DocketNumber： Docket No. 8836-06.
Citation Numbers： 2010 T.C. Memo. 203, 100 T.C.M. 231, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240
Judges： CHIECHI
Filed Date： 9/16/2010
Status： Non-Precedential
Modified Date： 4/17/2021
Decision will be entered for petitioner.
CHIECHI,
Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found.
At the time it filed the petition, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*241 petitioner maintained its principal office in Illinois.
In 1988, BCA was incorporated under Illinois law in order to (1) develop high-end residential condominiums in Chicago, Illinois (Chicago), (2) renovate historic buildings in and around Chicago and adapt them to different uses, and (3) develop affordable housing projects in Illinois. At all relevant times prior to August 1, 2000, BCA was an S corporation.
At all relevant times until December 12, 1999, Bruce C. Abrams (Mr. Abrams) was the president and the sole stockholder of BCA. On December 12, 1999, Mr. Abrams died. As a result, Mr. Abrams' estate (Abrams estate) became the sole stockholder of BCA. At all relevant times, Mr. Abrams' wife, Nancy Abrams (Ms. Abrams), served as the executrix of the Abrams estate.
Sometime between Mr. Abrams' death on December 12, 1999, and December 30, 1999, Ms. Abrams appointed David Kirshenbaum (Mr. Kirshenbaum) as president of BCA. 3 On January 5, 2000, Ms. Abrams appointed the following individuals as directors of BCA: Her father Byron Canvasser, her brother Robert Canvasser, and Andrew Hochberg.
At 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*242 all relevant times, the following individuals who constituted the senior management of BCA held the offices in BCA indicated:
| Name | Title |
| David Kirshenbaum | President |
| Steven Sherman | Chief financial officer |
| Donald Biernacki | Senior vice president—construction |
| Kerry Dickson | Senior vice president—development |
| Laura Davis Molk | Senior vice president—marketing |
| Thomas Weeks | Senior vice president—for-sale properties |
| David Dresdner | Senior vice president—commercial properties |
| Kenneth Rice | Senior vice president—affordable housing |
| Stephen Galler | Senior vice president and general counsel |
| Theodore Weldon | Vice president—acquisitions |
(We shall refer collectively to all of BCA's officers listed above, except Mr. Kirshenbaum, as BCA senior management.)
Within a few days after Mr. Abrams' death, Ms. Abrams, as executrix of the Abrams estate, decided to sell the stock of BCA that that estate owned. The Abrams estate was unwilling to cause BCA to sell its assets.
Sometime before early April 2000, Ms. Abrams, as executrix of the Abrams estate, retained Mayer, Brown & Platt (Mayer Brown) to serve as that estate's attorneys with respect to the sale of BCA. On February 1, 2000, Ms. Abrams, as executrix of the Abrams estate, retained Cohen 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*243 Financial Corp. (Cohen Financial), an investment banking firm with its principal office in Chicago, to assist that estate in valuing and selling BCA. 4 CFC Advisory Services L.P. (CFC Advisory), an entity that Cohen Financial owned, was to provide that assistance. On February 1, 2000, the Abrams estate and CFC Advisory entered into an agreement (CFC engagement agreement) for CFC Advisory to do so. 5
On July 1, 1992, The Related Companies, L.P. (Related), a limited partnership, was organized under New York law to acquire, own, develop, finance, operate, maintain, and manage real estate, primarily residential and retail properties. At all relevant times, Stephen Ross (Mr. 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*244 Ross) owned indirectly the majority of the interests in Related. 6 During those times, Mr. Ross served as chairman of Related. At all relevant times, Jeff Blau (Mr. Blau) owned a limited partnership interest in Related that ranged from 8 percent to 15 percent, depending on each project that Related undertook. 7 On January 1, 2000, Mr. Blau, who had been serving as a senior vice president of Related, became its president. At all relevant times since 1996, Michael Brenner (Mr. Brenner) owned a 1-percent limited partnership interest in Related. During those times, Mr. Brenner served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of that company.
In late December 1999, shortly after Mr. Abrams' death, Mr. Blau learned from a cousin of Ms. Abrams that the Abrams estate planned to sell BCA and certain other assets that that estate owned. At that time, Related decided to attempt to purchase certain assets of BCA. 8 To that end, a representative of Related contacted a representative 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*245 of the Abrams estate to express an interest in purchasing certain of BCA's assets. 9 Related was unwilling to purchase any stock of BCA. Related wanted to purchase certain assets, and not the stock, of BCA because Related (1) intended to sell certain of BCA's assets that it was able to purchase from BCA within a few years after it had purchased them and wanted to have a cost basis in each such asset, (2) was unwilling to hold stock of a corporation because it wished to conduct its business through pass-through entities as it had in the past, and (3) was concerned about any unknown liabilities that BCA might have had as a result of certain actions that Mr. Abrams had taken as president of BCA.
On December 27, 1999, Byron Canvasser, who was a director of BCA and Ms. Abrams' father, sent a memorandum on behalf of the Abrams estate to Mr. Blau of Related. Byron Canvasser included with 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*246 that memorandum, inter alia, the following information regarding the respective book values of BCA's assets, as well as the respective real estate activities and joint venture activities of BCA, as of September 30, 1999:
| Real estate activities: | ||
| N.B.A.L. LLC | 99 | ($1,287,725) |
| Diversey & Sheffield LLC | 100 | (661,674) |
| Dearborn & Elm LLC | 100 | (74,247) |
| Ridge Partners LP | 1 | 862 |
| Walton Associates LLC | 99 | (442,380) |
| 3830-32 Lincoln Joint Venture | 50 | 6,523 |
| 310 N. Michigan | 100 | 21,757 |
| Winners LP | 33 | 213,815 |
| Renaissance Partners LLC | — | 5,000 |
| St. Benedict's Hotel LLC | 1 | (4,699) |
| Total | (2,222,768) | |
| Joint venture activities: | ||
| LR Fort Sheridan LLC | 100 | 3,708,699 |
| Mayfair Condominium LLC | 100 | -0- |
| LR Arcade LLC | 100 | 1,000,000 |
| Vision Capital LLC | 20 | 545 |
| Vision AHC LLC | 20 | 204,046 |
| LR Tower LLC | 100 | (690,341) |
| Plaines Town Center LLC | 100 | 12,298 |
| Total | 4,235,247 | |
| Combined total | 2,012,479 | |
In early January 2000, representatives of Related met with respective representatives of the Abrams estate and BCA regarding Related's interest in purchasing certain of BCA's assets. Thereafter through March 2000, respective representatives of BCA, the Abrams estate, and Related conducted initial negotiations and exchanged information in an attempt 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*247 to reach an agreement regarding the sale to Related of certain assets of BCA. Those initial negotiations were unsuccessful.
In late March or early April 2000, Ronald Katz (Mr. Katz), one of Related's accountants who was with Rubin & Katz, told a representative of Related about Fortrend International LLC (Fortrend) with which Mr. Katz had worked in the past. At all relevant times, Fortrend was an investment banking firm in which Jeffrey Furman (Mr. Furman) and Frederick Forster (Mr. Forster) each owned indirectly a 50-percent interest. 10Fortrend indicated in certain marketing materials (Fortrend brochure) that it had circulated between 1997 and November 2003 that it "[structured] economic transactions to solve specific corporate tax or accounting problems or to take advantage of related opportunities." One such problem described in the Fortrend brochure was the "sale of appreciated businesses". In this regard, the Fortrend brochure stated: The sale of appreciated businesses by corporations or individuals that hold the businesses directly, or in one or more subsidiaries, will often produce substantial tax liabilities due to the gain on the sale. This tax liability often results in conflicting 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*248 desired transaction structures; the seller wants to sell shares to minimize current taxes while the buyer wants to buy assets to obtain 1) a step-up in tax basis in the assets and 2) the ability to recover the full purchase price (including goodwill) through depreciation or amortization deductions. Fortrend can often arrange for the sale of the business at a price which substantially increases the seller's after-tax profits. Similarly, when a client wishes to purchase assets held by a corporation, Fortrend can often negotiate a lower price.
Fortrend described in the Fortrend brochure one of the methods used to solve certain "problems" associated with the sale of appreciated businesses. In this regard, Fortrend stated in pertinent part in a section of that brochure entitled "BUY STOCK/SELL ASSETS TRANSACTION, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY": We are working with various clients who may be willing to buy the stock from the seller and then cause the target corporation to sell its net assets to the ultimate buyer. These 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*249 clients have certain tax attributes that enable them to absorb the tax gain inherent in the assets. In certain situations the economic cost of the client's involvement is sufficiently low that a seller of stock can increase its after-tax sale proceeds, a buyer of net assets can decrease its after-tax purchase price (on a present value basis), and the client can still make an arbitrage profit. * * * * As with any transaction, economic substance and proper form are crucial to its success. Accordingly, in transactions where involvement by such a client may make sense, raising the idea at the earliest stages of a transaction is advisable.
No one at Related had been familiar with Fortrend or had had any contacts or dealings with it before Mr. Katz talked to a representative of Related about Fortrend. Mr. Katz explained to that representative that Fortrend had engaged in certain transactions in which it had acquired the stock of a company and thereafter sold that acquired company's assets. At no time did Related review the Fortrend brochure or conduct any due diligence review regarding Fortrend.
Around late March or early April 2000, Mr. Katz contacted a representative of Fortrend on behalf of 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*250 Related and met with that representative. Thereafter, representatives of Related introduced representatives of Fortrend to representatives of the Abrams estate for the purpose of discussing whether Fortrend would be able to facilitate the sale of certain assets of BCA to Related in a manner that would satisfy the objectives of both Related and the Abrams estate. Around late March or early April 2000, Related agreed to work with Fortrend with respect to Related's attempt to purchase certain assets of BCA.
Pursuant to the CFC engagement agreement, CFC Advisory prepared an offering memorandum dated March 2000 for BCA (BCA offering memorandum). That offering memorandum stated in pertinent part: * * * * Although the [Abrams] Estate owns 100% of the shares of * * * [BCA], the Company [BCA] has two compensation plans which provide for employees to receive a 30% interest in cash available for distributions and increases in the net worth of the Company [BCA]. [BCA] * * * stands prepared to consider inquiries that would allow the [Abrams] Estate to liquify their investment and would provide potential operating and capital partners to the senior management team. * * * * * * * * The senior management team and the employees do not own stock. However, the Corporation [BCA] does have two incentive compensation plans that provide for (1) employees to receive approximately 30% of the annual cash available for distribution and (2) senior managers to participate in the long-term growth of the Corporation's [BCA's] net worth.
The BCA offering memorandum included (1) BCA's balance sheet as of December 31, 1999, that showed total assets with a book value of $7,636,225 and (2) BCA's projections of the cashflows from the various real estate investments and real estate development projects that it owned. CFC Advisory and BCA considered the development project known as the "Northwestern Project" and BCA's 50-percent ownership interest in Park Tower LLC to be two particularly significant assets of BCA.
On March 10, 2000, Mr. Brenner, Related's chief financial officer, sent an email (Mr. Brenner's March 10, 2000 email) to Mr. Blau, Related's president, with a copy to Mr. Ross, Related's majority owner and chairman. Mr. Brenner attached to that email two spreadsheets regarding BCA that he had prepared on the basis of certain available information. 11 One 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*252 of those spreadsheets was a valuation summary of the operations and the revenues of BCA and the other was a summary of BCA's payroll. Mr. Brenner indicated in Mr. Brenner's March 10, 2000 email that he believed that Related should submit a bid "in the range of $20-25 million for a 70% interest in the [BCA] business." Mr. Brenner also indicated in that email that he and Mr. Blau would take responsibility for "the negotiation of employment/ownership arrangements with the 12 key employees."
On March 22, 2000, Mr. Blau on behalf of Related sent a letter (Related's March 22, 2000 offer letter) to a representative of the Abrams estate in which Related offered to purchase certain respective assets of the Abrams estate and BCA. That offer letter stated in pertinent part: It is the intention of Purchaser [Related] and Seller [the Abrams estate] to transfer to Purchaser all direct and indirect interests in all assets and/or entities which provide revenue to * * * [BCA] or are described in the Offering 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*253 Memorandum for * * * [BCA] prepared by [CFC Advisory] * * * During the Due Diligence Period, Purchaser and Seller shall in good faith structure the transaction in a tax efficient manner for both Purchaser and Seller.
In Related's March 22, 2000 offer letter, Related offered to purchase from the Abrams estate for $25,500,000 certain of its direct and indirect interests in BCA subject to certain adjustments to that purchase price based on certain cashflows accruing to BCA during the period January 1, 2000, to the date on which the purchase closed. Of the $25,500,000 purchase price, $24 million was to be distributed to the Abrams estate at the closing and $1,500,000 was to be set aside for the purpose of paying bonuses to those employees of BCA who continued in BCA's employ for six months after the closing. 12
On March 28, 2000, Steven Sherman (Mr. Sherman), the chief financial officer of BCA, sent a fax to Mr. Brenner, the chief financial 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*254 officer of Related. Mr. Sherman included with that fax (1) BCA's respective consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1999, and (2) a list of the respective entities and the respective assets that the Abrams estate and BCA owned as of those two dates. 13
A draft dated March 31, 2000 (March 31, 2000 draft response) of a letter dated "April 1. 2. 3.
