In re Valence Technology, Inc.
Filing
26
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Judge Lee Yeakel. (dm)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS 20 15 MAR
AUSTIN DIVISION
INRE
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VALENCE TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
DEBTOR,
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10: 130
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VALENCE TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
APPELLANT,
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V.
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ROTH CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC,
APPELLEE.
CAUSE NO. A-14-CA-0596-LY
BANKRUPTCY NO. 12-1 1580-CAG
(CHAPTER 11)
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MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Before the court is the above styled and numbered cause. Appellant Valence Technology Inc.
("Valence") contends that the bankruptcy court erred to the extent relief was granted by the court's
Order Granting In Part and Denying In Part the First and Final Application of Roth Capital Partners,
LLC, For Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses of Professionals For the Period from
February 6, 2013 Through October 30, 2013, signed April29, 2014 (Bankruptcy Clerk's Document
No. 574) ("Final Fee
Order").1
This court ordered briefing and, on September 11, 2014, held oral
argument at which all parties were represented by counsel. Having considered the parties' briefing
and arguments, the bankruptcy court's orders and case file, and the applicable law, the court affirms
the bankruptcy court's Final Fee Order.2
Following an evidentiary hearing on January 16, 2014, the bankruptcy court allowed the
parties to submit additional briefing. On April 9, 2014, with all parties represented by counsel, the
bankruptcy court held a hearing and rendered findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record
in open court, which the bankruptcy court incorporated by reference into the written Final Fee Order.
Similar issues regarding a related Final Fee Order are raised in a related appeal from the
bankruptcy court, Valence Technology, Inc. v. KPMG Corporate Finance LLC, Cause No. A- 14-CA0595-LY (W.D. Tex.). Although the appeals are not consolidated, counsel for the parties in both
appeals participated at the September 11 oral argument.
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Background
Valence is a developer and manufacturer of large-scale rechargeable lithium batteries.
Valence's growth was financed primarily through secured loans of approximately $69.1 million from
investor Carl Berg's company, Berg & Berg. When Valence could no longer make its loan
payments, Valence filed a voluntary petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, Chapter 11, on
July 12, 2012. Valence began investigating ways to reorganize while continuing to operate as a
debtor-in-possession business. Valence hired attorneys and accountants with expertise in debt
restructuring. Valence was also interested in new equity investment. Valence solicited and received
proposals from several investment banking firms willing to assist Valence with such efforts. Most
of the investment bankers required payment of retainers of at least $35,000 per month, lengthy
minimum terms of months, and percentage fees of up to 6% of any new equity or capital raised.
However, two firms, Roth Capital Partners, LLC ("Roth") and KPMG Corporate Finance LLC
("KPMG"), reached employment agreements with Valence, and Valence, in turn, requested that the
bankruptcy court authorize their employment.
See 11 U.S.C. §
327(a), 328(a). The bankruptcy
court granted Valence's request, approved the terms of Valence's Engagement Letters with Roth and
KPMG, and allowed employment ofRoth and KPMG until confirmation ofValence's reorganization
plan.3
The bankruptcy court confirmed a reorganization plan for Valence on November 18, 2013.
Under the confirmed plan, Berg & Berg and Valence agreed to the following: (1) Berg & Berg
would convert $50 million of its prepetition secured loan to 100% of the stock in the reorganized
Consistent with each of the Engagement Letters dated February 6, 2013, the court refers
to the Roth letter as the "Agreement."
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Valence in exchange for Valence canceling all of its existing equity; (2) Berg & Berg agreed to
extend Valence's maturity date of the remaining prepetition secured loan of approximately $19.1
million under a new note; and (3) Berg & Berg agreed to provide Valence a new $20 million loan
for operating capital.
After confirmation of the plan, and pursuant to the Agreement, Roth applied to the
bankruptcy court seeking an additional fee, a "Success Fee."4 Roth argued that it was entitled to this
additional fee based on the $50 million debt-for-equity conversion portion of the
transaction.5
Valence opposed Roth's application, arguing that the Agreement expressly excluded all debtfor-equity conversions from the types of transactions that would trigger the additional feethe
Success Feeprovision, and further, under the Agreement's terms, Berg & Berg's $20 million loan
to the reorganized Valence for operating capital did not qualify as equity or equity-linked financing;
rather it was an operations loan, which was beyond the scope of the Agreement. The parties agreed
before the bankruptcy court, as they do here, that the Agreement is governed by New York contract
law and that the terms of the Agreement are unambiguous.
In its findings and conclusions, the bankruptcy court noted that the court considered nothing
beyond the four corners of the Agreement. The court found that Roth was entitled to a Success Fee
of 1.25%, based on the $50 million debt-for-equity conversion only, less $30,000 Valence paid Roth
as engagement and retainer fees, for a total recovery of $595,000. The court denied Roth's request
'
Roth also requested, and the bankruptcy court awarded, Roth's related expenses. Valence
did not object to Roth's expenses and they are not at issue here.
The portion of the Berg & Berg transaction that extended the maturity date for the
remaining $19.1 million secured loan to Valence is not at issue in this action.
