies, American General promised
to repay Athene as soon as possible after receiving a demand for surrender from
Athene, while reserving the ability to delay payment for the lesser of six months or
a period permitted by law.*°
31 Td.
2 Id.
33 Id.4 110).
34 Id. J 11(ii)
35 Id. 4 39(a).
36 Id. 9 39(b).
B. THE RESTATED TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS
In 2001, after Athene notified American General of its intent to surrender the
policies, the parties agreed to amend several material aspects of the Transaction
Documents.*’ First, American General and ZC Trust changed the minimum
crediting rate of the SVP Balanced Sub—Portfolios from 0% to 8% and implemented
a maximum crediting rate of 10%.°® Second, American General advised Athene that
Zurich Insurance would contribute $15.6 million to the securities portfolio, while
Athene made an additional premium payment—that is, an additional investment—
of $30 million3? The 2001 Amendments also altered the Policies’ surrender
protocol.”” Specifically, the parties agreed to a “Special Surrender Protocol.’”“!
Whereas, prior to this amendment, American General could defer payment for a
maximum of six months, under the Special Surrender Protocol, American General
acquired the “sole discretion” to determine the timing of payment after receiving
Athene’s notice of intent to surrender.*2
37 Td. 99 41, 44.
38 1d. 4 44.
39 Id. 99 46-47.
40 14.48.
4! Defs’ Op. Br. at 3.
*? Compare Ver. Compl. { 39(b) (six months), with Ver. Compl., Ex. B.2 (Restated ZCRIT
Investment PPM) at 29-30 (“sole discretion”).
-10-
In connection with this agreement, certain transaction documents were
amended and restated in December 2001 (for the American Investors Policy) and in
January 2002 (for the Indianapolis Life Policy) (collectively, the “Restated
Transaction Documents”), with American General delivering to Athene the Restated
Policy PPMs, and ZC Trust delivering to Athene the Restated Investment PPMs.”
Both American General and ZC Trust acknowledged in the Restated Policy PPMs
and the Restated Investment PPMs, respectively, that Athene made its decision to
retain the Policies and its investment in the SVP Balanced Portfolio in reliance on
the revised deal terms set forth in the Restated Policy PPMs and the Restated
Investment PPMs, respectively.“
C. THE 2011 SUPPLEMENTS
Between 2001 and 2011, the Corresponding Portfolio materially
underperformed the guaranteed minimum crediting rate of 8% and the obligation
under the SVP Product grew dramatically.** As a result of this poor performance of
the Corresponding Portfolio and the application of the 8% minimum crediting rate,
the SVP Product became a larger portion of the SVP Balanced Portfolio, reaching
nearly $169 million as of the date of the Complaint. The Defendants explain that,
8° 1d.4 48.
“4 14.450.
Jd. 99 74-75.
-1ll-
in the fall of 2011, due to the widening gap between the 8% minimum crediting rate
and the lower-yield performance of the securities portfolio, “the value of the SVP
Product neared 55% of the value of the assets of the SVP Balanced Sub-Portfolios,
consisting of the securities in the Corresponding Portfolio and the SVP Product.”””
In December 2011, the Defendants issued draft supplements to the
transaction’s private placement memoranda that instituted a “55% Cap” on the value
of the SVP Product (the “55% Cap”) and amended the Surrender Protocol by
providing that American General will pay the cash surrender value once the SVP
Product’s value amortizes to zero (together with the 55% Cap, the “2011
Supplements”).*® Despite Athene’s objections, American General did not withdraw
the 2011 Supplements and on January 11, 2012, Benefit Finance Partners, LLC, the
administrator of the policies, advised Athene that Defendants considered these
amendments to be in effect and have since administered the Policies as though in
effect.”
46 Id.
47 Defs’ Op. Br. at 16.
48 Ver. Compl. J 13, 54-56; Ex. C.2 at 2.
49 Td. 4 86.
= 1p -
D. RELEVANT REVENUE RULES AND REGULATIONS
As variable life insurance contracts, the Policies are entitled to significant tax
advantages. To receive these benefits, however, each Policy must qualify as a “life
insurance contract” under § 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”).°° If either
Policy were to become non-compliant, its favorable tax status would be lost.*!