At a time not disclosed by the record during the first six months of 2000, certain of BCA's officers submitted to the Abrams estate an offer to purchase for $16,500,000 the stock of BCA and certain other business interests that the Abrams estate owned. The Abrams estate rejected that offer because the purchase price was too low.
In response to the BCA offering memorandum, CFC Advisory received on behalf of the Abrams estate four different proposals to purchase that 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*256 estate's BCA stock from Fortrend, JDL Development Corp., Lehman Brothers, and Vornado. In those respective proposals, Fortrend, JDL Development Corp., Lehman Brothers, and Vornado proposed to pay $24.5 million, 15 $26.5 million, $26 million, and $22 million, respectively, for the Abrams estate's stock in BCA. On April 18, 2000, CFC Advisory made a presentation with respect to those proposals to Ms. Abrams, Byron Canvasser, who was a director of BCA and Ms. Abrams' father, and John Schmidt, an attorney with Mayer Brown, who were the attorneys for the Abrams estate regarding the sale of BCA.
Fortrend's proposal 162010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*258 to purchase the stock of BCA from the Abrams estate included a draft letter dated "April The following is a summary of the basic business terms upon which [FORTREND ENTITY] * * * * It is the intention of Purchaser to acquire from Seller and Seller to transfer to Purchaser all direct and indirect interests in all assets and/or entities which are described in the Offering Memorandum ("Offering Memo") for LR Development prepared by Cohen Financial, other than those set forth on Schedule 4 hereto (the "Excluded Assets"). * * * * * * * (a) The aggregate purchase price ("Purchase Price") for the Stock shall be an amount equal to: (i) Twenty * * * * (b) The Purchase Price will be distributed as follows: (i) Twenty ($22,500,000) (ii) One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) will be placed into a bonus pool for certain employees of LR Development, to be distributed six (6) months after the Closing to such employees which continue to be employees at LR Development at such time. * * *-Four($24,000,000)-Two
Fortrend's proposal to purchase the stock of BCA from the Abrams estate also included a draft letter dated "April It is our understanding that you [BCA] have or will be executing a letter of intent (the "Fortrend Letter of Intent") with * * * * (b) Related shall have the right to approve salaries, bonuses and other compensation or benefits for all senior employees at Newco. Related intends to establish at Closing an incentive compensation plan(s) for certain employees of Newco to be determined by Related, pursuant to which thirty percent (30%) of the equity interests in Newco shall be granted to such employees, which interests shall vest over a three-year period and be subject to such other customary terms for similar plans. In addition, Related may elect to require that certain employees of Newco execute at Closing employment agreements (including covenants-not-to-compete).affiliate
Around late April 2000, the Abrams estate agreed to sell to Fortrend for $26 million all of the stock of BCA that the Abrams estate owned. Fortrend retained Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Manatt), as its attorneys regarding the purchase from the Abrams estate of that estate's BCA stock and any sale by BCA of certain of its assets. Related retained Katten Muchin Zavis (Katten Muchin) as its attorneys regarding any purchase by Related of certain of BCA's assets.
On May 5, 2000, Mr. Kramer, a senior managing director of Fortrend, sent 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*260 to Mayer Brown, attorneys for the Abrams estate, two copies of a letter of intent dated May 5, 2000 (May 5, 2000 letter of intent) that a representative of Fortrend had executed. In the May 5, 2000 letter of intent, Fortrend set forth the terms under which "Fortrend International, LLC or an assignee or client thereof" offered to purchase from the Abrams estate all of the stock of BCA. In that letter of intent, Fortrend offered to pay $25,125,000 to the Abrams estate for that stock and to set aside $1,375,000 from which Fortrend was to pay bonuses to certain employees of BCA who remained with BCA for six months after the closing of the sale of the stock of BCA. On a date not disclosed by the record, Ms. Abrams agreed to and signed the May 5, 2000 letter of intent on behalf of the Abrams estate.
During the period May through July 2000, respective representatives of the Abrams estate, Fortrend, and Related and their respective attorneys at Mayer Brown, Manatt, and Katten Muchin negotiated the terms of an agreement for the purchase of the BCA stock that the Abrams estate owned. 17 During the same period, respective representatives of Related and Fortrend and their respective attorneys at 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*261 Katten Muchin and Manatt negotiated the terms of an agreement for the purchase of certain of BCA's assets. 18 BCA senior management did not participate in any negotiations regarding the respective terms of the agreement for the purchase of BCA's stock and the agreement for the purchase of certain of BCA's assets.
Before mid-July 2000, during the respective negotiations with respect to the purchase of BCA's stock and the purchase of certain of BCA's assets, BCA and Related were aware (1) that BCA would realize a substantial gain on the sale of certain of its assets, (2) what the approximate amount of that gain would be, and (3) that the assets that BCA was to retain after that sale would have a fair market value of approximately $1 million. At no time did Related make any inquiry of Fortrend regarding the gain that BCA was to realize 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*262 as a result of the sale of certain of its assets. Nor did Related know or ask how BCA and/or Fortrend planned to address any tax attributable to such a sale. At no time did Related know, or inquire as to, what Fortrend intended to do with BCA after the sale of certain of BCA's assets.
Fortrend and Related each spent three weeks in May 2000 conducting due diligence reviews with respect to BCA and the assets that BCA owned. Part of the due diligence review that Related conducted addressed certain tax issues. Related prepared a document dated May 4, 2000, and entitled "Tax Due Diligence Issues" that contained a list of 28 questions and concerns that Related wanted to have addressed. Included in that list were the following questions: 5. Who will be doing appraisals/valuations/cost allocations of the various assets/properties for purposes of doing an
On June 5, 2000, Mr. Blau, Related's president, sent to respective representatives of, inter alia, Fortrend, BCA, and the Abrams estate a report concerning Related's due diligence review with respect to BCA and its assets that Rubin & Katz had prepared (Rubin & Katz due diligence report) on behalf of Related. In that due diligence report, Rubin & Katz set forth (1) its findings with respect to the amount of the revenues that it projected Related would generate from each of the assets that Related proposed to purchase from BCA and (2) the differences between those projections and the projections that CFC Advisory had made on behalf of BCA and that were set forth in the BCA offering memorandum. On June 6, 2000, Mr. Blau provided to Mr. Kramer additional information regarding the Rubin & Katz due diligence report.
In anticipation that the respective 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*264 negotiations regarding the purchase of BCA's stock from the Abrams estate and the purchase of certain of BCA's assets from BCA would be successful, certain actions were taken.
Related not only wanted to purchase through a new entity to be formed (purchasing new entity) certain assets of BCA, it also wanted certain members of BCA's management to continue to manage, as employees of that new entity, the assets purchased. Consequently, around April 2000 Related offered to BCA senior management 30 percent of the equity interests in that new entity provided that BCA senior management agreed to be employees of the purchasing new entity and to continue managing as such the day-to-day operations of the assets of BCA that that entity was to purchase. After negotiations with respect to that offer, BCA senior management agreed to those terms. In order to facilitate that agreement, BCA senior management, except Kenneth Rice (Mr. Rice), formed on July 19, 2000, LRD Group LLC (LRD Group) under Delaware law. BCA senior management, except Mr. Rice, owned all of the interests in LRD Group.
On July 12, 2000, petitioner was formed under Delaware law to be the purchasing new entity. As of July 31, 2000, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*265 LRD Group and Related LR Development LLC (Related LR) 19 owned 30 percent and 70 percent, respectively, of the interests in petitioner.
On July 13, 2000, Castanet, Inc. (Castanet), was incorporated under Delaware law. Around July 14, 2000, the incorporator elected Alice Dill (Ms. Dill), an employee of Fortrend, as the sole director of Castanet. On July 14, 2000, Ms. Dill, as the sole director of Castanet, elected herself president, secretary, and treasurer of that company.
On July 14, 2000, Castanet sold and issued to Cronulla Corp. (Cronulla) and Signal Capital Associates L.P. (SCALP) 202010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*266 95 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of its common stock. On July 16, 2000, Cronulla sold to SCALP its 95-percent common stock interest in Castanet. As a result, SCALP owned all of the stock of Castanet.
On July 20, 2000, Mr. Bae, an employee of Fortrend, sent a memorandum to Fortrend's attorneys at Manatt with respect to Castanet's purchase of the stock of BCA from the Abrams estate. That memorandum stated in pertinent part: As you are aware, it is imperative that we provide Fred Forster [the owner of 50 percent of the interests in Fortrend and 9.5 percent of the interests in SCALP] with a copy of the transactional summary & closing sequence, so that Fred and Howard Teig [Fortrend's outside accountant] can determine the ownership structure of Castanet, Inc. and appropriate solutions to shelter the gains in the subject transaction [the sale of certain of BCA's assets].
On 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*267 July 21, 2000, Mr. Bae sent a fax (July 21, 2000 fax) to Don Fitzgerald (Mr. Fitzgerald), an attorney at Manatt, with respect to Fortrend's intention to contribute certain Canadian currency with a high basis and a low value to BCA following Castanet's purchase of BCA's stock and BCA's sale of certain of its assets. In that fax, Mr. Bae stated in pertinent part: Annexed hereto is a copy of the flow chart, illustrating the buying entity structure. Upon our acquisition of * * * [BCA] & disposition of certain assets [of BCA] * * * we are contemplating contributing certain Canadian currencies, which * * * will flow down to Castanet, Inc. Please review the enclosed and advise me whether the contemplated sheltering plan is bona fide. Also, what are the possible tax liabilities/ramifications which may arise from making the contribution after or before the merging of Percussion, LLC into Castanet, Inc.? Lastly, is Manatt Phelps comfortable in providing a tax opinion with regard to this proposed post-closing contribution?
Around July 21, 2000, Mr. Fitzgerald made certain handwritten notations on the July 21, 2000 fax. Near Mr. Bae's request for advice with respect to "whether the contemplated sheltering 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*268 plan is bona fide", Mr. Fitzgerald wrote "351 + basis only". In addition, Mr. Fitzgerald wrote the following at the bottom of the July 21, 2000 fax: "Discussed with Randy [Bae] sequencing of the downstream merger of Castanet into LR [BCA] to
Castanet borrowed $28 million (UAFC loan) from Utrecht-American Finance Co. (UAFC), an affiliate of Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank, B.A. (Rabobank). Castanet intended to use most of that loan to purchase the stock of BCA that the Abrams estate owned.
Related LR borrowed $33 million from Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG (Hypo Bank) in order, inter alia, to finance petitioner's purchase of certain of BCA's assets. That loan was evidenced by a document dated July 31, 2000, and entitled "CREDIT AGREEMENT" (Hypo Bank credit agreement). On July 26, 2000, before executing the Hypo Bank credit agreement, Hypo Bank received a memorandum from Richard O'Toole (Mr. O'Toole), an attorney with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, the attorneys representing Related and its affiliates with respect to the purchase of certain of BCA's assets. In that memorandum, Mr. O'Toole stated: In the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*269 process of preparing for this acquisition [of certain of BCA's assets], the Purchaser [petitioner] has asked for our advice as to whether, for federal income tax purposes, the form of these transactions will be respected -
On July 31, 2000, Castanet, Related LR, petitioner, Hypo Bank, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*270 Near North Title Insurance Co. (Near North), Rabobank, and UAFC executed a document entitled "
Pursuant to the escrow agreement, Near North was named escrow agent and Rabobank was named subescrow agent in connection with (1) the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock to Castanet and (2) BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner. The escrow agreement provided in pertinent part: * * * * C. It is contemplated under the Stock Purchase Agreement [the agreement for the purchase of BCA's stock] that Castanet will pay or cause to be paid $25,410,295 net of proceeds and adjustments (the "Stock Purchase Price") to the [Abrams] Estate on the date hereof. D. It is contemplated under the Asset Purchase Agreement [the agreement for the purchase of certain of BCA's assets] that Purchaser [petitioner] will pay or cause to be paid $25,779,369 net of proceeds and adjustments (the "Asset Purchase Price") to Castanet on the date hereof. * * * * G. Hypo Bank shall deposit the Asset Purchase Price into an escrow account held by Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] (such amount to be referred to herein as the "Asset Purchase Escrow 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*271 Amount"). H. The Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] will hold the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount in * * * Castanet Purchase Escrow Account I, Account No. * * * 9107 * * * (the "Asset Purchase Escrow Account"). 212010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*273 I. UFAC [sic] shall deposit the Stock Purchase Price into an escrow account held by Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] (such amount to be referred to herein as the "Stock Purchase Escrow Amount" * * *). J. The Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] will hold the Stock Purchase Escrow Amount in * * * Castanet Purchase Escrow Account II, Account No. * * * 9116 * * * (the "Stock Purchase Escrow Account"). * * * * * * * * (b) Pursuant to the Credit Agreement [between Hypo Bank and Related LR dated July 31, 2000], Hypo Bank shall deliver to the Sub-Escrow agent [Rabobank] the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount on the date hereof. The Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] shall hold the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount and all interest and other amounts earned thereon * * * in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, in the Asset Purchase Escrow Account. (c) Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, UAFC shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*272 Stock Purchase Escrow Amount on the date hereof. The Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] shall hold the Stock Purchase Amount and all interest and other amounts earned thereon * * * in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, in the Stock Purchase Escrow Account. * * * * * * * Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] shall pay to (a) the [Abrams] Estate an amount equal to $23,202,795 by wire transfer * * * and (b) to Escrow Agent [Near North] an amount equal to $2,207,500 * * * by wire transfer * * * (a) If and only if (i) the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] has received the Release Notice and (ii) the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] has previously made the wire transfers described in the first sentence of Section 4 above, then Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] shall pay (A) to UAFC on behalf of and for the account of Castanet, that portion of the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount equal to the amount owed to UAFC by Castanet, and (B) all other amounts in the Asset Purchase Escrow Account, if any, to Castanet or to such other Person as directed by Castanet.