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for a Success Fee on the $20 million operating-capital loan, concluding that the loan was debtfinancing and not within the scope of the
Agreement.6
Valence appeals the bankruptcy court's decision, arguing that based on the Agreement Roth
is not entitled to a Success Fee.
Jurisdiction
The bankruptcy court's Final Fee Order is a final, appealable order over which this court has
appellate jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C.
§
158(a)(1); In re Transtexas Gas Corp., 303 F.3d 571, 579
(5th Cir. 2002).
Standard of Review
In reviewing a bankruptcy court's decision, the court functions as an appellate court, applying
the standards of review generally applied in federal appeals: a bankruptcy court's findings of fact
are reviewed for clear error and the court's conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. See Robertson
v.
Dennis (In re Dennis), 330 F.3d 696, 701 (5th Cir. 2003). A finding is clearly erroneous and
reversible only if, based on the entire record, the reviewing court is left "with the definite and firm
conviction that a mistake has been made." Id. In conducting this review, the court must give due
regard to the opportunity of the bankruptcy judge to determine the credibility of the witnesses. Id;
see also Young v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (In re Young), 995 F.2d 547, 548 (5th Cir. 1993).
The issues on appeal here involve interpreting a contract, which are subject to de novo review. Fina,
Inc.
v.
ARCO, 200 F.3d 266, 268 (5th Cir. 2000).
° The terms of KPMG and Roth's Agreements are the same. Both KPMG and Roth sought
additional fees under each of their respective Agreements. At the parties' request, the bankruptcy
court held one evidentiary hearing, and granted KPMG's request that it be bound by the bankruptcy
court's ruling on Roth's Fee Application.
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The Agreement
Central to the appeal is the Agreement, which provides that Roth was retained to "act as a
placement arranger in a possible Private Placement
[]
of equity or equity-linked financing (the
"Securities")" but that Roth was "not being hired by [Valence] to provide restructuring or bankruptcy
advice and such advice falls outside of [the] scope of services." The Agreement provides that if
Valence desires restructuring or other bankruptcy advice, that advice is subject to a separate
engagement letter with terms and fees.
The Agreement defines "Securities" as "equity or equity-linked financing." The Agreement
defines "Private Placement" as,
the sale of Securities in exchange for cash or other consideration not
including a public offer. It is intended that the Private Placement
shall be conducted in a way so that the offers and sales of the
Securities will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of
any state or other jurisdiction in which the Securities are offered. In
acting as a placement arranger for the Private Placement, Roth will
seek to complete the Private Placement using reasonable efforts,
acting as [Valence]' s arranger and not as a principal.
As compensation for the services to be provided by Roth, the Agreement provides that
Valence will pay Roth a nonrefundable engagement fee of$ 15,000, an initial retainer fee of$ 15,000,
and an additional fee or "Success Fee" "in an amount equal to 2.5% of the Private Placement Value"
less the previously paid engagement and retainer fees, "but in no event less than a minimum success
fee of $500,000 (the 'Minimum Success Fee')" if Roth's efforts result in a Private Placement.
Further, the Agreement provides,
'Private Placement Value' shall mean the aggregate amount of cash
and the fair market value (on the date of closing) of any other
consideration received by [Valence] in any Private Placement,
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excluding any consideration received by {Valence] ' s creditors in
satisfaction of claims or debts existing on the date hereof.
Immediately following this sentence and in the same paragraph, the Agreement provides,
Any consideration received from Berg & Berg, Carl Berg or any other
entity affiliated with Carl Berg, Johnson Controls, SAIF, Enertech
Capital, Via Motors or any of their respective affiliates (collectively,
the "Identified Parties") will be subject to a Success Fee of 1.25%
(and not 2.5%), but still subject to the Minimum Success Fee.
Finally, Roth's Standard Terms and Conditions are incorporated into the Agreement by
reference, including that the Agreement is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with
New York law.
Agreement is unambiguous
The parties agreed at the evidentiary hearing before the bankruptcy court and at oral argument
before this court that the Agreement is unambiguous and should be enforced according to its terms,
without resort to parole evidence. Under New York law, written agreements are construed in
accordance with the parties' intent and "[t]he best evidence of what parties to a written agreement
intend is what they say in their writing." Greenfield v. Philles Records, 780 N.E. 2d 166, 170 (N.Y.
2002). "[A] written agreement that is complete, clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced
according to the plain meaning of its terms." Id. In considering the bankruptcy court's findings of
fact for clear error and reviewing the conclusions of law de novo, this court construes the Agreement
without considering parole evidence.
Arguments
Valence contends that because the Agreement provides that Roth was employed only for the
purpose of finding new equity, the bankruptcy court erred in awarding Roth any additional fee
beyond the engagement and retainer fees. Valence argues Roth is only entitled to recover an
additional fee for "any consideration.
.