To maintain this status, the Policies must remain compliant with the
diversification rules found in IRC § 817(h) and in § 1.817—5 of the Treasury
Regulations.” Under the IRC’s diversification rules, to maintain “life insurance
contract” status, the investments of a segregated asset account must remain
adequately diversified.’ Under § 1.817--5(b)(1), the investments of a segregated
asset account are sufficiently diversified if “[n]o more than 55% of the value of the
total assets of the account is represented by any one investment... .”>4
In § 1.817—5(d), the IRS outlines a market fluctuations safe harbor. Under the
market fluctuation rule, an account does not violate the diversification requirement
°° See 26 U.S.C. § 7702.
>! Ver. Compl., Ex. B.1 (Restated American General Policy PPM) at 36-37; Defs’ Op. Br. at 7.
°2 Ver. Compl., Ex. B.2 (2001 Restated ZCRIT Investment PPM) at 44; see 26 U.S.C. § 817; 26
C.F.R. § 1.817-S.
3 Defs’ Op. Br. at 7.
54 Treas. Reg. § 1.817-5(b)(1)(i)(A).
-13-
“unless such discrepancy exists immediately after the acquisition of any asset and
such discrepancy is wholly or partly the result of such acquisition.”°> Athene
contends that this rule applies to fluctuations in the value of the SVP Product and,
thus, that Defendants’ application of the 55% Cap to the SVP Product is
unnecessary.*°
In March 2016, Athene asked the IRS for a private-letter ruling on the
diversification requirements’ application to the Policies.°’ Athene’s request to the
IRS sought confirmation that the SVP Product’s increase to 55% of the value of the
SVP Balanced Portfolio would not violate federal regulations because such an
occurrence would arise from the market performance of the Corresponding
Portfolio.*8 Athene also requested that the IRS confirm that this occurrence would
not disqualify the Policies as life insurance contracts for purposes of federal-income
tax.°?
5 26 C.F.R. § 1.817- 5(d).
°° Pifs’ Ans. Br. at 51.
°7 Ver. Compl. § 69.
38 14.470.
a jg!
-14-
Athene asserted that under the market-fluctuation rule, a violation of the
diversification requirements can result only from the acquisition of an asset.”
Applying that rule, Athene explained that any increase in the SVP Product over
55% would result from changes in the values of the assets in the SVP Balanced
Portfolio because of market performance and the 8% crediting rate, not from the
acquisition of any asset.°' Athene later submitted a supplemental letter to the IRS in
January 2017.”
By letter on March 1, 2017, the IRS declined to provide Athene’s requested
private-letter ruling. The IRS neither agreed nor disagreed with Athene’s position,
but informed Athene that: (i) with respect to the Indianapolis Life Policy, Athene
“had already taken a return position on the tax effect of the market performance,”
and (11) with respect to the American Life Policy, the general advice sought would
not be provided in “the interest of sound tax administration.”
60 Id.
6 Id.
& Id.
6° d.971.
64 Td.
-15-
E. THE AVIVA ACTION
This is not the parties’ first attempt to judicially resolve this policy dispute.
The Aviva Life and Annuity Co. v. American General Life Insurance Co. Court of
Chancery action (“Aviva Action”) focused on the same contractual relationship
between Defendants and Plaintiffs’ predecessors.©
In March 2013, Plaintiffs’ predecessors brought the Aviva Action in response
to the Policies’ 2011 Supplements. They sought, among other things, declaratory
judgment that the implementation of the 55% Cap and the change to Athene’s
surrender rights were invalid. On cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings, the
Vice Chancellor dismissed the claims without prejudice, reasoning that the claims
were not yet ripe, because any limit on the 55% Cap was only theoretical.
The 55% Cap has since been implicated, and as a result, the value of a single
death benefit paid under the Policies was reduced by approximately $9,000. In
October 2019, the Plaintiffs filed this action in the Court of Chancery, arguing that
6° See Aviva Life and Annuity Co. v. American General Life Insurance Co., 2014 WL 1677798
(Del. Ch. Apr. 29, 2014). Plaintiff Athene Life and Annuity Company was then known as Aviva
Life and Annuity Company. Ver. Compl. § 16. Plaintiffs American Investors Life Insurance
Company, Inc. Revocable Trust and Indianapolis Life Insurance Company Revocable Trust were
represented by their trustee, U.S Bank Trust National Association, in the previous litigation. See
id. at *1.