Under the escrow agreement, (1) petitioner was required to pay the funds representing the price that petitioner was to pay to purchase BCA's assets into an escrow account of Castanet at Rabobank that Castanet controlled, (2) petitioner was not required to pay those funds into an account that BCA controlled, and (3) those funds were required to be used to repay Castanet's debt to UAFC. 222010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*274 BCA had no right under the escrow agreement to receive and/or to control those funds.
In late July 2000, the respective negotiations regarding the purchase of BCA's stock and the purchase of BCA's assets, as well as the actions taken in anticipation of the success of those negotiations, were successfully completed. On July 31, 2000, Castanet and the Abrams estate executed a document entitled " This Stock Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 31, 2000 (the "Closing Date"), is between Castanet, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), and The Estate of Bruce C. Abrams (the "Seller"). * * * * * * * * (a) An estimate of the income tax benefit available to Seller (the "Estimated Tax Benefit") for the period from January 1, 2000 through July 31, 2000 (the "2000 Period"), based upon the taxable income or taxable losses of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*275 for the 2000 Period, has been computed by the Seller and agreed upon by the Buyer, and such Estimated Tax Benefit is $429,000 (the "Estimated Tax Benefit"). An estimate of the Replacement Tax due by Seller for the LR Entities for the period beginning January 1, 2000 through and including the Closing Date has been computed by Seller and agreed upon by the Buyer, and such Replacement Tax is $75,000 (the "Estimated Replacement Tax"). The Seller shall deposit the sum of the amounts of the Estimated Tax Benefit and the Estimated Replacement Tax ($504,000) into escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement (the "Tax Escrow Deposit"). (b) To the extent the Tax Returns prepared by Seller in accordance with Section 5 (the "Final Tax Returns") show: (i) the amount of income tax benefit available to Seller based upon the actual tax losses of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) for the period from January 1, 2000 through the Closing Date (the "Short Period") which is greater than the Estimated Tax Benefit, the Seller shall pay Buyer an amount equal to the difference between the amount of income tax benefit available to Seller based upon the actual tax losses of the LR Entities (excluding 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*276 the Excluded Assets) as determined from the Final tax Returns for the Short Period and the Estimated Tax Benefit and the parties shall instruct the Escrow agent to pay the full amount of the Estimated Tax Benefit, including any interest or other earnings earned on the Estimated Tax Benefit deposited by Seller pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, to Buyer, (ii) the amount of income tax benefit available to Seller based upon the actual tax losses of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) for Short Period which is less than the Estimated Tax Benefit, the parties shall instruct the Escrow Agent to pay to Seller a portion of the Estimated Tax Benefit equal to the difference between the amount of such income tax benefit available to Seller based upon the actual tax losses of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) as determined from the Final Tax Returns for the Short Period and the Estimated Tax Benefit and instruct the Escrow Agent to pay the remainder of the Estimated Tax Benefit, if any, to Buyer, (iii) income tax due by Seller based upon the actual taxable income of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) for the Short Period, the parties shall instruct the Escrow 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*277 Agent to pay the full amount of the Estimated Tax Benefit, including any interest or other earnings earned on the Estimated Tax Benefit deposited by Seller pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, to Seller and the Buyer shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to the income tax due by Seller on the actual taxable income of the LR Entities (excluding the Excluded Assets) for the Short Period as determined from the Final Tax Returns. * * * * Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as follows: * * * * (a) For the purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" or "Taxes" refers to any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and liabilities relating to taxes, including, but not limited to, taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise and property taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any obligations under any agreements or arrangements with any other Person with respect to such 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*278 amounts and including any liability for taxes of a predecessor entity. (b) Each of the LR Entities have timely filed, taking into account any extensions, all federal, state, local and foreign returns, estimates, information statements and reports ("Tax Returns") relating to Taxes required to be filed by the LR Entities. All such Tax Returns are true and correct in all material respects. With respect to all Taxes imposed on the LR Entities or any of the Subsidiaries or for which the LR Entities or any of the Subsidiaries is or could be liable, whether to taxing authorities or to other Persons or entities (as, for example, under tax sharing or tax allocation agreements), with respect to all taxable periods or portions of periods ending on or before the Closing Date, all applicable laws and agreements have been fully complied with, and all material Taxes required to be paid by the LR Entities or any of the Subsidiaries to taxing authorities or others on or before the date hereof have been paid. All Taxes required to be paid as of the Closing Date will be paid. * * * * (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, in the event of a Sale Event which results in a Seller 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*279 Loss, the Seller shall give to the Buyer written notice of such loss in accordance with this Agreement, and the Buyer shall be obligated to make a payment to Seller as provided in this Agreement (an "Indemnity Payment"). Buyer's obligations under Sections 4.7, 4.8 and 4.9 shall survive the Closing until all applicable statutes of limitation with respect to all Tax Returns have elapsed. (b) If the Buyer shall be obligated to make a payment to Seller hereunder, the Buyer shall satisfy such obligation by making a payment to the Seller in an amount equal to the Seller Loss plus, to the extent not previously paid, the costs and expenses to be borne by Buyer pursuant to Section 4.8(b). (c) Any Indemnity Payment required to be made in accordance with the terms hereof shall be made no later than 30 days following the receipt by Buyer of a written demand therefor describing in reasonable detail: (i) the Sale Event and (ii) the amount of the Seller Loss, which demand shall be made no later than 35 days before the due date for payment by the Seller of the Seller Loss; (a) (b) (c) (d) (a) (b) (c) * * * * (a) Except for Taxes that have been provided for as accrued in the computation of Net Working Capital and except as set forth in (b) Seller shall cause its accountants, American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. or such other accountants selected by Seller, to prepare the Tax Returns required to be filed by the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*286 LR Entities for all Pre-Closing Periods. * * * Items to be taken into account for the taxable year beginning on January 1, 2000 and ending as of one date prior to the Closing Date (the "Pre-Closing Short Period") shall be determined using the "closing-the-books" method as described in (c) Consistent with the "closing-the-books" method under * * * * (f) If Buyer or any of the LR Entities receives a refund, credit or reduction of Taxes attributable to the Pre-Closing 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*287 Period, Buyer shall promptly reimburse the Seller for such refund, credit or reduction of Taxes. If Seller or any of the LR Entities receive a refund or reduction of Taxes attributable to the Post-Closing Period, the Seller shall promptly reimburse the Buyer for such refund, credit or reduction of taxes. (g) The Buyer and LR Entities shall cause their accountants to prepare and file all Tax Returns required to [be] filed by LR Entities for the taxable year beginning on the Closing Date (the "Post-Closing Short Period") and all subsequent tax years. Such Tax Returns shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the items and positions reflected in the Pre-Closing Period Tax Returns and in this Agreement; provided, however, that to the extent Buyer is entitled to make new tax elections, adopt methods of accounting other than those used by Seller or take reporting positions different from those taken by Seller, it may do so, so long as such items and positions could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences to Seller with respect to the Pre-Closing Period. Items to be taken into account in the Post-Closing Short Period Tax Returns shall be determined using 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*288 the "closing-the-books" method as described in (h) Consistent with the "closing-the-books" method under (i) Any refund of Taxes, credit or reduction of Taxes attributable to the Post-Closing Short Period and all subsequent periods will be for the benefit of Buyer. * * * * * * * * " * * * * " * * * * " * * * * "
Pursuant to the SPA, the Abrams estate sold to Castanet all of the stock of BCA that the Abrams estate owned. Under section 5 of the SPA, Castanet expressly agreed to be responsible for, inter alia, all taxes imposed on BCA for taxable years ending after the closing of the SPA, including any tax attributable to any sale of certain of BCA's assets. Under section 4.9(b) of the SPA, any purchaser of all or a substantial part of BCA's 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*291 assets was required to assume, inter alia, the taxes for which Castanet agreed to be responsible under section 5 of that agreement.
Effective as of the closing on July 31, 2000, of the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock to Castanet, (1) Byron Canvasser, Robert Canvasser, and Andrew Hochberg resigned as directors of BCA, (2) BCA senior management, Mr. Kirshenbaum, and certain other executives of BCA resigned their positions with BCA, 24 and (3) Castanet, as the sole stockholder of BCA, elected Ms. Dill as the sole director of BCA. On July 31, 2000, Ms. Dill, as the sole director of BCA, elected herself president, secretary, and treasurer of that company.
On July 31, 2000, petitioner, Castanet, and BCA executed a document entitled " This Asset Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 31, 2000, is between LR Development Company 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*292 LLC, * * * ("Buyer"), Castanet, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the "Seller") and Bruce C. Abrams, Inc., an Illinois corporation, * * * (the "Company"). * * * * * * * (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing the Seller will, or will cause the Company to * * * sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Buyer * * * all of the right, title, and interest in and to certain assets described in this Section 1.1(a) that are owned by the Seller or the Company (as applicable) as of the Closing Date * * * including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the equity interests described on (ii) all Proprietary Rights of the Company; (iii) the rights of Seller from and after the Closing Date under the Stock Purchase Agreement and rights of Seller under the Escrow Agreement established in accordance with Section 1.4 of the Stock Purchase Agreement; * * * * (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following properties and assets of the Company are retained by the Company and are expressly excluded from the purchase and sale contemplated 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*293 by this Agreement (collectively, the "Excluded Assets"): * * * * (iii) the entities set forth on (iv) those items identified or described in Section 1.1(a) above, to the extent said items relate solely to the Excluded Entities. As of the Closing Date, Buyer will assume and thereafter pay and fully satisfy when due: (A) liabilities arising after the Closing Date under the Applicable Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or Governmental Authorizations held by the Company and assumed by Buyer pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section 1.1, (B) normal and customary trade accounts payable and accruals (other than income tax accruals) of the Company, in each case arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and only to the extent included in the calculation of Net Working Capital (the "Accounts Payable"), and (C) liabilities and obligations of the LR Entities. All such liabilities and obligations to be so assumed by Buyer are referred to herein as the "Assumed Obligations". Assumed Obligations shall not include (x) any of the items described in subparagraph 1.1(c)(A), (B), or (C) 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*294 which relate to the Excluded Assets, or (y) any taxes of Seller or the Company of any nature due as a result of the purchase of the Shares by Seller, the sale of the Assets to Buyer, or the sale of the Excluded Assets by the Company. (a) The purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for the Assets shall be Twenty Five Million Six Hundred Thirteen Thousand Three Hundred sixty Nine and No/100 Dollars ($25,613,369), 25 payable in cash payable [sic] pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Escrow Agreement between Buyer, Seller and escrow agent. (b) * * * * * * * * " * * * * * * * * 100% interest in LR Management Company * * * 100% interest in LR Contracting Company * * * 100% interest in Quality First Contracting Company * * * 100% interest in LR Builders, Inc. * * * 100% interest in Lake Shore, LLC * * * 100% interest in LR Tower LLC * * * 100% interest in LR Fort Sheridan, LLC * * * 100% interest in LR Arcade, LLC * * * 100% interest in Plaines Town Center, LLC * * * 33.33% interest in Limits LLC * * * 33.33% Limited Partnership interest in Winners Limited Partnership * * * 100% interest in Ridge Partners LLC * * * 100% interest in Diversey and Sheffield, L.L.C. * * * 100% interest in Walton Associates, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*296 L.L.C. * * *
Pursuant to the APA, BCA sold to petitioner the following assets, some of which were subject to certain liabilities:
| Cash | -0- |
| Net current assets | $8,873,149 |
| Prepaid commissions | 500,000 |
| Other assets | 260,484 |
| Furniture and fixtures | 100,000 |
| Leases | 50,000 |
| Equity interests: | 50,000 |
| Park Tower LLC | 23,223,959 |
| Arcade LLC | 85,206 |
| Lake Shore LLC | 4,420,232 |
| Limits LLC | 170,126 |
| Plaines Town Center LLC | 1,447,596 |
| LR Fort Sheridan LLC | 3,621,026 |
| Lawrence Partners LP | 100 |
| 6133 N. Kenmore LP | 100 |
| Amber Manor LP | 100 |
| Estes Partners LP | 100 |
| Humboldt Ridge LP | 100 |
| Jackson Park LP | 732 |
| Madison Park Place LP | 100 |
| Madison Renaissance LLC | 100 |
| Magnolia Partners LP | 100 |
| New Southtown LP | 100 |
| Ridge Partners LP | 67,387 |
| Sheridan Park Partners LP | 100 |
| Union Square LP | 100 |
| Winthrop Partners LP | 100 |
| Winners LP | 1,275,945 |
| Quality First Inc. | 100 |
| LR Contracting Co. | 100 |
| LR Management Co. | 100 |
| Total assets | 44,097,342 |
| Less liabilities | 18,882,973 |
| Total assets net of | |
| liabilities | 25,214,369 |
The 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*297 assets that BCA sold to petitioner and that petitioner purchased from BCA under the APA constituted over 90 percent of the total value, and substantially all, of BCA's assets. The amount that petitioner paid for the assets that it purchased from BCA was equal to their total fair market value.
