{"id":"court_ctb_679_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":679,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | -------------------------------------------","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x      |                            |\n|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------|\n| In re:                                                          | :<br>: | Chapter 11                 |\n|                                                                 | :      |                            |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                                                    | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073<br>(JAM) |\n| Debtor.                                                         | :<br>: |                            |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x      |                            |\n\n## **REPLY OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE IN SUPPORT MOTION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR ENTRY OF ORDER, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY CODE SECTIONS 363, 541, 1108, AND 1505, (A) CONFIRMING THAT CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE HOLDS ALL OF DEBTOR'S ECONOMIC AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RIGHTS IN DEBTOR-CONTROLLED ENTITIES, (B) AUTHORIZING CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE TO ACT IN ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY ON BEHALF OF ESTATE, AND (C) GRANTING RELATED RELIEF**\n\nTo the Honorable United States Bankruptcy Judge Julie A. Manning:\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as trustee in the above-captioned case filed under chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the \"Trustee\"), respectfully submits this reply (the \"Reply\") (a) in support of the *Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order, Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code Sections 363, 541, 1108, and 1505, (A) Confirming that Chapter 11 Trustee Holds all of Debtor's Economic and Corporate Governance Rights in Debtor-Controlled Entities, (B) Authorizing Chapter 11 Trustee to Act in Any Foreign Country On Behalf Of Estate, And (C) Granting Related Relief* [Docket No. 598] (the \"Motion\")<sup>1</sup> and the revised proposed order with respect thereto filed on August 2, 2022 [Docket No. 671] (the \"Revised Proposed Order\"), and (b) in response to the objections to the Motion filed by the Debtor on July 29, 2022 [Docket No. 643] (the \"Initial Objection\") and August 4, 2022 [Docket No. 678] (the\n\n<sup>1</sup> Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Motion.\n\n\"Supplemental Objection\" and, together with the Initial Objection, the \"Objections\"). In support of the Reply, the Trustee states as follows:\n\n1. Given that the Debtor's Supplemental Objection was only just filed this morning, the Trustee reserves the bulk of his comments in response to the Supplemental Objection for the hearing on the Motion scheduled for 1:00 p.m. today (the \"Hearing\"). The Trustee files this reply to make two simple points that are dispositive in favor of the Motion and the entry of the Revised Proposed Order as requested by the Trustee.\n\n## **A. Corporate Governance with Respect to Genever Entities**\n\n2. First, the documents presented to the Court during the hearing held on August 1, 2022—specifically, the Kwok interrogatory responses<sup>2</sup> and the Genever BVI share certificate<sup>3</sup> show the Debtor's unequivocal ownership of Genever BVI's shares. Those documents are attached hereto as **Exhibit A** and **Exhibit B**, respectively.