66 Id. at *6.
67 Ver. Compl. § 4.
- 16 -
all of their claims have now ripened.*® The Court of Chancery ruled that it lacks
subject matter jurisdiction over the Complaint, finding that while on its face the
Complaint seeks equitable relief, an adequate remedy at law exists.” And so,
Plaintiffs exercised their statutory option to have their case transferred here.”°
Il. PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
A. PLAINTIFFS’ CLAIMS
Plaintiffs set forth three counts in their Complaint. In “Count 1” of the
Complaint, Plaintiffs bring a claim for breach of contract.’! They argue that
American General lacked the contractual authority to amend the Original
Transaction Documents and Restated Transaction Documents by imposing the 2011
Supplements, and that in doing so, American General breached its contract with the
Plaintiffs.
In “Count 2” of the Complaint, Plaintiffs seek declaratory judgments that
Defendants’ unilateral implementation of the 2011 Supplements harm Athene and
violate Athene’s rights under the Original Transaction Documents and Restated
68 See Athene Life and Annuity Co. v. American General Life Insurance Co., 2019 WL 3451376,
at *12 (Del. Ch. July 31, 2019).
69 Td. at *12.
10 See DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 10, § 1902 (2019).
71 Ver. Compl. J 87-97.
-17-
Transaction Documents by (i) reducing or eliminating Athene’s 8% guaranteed
return, (ii) improperly employing the 55% Cap and unreasonably applying that cap,
including with respect to reallocation, and (iii) removing the protocol for Athene to
access the full value of the SVP Product upon surrender of the Policies.”
Alternatively, Plaintiffs ask for declaratory judgment that the Defendants’ unilateral
implementation of the 55% Cap to impair Athene’s and the Trusts’ ability to obtain
the benefit of the SVP Product is an invalid exercise of their rights under either the
Original Transaction Documents or the Restated Transaction Documents.”
Additionally, Plaintiffs seek an injunction enjoining Defendants from taking any
action inconsistent with the declaration.”
In “Count 3” of the Complaint, Plaintiffs seek monetary damages for tortious
interference of contract against ZCRIT and ZC Resource and also seek equitable
relief in the form of “injunctive relief from further interference by ZCRIT and ZC
Resource.””>
2 Td. 104(a)-(b).
B Id.4 105.
4 Id. 106.
Id. 4107-112.
-18-
In their answering brief to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, Plaintiffs contend
that all of the claims are ripe given four key developments since Athene’s 2013
action:
(3) Defendants’ undisputed implementation of the 55% Cap to reduce the
growth of the SVP Product;
(ii) Defendants’ undisputed implementation of the 55% Cap to decrease the
value of a death benefit paid to Athene by approximately $9,000;
(iii) the IRS declining to provide any guidance concerning the purported
need for the 55% Cap; and
(iv) Athene’s inability to resolve this matter with Defendants to obtain the
clarity it needs to protect its rights under the Restated Transaction
Documents; instead, Defendants confirmed that they intend the 2011
Supplements to eviscerate the value of the SVP Product.”
B. THE DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS
Defendants collectively, via motion and joinder, seek wholesale dismissal of
the Complaint. As for Counts 1 and 2, the Defendants do not dispute that both the
breach-of-contract and declaratory judgement claims concerning the reduced
benefits paid to Athene due to the 55% Cap are now ripe. They argue that the claims
lack merit. The Defendants claim the 55% Cap is necessary to comply with tax
regulations and, therefore, to preserve the tax-favored status of the Policies.”’
76 Plfs’ Ans. Br. at 20-21.
1” Defs’ Op. Br. at 5.
-19-
Moreover, Defendants’ position is that no benefit has actually been denied to
Plaintiffs because the SVP Product has no real value, but is instead an accounting
device to smooth returns in the Portfolio over time.’® They contend that the 55%
Cap was required to preserve the tax-advantaged status.
Defendants argue that the breach-of-contract and declaratory judgment claims
concerning the amendments to the Surrender Protocol in the 2011 Supplements are
both unripe and lack merit. Defendants suggest that Athene’s Surrender Protocol
Claims in Counts | and 2 are not ripe because Athene has not provided notice of
intent to surrender the Policies. Furthermore, Defendants say that even if Athene’s
claims are ripe, the 2011 Supplements did not alter Athene’s Surrender Rights under
the Original Transaction Documents and Restated Transaction Documents.
Defendants claim that they were expressly given authority to unilaterally amend the
Surrender Protocol through the “sole discretion” on timing provision in the private
placement memoranda for the Policies that were amended and restated in 2001.”
As to Count 3—that for tortious interference with contract—Defendants argue
it should be dismissed because Athene fails to allege an actual breach of contract by
American General, which is an essential element of its tortious interference claim.