On July 31, 2000, Castanet, Related, and petitioner executed a document entitled " This Assumption Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of July 31, 2000 by and among CASTANET, INC., a Delaware corporation ("CNI"), THE RELATED COMPANIES, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Related"), and LR Development Company LLC [petitioner], an Illinois limited liability company ("LDC"). CNI, Related, and LDC are collectively referred to herein as the "Parties". WHEREAS, CNI is a party to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") dated July 31, 2000, by and between CNI and the Estate of Bruce C. Abrams (the "Estate") * * * WHEREAS, CNI, LDC, and the Company [BCA] have entered into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") dated July 31, 2000, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*298 * * * * * * * NOW, THEREFORE, * * * CNI and Related represent, warrant, covenant and agree as follows: * * * * 2. * * * * 4.4
Under section 2 of the assumption agreement, petitioner expressly assumed all of Castanet's obligations under, inter alia, section 5 of the SPA.
On July 31, 2000, Castanet, Related, and petitioner executed a document entitled " (a) [Castanet] * * * by these presents, hereby (i) assigns to * * * [petitioner] and its successors and assigns, all of * * * [Castanet's] rights after the Closing Date under the Stock Purchase Agreement including without limitation all rights with respect to the representations and warranties contained in Section 2 of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the rights to indemnification contained in Section 4 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, but expressly excluding the rights assigned to Related under subparagraph 3(a)(ii) below, and (ii) assigns to Related and its successors and 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*300 assigns all of * * * [Castanet's] rights after the Closing Date under Sections 1.4, 4.7, 4.8, and 4.9 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, in each case except to the extent any rights under such Sections 2 or 4 relate to Excluded Assets under the Asset Purchase Agreement or the business related thereto, but in any event including Excluded Liabilities relating thereto. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and to the extent * * * [Castanet] otherwise or the Company [BCA] directly suffers an indemnifiable Loss under Section 4 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, then * * * [Castanet] shall be entitled to recover directly against the [Abrams] Estate with respect thereto pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement. * * * * 6.6
Pursuant to section 1.2 of the SPA and section 2(c) 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*301 of the escrow agreement, Castanet paid the $25,410,295 purchase price for all of the Abrams estate's BCA stock from a certain account that Castanet maintained at Rabobank (Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank) 27 into a certain escrow account established at Rabobank for the purpose of holding the funds representing that purchase price.
Pursuant to section 1.2(a) of the APA and section 2(b) of the escrow agreement, on August 1, 2000, Hypo Bank 28 deposited on behalf of petitioner the funds representing the purchase price for certain of BCA's assets (asset purchase price) into a certain escrow account maintained at Rabobank on behalf of Castanet (Castanet's escrow account No. 9107 at Rabobank). However, in contravention of the escrow agreement, on the same date Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of Castanet, directed Rabobank to transfer the funds representing the asset purchase price from that escrow account to a certain account that BCA maintained at Rabobank (BCA's account No. 9090 at Rabobank). 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*302 Rabobank complied with Castanet's direction on August 1, 2000. Also on August 1, 2000, Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of BCA, directed Rabobank to transfer the funds representing the asset purchase price from BCA's account No. 9090 at Rabobank to Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank. Rabobank complied with BCA's direction on that date. On August 1, 2000, Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of Castanet, requested that Rabobank use any funds in Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank to repay Castanet's debt to UAFC. Rabobank complied with Castanet's direction on August 2, 2000, and used the funds in Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank, including the funds representing the asset purchase price, to repay that debt. 29
In order to facilitate the contribution of the Canadian currency to BCA that was the subject of the July 21, 2000 fax that Mr. Bae of Fortrend sent to Mr. Fitzgerald, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*303 one of Fortrend's attorneys at Manatt, Castanet merged with and into BCA around September 11, 2000. Thereafter, SCALP owned 100 percent of the stock of BCA.
Around September 12, 2000, SCALP made a capital contribution to BCA of $68,000 (Canadian) in which SCALP claimed a tax basis of $17,268,000 (U.S.). (We shall refer to the $68,000 (Canadian) that SCALP contributed to BCA as the Canadian currency.)
On October 11, 2000, Mr. Fitzgerald sent a memorandum to certain other attorneys at Manatt. In that memorandum, Mr. Fitzgerald stated in pertinent part: Subsequent to the stock purchase and the asset sale, the Fortrend entity that purchased the stock of * * * [BCA] merged downstream. This left * * * [BCA] as the surviving corporation wholly owned by Signal Capital Associates, L.P. ("SCALP"). SCALP then transferred to * * * [BCA] Canadian currency in the amount of $68,000 (Canadian) but with a tax basis in SCALP's hands stated to be $17,268,000. We have been asked to render three tax opinions. First, Fortrend has asked us to provide an opinion as to the dollar amount of pre-contribution tax basis that SCALP had in the Canadian currency. We have no knowledge of this basis. SCALP will have to 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*304 represent to us this basis figure. Fortrend entities have made such representations to us in other transactions. Second, Fortrend has asked us to provide an opinion that the transfer of the Canadian currency from SCALP to * * * [BCA] qualified under Our opinions would be addressed solely to SCALP and * * * [BCA], which are now both Fortrend entities. This is an "inside" Fortrend opinion. * * * Drafts of the tax opinion letter and the representations letter are enclosed. I am sending copies to Fortrend for their simultaneous review. Pursuant to policy decisions our firm has reached concerning Fortrend tax opinions and my review of the documents, I recommend approval of the enclosures.
On October 11, 2000, Mr. Fitzgerald 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*305 sent a letter (Mr. Fitzgerald's October 11, 2000 letter) to Ms. Dill, the sole officer and the sole director of BCA and an employee of Fortrend, and attached to that letter "a draft tax opinion letter and a draft representations letter supporting the opinions for the LR Development contribution transaction [the contribution of the Canadian currency to BCA]." 30
Around October 25, 2000, BCA converted the Canadian currency into U.S. dollars.
On November 1, 2000, BCA and SCALP sent a joint letter (November 1, 2000 representation letter) to Manatt. In that letter, BCA and SCALP made certain representations to Manatt on which Manatt relied in rendering its opinion regarding certain tax issues involved in SCALP's contribution to BCA of the Canadian currency. In the November 1, 2000 representation letter, BCA and SCALP stated in pertinent part: Signal Capital Associates, L.P., * * * ("Parent") and Bruce C. Abrams, Inc., * * * ("Subsidiary"), have requested your opinion regarding certain federal income tax consequences 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*306 of a transaction (the "Contribution") whereby Parent transferred certain Canadian currency in the denomination of $68,000 (Canadian) to Subsidiary. * * * Parent was the sole shareholder of Subsidiary both before and after the Contribution. Accordingly, Parent joins in the representations and statements in this letter. Parent and Subsidiary understand that the conclusions in your opinion letter are dependent in part on the accuracy of this representations letter and that your opinion could be adversely affected if this representations letter is not true, correct and complete. * * * * Parent and Subsidiary have asked you to address solely the federal income tax consequences of the Contribution that are specifically set forth in your draft tax opinion letter referred to above. 31 Parent and Subsidiary are aware that the Contribution may involve many other tax issues and consequences under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and other tax statutes. However, Parent and Subsidiary have not asked you to consider or render an opinion regarding such other tax issues. For 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*307 purposes of your tax opinion, Parent and Subsidiary represent to you, after due investigation, as follows: 1. All factual statements in your draft tax opinion letter concerning the Contribution are true, correct and complete. 2. On September 12, 2000, Parent and Subsidiary took all proper action to transfer from Parent to Subsidiary beneficial ownership of Canadian currency with a denomination of $68,000 (Canadian) and a tax basis of $17,268,000 (U.S.). Parent's tax basis for the Canadian currency that Parent transferred to Subsidiary was $17,268,000 in the aggregate immediately before the Contribution. 3. Both Parent and Subsidiary had substantial non-tax business reasons for engaging in the Contribution. Both Parent and Subsidiary entered into the Contribution with a view toward making an economic profit apart from tax consequences. 4. Parent and Subsidiary have treated and will treat the Contribution in a manner that is consistent with its form. 5. At the time of the Contribution and thereafter, Parent owned 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Subsidiary. Due to its ownership of all of the Subsidiary stock, issuance of more Subsidiary shares to Parent in connection with the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*308 Contribution would have been meaningless. For this reason, Subsidiary did not issue shares to Parent as a result of the contribution. 6. No stock or securities were or will be issued by Subsidiary for services rendered to or for the benefit of Subsidiary in connection with the Contribution. No stock or securities were or will be issued by Subsidiary for indebtedness of Subsidiary that is not evidenced by a security or for interest on indebtedness of Subsidiary which accrued on or after the beginning of the holding period of Parent for the debt. 7. Parent neither accumulated receivables nor made any extraordinary payment of payables in anticipation of the Contribution. Subsidiary has reported and will report items which, but for the Contribution, would have resulted in income or deduction to Parent in a period subsequent to the Contribution and such items have and will constitute income or deductions to Subsidiary when received or paid by Subsidiary. 8. The Contribution was not the result of solicitation by a promoter, broker or investment house. 9. Parent did not retain any beneficial ownership in the Canadian currency it transferred to Subsidiary. 10. Subsidiary did not take the Canadian 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*309 currency subject to any debt and did not assume any debt of Parent in connection with the Contribution. 11. There was no indebtedness between Subsidiary and Parent and there was no indebtedness created in favor of Parent as a result of the Contribution. 12. The Contribution occurred under a plan agreed upon before the Contribution in which the rights of the parties were defined. 13. There was no plan or intention on the part of Subsidiary to redeem or otherwise reacquire any Subsidiary stock held by Parent. 14. Taking into account any issuance of additional shares of Subsidiary stock, any issuance of stock for services, the exercise of any Subsidiary stock rights, warrants or subscriptions, any public offering of Subsidiary stock and the sale, exchange, transfer by gift, or other disposition of any of the stock of Subsidiary held by Parent, Parent was in "control" of Subsidiary within the meaning of 15. Subsidiary and Parent each paid their own 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*310 expenses incurred in connection with the Contribution. 16. At the time of the Contribution, Subsidiary was not an "investment company" within the meaning of 17. You may rely on the accuracy of the representations herein for purposes of your tax opinion letter without further inquiry or independent investigation. 18. Parent and Subsidiary hereby consent to your reference to this representations letter in your tax opinion letter. 19. The undersigned have undertaken such investigation as the undersigned deemed necessary to ensure the accuracy of the foregoing representations.
On November 1, 2000, Manatt sent a tax opinion letter (Manatt's November 1, 2000 tax opinion letter) to BCA and SCALP. In that tax opinion letter, Manatt stated in pertinent part: In accordance with your request, we provide the following analysis and opinions relating to certain federal income tax consequences of the transaction (the "Contribution") whereby Signal Capital Associates, L.P., * * * ("Parent"), contributed certain Canadian currency to Bruce C. Abrams, Inc., * * * ("Subsidiary"). At the time of the Contribution, Parent owned all of the issued and outstanding shares 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*311 of Subsidiary. Subsidiary did not issue any shares of its stock to Parent as a result of the Contribution because (according to Parent) issuance of such shares in exchange for the Canadian currency would have been meaningless (due to the existing ownership by Parent of 100% of Subsidiary). * * * * We have also relied for purposes of this letter on facts set forth in a representations letter from Parent and Subsidiary to us of even date herewith. Among the representations in that letter are representations that, for federal income tax purposes, Parent's tax basis for the Canadian currency that Parent contributed to Subsidiary was $17,268,000 immediately before the Contribution. We have assumed, without independent investigation, the accuracy and completeness of all such representations. If such representations at any time are not true, correct and complete, our opinions could be adversely affected. Any change or inaccuracy in the facts set forth in the documents specified above 32 or in the above-referenced representations letter could adversely affect our opinions. * * *. * * * * In the case of transactions such as the Contribution, many federal, state and local income and other tax consequences 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*312 arise. We have been asked only to address the issues specifically set forth below. No opinion is expressed regarding any other issues. * * * * Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, more likely than not: (a) The Contribution satisfied the requirements of (b) The tax basis for the Canadian currency transferred from Parent to Subsidiary in the Contribution was a carryover tax basis in accordance with (c) Based on the representations made to us in the above-referenced representations letter from Parent and Subsidiary, the carryover tax basis for Subsidiary was $17,268,000 for the Canadian currency contributed to Subsidiary.