\n\n3. Second, regardless of whether Genever BVI and/or Genever US hold the Sherry-Netherland Apartment in trust for the benefit of Bravo Luck Limited (as is alleged by the Debtor and with respect to which issue the Trustee has significant doubt and reserves all its rights), **the fact is that this Debtor, Mr. Kwok, in his capacity as sole shareholder of Genever BVI (which is the sole member of Genever US), has exercised corporate control over Genever BVI (and, through Genever BVI, Genever US).** The Debtor's corporate control over Genever BVI (and, through Genever BVI, Genever US) is demonstrated irrefutably in multiple documents\n\n<sup>2</sup> Defendant Kwok's Responses and Objections to Plaintiff Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.'s Third Set of Interrogatories**,** *Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.,* v. *Kwok Ho Wan*, Index No. 652077/2017 (N.Y. Sup. Apr. 28, 2021), Docket No. 756, at 6, 9.\n\n<sup>3</sup> Share Certificate of Genever Holdings Corporation, *Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.,* v. *Kwok Ho Wan*, Index No. 652077/2017 (N.Y. Sup. Apr. 2, 2019), Docket No. 289, SN 0161.\n\nfiled by Genever US in connection with Genever US's chapter 11 case pending in the New York Bankruptcy Court, including:\n\n- a. The October 6, 2020 Company Resolutions (the \"October 6 Resolutions\"), attached hereto as **Exhibit C**, which, among other things, (i) authorized Genever US to commence its chapter 11 case before the New York Bankruptcy Court; and (ii) appointed Yanping (\"Yvette\") Wang (\"Ms. Wang\") 4 as Genever US's representative to execute the chapter 11 petition and related documents. The October 6 Resolutions were signed by the Debtor on behalf of Genever BVI, without any countersignature of Bravo Luck Limited.\n- b. The May 24, 2021 \"Resolution Ratifying and Approving Certain Actions Amending the Company's Operating Agreement of Genever Holdings LLC,\" attached hereto as **Exhibit D**, which provides, among other things, for the retention of the Honorable Melanie L. Cyganowski (Ret.) as sales officer, signed by the Debtor on behalf of Genever BVI, without any countersignature of Bravo Luck Limited.\n- c. The Debtor's \"Lar-Dan Declaration\" filed in connection with the retention of Genever US's bankruptcy counsel, signed by the Debtor and attached hereto as **Exhibit E**, in which the Debtor states: \"I am the sole member of\n\n<sup>4</sup> Ms. Wang is a close associate of the Debtor who has played multiple roles in connection with entities linked to the Debtor, including serving as president of Golden Spring (New York) Ltd. *See* Affidavit of Yan Ping Wang, *Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.,* v. *Kwok Ho Wan*, Index No. 652077/2017 (N.Y. Sup. May 16, 2018), Docket No. 182 ¶ 1 (\"I am the President of Golden Spring (New York) Ltd., and in that capacity serve as an administrator of the interests of the defendant, sued herein as Kwok Ho Wan . . . .\").\n\n[Genever BVI] which is the sole member of [Genever US],\" without any reference to Bravo Luck Limited.\n\nd. Genever US's chapter 11 petition along with various documents filed with the chapter 11 petition, as well as the application to employ Genever US's bankruptcy counsel, which documents are attached hereto as **Exhibit F**, each of which is signed by Ms. Wang, pursuant to her authority under the October 6 Resolutions, without any countersignature of Bravo Luck Limited.