Moreover, Defendants contend that under Delaware law, it is well-settled that a
78 Td. at 2.
9 Td. at 4.
- 20 -
defendant may only be found liable for tortious interference if it is a stranger to the
contractual relationship. Here, Defendants claim that it is clear on the face of the
Complaint that ZCRIT and ZC Resource were fundamental to the implementation
of the contracts’ terms and, in particular, to the creation and management of Athene’s
investment portfolio. In addition, Defendants claim that the “interference privilege”
recognized by Delaware courts also bars Athene’s recovery because Athene has not
disputed that the ZC Defendants were acting in American General’s interests when
they effectuated the 55% Cap.
Finally, Defendants assert that under Delaware law, ZC Resource, in its
capacity as former trustee of ZCRIT, cannot be liable to Athene, a non-shareholder,
for damages arising from its alleged conduct as trustee.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The standard of review on these Defendants’ motions to dismiss is derived
from Superior Court Civil Rule 12(b)(6), which provides that a defendant may bring
a motion to dismiss if a complaint fails “to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted.”®° When considering a motion to dismiss, the Court must:
(1) accept all well pleaded factual allegations as true,
(2) accept even vague allegations as “well pleaded” if they
give the opposing party notice of the claim,
80 Del. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(b)(6).
-21-
(3) draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-
moving party, and
(4) not dismiss the claims unless the plaintiff would not be
entitled to recover under any reasonably conceivable set
of circumstances.®!
However, the Court “is not required to accept every strained interpretation of
the allegations proposed by the plaintiff.” The Court should “ignore conclusory
allegations that lack specific supporting factual allegations.”*? The Court also may
not consider extrinsic materials on a motion to dismiss except “where an extrinsic
document is integral to a plaintiff's claim and is incorporated into the complaint by
reference.”*4
Dismissal is warranted when a plaintiff either fails to plead facts supporting
an element of its claim, or where under no reasonable interpretation of the facts
alleged could its complaint be read to state a claim for which relief might be
8! Central Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Capital Holdings LLC, 27 A.3d 531, 535 (Del.
2011).
82 Malpiede v. Townson, 780 A.2d 1075, 1083 (Del. 2001).
88 Anderson v. Tingle, 2011 WL 3654531, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 15, 2011) (quoting
Ramunno vy. Cawley, 705 A.2d 1029, 1034 (Del. 1998)).
8¢ Furman v. Delaware Dep’t of Transp., 30 A.3d 771, 774 (Del. 2011); see also Winshall v.
Viacom Int'l, Inc., 76 A.3d 808, 818 (Del. 2013); Price v. Koski Trucking, Inc.,2012 WL 3549729,
at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. July 27, 2012); Capano v. Lockwood, 2015 WL 5178388, at *2 (Del. Super.
Ct. Aug. 21, 2015).
-22-
granted.®> If the Court engages these well-accepted standards and finds the claimant
may recover, the Court must deny the motion to dismiss.*°
IV. DISCUSSION
There are only three matters in dispute: (1) whether ZC Resource is personally
liable to the Plaintiffs under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act; (2) are the issues
presented ripe for judicial resolution; and (3) do Plaintiffs adequately plead claims
for breach of contract, specific performance, injunctive relief, declaratory judgment,
and tortious interference.
A. CLAIMS AGAINST ZC RESOURCE
All of the claims asserted against ZC Resource must be dismissed. Under the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act, “a trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be
personally liable to any person other than the statutory trust or a beneficial owner
for any act, omission or obligation of the statutory trust or any trustee thereof” except
“to the extent otherwise provided” by the trust’s governing document.®’
Here, the ZCRIT Declaration of Trust does not “otherwise provide.”®® It
explicitly provides that the trustee “shall not be liable for any act or omission of any
8° Otto’s Candies, LLC v. KPMG, LLP, 2018 WL 1960344, at *3 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 25, 2018).
86 Spence v. Funk, 396 A.2d 967, 968 (Del. 1978).
87 DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 12, § 3803(b) (2019).
88 Defs’ Reply at 57.
-23-
conduct whatsoever in his capacity as Trustee... .”°? The only exception is potential
liability to the trust or shareholders, which is not applicable here. Accordingly,
Athene, a holder of the Policies and not a shareholder of ZCRIT, cannot recover
damages from ZC Resource for any act or omission, including alleged tortious
interference, as a matter of law.