On February 8, 2002, BCA dissolved. On the same date, BCA filed with the secretary of state of the State of Illinois articles of dissolution, which Stephen Galler and Thomas Weeks 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*313 had signed on behalf of BCA on January 14, 2002. Those articles stated that BCA's stockholders had authorized the dissolution of BCA on December 13, 2001.
On or before September 15, 2001, BCA filed Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, for the taxable year that began January 1, 2000, and ended July 31, 2000 (7/31/00 BCA return). BCA indicated in the 7/31/00 BCA return that that return was its final S corporation return.
BCA included with the 7/31/00 BCA return Schedule L, Balance Sheets per Books (Schedule L). In that schedule, BCA reported total assets of $25,482,604 as of July 31, 2000, the end of the short taxable year for which that return was filed. BCA also included with the 7/31/00 BCA return a document that stated in pertinent part: "This is to provide notification under
On September 17, 2001, BCA timely filed Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return (Form 1120), for the taxable year that began August 1, 2000, and ended December 31, 2000 (12/31/00 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*314 BCA return). In the 12/31/00 BCA return, BCA reported total income of $17,972,779, that included a gain of $16,678,066 from the sale of certain assets that BCA sold to petitioner pursuant to the APA.
In the 12/31/00 BCA return, BCA claimed total deductions of $18,338,661 that included a deduction for a claimed loss of $17,223,844 (Canadian currency loss) for "
BCA included with the 12/31/00 BCA return Schedule L. In that schedule, BCA reported total assets of $3,277,516 as of December 31, 2000, the end of the short taxable year for which that return was filed.
On September 17, 2002, BCA filed Form 1120 for its taxable year 2001 (12/31/01 BCA return). In that return, BCA stated that its address was in Alexandria, Virginia (last known address). 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*315 In the 12/31/01 BCA return, BCA indicated that that return would be its final return.
In the 12/31/01 BCA return, BCA reported total income of $220,721, claimed total deductions of $48,319, and carried forward $172,402 of the $365,882 net operating loss that it had claimed in the 12/31/00 BCA return. In the 12/31/01 BCA return, BCA reported taxable income of zero and total tax of zero.
BCA included with the 12/31/01 BCA return Schedule L. In that schedule, BCA reported total assets of zero as of the end of its taxable year 2001.
Around September 19, 2001, petitioner filed with respondent Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, for its taxable year that began July 31, 2000, and ended December 31, 2000. Petitioner included with that form Schedule L. In that schedule, petitioner reported total assets of $78,091,661 as of December 31, 2000, the end of its short taxable year.
On August 13, 2004, respondent issued to the Abrams estate a notice of deficiency (Abrams estate notice) with respect to its taxable year ended October 31, 2000. In that notice, respondent determined, inter alia, that the Abrams estate (1) had failed to substantiate the basis that it had claimed in the stock of BCA 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*316 that it sold to Castanet under the SPA and (2) had additional ordinary income from BCA. Respondent did not determine in the Abrams estate notice to disregard the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock to Castanet and to treat BCA's sale of certain of its assets as having occurred while the Abrams estate owned the stock of BCA. As a result of the determinations in the Abrams estate notice, respondent determined a deficiency of $14,514,038 in the Abrams estate's tax.
The Abrams estate timely filed a petition with the Court in which it disputed the deficiency that respondent determined in the Abrams estate notice. On February 24, 2006, the Court entered a stipulated decision in that case that there was no deficiency in tax due from the Abrams estate for its taxable year ended October 31, 2000.
On August 13, 2004, respondent issued to BCA at its last known address a notice of deficiency for its taxable year ended December 31, 2000 (BCA notice). In that notice, respondent determined a deficiency of $7,507,972 in BCA's tax for that year. Virtually all of that deficiency resulted from respondent's determination to disallow the Canadian currency loss of $17,223,844 that BCA claimed in the 12/31/00 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*317 BCA return. Respondent disallowed that loss "because you [BCA] have failed to establish the basis in the assets or that a loss was otherwise sustained during taxable year 2000 in the amount claimed." In the BCA notice, respondent also determined an accuracy-related penalty under
BCA did not file a petition with the Court with respect to the BCA notice. On February 7, 2005, respondent assessed the deficiency and the accuracy-related penalty totaling $9,009,566.50 that respondent had determined in the BCA notice as well as interest thereon as provided by law through that date. (We shall refer to those assessed amounts for BCA's short taxable year ended December 31, 2000, as well as all interest thereon as provided by law after February 7, 2005, as BCA's tax liability.) As of the time of the trial in this case, BCA had not paid any of BCA's tax liability.
On June 18, 2005, respondent opened a collection case, and on June 29, 2005, respondent assigned a revenue officer (first revenue officer) to conduct collection activities with respect to BCA's tax liability. On June 29, 2005, the first revenue officer reviewed respondent's Integrated Data Retrieval System 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*318 database with respect to BCA.
On July 22, 2005, the first revenue officer went to BCA's last known address. On July 26, 2005, the first revenue officer used certain database systems in order to perform certain research with respect to BCA. On the same date, the first revenue officer requested authorization to file a notice of Federal tax lien (notice of tax lien) with respect to BCA's tax liability. On August 2, 2005, respondent recorded a notice of tax lien with respect to BCA's tax liability with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
On July 27, 2005, the first revenue officer reviewed certain data transcripts maintained by the Internal Revenue Service and certain State and local government records relating to BCA in order to identify potential sources of income or assets of BCA on which respondent might levy. The first revenue officer did not identify any such sources from that review.
On July 27, 2005, respondent sent to BCA at its last known address Letter 1058, Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of the Right to a Hearing (notice of levy). On August 1, 2005, respondent received confirmation that delivery of the notice of levy had been accepted. 332010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*319
On August 31, 2005, the first revenue officer requested assistance from another revenue officer (second revenue officer) in Chicago. The first revenue officer asked the second revenue officer to visit certain offices that petitioner was occupying at the time, which the second revenue officer did on October 4, 2005.
On September 16, 2005, the first revenue officer identified Golden Gate Bank as a potential source on which respondent might levy with respect to BCA's tax liability. On the same date, the first revenue officer mailed to Golden Gate Bank a copy of a notice of levy with respect to that liability. On September 29, 2005, the first revenue officer terminated the levy action involving Golden Gate Bank because BCA did not maintain any accounts at that bank. On October 5, 2005, the second revenue officer reviewed certain records maintained by the secretary of state of the State of Illinois. That review disclosed that BCA had dissolved. On October 19, 2005, respondent closed as noncollectible the collection case with respect to BCA's 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*320 tax liability because BCA had dissolved.
At no time did the first revenue officer or the second revenue officer interview or issue a summons to Larry Austin, who had signed the 12/31/00 BCA return as BCA's president.
On April 18, 2006, respondent reopened the collection case with respect to BCA's tax liability and assigned it to respondent's examination division for consideration of possible transferee liability.
Respondent issued to petitioner a notice of liability in which respondent determined that petitioner is liable as a transferee of BCA for BCA's tax liability.
Respondent bears the burden of establishing that petitioner is liable under
(a) Method of Collection.—The amounts of the following liabilities shall, except as hereinafter in this section provided, be assessed, paid, and collected in the same manner and subject to the same provisions and limitations as in the case of the taxes with respect to which the liabilities were incurred: (1) Income, estate, and gift taxes.— (A) Transferees.—The liability, at law or in equity, of a transferee of property— (i) of a taxpayer in the case of a tax imposed by subtitle A (relating to income taxes), * * * * (h) Definition of Transferee.—As used in this section, the term "transferee" includes * * * distributee * * *.
Respondent relies on the following grounds in support of respondent's position that petitioner is liable under
Respondent argues that petitioner is liable for BCA's tax liability as BCA's transferee because petitioner assumed that liability under the assumption agreement. In support of that argument, respondent asserts: (1) Pursuant to section 2 of the assumption agreement petitioner assumed from Castanet all of Castanet's obligations under, inter alia, section 5 of the SPA (i.e., the stock purchase agreement) and (2) pursuant to section 5 of the SPA Castanet obligated itself to be responsible for, inter alia, any tax attributable to the sale of certain of BCA's assets to petitioner (asset sale capital gains tax).
Section 2 of the assumption agreement provided in pertinent part: "LDC [petitioner] hereby accepts and assumes all of CNI's [Castanet's] obligations under * * * Article V of the Stock Purchase Agreement". "Article V of the Stock Purchase Agreement" to which section 2 of the assumption agreement referred is section 5 of the SPA. We 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*324 have found on the record before us that petitioner expressly assumed in section 2 of the assumption agreement all of Castanet's obligations under, inter alia, section 5 of the SPA.
Section 5 of the SPA provided in pertinent part: (a) Except for Taxes that have been provided for as accrued in the computation of Net Working Capital and except as set forth in * * * * (c) * * * Except as set forth in Section 4.7, Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from and against all liability from Seller Taxes attributable for the Pre-Closing Period to the extent such Taxes have not been paid or an accrual therefor has not been included in Net Working Capital. * * * * (f) If Buyer or any of the LR Entities receives a refund, credit or reduction of Taxes attributable 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*325 to the Pre-Closing Period, Buyer shall promptly reimburse the Seller for such refund, credit, or reduction of Taxes. If Seller or any of the LR Entities receive a refund or reduction of Taxes attributable to the Post-Closing Period, the Seller shall promptly reimburse the Buyer for such refund, credit or reduction of taxes. (g) The Buyer and LR Entities shall cause their accountants to prepare and file all Tax Returns required to be filed by LR Entities for the taxable year beginning on the Closing Date (the "Post-Closing Short Period") and all subsequent tax years. Such Tax Returns shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the items and positions reflected in the Pre-Closing Period Tax Returns and in this Agreement; provided, however, that to the extent Buyer is entitled to make new tax elections, adopt methods of accounting other than those used by Seller or take reporting positions different from those taken by Seller, it may do so, so long as such items and positions could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences to Seller with respect to the Pre-Closing Period. Items to be taken into account in the Post-Closing Short Period Tax Returns shall 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*326 be determined using the "closing-the-books" method as described in (h) Consistent with the "closing-the-books" method under (i) Any refund of Taxes, credit or reduction of Taxes attributable to the Post-Closing Short Period and all subsequent periods will be for the benefit of Buyer.
We have found on the record before us that Castanet, as the buyer of BCA's stock, expressly agreed in section 5(a) of the SPA to be responsible for, inter alia, BCA's tax liability, including any asset sale capital gains tax of BCA for the short taxable year of BCA that ended December 31, 2000.
Despite the express language of the assumption agreement and of the SPA, petitioner argues that Castanet did not obligate itself to be responsible for BCA's tax liability. According to petitioner: Section 5 of the SPA simply means that, as between the stock seller and the stock buyer, the stock seller is responsible for all taxes incurred prior to the closing by BCA and the various entities in which it held an interest, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*328 and the stock buyer is responsible for all taxes incurred by those entities after the closing. By standing in Castanet's shoes with respect to this provision, Petitioner agreed that it, as opposed to the Estate or Castanet, would be responsible for making sure that the entities it owned and controlled as a result of the Asset Purchase Agreement ("APA") would pay their tax liabilities. Neither the SPA nor the AA [assumption agreement] eliminated the separate corporate existence of BCA, made Castanet rather than BCA itself liable for BCA's taxes, or made Petitioner liable for the taxes of an entity it never owned or controlled.
We reject petitioner's argument. Section 2 of the assumption agreement and section 5 of the SPA mean what they say. We have found that petitioner expressly assumed in section 2 of the assumption agreement all of Castanet's obligations under, inter alia, section 5 of the SPA. We have also found that Castanet expressly obligated itself in section 5 of the SPA to be responsible for BCA's tax liability. On the record before us, we find that petitioner expressly assumed in section 2 of the assumption agreement Castanet's express obligation in section 5 of the SPA to 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*329 be responsible for BCA's tax liability. 362010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*330
Petitioner argues that, even if we were to find, which we have, that petitioner assumed Castanet's obligation to be responsible for BCA's tax liability, section 4.4 of the assumption agreement precludes respondent from enforcing petitioner's assumption of that obligation. Section 4.4 of the assumption agreement provided in pertinent part: except for the [Abrams] Estate who is hereby made a third party beneficiary to this Agreement: (a) no third party is entitled to rely on any of the agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement; and (b) the parties assume no liability to any third party because of any reliance on the agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement.
Respondent agrees with petitioner that under Illinois law a third party generally may not enforce 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*331 a contract that specifically disclaims liability to third parties. However, respondent argues that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement, which disclaims liability to third parties except the Abrams estate, is void because it (1) violates the terms of the SPA and (2) is contrary to public policy.