\n\n4. In sum, the Trustee seeks to exercise the same corporate governance rights that the Debtor exercised over the Genever BVI and Genever US entities prior to the Trustee's appointment, and the Debtor's arguments based on the alleged existence of a trust are simply additional distractions to prevent the Trustee from discharging his duties.\n\n5. Finally, contrary to the Debtor's assertion in the Supplemental Objection, an adversary proceeding is not required to compel a Debtor to surrender to the Trustee the shares in Genever BVI. *See* Bankruptcy Rule 7001(1) (\"The following are adversary proceedings: (1) a proceeding to recover money or property, **other than a proceeding to compel the debtor to deliver property to the trustee** . . .) (emphasis added).\n\n## **B. Letter to UK Counsel Regarding UBS Litigation**\n\n6. Following the August 1, 2022 hearing on the Motion, the Trustee has received comments from Debtor's UK Counsel in the UBS Litigation (*i.e.*, Harcus Parker Limited) regarding the form of letter attached as Exhibit B to the Revised Proposed Order. A modified version of the letter reflecting such comments as well as a few non-substantive changes (marked to show changes against the version attached as Exhibit B to the Revised Proposed Order) is\n\n-4-\n\nattached hereto as **Exhibit G**. 5 The Trustee believes that this letter will be acceptable to UK Counsel.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank.*]\n\n<sup>5</sup> While the Trustee does not agree with all the changes to the letter suggested by UK Counsel, the Trustee is not asking the Court to adopt the statements in the letter as the Court's or the Trustee's views on the Bankruptcy Code and the impact of the appointment of a chapter 11 trustee on the Debtor's pending litigation against third parties. The Trustee is prepared to accept the changes suggested by UK counsel in order to get prompt access to UK Counsel's views on the merits and path forward in the UBS Litigation. The Trustee will also submit a revised form of order to reflect this.\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, and for the additional reasons the Trustee will\n\ndiscuss at the Hearing, the Trustee respectfully requests that the Court overrule the Objections and enter the Revised Proposed Order granting the relief requested in the Motion and such other relief as is just and proper.\n\nDated: August 4, 2022 LUC A. DESPINS,\n\nNew Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey* Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice* pending) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n*Proposed counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------- x\n\n事项：\n第 11 章\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），\n案件编号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------- x\n第 11 章受托人支持其依据《破产法典》第 363、541、1108 和 1505 条作出的关于(A)确认第 11 章受托人享有债务人在债务人控制实体中的所有经济和公司治理权利、(B)授权第 11 章受托人代表破产财产在任何外国行事以及(C)给予相关救济的命令之动议的答辩状\n\n致尊敬的美国破产法官 Julie A. Manning：\n\nLuc A. Despins 以其在上述依据《美国法典》第 11 篇第 11 章提起的案件中担任受托人的身份（下称“受托人”），谨此提交本答辩状（下称“答辩状”），以(a)支持《第 11 章受托人依据〈破产法典〉第 363、541、1108 和 1505 条提请作出(A)确认第 11 章受托人享有债务人在债务人控制实体中的所有经济和公司治理权利、(B)授权第 11 章受托人代表破产财产在任何外国行事以及(C)给予相关救济的命令之动议》[案卷号 598]（下称“动议”）1 以及于 2022 年 8 月 2 日就此提交的修改后的拟定命令 [案卷号 671]（下称“修改后的拟定命令”），并(b)回应债务人于 2022 年 7 月 29 日 [案卷号 643]（下称“初次异议”）和 2022 年 8 月 4 日 [案卷号 678]（下称\n\n1 本文中已使用但未作定义的首字母大写术语具有动议中所规定的含义。