Furthermore, the Complaint lacks any allegation that ZC Resource acted
outside the scope of its authority as trustee. In fact, the Complaint concedes that ZC
Trust and ZC Resource argued that the 55% Cap was required in order to comply
with IRS diversification requirements for life-insurance accounts.” Plaintiffs only
allege that ZC Resource unilaterally implemented the Policy Supplements with
knowledge of the terms of the Original Transaction Documents and the Restated
Transaction Documents. Even if it were a plausible inference that ZC Resource was
acting in part with erroneous or adverse motives, this does not necessarily lead to
the conclusion that it acted outside the scope of its authority—a conclusion necessary
for the imposing personal liability in tort for interfering with the contractual rights
of Athene.”! To hold otherwise would substantially curtail ZC Resource’s ability to
carry out its duties due to the fear of culpability. Because there are no facts showing
8° See Affidavit of Joel Friedlander, Ex. 8 (ZCRIT Declaration of Trust) at § 10.1.
°° Ver. Compl. § 110.
°! See Feldman v. Soon-Shiong, 2018 WL 2124063, at *4 (Del. Ch. May 8, 2018).
- 24 -
that ZC Resource exceeded its capacity as trustee, it appears with reasonable
certainty that the Plaintiffs would not be entitled to relief against ZC Resource under
any set of facts that can be inferred from the pleadings. Therefore, all claims against
ZC Resource must be dismissed.
B. RIPENESS
Under the Declaratory Judgment Act, this Court has the “power to declare
rights, status and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be
claimed.””* The purpose of a declaratory judgment is “to promote preventive justice
[...] where an injury has not yet occurred.”
The decision to issue a declaratory judgment is within the Court's discretion.”
And the discretion to assume, or not to assume the jurisdiction lies fully with the
Court—“the only limitation being that the Court cannot abuse its discretion.””> But
°2 DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 10, § 6501 (2019).
°° Lamourine v. Mazda Motor of Am., Inc., 2006 WL 2767021, at *3 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 28,
2006). See also Bank of Delaware y. Allstate Ins. Co., 448 A.2d 231, 234 (Del. Super. Ct.
1982) (citing Clemente v. Greyhound Corporation, 155 A.2d 316, 320 (Del. Super. Ct.
1959) (“[T]he principal reason for the invention of the declaratory judgment procedure was to
enable the law of a case to be determined before mere differences ripen into actual injuries.”)).
XL Specialty Ins. Co. v. WMI Liquidating Trust, 93 A.3d 1208, 1216 (Del. 2014)
(citing Gannett Co., Inc. v. Bd. of Managers of the Delaware Criminal Justice Info. Sys., 840 A.2d
1232, 1237 (Del. 2003) (“This Court reviews for abuse of discretion the Superior Court’s decision
to exercise declaratory judgment jurisdiction over a case.”)).
°5 See Clemente, 155 A.2d at 321; Burris v. Cross, 583 A.2d 1364, 1372 (Del. Super. Ct.
1990); Mr. Kleen, LLC v. New Castle County Dep’t of Special Servs., 2014 WL 4243562, at *7
(Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 19, 2014).
-25-
the Court may not exercise that discretion “unless the action presents an actual
controversy.””°
Our Supreme Court “has emphasized that the declaratory judgment statute
must not be used as a means to elicit advisory opinions from the courts.” °” For this
Court to grant declaratory relief, “[a] litigant need not have suffered actual harm, but
an actual controversy must exist so that judicial resources are not wasted on
hypothetical disputes or on situations in which a judicial declaration will not end the
dispute between the parties.””*® To present an actual controversy, the disputed issue
must be, among other things, ripe for adjudication.” “The ripeness doctrine reflects
two goals: first, to conserve judicial resources by not allocating them to resolution
of disputes that are not ready for judicial disposition, and, second, to avoid the
development of the law in the absence of concrete facts and adversary positions upon
which case law is premised.”!°
6 XL Specialty Ins., 93 A.3d at 1216 (internal quotation omitted); see also Stroud v. Milliken
Enterprises, Inc., 552 A.2d 476, 479 (Del. 1989).
°7 Energy Partners, Ltd. v. Stone Energy Corp., 2006 WL 2947483, at *7 (Del. Ch. Oct. 11,
2006).
°8 Hoechst Celanese Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 623 A.2d 1133,
1137 (Del. Super. Ct. 1992).
° See XL Specialty Ins., 93 A.3d at 1216-17.
'° Tenneco Automotive Inc. v. El Paso Corp., 2001 WL 1641744, at *6 (Del. Ch. Nov. 29, 2001).
-26-
With this backdrop, the Court turns to the declaratory judgment issues here:
(i) the 55% Cap, (ii) the Special Surrender Protocol, and (iii) Reallocation Rights.