With respect to respondent's argument that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement is void because it violates the terms of the SPA, respondent asserts that "Illinois law does not recognize contract provisions that interfere with a prior contract." According to respondent: Castanet was contractually prohibited from selling BCA's assets without securing an unrestricted assumption of BCA's tax liabilities from the asset buyer. * * * The SPA contains no disclaimer for third parties. * * * Section 4.4 [of the assumption agreement] attempts to limit petitioner's liability to run only to the [Abrams] Estate, which violates the terms of the SPA.
As we understand respondent's argument, the lack of a provision in the SPA precluding third-party beneficiaries means that the SPA allows third parties to enforce that agreement, and section 4.4 of the assumption agreement thus violates the SPA.
There is a 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*332 strong presumption under Illinois law that contracting parties bargain and agree for themselves and only incidentally for third parties. 37 See
We 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*333 conclude that the lack of a provision in the SPA precluding third-party beneficiaries, standing alone, is not "so strong as to be practically an express declaration",
On the record before us, we reject respondent's argument that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement is void because it violates the terms of the SPA.
With respect to respondent's argument that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement is void because it is contrary to public policy, respondent asserts that if we were to enforce section 4.4 of the assumption agreement, we would encourage taxpayers to participate in transactions that are contrary to public policy because "an asset buyer in an Intermediary Transaction could insulate a stock seller from the target company's 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*334 federal income tax liability while simultaneously leaving respondent, the principal creditor, unprotected."
Respondent does not explain, and we decline to speculate, how enforcing the express language of section 4.4 of the assumption agreement in this case could permit petitioner, the buyer of certain of BCA's assets, to "insulate a stock seller [the Abrams estate] from the target company's [BCA's] federal income tax liability". Respondent did not attempt to hold the Abrams estate liable under
Respondent also does not explain, and we also decline to speculate, how enforcing the express language of section 4.4 of the assumption agreement in this case could permit petitioner to "insulate" any other taxpayer involved in the Abrams estate's sale of BCA's stock to Castanet or BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner, such as Castanet or UAFC, 39 from liability under
On the record before us, we reject respondent's argument that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement is void because it is contrary to public policy.
On the record before us, we find that section 4.4 of the assumption agreement prohibits respondent from enforcing as a third-party beneficiary petitioner's assumption under the assumption agreement of Castanet's obligation under the SPA to be responsible for BCA's tax liability.
Based upon our examination of the entire record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that petitioner is liable under
Respondent argues that petitioner is liable as BCA's transferee under § 5. (a) A transfer made or obligation incurred by a debtor is fraudulent as to a creditor, whether the creditor's claim arose before or after the transfer was made or the obligation was incurred, if the debtor made the transfer or incurred the obligation: (1) with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor of the debtor; or (2) without receiving a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the transfer or obligation, and the debtor: (A) was engaged or was about to engage in a business or a transaction for which the remaining assets of the debtor were unreasonably small in relation to the business or transaction; or (B) intended to incur, or believed or reasonably should have believed that he would incur, debts beyond his ability to pay as they became due.
Respondent asserts that BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner pursuant to the APA (BCA asset sale) was fraudulent under (1)
A creditor, such as respondent here, must prove each of the elements under
Respondent argues that the BCA asset sale was fraudulent in law because (1) under
We turn first to respondent's argument that under BCA did not retain the funds it received in exchange for its assets. The proceeds BCA received from the sale of the BCA Assets passed immediately to Castanet [BCA's sole stockholder] and then to Rabobank, to pay off Castanet's 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*340 UAFC Loan. Thus, petitioner's payment must be disregarded in determining whether BCA received reasonably equivalent value.
The APA between BCA and petitioner required petitioner to pay the asset purchase price in accordance with the terms of the escrow agreement. 442010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*342 The escrow agreement 45 provided in pertinent part: * * * * D. * * * Purchaser [petitioner] will pay or cause to be paid $25,779,369 net of proceeds and adjustments (the "Asset Purchase Price") to Castanet on the date hereof. * * * * G. Hypo Bank shall deposit the Asset Purchase Price into an escrow account held by Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] (such amount to be referred to herein as the "Asset Purchase Escrow Amount"). H. The Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] will hold the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount in * * * Castanet Purchase Escrow Account I, Account No. * * * 9107 * * * (the "Asset Purchase Escrow Account"). 46 * * * * * * * * 2. * * * * (b) Pursuant to the Credit Agreement [between Hypo Bank and Related LR dated as of July 31, 2000, under which Hypo Bank lent to Related LR $33,000,000, $25,779,369 of which was to be used to finance petitioner's purchase of certain of BCA's 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*341 assets], Hypo Bank shall deliver to the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount on the date hereof [July 31, 2000]. * * * * 4. 5. (a) If and only if (i) the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] has received the Release Notice and (ii) the Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] has previously made the wire transfers described in the first sentence of Section 4 above, 472010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*343 then Sub-Escrow Agent [Rabobank] shall pay (A) to UAFC on behalf of and for the account of Castanet, that portion of the Asset Purchase Escrow Amount equal to the amount owed to UAFC by Castanet, and (B) all other amounts in the Asset Purchase Escrow Account, if any, to Castanet or to such other Person as directed by Castanet.
As made clear by the above-quoted provisions of the escrow agreement, that agreement required petitioner to deposit the funds representing the asset purchase price into Castanet's escrow account No. 9107 at Rabobank over which Castanet, and not BCA, had control. The escrow agreement further required Rabobank, the escrow agent, to use those funds to repay on behalf of Castanet, BCA's sole stockholder, the loan that UAFC had made to Castanet to finance Castanet's purchase of BCA's stock from the Abrams estate. 48 The escrow agreement required Rabobank, the escrow agent, to pay the portion of the funds representing the asset purchase price, if any, remaining thereafter pursuant to the instructions of Castanet. The escrow agreement did not place under the control or the direction of BCA the funds representing the asset purchase price that petitioner was required by the APA and that escrow agreement to deposit into Castanet's escrow account No. 9107 at Rabobank. Instead, that escrow agreement placed those funds under the control and the direction of Castanet, BCA's sole stockholder.
Petitioner complied with the APA and the escrow agreement 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*344 and on August 1, 2000, deposited the funds representing the asset purchase price into Castanet's escrow account No. 9107 at Rabobank. However, in contravention of the escrow agreement, on the same date Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of Castanet, directed Rabobank to transfer the funds representing that purchase price from that escrow account to BCA's account No. 9090 at Rabobank. Rabobank complied with Castanet's direction on August 1, 2000. Also on August 1, 2000, Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of BCA, directed Rabobank to transfer the funds representing the asset purchase price from BCA's account No. 9090 at Rabobank to Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank. Rabobank complied with BCA's direction on that date. On August 1, 2000, Ms. Dill, acting as the sole officer of Castanet, requested that Rabobank use any funds in Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank to repay Castanet's debt to UAFC. Rabobank complied with Castanet's direction on August 2, 2000, and used the funds in Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank, including the funds representing the asset purchase price, to repay that debt.
We have found on the record before us that petitioner was required to pay the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*345 funds representing the asset purchase price into an escrow account of Castanet at Rabobank, which Castanet controlled, that petitioner was not required to pay those funds into an account that BCA controlled, that BCA had no right under the APA, the escrow agreement, or any other agreement to receive and/or to control those funds, and that those funds were required to be used to repay Castanet's debt to UAFC.
On the record before us, we find that under
We turn next to respondent's argument that under Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster, the Fortrend Owners, who indirectly through SCALP owned BCA at the time the APA was executed, certainly believed or reasonably 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*346 should have believed that BCA would incur a tax liability beyond BCA's ability to pay when it became due. * * * * The Fortrend Owners lacked any objective basis to believe that BCA's large taxable gain from the sale of its assets could be sheltered by use of the Canadian Dollars [the $68,000 (Canadian) that SCALP contributed to BCA around September 12, 2000]. The basis claimed in the Canadian Dollars was almost 400 times their fair market value. The transfer of the Canadian Dollars to BCA was part of a large tax avoidance scheme. The Fortrend Owners' lack of belief in the basis claimed in the Canadian Dollars is revealed by the fact that they made BCA collection-proof well before the statute of limitations period expired for BCA's tax period ended December 31, 2000. The Fortrend Owners' lack of faith in the Canadian Dollars' basis is further evidenced by the fact that they did not contest the BCA SNOD [the BCA notice].
As we understand it, respondent is contending that under
In support of respondent's assertion 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*348 that the "Fortrend Owners lacked any objective basis to believe that BCA's large taxable gain from the sale of its assets could be sheltered by use of the Canadian Dollars" respondent asserts that "The basis claimed in the Canadian Dollars was almost 400 times their fair market value. The transfer of the Canadian Dollars to BCA was part of a large tax avoidance scheme."
We have found that on July 21, 2000, Mr. Bae, an employee of Fortrend, sent a fax to Mr. Fitzgerald, an attorney at Manatt, in which Mr. Bae stated that after the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock and BCA's sale of certain of its assets Fortrend intended to contribute to BCA certain Canadian currency with a high basis and a low value in order to shelter the gain resulting from BCA's sale of certain of those assets. We have also found that on September 12, 2000, SCALP, BCA's sole stockholder, 51 made a capital contribution to BCA of the Canadian currency in which SCALP claimed a tax basis of $17,268,000. In addition, we have found that on November 1, 2000, Manatt sent Manatt's November 1, 2000 tax opinion letter to BCA and SCALP. In that tax opinion letter, Manatt opined in pertinent part (1) that SCALP's contribution 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*349 to BCA of the Canadian currency satisfied the requirements of
Respondent has failed to establish any facts with respect to the $17,268,000 basis (Canadian currency basis) that SCALP claimed in the Canadian currency which it contributed to BCA except that that claimed basis was about 400 times the fair market value of that currency. Respondent did not call any witnesses at the trial in this case. Respondent chose not to call as witnesses (1) Ms. Dill, the sole director and the sole officer of BCA and of Castanet, (2) Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster, the sole owners of Fortrend and the 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*350 owners of over 80 percent of SCALP, or (3) any person associated with BCA, Castanet, SCALP, or Fortrend in order to examine those persons about their intent and beliefs and those of BCA and SCALP with respect to the Canadian currency basis. 522010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*351 Nor did respondent proffer documentary evidence at trial regarding those matters. As a result, we do not know when, how, or from whom SCALP obtained the Canadian currency or whether the circumstances under which SCALP obtained that currency would lead a reasonable person to accept or to question the accuracy of the basis that SCALP claimed. Nor do we know whether or not BCA questioned the Canadian currency basis. We know only that SCALP claimed a basis in the Canadian currency that it contributed to BCA which was 400 times the fair market value of that currency and that, in calculating the Canadian currency loss that BCA claimed in the 12/31/00 BCA return, BCA relied on Manatt's November 1, 2000 tax opinion letter and claimed the same basis.
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of showing that BCA's claiming a basis in the Canadian currency that was about 400 times the fair market value of that currency, standing alone, establishes that Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster, the owners of Fortrend, "lacked any objective basis to believe" that the loss that BCA claimed on the disposition of the Canadian currency would offset the gain that it realized on the sale of certain of its assets to petitioner.
In further support of respondent's assertion that the "Fortrend Owners lacked any objective basis to believe that BCA's large taxable gain from the sale of its assets could be sheltered by use of the Canadian Dollars", respondent contends that Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster took certain actions to make "BCA collection-proof well before the statute of limitations period expired for BCA's tax period ended December 31, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*352 2000." Although it is not altogether clear, it appears that respondent is contending that Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster "lacked any [such] objective basis" because "well before" the period of limitations for BCA's taxable year ended December 31, 2000, had expired they took certain actions, including removing BCA's assets and dissolving BCA, that left BCA without any funds to pay the tax attributable to the BCA asset sale. We believe that respondent's contention would have merit only if Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster did not believe, or reasonably should not have believed, that the loss that BCA claimed on the disposition of the Canadian currency would offset the gain that BCA realized on the sale of certain of its assets to petitioner. If, however, Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster believed or reasonably should have believed that that loss would offset that gain, any actions of Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster to remove assets from BCA and to dissolve it before the period of limitations expired for BCA's taxable year ended December 31, 2000, would not support respondent's assertion that the "Fortrend owners lacked any objective basis" for that belief. The record is devoid of any evidence establishing 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*353 what Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster (or any other person associated with BCA, Castanet, or SCALP) believed or reasonably should have believed regarding the basis that BCA claimed in the Canadian currency. 53
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of showing that any actions of Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster to remove BCA's assets and dissolve it before the period of limitations expired for BCA's taxable year ended December 31, 2000, establishes that they "lacked any objective basis to believe" that the loss that BCA claimed on the disposition of the Canadian currency would offset the gain that it realized on the sale of certain of its assets to petitioner.