\n\n“补充异议”，并与初次异议统称为“异议”）对动议提出的异议。受托人支持答辩状陈述如下：\n\n1. 鉴于债务人的补充异议今晨才刚刚提交，受托人将其回应补充异议的主要意见保留至定于今天下午 1:00 就动议举行的听证会（下称“听证会”）上发表。受托人提交本答辩状旨在提出两点简单的理由，这两点理由对支持动议以及依受托人请求作出修改后的拟定命令具有决定性意义。\nA. 关于 Genever 实体的公司治理\n\n2. 第一，在 2022 年 8 月 1 日举行的听证会期间向法院提交的文件——具体而言是郭氏的质问书答复2和 Genever BVI 的股票证书3表明，债务人明确无误地拥有 Genever BVI 的股份。这些文件分别作为附件 A 和附件 B 附于本状。\n\n3. 第二，无论 Genever BVI 和/或 Genever US 是否为了 Bravo Luck Limited 的利益而信托持有雪梨–尼德兰公寓（Sherry-Netherland Apartment）（如债务人所主张的，对于该问题，受托人存有重大疑问并保留其所有权利），事实是，本案债务人郭先生以 Genever BVI（系 Genever US 的唯一成员）唯一股东的身份，对 Genever BVI（并通过 Genever BVI 对 Genever US）行使了公司控制权。债务人对 Genever BVI（并通过 Genever BVI 对 Genever US）的公司控制权在多份文件中得到了无可辩驳的证明，\n\n2 见《被告 Kwok 对原告 Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. 第三组质问书的答复及异议》，Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P., v. Kwok Ho Wan，案号 652077/2017（N.Y. Sup. 2021 年 4 月 28 日），案卷号 756，第 6、9 页。\n\n3 见《Genever Holdings Corporation 股票证书》，Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P., v. Kwok Ho Wan，案号 652077/2017（N.Y. Sup. 2019 年 4 月 2 日），案卷号 289，SN 0161。\n\n这些文件系由 Genever US 就其在 New York Bankruptcy Court（纽约破产法院）审理的第 11 章案件所提交，包括：\n\n- a. 2020 年 10 月 6 日的公司决议（下称“10 月 6 日决议”），作为附件 C 附于本状，该决议除其他事项外，(i) 授权 Genever US 向纽约破产法院启动其第 11 章案件；及 (ii) 指定 Yanping (\"Yvette\") Wang（王雁平，下称“王女士”）4 作为 Genever US 的代表以签署第 11 章申请书及相关文件。10 月 6 日决议由债务人代表 Genever BVI 签署，并无 Bravo Luck Limited 的任何连署签名。\n- b. 2021 年 5 月 24 日的《关于追认并批准修改 Genever Holdings LLC 公司运营协议的某些行为的决议》，作为附件 D 附于本状，该决议除其他事项外规定聘请尊敬的 Melanie L. Cyganowski（退休法官）担任销售专员，该决议由债务人代表 Genever BVI 签署，并无 Bravo Luck Limited 的任何连署签名。\n- c. 债务人就聘请 Genever US 破产法律顾问事宜提交的由债务人签署的“Lar-Dan 声明”，作为附件 E 附于本状，债务人在其中声明：“我是 [Genever BVI] 的唯一成员，而该公司是 [Genever US] 的唯一成员”，完全未提及 Bravo Luck Limited。\n\n4 王女士是债务人的亲密同伙，在与债务人相关的实体中担任过多重角色，包括担任 Golden Spring (New York) Ltd. 的总裁。参见 Yan Ping Wang 的宣誓书，Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P., v. Kwok Ho Wan，案号 652077/2017（N.Y. Sup. 2018 年 5 月 16 日），案卷号 182 第 1 段（“我是 Golden Spring (New York) Ltd. 的总裁，并以此身份担任本案被起诉的被告 Kwok Ho Wan 利益的管理人……”）。\n\nd. Genever US 的第 11 章申请书连同随第 11 章申请书提交的多份文件，以及聘用 Genever US 破产法律顾问的申请，这些文件作为附件 F 附于本状，其中每一份均由王女士依据其在 10 月 6 日决议下的授权签署，并无 Bravo Luck Limited 的任何连署签名。\n\n4. 总之，受托人旨在行使债务人在受托人获任命之前对 Genever BVI 和 Genever US 实体所行使的相同公司治理权利，而债务人基于所谓的信托存在而提出的主张纯粹是为了阻止受托人履行其职责的额外干扰手段。\n\n5. 最后，与债务人在补充异议中的主张相反，强迫债务人向受托人交出 Genever BVI 的股份并不需要提起对席诉讼。参见《破产程序规则》第 7001(1) 条（“下列程序属于对席诉讼：(1) 追回款项或财产的诉讼，但强迫债务人向受托人交付财产的诉讼除外……”）（强调为后加）。\nB. 致英国法律顾问关于瑞银诉讼的信函\n\n6. 继 2022 年 8 月 1 日就动议举行听证会之后，受托人收到了债务人在 UBS Litigation（瑞银诉讼）中的英国法律顾问（即 Harcus Parker Limited）就作为修改后的拟定命令附件 B 所附的信函格式提出的意见。反映了上述意见以及几处非实质性修改的信函修改版本（标明了相较于作为修改后的拟定命令附件 B 所附版本的修改痕迹）\n\n-4-\n\n作为附件 G 附于本状。5 受托人相信该信函对英国法律顾问而言是可以接受的。\n\n[本页其余部分故意留白。]\n\n5 尽管受托人并不同意英国法律顾问对信函提出的所有修改建议，但受托人并未要求法院将信函中的陈述采纳为法院或受托人对《破产法典》以及任命第 11 章受托人对债务人针对第三方未决诉讼的影响的观点。受托人准备接受英国法律顾问提出的修改建议，以便及时了解英国法律顾问对瑞银诉讼的实体是非及推进路径的意见。受托人还将提交一份修改后的命令格式以反映这一点。\n\n据此，基于上述理由，并基于受托人将在听证会上讨论的其他理由，受托人谨请法院驳回异议，并作出修改后的拟定命令，准予动议所请求的救济以及公正恰当的其他救济。\n\n日期：2022 年 8 月 4 日 LUC A. DESPINS，\n康涅狄格州纽黑文 第 11 章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett（临时出庭代理申请审理中） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n及\n\nAvram E. Luft（临时出庭代理申请审理中） Douglass Barron（临时出庭代理申请审理中） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第 11 章受托人拟聘法律顾问","key_entities":["Je","Kwok","Despins","Paul Hastings","Ho Wan Kwok"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1467,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:54:19"}