1. The 55% Cap
The 2011 Supplements establish a cap so that the value of the SVP Product
does not exceed 55% of the aggregate value of the SVP Balanced Sub-Portfolio. If
this 55% Cap is reached, the SVP Product value and, correspondingly, the value of
the SVP Balanced Sub-—Portfolio, will be adjusted automatically. This dispute is
over whether this 55% Cap was required to preserve tax-advantaged status.
Plaintiffs allege “Defendants asserted an erroneous interpretation of federal
tax rules to purport to impose a “cap” on the value of the SVP Product.” The issue
involves, in part, a question of federal law under the Internal Revenue Code that is
of first impression. The Court need not answer this factually intensive question at
such an early stage of this current action. Accepting all well-pleaded factual
allegations as true, the claims for breach of contract and declaratory judgment
concerning the reduction of benefits paid as result of the 55% Cap survive the motion
to dismiss. Still, the issue of whether the 55% Cap wrongfully reduced the value of
the SVP product and thus the amount that would be paid upon surrender is still
unripe.
-27-
2. The Surrender Protocol
The first way for Athene to exit the policies is through surrender. Plaintiffs
contend that its rights upon surrender were hindered by the 2011 Supplements
providing (1) the 55% Cap and (2) that American General will pay the cash surrender
value once the SVP Product’s value amortizes to zero. Despite the recent
developments alleged by Plaintiffs, the holdings of from the Aviva Action still apply
to the claims implicating the Surrender Protocol.
In the Aviva Action, the Vice Chancellor explained how the claims were
unripe by itemizing the following findings of law and assumptions of fact that would
have to be entertained to reach a decision:
Find that the SVP Product provides Aviva with an economic return
after surrender if the book value of the Sub—Portfolio exceeds its
market value; assume that Aviva will choose to surrender the
Policies when such a scenario exists; further assume that market
conditions would be such that, if [American General] were to delay
payment, post-surrender, until full amortization of the value of the
SVP Product, such an amortization period would be protracted;
and, under that assumption, then find that such a protracted
withholding of Aviva’s investment would constitute a material
impairment of Aviva’s rights under the Policies and breach the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, notwithstanding
[American General’s] bargained-for right to time such payment in
its “sole discretion.” At this stage, the requested determination
that the change from a “sole discretion” term to a provision
requiring the value of the SVP Product be zero before payment,
and from the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index to the federal
funds rate, harms Aviva’s interests in a material way such that this
amendment violates the Transaction Documents, and also
constitutes a breach of the implied covenant, would be unduly
speculative. This is true even assuming that Aviva will,
- 28 -
eventually, wish to exercise its surrender right, as such a
determination would be contingent on factors only knowable at the
time of surrender, like the value of the SVP Product, how long it
would take to amortize that amount, and what rate is to be
applied.!°!
In other words, because the circumstances at the time of surrender cannot be known,
it would necessitate speculation, not just about whether a surrender will occur, but,
if so, about what the conditions may be and what impact they may have on Aviva’s
interests in the Policies upon surrender. Not surprisingly, my colleague found such
an opinion would be hypothetical and advisory.
None of the four key developments since Athene’s 2013 action change the
Court of Chancery’s analysis. In their answering brief, Plaintiffs contend that all
claims implicate the 55% Cap and thus should be heard together. Plaintiffs have
failed to demonstrate how the developments implicating the 55% Cap should
distinguish this from the Court of Chancery’s decision. For instance, the Court
would still have to find that the SVP Product provides Athene with an economic
return after surrender if the book value of the Sub-Portfolio exceeds in market value.
The Plaintiffs argue that judicial economy is served by addressing Athene’s
claims relating to the 55% Cap together. Yet, this misconstrues the actual concept
of ripeness and its crucial nature in defining a court’s role. “Ripeness, the simple
question of whether a suit has been brought at the correct time, goes to the very heart
10! Aviva Life & Annuity Co., 2014 WL 1677798, at *13.
-29 -
of whether a court has subject matter jurisdiction.”!°? As Defendants point out, there
appears little overlap between the Surrender Protocol and the 55% Cap. And as they
also correctly contend, a claim cannot ripen on mere efficiency grounds.!%
No doubt, from any litigant’s perspective having some judicial voice weigh in
on an issue prior to acting would always be preferable and may promote one’s
efficient ordering of one’s affairs. But the issue of ripeness goes directly to a court’s
jurisdiction, and thus its power to hear a claim.' In analyzing whether a claim is
ripe, the efficiency concern is to conserve judicial resources by not allocating them
to resolution of disputes that are not ready for judicial disposition.'!°° Delaware
courts do consider “whether the interests of those who seek relief outweigh the
interests of the court and of justice in postponing review until the question arises in
some more concrete and final form.”!”