In further support of respondent's assertion that the "Fortrend Owners lacked any objective basis to believe that BCA's large taxable gain from the sale of its assets could be sheltered by use of the Canadian Dollars", respondent contends that Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster did not contest the BCA notice. We have found that BCA dissolved on February 8, 2002. We have also found that respondent issued the BCA notice 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*354 to BCA at its last known address on August 13, 2004, over 18 months after BCA had dissolved. It is not clear whether respondent was aware that BCA had dissolved at the time respondent issued that notice. 54 The record does not establish who, if anyone, received the BCA notice or whether the U.S. Postal Service returned that notice as undeliverable. Nor does the record establish whether any person or entity was authorized to act on behalf of BCA, which had dissolved, in order to contest the determinations that respondent made in that notice.
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of showing that any failure of Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster to 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*355 contest the BCA notice establishes that they "lacked any objective basis to believe" that the loss that BCA claimed on the disposition of the Canadian currency would offset the gain that it realized on the sale of certain of its assets to petitioner.
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that when BCA sold certain of its assets to petitioner it believed or reasonably should have believed that the loss that BCA claimed on the disposition of the Canadian currency would not offset the gain that it realized on that sale. On that record, we further find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that under
Based upon our examination of the entire record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that under
Under Illinois law, a court may not presume that a debtor made a transfer with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor under * * * * (b) In determining actual intent under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) [of section 5], consideration may be given, among other factors, to whether: (1) the transfer or obligation was to an insider; (2) the debtor retained possession or control of the property transferred after the transfer; (3) the transfer or obligation was 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*357 disclosed or concealed; (4) before the transfer was made or obligation was incurred, the debtor had been sued or threatened with suit; (5) the transfer was of substantially all the debtor's assets; (6) the debtor absconded; (7) the debtor removed or concealed assets; (8) the value of the consideration received by the debtor was reasonably equivalent to the value of the asset transferred or the amount of the obligation incurred; (9) the debtor was insolvent or became insolvent shortly after the transfer was made or the obligation was incurred; (10) the transfer occurred shortly before or shortly after a substantial debt was incurred; and (11) the debtor transferred the essential assets of the business to a lienor who transferred the assets to an insider of the debtor.
No one factor in
Respondent asserts that six factors specified in
With respect to the insider factor on which respondent relies, respondent contends that BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner was an indirect transfer by BCA of those assets to certain insiders of BCA who owned indirectly 30 percent of petitioner. That is because, according to respondent, certain members of BCA senior management owned all of the membership interests in LRD Group, which in turn owned 30 percent of the membership interests in petitioner.
(2) if the debtor is a corporation, (A) a director of the debtor; (B) an officer of the debtor; (C) a person in control of the debtor; (D) a partnership in which the debtor is a general partner; (E) a general partner in a partnership described in clause (D); or (F) a relative of a general partner, director, officer, or person in control of 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*361 the debtor;
We have found that, effective as of the closing on July 31, 2000, of the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock to Castanet, (1) the members of BCA senior management resigned their positions with BCA, 58 and (2) Castanet, as the sole stockholder of BCA, elected Ms. Dill as the sole director of BCA. We have also found that on July 31, 2000, Ms. Dill, as the sole director of BCA, elected herself president, secretary, and treasurer of that company. As a result, as of the closing on August 1, 2000, of BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner, no member of BCA senior management was a director or an officer of BCA. See
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to the substantially all assets factor on which respondent relies, we have found 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*363 on the basis of the parties' stipulation that the assets which BCA sold to petitioner and which petitioner purchased from BCA constituted over 90 percent of the total value, and substantially all, of BCA's assets.
On the record before us, we find that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to the removed assets factor on which respondent relies, respondent contends that BCA removed virtually all of its assets because the $25,779,369 of funds representing the asset purchase price that petitioner paid to purchase certain of BCA's assets was transferred to BCA's sole stockholder, Castanet, which used those funds to repay the loan that UAFC had made to Castanet to fund Castanet's purchase of the Abrams estate's BCA stock.
Petitioner counters only that the transfer to Castanet of the funds representing the asset purchase price was a loan from BCA to Castanet. In support of that contention, petitioner alleges that certain financial statements of BCA reflected such a loan. The record does not 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*364 contain any financial statements of BCA that showed a loan to Castanet as an asset of BCA or as an item that was receivable by, or payable to, BCA. Nor does the record contain a loan instrument, any other document, or other evidence that establishes that BCA made a loan to Castanet.
The escrow agreement 60 required that the funds representing the asset purchase price be used to repay on behalf of Castanet the loan that UAFC had made to Castanet to fund Castanet's purchase of the BCA stock from the Abrams estate. The escrow agreement required Rabobank, the escrow agent, to pay the portion of the funds representing the asset purchase price, if any, remaining thereafter pursuant to the instructions of Castanet. The escrow agreement establishes that the parties to that agreement intended and required that the funds representing the asset purchase price be transferred on behalf of Castanet to UAFC, and not to BCA, in repayment of the loan that UAFC had made to Castanet. As discussed more fully above, despite the unambiguous provisions of the escrow agreement, on August 1, 2000, Castanet directed Rabobank, as escrow agent, to transfer the $25,779,369 of funds representing the asset purchase 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*365 price to a bank account maintained in BCA's name. On the same date, the funds representing the asset purchase price were transferred to a bank account maintained in Castanet's name, and on August 2, 2000, Castanet used those funds to repay its debt to UAFC.
On the record before us, we find that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to the reasonably equivalent value factor on which respondent relies, we have found in our consideration of whether BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner was fraudulent in law under
On the record before us, we find that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to the insolvency factor on which respondent relies, § 3. (a) A debtor is insolvent if the sum of the debtor's debts is greater than all of the debtor's assets 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*367 at a fair valuation.
Respondent contends that any tax attributable to the gain that BCA realized on the sale of certain of its assets to petitioner constitutes a contingent liability of BCA at the time of the BCA asset sale. 61 According to respondent, BCA was insolvent upon the transfer of the BCA Assets to petitioner, because BCA had inadequate assets with which to pay the resulting federal income taxes. The test under Illinois law for insolvency includes contingent liabilities; thus, BCA was insolvent immediately upon the sale of the BCA Assets, not when its federal income tax payment came due.
Petitioner counters that from August 1, 2000, the date of the closing of the BCA asset sale, through December 31 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*368 of that year (1) BCA held as an asset a $25,779,369 loan receivable from Castanet, and (2) BCA's assets, including that loan receivable, exceeded its liabilities. We have found in our consideration of the removed assets factor that the record does not contain evidence establishing that the transfer to Castanet of the $25,779,369 asset purchase price constituted a loan from BCA to Castanet. On the record before us, we reject petitioner's contentions that from August 1 through December 31, 2000, (1) BCA held as an asset a $25,779,369 loan receivable from Castanet, and (2) BCA's assets exceeded BCA's liabilities.
Petitioner further counters respondent's contentions regarding the insolvency factor as follows: Although the test for insolvency under Illinois law includes contingent liabilities, the tax liability in question here was not a contingent liability and cannot, as a matter of law, be included in the insolvency analysis. "A contingent liability under Illinois law means a liability that already exists but which will become absolute upon the happening of a certain event."
Although it is not altogether clear, it appears that petitioner is contending that, because during BCA's short taxable year ended December 31, 2000, BCA might have engaged in additional transactions or activities that might have reduced or eliminated the asset sale capital gains tax, that tax may not be treated as a contingent liability for purposes of
On the record before us, we find (1) that as a result of BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner on August 1, 2000, BCA had a contingent liability for the tax attributable to that sale and (2) that as of that sale and immediately thereafter BCA was insolvent because its liabilities, including that contingent liability, exceeded its assets. 622010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*371 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*372
On the record before us, we find that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to the substantial debt factor on which respondent relies, respondent contends that BCA incurred a substantial debt (i.e., the asset sale capital gains tax) at the time it sold its assets to petitioner.
Although petitioner agrees that BCA incurred a substantial debt consisting of the asset sale capital gains tax, petitioner asserts that that tax "did not become a debt until BCA's return was required to be filed [on March 15, 2001]." 63The substantial debt factor considers whether "the transfer occurred
On the record before us, we find that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing that under
With respect to respondent's additional 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*374 factor on which respondent relies, respondent contends: The actions of the Fortrend Owners [Mr. Furman and Mr. Forster] constitute an additional badge of fraud. The Fortrend Owners operated Fortrend, a tax shelter enterprise, and SCALP, whose
We turn first to the Fortrend brochure. That brochure stated in pertinent part in a section entitled "BUY STOCK/SELL ASSETS TRANSACTION, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY": We are working with various clients who may be willing to buy the stock from the seller and then cause the target corporation to sell its net assets to the ultimate buyer. These clients have certain tax attributes that enable them to absorb the tax gain inherent in the assets. In certain situations the economic cost of the client's involvement is sufficiently 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*375 low that a seller of stock can increase its after-tax sale proceeds, a buyer of net assets can decrease its after-tax purchase price (on a present value basis), and the client can still make an arbitrage profit. * * * * As with any transaction, economic substance and proper form are crucial to its success. Accordingly, in transactions where involvement by such a client may make sense, raising the idea at the earliest stages of a transaction is advisable.
As we understand respondent's contentions in support of respondent's additional factor, respondent assumes that any transaction described in the section of the Fortrend brochure entitled "BUY STOCK/SELL ASSETS TRANSACTION, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY" that reduces or minimizes tax is improper because it is inconsistent with or in violation of the Code. We reject any such assumption. We have found nothing in that section that leads us to conclude that the transaction described therein, standing alone, constitutes a transaction that would improperly reduce or minimize tax. Indeed, that section expressly stated that "economic substance and proper form are crucial to its [the transaction's] success."
We turn now to
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that under
On the record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing respondent's additional factor under
We have found that respondent has carried respondent's burden of establishing the following five badges of fraud under
We have found that respondent, who has the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence BCA's actual fraudulent intent under
Based upon our examination of the entire record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that under
Respondent argues that petitioner is liable as BCA's transferee under respondent's trust fund doctrine. The three elements of respondent's trust fund doctrine are: 672010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*380 (1) a transferee receives assets from a corporation, (2) the transferee pays the consideration for the assets to someone other than the transferor corporation, and (3) the transferor corporation is unable to pay its debts * * *.
Respondent claims to have "distilled" the above-quoted three elements of respondent's trust fund doctrine from the following statements of certain "principles of equity" (principles of equity) by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Likewise, in a case where corporation A transfers all of its assets to B for a consideration which B pays to C, then B, regardless of any agreement, is liable for any unpaid income tax, which represents the profits made on such transfer on the theory that B is a trustee, to the extent of the value of the property which it acquired from A. * * * * Equally clear and definite must be the holding that one who dispossesses another company of all of its assets, paying the consideration therefor to a third party, and leaving the propertyless corporation unable to pay its debts, including taxes which were inchoate at the time, becomes a trustee and liable in such trusteeship for 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*381 taxes and other debts in an amount not exceeding the value of the property taken from the debtor taxpayer. This is so * * * because of the application of principles of equity. * * *
In distilling respondent's trust fund doctrine from the above-quoted passages in The theory of these holdings is that courts of equity will protect creditors from fraudulent action on the part of the debtors by holding the recipient of the debtor's property as a trustee thereof for the benefit of the creditors of said debtor.
This Court's predecessor, the Board of Tax Appeals, set forth the principles of equity and the rationale for those principles in a manner very similar to that of the Court of Appeals in where assets of a corporation are sold for an equivalent consideration, which under an agreement is paid to the stockholders, leaving the corporation without assets to satisfy its creditors, the purchasing corporation is liable to creditors of the selling 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*382 corporation to the extent of the value of the property received, the sale being in fraud of creditors and the purchaser being a party to such fraud through his knowledge that the result of the transaction must necessarily leave such creditors with no assets from which to satisfy their claims.
The courts developed the principles of equity set forth in
In determining whether to apply the so-called fraud exception to the well-settled general rule in Illinois that a corporation that purchases the assets of another corporation is not liable for the debts or liabilities of the transferor corporation and therefore whether to apply the principles of equity set forth in
We have found that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner was a fraudulent transfer under
Based upon our examination of the entire record before us, we 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 240">*385 find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that petitioner is liable as BCA's transferee under respondent's trust fund doctrine.
Based upon our examination of the entire record before us, we find that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that petitioner is liable as a transferee of property of BCA under
We have considered all of the contentions and arguments of the parties that are not discussed herein, and we find them to be without merit, irrelevant, and/or moot.