.
subject to a Success Fee" and based on that language, Berg
& Berg's $50 million debt-for-equity conversion must qualify for a Success Fee. Because the
Agreement defines Success Fee as a percentage of "Private Placement Value" based on a "Private
Placement transaction," Valence argues the Berg & Berg debt-for-equity conversion does not qualify,
and Roth is not entitled to an additional fee.
Roth responds it is entitled to a Success Fee of $595,000, as awarded by the bankruptcy court,
because the Agreement explicitly provides that Valence's receipt of any consideration from Berg &
Berg, one of the "Identified Parties," is subject to a 1.25% Success Fee. Roth argues that the
Agreement could not be more specific, "[amy consideration received from Berg & Berg.
subject to a Success Fee of 1.25%.
. .
. .
will be
." Further, Roth argues the Berg & Berg debt-for-equity
conversion is a Private Placementit was a sale of Securities (of equity or equity-linked financing)
in exchange for other consideration.
Therefore, argues Roth, Berg & Berg's conversion of $50
million of secured debt to 100% of the stock of the reorganized Valence qualifies for the Success Fee
of 1.25%.
Analysis
Issue is joined as to whether the debt-for-equity conversion portion of the Berg & Berg
transaction qualifies under the Agreement as a Private Placement, as urged by Roth or whether, as
argued by Valence, the conversion is a restructuring ofthe bankrupt Valence, which was beyond the
scope of the Agreement.
The Agreement was "negotiated by sophisticated and well-counseled parties" and in such
situations, "courts may not by construction add or excise terms, nor distort the meaning ofthose used
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and thereby make a new contract for the parties under the guise of interpreting the writing."
Worcester Creameries Corp.
v.
City of New York, 861 N.Y.S.2d 198, 201 (N.Y. App. Div. 2008)
(quoting Vermont Teddy Bear Co.
v.
538 Madison Realty Co., 807 N.E.2d 876, 879 (N.Y. 2004)).
Further, in construing contractual language, the court "accord[s] that language its plain meaning
giving due consideration to the surrounding circumstances [and] apparent purpose which the parties
sought to accomplish." See Cable Science Corp.
v.
Rochdale Village, Inc., 920 F.2d 147, 151 (2d
Cir. 1990) (applying New York law and omitting internal citations).
The payment terms of the Agreement are derived strictly from the four corners of the
Agreement. See Schron v. Troutman Sanders LLP, 986 N.E.2d 430,433 (N.Y. 2013). Additionally,
"definitive, particularized contract language takes precedence over expression of intent that are
general, summary, or preliminary." John Hancock Mut. Life Ins.
v.
Carolina Power & Light Co.,
717 F.2d 664, 669 n.8 (2d Cir. 1982) (applying New York law).
To give meaning to all of the provisions in the Agreement that address the Success Fee, the
bankruptcy court found that the parties envisioned two scenarios: (1) a Private Placement to a party
other than an Identified Partythe Agreement expressly provides that this scenario could not include
any consideration from Valence's creditors by including the phrase, "excluding any consideration
received by Valence's creditors in satisfaction of claims or debts existing on the date hereof"and
such a placement would result in a 2.5% Success Fee; and (2) any consideration received from an
Identified Party would result in a 1.25% Success Fee. The Agreement's use of the defined term
Success Fee, indicates that although the amount would be reduced to 1.25%, the remaining portion
of the defined term Success Fee would remain applicable. Therefore, for Roth to qualify for the
reduced Success Fee under the second scenario, there must have been a private placement, with
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private placement value, as those terms were defined in the Agreement, and the private placement
must include equity or equity-linked financing. The court cannot write-out this second scenario for
payment of an additional fee to Roth.
Under the Agreement, the portion of the Berg & Berg transaction regarding the $50 million
conversion of debt for 100% of stock qualified as a Private Placement with Private Placement Value.
Further, under the Agreement's definition of Private Placement, there was a sale of securities in
exchange for other consideration, specifically Berg & Berg stepped out of its secured-creditor status
for Valence, converted a portion of its secured debt in exchange for Valence giving up all of its
equity, and Berg & Berg owning 100% of the stock in the reorganized Valence. This court
concludes that the bankruptcy court's conclusion that Roth is entitled to the Success Fee of 1.25%
of the $50 million conversion of secured debt to 100% of the stock in the reorganized Valence in
exchange for Valence giving up all of its equity rights in the reorganized Valence was proper in light
of the bankruptcy court's findings of fact.
Conclusion
Having addressed Valence's appellate contentions, the court concludes that the bankruptcy
court's findings of fact related to Roth's fee application are not clearly erroneous. Additionally,
having reviewed de novo the bankruptcy court's conclusions oflaw regarding Roth's fee application,
IT IS ORDERED that the bankruptcy court's Order Granting In Part and Denying In Part
the First and Final Application of Roth Capital Partners, LLC, For Compensation and
Reimbursement of Expenses of Professionals For the Period from February 6,2013 Through October
30, 2013, signed April 29, 2014 (Bankruptcy Clerk's Document No. 574) is AFFIRMED.
SIGNED this
1371S/' day of March, 2015.
UN ED STATES
10
ISTRICT JUDGE
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