Here, Plaintiffs have not plead facts sufficient to demonstrate that these
specific claims are ready for judicial disposition. Ripeness is analyzed on a claim-
102 Bebchuk v. CA, Inc., 902 A.2d 737, 740 (Del. Ch. 2006).
103 Defs’ Reply at 7.
104 See Bebchuk, 902 A.2d at 740 (“Because of its importance, ripeness is a doctrine common to
both federal and state courts.”).
15 Schick Inc. v. Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, 533 A.2d 1235, 1239 (Del.
Ch. 1987).
'°° Bebchuk, 902 A.2d at 740 (citation and internal quotations omitted).
- 30 -
by-claim basis.'°’ And the Court finds that its interest in deferring any consideration
of the issues until there are more concrete facts outweighs Athene’s interest in a
decision on these issues.
As the Court of Chancery observed in the Aviva Action before: Athene is a
sophisticated party that negotiated a contract with a “sole discretion” term and now
is seeking a judicial determination as to the meaning of the Policies based on facts
that are not yet fully developed.'®* In the absence of a ripe dispute, this Court may
not presently make such a determination. But if Athene does surrender these
corporate-owned life insurance policies, then it can easily approach this Court for a
determination as to the validity of the Special Surrender Protocol at that time, if
appropriate. !°?
3. Reallocation Rights
The second way for Athene to exit the policies is through reallocation. With
respect to “reallocation,” at the conclusion of a 36-month Restriction Period (which
has already expired), Athene can direct that American General reallocate all or a
'°7 Brownsburg Area Patrons Affecting Change v. Baldwin, 943 F. Supp. 975, 992 (S.D. Ind.
1996) (citing Pacific Gas and Elec. Co. v. State Energy Resources Conservation & Development
Comm'n, 461 U.S. 190, 200 (1983) (Utilities’ challenge to one provision in California state statute
was ripe, but challenge to another provision was not.)).
108 See Aviva Life and Annuity Co., 2014 WL 1677798, at *13.
109 See id.
-31-
portion of its investment from the SVP Balanced Portfolio to another investment
opportunity.''® Under the Investment PPM, the value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio
would then be reallocated in five installments over four years, with a certain
' Upon
percentage of the investment value redeemed and reallocated each year.'!
Athene’s exercise of its reallocation rights, Defendants have stated that they would
implement this process by redeeming the Corresponding Portfolio before the SVP
Product.' This practice, employed in concert with the 55% Cap, meant that any
reallocation of the Corresponding Portfolio would require a concomitant reduction
in the value of the SVP Product, which could never comprise more than 55% of the
total value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio.''? Athene contends that such an action
would preclude Athene from realizing any value of the SVP Product.'' Athene
argues that it is entitled to a declaratory judgment so that it may “evaluate the value
of its investments and the economic consequences of reallocation.”!'°
"19 See Ver. Compl. 39(a); Exs. A.3, A.5 (Appendix I, Example A).
NN Id, | 55(b).
12 Iq. 4 55(b).
3 Id.4 12.
4 1g. 9 55(b).
MS Td. 4 100.
-32-
This Court (as did its sister court before) has already ruled that Athene’s
interests in evaluating its “ongoing choice[s]” is clearly outweighed by the
“uncertainty, waste of resources, and advisory nature of any decision on the
merits.”''® Similar to the surrender protocol claims, the claims in Counts 1 and 2
asserting that application of the 55% Cap hinders Athene’s ability to access the full
value of the SVP Balanced Portfolio through reallocation are not ripe for judicial
determination.
C. TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACT
One states a claim for tortious interference with contractual relations by
pleading: (1) a valid contract; (2) about which defendants knew; (3) an intentional
act that is a significant factor in causing the breach of such contract; (4) without
justification; (5) which causes injury.!!”
ZC Defendants have argued that Plaintiffs fail to state a claim for tortious
interference because of the “stranger rule.” Under this rule, the complaint must
allege facts supporting a reasonable inference that the defendant is “‘a stranger to
"16 See Aviva Life and Annuity Co., 2014 WL 1677798, at *12.