To reflect the foregoing,
1. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code (Code) in effect at all relevant times. All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩
2. From its incorporation, BCA conducted its business under the name "LR Development Co." We shall refer to that corporation as BCA in order to prevent confusion with petitioner LR Development Co. LLC.↩
3. From 1996 until he became president of BCA, Mr. Kirshenbaum had served as its chief operating officer.↩
4. Before Mr. Abrams' death, Cohen Financial had provided financing to BCA for certain of its real estate development projects.↩
5. Although the record establishes that CFC Advisory performed the services under the CFC engagement agreement, the parties indicated in the stipulation of facts that Cohen Financial performed certain services under that agreement. Since the CFC engagement agreement is between the Abrams estate and CFC Advisory, we shall refer to CFC Advisory when discussing services performed under that agreement.↩
6. The record does not reflect the nature of Mr. Ross' interests in Related.↩
7. The record does not explain how Mr. Blau's ownership interest in Related could have varied depending on the project that Related undertook.↩
8. Mr. Blau, Mr. Brenner, and Mr. Ross all participated in the decisionmaking process of Related regarding its interest in purchasing certain assets of BCA.↩
9. In certain instances, the record does not establish the identities of the individuals who acted on behalf of the various entities involved in this case.↩
10. At all relevant times, Howard Kramer (Mr. Kramer) was a senior managing director of Fortrend. During 2000, Fortrend employed Randolph Whitney Bae (Mr. Bae) in an undisclosed capacity.↩
11. The record does not contain the two spreadsheets that Mr. Brenner attached to Mr. Brenner's March 10, 2000 email. Nor does the record establish the period of time to which those spreadsheets pertained.↩
12. Related's March 22, 2000 offer letter also indicated that Related would arrange for debt and equity financing for the development of certain land that BCA was to acquire on or before May 31, 2000, and that was to be used for the Northwestern project.↩
13. The list of the entities and the assets that BCA owned as of Dec. 31, 1999, showed BCA's respective tax bases as of that date in those entities and assets.↩
14. The record does not establish whether the Abrams estate sent a final version of the March 31, 2000 draft response to Related.↩
15. Fortrend's offer of $24.5 million was net of a $1.5 million payment that Fortrend proposed to set aside for the purpose of paying bonuses to certain BCA employees.↩
16. The draft letter that Fortrend submitted in response to the BCA offering memorandum identified a "FORTREND ENTITY", and not Fortrend, as the purchaser of the BCA stock. Although Fortrend did not purchase the BCA stock, for convenience we shall sometimes refer to Fortrend as the purchaser of the BCA stock.
17. During the negotiations, the purchaser of the BCA stock was not identified. As discussed below, around July 20, 2000, Castanet, Inc., was identified as the purchaser of that stock.↩
18. During the negotiations, the purchaser of BCA's assets was not identified. As discussed below, around July 24, 2000, petitioner was identified as the purchaser of those assets.↩
19. As of July 31, 2000, Related and Yukon Holdings LLC owned 90 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of the interests in Related LR. Mr. Blau, Related's president, was a member of Yukon Holdings LLC. Related LR did not own any interest in LRD Group.↩
20. During 2000, Mr. Furman, a 50-percent owner of Fortrend, owned 100 percent of the general partnership interests and 70.79 percent of the total interests in SCALP. During 2000, Mr. Forster, a 50-percent owner of Fortrend, owned 9.5 percent of the total interests in SCALP.
21. The escrow agreement required Hypo Bank on behalf of petitioner to deposit with the escrow agent Rabobank the funds representing the price that petitioner agreed (as discussed below) to pay to purchase certain of BCA's assets. That agreement required Rabobank to credit those funds to Castanet's account No. 9107 maintained at Rabobank. For convenience, we shall discuss Hypo Bank's and/or petitioner's deposit of the funds representing the price that petitioner agreed to pay to purchase certain of BCA's assets as being a deposit of those funds into that account of Castanet.
22. UAFC lent Castanet $28 million, which was more than the price that petitioner was to pay for certain of BCA's assets. Nonetheless, for convenience we shall sometimes state that the funds representing that price were used to repay the UAFC loan or the debt to UAFC.
23. On July 31, 2000, before Castanet and the Abrams estate executed the SPA, the board of directors of BCA adopted resolutions declaring a dividend payable to the Abrams estate consisting of the assets that were defined as "Excluded Assets" in section 6 of the SPA.↩
24. On July 31, 2000, each member of BCA senior management, except Mr. Rice, executed an employment agreement with LR Management Co., a company 100 percent of the stock of which petitioner owned.↩
25. Section 1.2(a) of the APA provided that petitioner was to pay $25,613,369 for certain of BCA's assets. Recital D of the escrow agreement provided that petitioner was to pay "$25,779,369 net of proceeds and adjustments" for certain of BCA's assets. The record does not establish the amount of the "proceeds and adjustments" that was to reduce that $25,779,369.↩
26. "Article V of the Stock Purchase Agreement" to which section 2 of the assumption agreement referred is section 5 of the SPA.↩
27. Before Castanet's payment of the $25,410,295 purchase price from Castanet's account No. 9081 at Rabobank, UAFC had deposited the $28 million that UAFC had lent to Castanet into that account.↩
28. Hypo Bank is the bank that made the loan to Related LR to fund petitioner's purchase of certain of BCA's assets.↩
29. As required by section 5(a) of the escrow agreement, Rabobank had (1) received the release notice and (2) made the transfers described in the first sentence of section 4 of that agreement.↩
30. The record does not contain the "draft tax opinion letter" or the "draft representations letter" to which Mr. Fitzgerald referred in Mr. Fitzgerald's October 11, 2000 letter.↩
31. See supra note 30.↩
32. Manatt's November 1, 2000 tax opinion letter listed various documents on which Manatt relied in rendering its opinions. We have not quoted the entire opinion letter or described all of the documents on which Manatt relied because they are not material to our resolution of the issues in this case.↩
33. The record does not establish who accepted the notice of levy on behalf of BCA. Nor does the record establish whether BCA appealed the notice of levy to respondent's Appeals Office.
34. Petitioner bears the burden of establishing that BCA is not liable for BCA's tax liability. See
35. Respondent does not advance any other argument in support of respondent's position that petitioner is liable under Respondent does not seek to recast the BCA Intermediary Transaction as a stock sale by the [Abrams] Estate to petitioner, as in
36. Petitioner also argues that petitioner could not have assumed BCA's tax liability because (1) section 1.1(c) of the APA (i.e., the asset purchase agreement) specifically excluded the asset sale capital gains tax from the liabilities that petitioner agreed to assume from BCA and (2) "[i]n the face of contractual language that expressly disclaims liability, [a court] cannot find that there was an implied assumption of liability." (bracketed material in original) Section 1.1(c) of the APA provided in pertinent part: Assumed Obligations shall not include * * * any taxes of Seller [Castanet] or the Company [BCA] of any nature due as a result of the purchase of the Shares [of BCA] by Seller [Castanet], the sale of the Assets to Buyer [petitioner], or the sale of the Excluded Assets by the Company [BCA].
37. If the benefit to a third person arising from a contract is incidental, the third person may not enforce the contract. If the benefit to the third person arising from the contract is direct, the third person may enforce the contract. See
38. BCA was an S corporation throughout the period the Abrams estate owned BCA's stock. As a result, if respondent had treated BCA's sale of certain of its assets as having occurred while that estate owned the stock of BCA, the gain on any such sale would have flowed through to the Abrams estate as BCA's sole stockholder.
39. UAFC is the financial institution that made the loan to Castanet to fund its purchase of BCA stock.↩
40. Respondent also does not explain how enforcing the express language of section 4.4 of the assumption agreement in this case "insulates" petitioner in all events from liability under
41. On brief, respondent advances respondent's arguments under
42. We shall sometimes refer to a transfer that is fraudulent under
43. In interpreting the Illinois fraudulent transfer statute, we may rely on, inter alia, the interpretation by a U.S. bankruptcy court or other Federal court of the fraudulent transfer provisions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,
44. Sec. 1.2(a) of the APA provided: The purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for the Assets shall be Twenty Five Million Six Hundred Thirteen Thousand Three Hundred sixty Nine and No/100 Dollars ($25,613,369), payable in cash payable [sic] pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Escrow Agreement [dated July 31, 2000] * * *.
45. Castanet, petitioner, Related LR (i.e., the owner of 70 percent of the member interests in petitioner), Hypo Bank (i.e., the bank that made the loan to petitioner to fund its purchase of certain of BCA's assets), UAFC (i.e., the financial institution that made the loan to Castanet to fund its purchase of BCA stock), Near North, and Rabobank were parties to the escrow agreement. BCA was not a party to that agreement. Castanet, petitioner, Related LR, and Hypo Bank appointed Near North as escrow agent under the escrow agreement. Those entities along with Near North appointed Rabobank as sub-escrow agent under that agreement. Since only the actions taken by Rabobank are relevant to our resolution of the issues before us, for convenience we shall refer to Rabobank as the escrow agent. In discussing any actions taken by Hypo Bank on behalf of petitioner, for convenience we shall state that petitioner took those actions.↩
46. See
47. As required by section 5(a) of the escrow agreement, Rabobank (1) received the release notice and (2) made the transfers described in the first sentence of section 4 of that agreement.
48. See
49. We have found that at the time BCA sold certain of its assets to petitioner BCA knew (as did petitioner) that BCA would realize a substantial gain on those assets as a result of that sale.↩
50. For purposes of the Illinois fraudulent transfer statute, tax is considered as due and owing on the date on which the tax return in which the tax must be reported is required to be filed. See
51. Around Sept. 11, 2000, Castanet merged with and into BCA. As a result, SCALP owned 100 percent of the stock of BCA.↩
52. In the pretrial memorandum that respondent submitted to the Court, respondent indicated that respondent expected to call, inter alia, as witnesses (1) Mr. Kramer, an employee of Fortrend who was extensively involved in the negotiation of the SPA, the APA, and the other agreements governing the Abrams estate's sale of its BCA stock and the BCA asset sale and (2) Mr. Teig, one of Fortrend's outside accountants. However, as stated above, respondent did not call any witnesses at trial.
53. As discussed above, respondent did not call any witnesses at the trial in this case.↩
54. We have found that on Oct. 5, 2005, the second revenue officer, while attempting to collect BCA's tax liability from BCA, reviewed certain records relating to BCA that the State of Illinois maintained. It was during that review that the second revenue officer ascertained that BCA had filed articles of dissolution with the Illinois secretary of state on Feb. 8, 2002. The record does not establish whether or not any other representative of respondent knew before Oct. 5, 2005, that BCA had dissolved.↩
55. We shall sometimes refer to the actual intent described in
56. We shall sometimes refer to a factor from which an inference or a presumption of actual fraudulent intent may arise under
57. Respondent does not rely on, and we shall not consider, any of the remaining five factors specified in
58. Our use of the defined phrase "BCA senior management" after the members of that management resigned their positions with BCA is only for convenience and is not intended to imply or suggest that those members continued to hold management positions with BCA.↩
59. We have found that at the time of the BCA asset sale on Aug. 1, 2000, Related LR and LRD Group owned 70 percent and 30 percent, respectively, of the membership interests in petitioner. On that date, Related and Yukon Holdings LLC owned 90 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of the membership interests in Related LR, and Mr. Blau, the president of Related, was a member of Yukon Holdings LLC. On Aug. 1, 2000, certain members of BCA senior management owned all of the membership interests in LRD Group.↩
60. See
61. In the BCA notice, respondent determined a deficiency in BCA's tax of $7,507,972. Virtually all of that deficiency, which petitioner does not contest in this case, is attributable to the asset sale capital gains tax.↩
62. We have found that BCA did not receive the funds representing the asset purchase price. We made that finding even though on Aug. 1, 2000, at Castanet's direction and in contravention of the escrow agreement, those funds were deposited into a bank account of BCA and on the same day transferred from that account to a bank account of Castanet, which used those funds on Aug. 2, 2000, to repay Castanet's debt to UAFC. Even if we had not so found, on the record before us, we find that when the funds representing the asset purchase price were transferred on Aug. 1, 2000, from a bank account of BCA to a bank account of Castanet, BCA's liabilities, including the contingent liability for the asset sale capital gains tax, exceeded its assets, and BCA was insolvent.
Assuming arguendo that the asset sale capital gains tax were not a contingent liability of BCA as of the BCA asset sale, petitioner agrees that that tax was a liability at the end of BCA's short taxable year ended Dec. 31, 2000. We have found that BCA included Schedule L with the 12/31/00 BCA return. In that schedule, it reported total assets of $3,277,516 on Dec. 31, 2000, which was substantially less than the tax attributable to the BCA asset sale. The insolvency factor considers whether "the debtor was insolvent
63. We find petitioner's assertion regarding the substantial debt factor to be inconsistent with petitioner's agreement in advancing its contentions regarding the insolvency factor that the liability for the asset sale capital gains tax existed at the end of BCA's taxable year ended Dec. 31, 2000. See
64. Nor have we found any authority defining the term "shortly after" that is used in the substantial debt factor in
65. We note that respondent indicated in
66. We have found no case in which a court has held that the presence of five badges of fraud creates an inference or a presumption of actual fraudulent intent under
67. We shall consider only respondent's articulation of a doctrine in equity known as a trust fund doctrine. We shall not consider other articulations of so-called trust fund doctrines in equity that arise in contexts not presented in this case.
68. We have also found that respondent has failed to carry respondent's burden of establishing that BCA's sale of certain of its assets to petitioner was a fraudulent transfer under
69. Our resolution of the various questions and issues presented here depends on the facts that we have found on the record before us and on respondent's burden of proof. Nothing herein is intended to be, or should be read as, reaching or implying any finding or conclusion in other cases that are not before us.↩
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