''7 Aspen Advisors LLC v. United Artists Theatre Co., 861 A.2d 1251, 1265-55 (Del. 2004)
(Recounting Delaware law’s five well-established elements of a tortious interference claim.).
= 8ah=
both the contract and the business relationship giving rise to and underpinning the
contract.’”?!'!8
The Delaware Court of Chancery has recently departed from the stranger rule
enunciated in Tenneco, finding that “[t]he Tenneco decision . . . did not have to
consider the broader implications of applying the stranger rule” because the
defendant had become an actual party to the insurance policies at issue in the tortious
interference claim.'!? The Chancery Court further noted, “[s]ubsequent decisions of
this court have quoted language from Tenneco without examining these issues.”’!”°
In Bandera Master Fund LP vy. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, the
Delaware Court of Chancery found the Tenneco stranger rule runs contrary to the
Delaware Supreme Court’s adoption of the multi-factor balancing approach under
Section 766 of the Second Restatement of Torts.'?! And the Bandera court observed
that the Tenneco decision had derived its articulation of the stranger rule from a
Georgia case.!?4
''8 Tenneco Automotive, 2007 WL 92621, at *5 (quoting Atlanta Market Cir. Mgmt., Co. v.
McLane, 503 S.E.2d 278, 283 (Ga. 1998)).
''? Bandera Master Fund LP v. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP,2019 WL 4927053, at *28 (Del.
Ch. Oct. 7, 2019).
120 Td.
1 Id.
'2 See Tenneco Automotive, 2007 WL 92621, at *5 (quoting Atlanta Market Ctr. Memt., Co. v.
McLane, 503 S.E.2d 278, 283-84 (Ga. 1998)).
-34-
Georgia is part of a competing group of jurisdictions that have adopted an
absolute (rather than limited) affiliate privilege.'** According to this theory, “a
parent and its wholly owned subsidiaries constitute a single economic unit.”!** By
contrast, jurisdictions like Delaware recognize a limited affiliate privilege and
employ “‘a balancing test of the kind elaborated in the Restatement (Second) of
Torts.’”'?° The latter approach acknowledges “the significant economic interest of
a parent corporation in its subsidiary” but does so without foreclosing potential
liability on the sole basis of related-party status.'*° The Bandera court noted that
when applying the stranger rule, the Tenneco court did not explore these differences.
And, most importantly, the Bandera court recognized that contrary to what Tenneco
might have suggested: “It does not follow, however, that the defendant must also be
a stranger to the ‘the business relationship giving rise to and underpinning the
contract’ to qualify as a ‘third party’ for purposes of Section 766.”!2”. This Court
agrees,
123 Bandera Master Fund, 2019 WL 4927053, at *27.
124 Shearin v. E.F. Hutton Group, Inc., 652 A.2d 578, 590 (Del. Ch. 1994).
"5 Bandera Master Fund, 2019 WL 4927053, at *28 (quoting Shearin, 652 A.2d at 590).
126 yy
'27 Id.; see also RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 766 (1979).
= 36
Under Section 766’s multi-factor balancing approach, ZC Defendants’
argument that ZCRIT could not tortiously interfere merely because it was not a
complete stranger to the business relationship fails. As mentioned, the policies
unpinning Delaware’s limited affiliate privilege focus primarily on balancing
corporate separateness and preserving a parent entity’s ability to protect its economic
interest in its subsidiaries.'*8 Those same concerns are not at stake with the
relationship between the ZCRIT and American General.
Lastly, ZC Defendants assert this tortious interference claim fails because
there is no breach of contract. The Court simply cannot—on the record developed
at this early pleading stage—determine whether a breach has actually occurred. And
under the facts alleged in the Complaint and the reasonable inferences drawn from
those facts, the Court simply cannot say there is no reasonable conceivability that
Plaintiffs might be able to obtain recovery on their claim that ZCRIT tortiously
interfered in causing a breach if the 55% Cap is found to be a breach of contract that
reduced the policy benefits paid out.
128 Td.
- 36 -
Vv. CONCLUSION
ZC Defendants’ and American General’s Motions to Dismiss is hereby
GRANTED as to all claims against ZC Resource and the claims in Counts | and 2
against American General and ZCRIT implicating the Surrender Protocol and the
Reallocation Rights. But it is DENIED as to the claims in Counts | and 2 against
American General and ZCRIT implicating the reduced death benefits paid due to the
55% Cap and the tortious interference claim (Count 3) against ZCRIT.
YBnr.
Paul R. Wallace, Judge
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Original to Prothonotary,
cc: All Counsel via File and Serve
-37-