{"id":"court_ctb_855_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":855,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2022-08-30","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| ------------------------------------------------------<br>x |             |                         |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|\n| In re:                                                      | :<br>:      | Chapter 11              |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                                                | :<br>:<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtor.                                                     | :<br>:      |                         |\n| ------------------------------------------------------      | x           |                         |\n\n# **ADDENDUM TO APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR ENTRY OF ORDER, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY CODE SECTIONS 327, 328, AND 330, BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014 AND 2016, AND LOCAL BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014-1 AND 2016-1, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING RETENTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF HARNEY WESTWOOD AND RIEGELS LP, AS BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COUNSEL TO CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE**\n\nMr. Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the Chapter 11 Trustee (the \"Chapter 11 Trustee\") appointed in the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), hereby files this addendum (the \"Addendum\") to the Chapter 11 Trustee's application, dated August 30, 2022 [Docket No. 807] (the \"Application\"),1 requesting that the Court, in addition to approving and authorizing the Chapter 11 Trustee's employment of the law firm of Harney Westwood and Riegels LP (\"Harneys Legal\") as his BVI counsel with respect to this Chapter 11 Case, also authorize the Chapter 11 Trustee to enter, on behalf of the Debtor's estate (the \"Estate\"), into the director services agreement with Harneys Corporate Services Limited (\"Harneys Corporate\") and Genever Holdings Corporation (\"Genever BVI\"), dated September 13, 2022 (the \"Director Services Agreement\"),<sup>2</sup> solely for the purpose of the Estate paying the annual fees in accordance with Section 6 of the Director Services Agreement. In\n\n<sup>1</sup> Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Application.\n\n<sup>2</sup> A copy of the Director Services Agreement is attached hereto as **Exhibit D**.\n\nsupport of this Addendum, the Chapter 11 Trustee submits the Declaration of Claire Abrehart, attached hereto as **Exhibit A** (the \"Abrehart Declaration\"), which is incorporated herein by reference. In further support of this Addendum, the Chapter 11 Trustee states as follows:\n\n### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n1. By this Addendum, the Chapter 11 Trustee seeks entry of an order, substantially in the form attached hereto as **Exhibit B** (the \"Revised Proposed Order\"),3 authorizing and approving—in addition to the retention and employment of Harneys Legal as the Chapter 11 Trustee's BVI counsel (as detailed in the Application)—the Estate's entry into the Director Services Agreement, solely for purpose of paying the annual fees for the director services to be provided by Harneys Corporate to Genever BVI and up to four Affiliated Companies (as defined below), subject to the terms of the Director Services Agreement.\n\n2. In particular, pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Director Services Agreement, the Estate agrees to pay Harneys Corporate:\n\n- (a) immediately after the execution of the Director Services Agreement, the pro rata share of the annual fee for the remainder of 2022 in the amount of \\$6,667.00; and\n- (b) any future annual fees that may come due, but only after the Estate has recovered additional funds sufficient to pay such future annual fees.\n\n3. In addition, under Section 6.3 of the Director Services Agreement, in the event the Chapter 11 Trustee requests that Harneys Corporate provide director services for up to four additional entities affiliated with the Genever BVI and/or Ho Wan Kwok (such additional entities, the \"Affiliated Companies\"), the annual fee payable for each such additional entity shall\n\n<sup>3</sup> A blackline of the Revised Proposed Order marked to show the changes made to the proposed order attached to the Application is attached hereto as **Exhibit C**.\n\nbe \\$7,500, rather than \\$20,000.<sup>4</sup> For the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with Section 6.2(a) of the Director Services Agreement, the Estate agrees to pay such additional annual fees, but only after the Estate has recovered additional funds sufficient to pay such additional annual fees.\n\n4. The above fee structure is highly advantageous to the Estate, as it reflects not only a substantial reduction in the annual for additional director services for the Affiliated Companies, but Harneys Corporate agrees to defer the Estate's payment of future annual fees until sufficient additional funds are recovered by the Estate. Moreover, Harneys Corporate has agreed to forego accrual of any interest on such deferred fees until January 1, 2024. Harneys Corporate would not have agreed to these concessions absent Harneys Legal being retained as the Chapter 11 Trustee's BVI counsel.\n\n#### **JURISDICTION, VENUE, AND STATUTORY BASIS**\n\n5. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the *Standing Order of Reference* from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (as amended). This is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).\n\n6. Venue in this District is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.\n\n7. The statutory basis for the relief requested in this Addendum is section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n### **BACKGROUND**\n\n8. On February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), the Debtor filed with the Court a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n<sup>4</sup> The Chapter 11 Trustee anticipates that it will require additional director services from Harneys Corporate in connection with the exercise of corporate control over additional Debtor-controlled BVI entities.\n\n9. On March 21, 2022, the United States Trustee appointed an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the \"Committee\") in the Debtor's Chapter 11 Case.\n\n10. On July 8, 2022, the Court entered an order [Docket No. 523] granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Chapter 11 Trustee in the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n11. On August 10, 2022, the Court entered the corporate governance order [Docket No. 717] (the \"Corporate Governance Order\"), pursuant to which, among other things, the Court (a) confirmed that the Chapter 11 Trustee holds all of the Debtor's economic and governance rights, for the benefit of the Estate, with respect to all Debtor-Controlled Entities (as defined in the Corporate Governance Order), including, without limitation, Genever BVI, and (b) directed the Debtor to execute a share transfer instrument (and related materials) so as to effectuate the transfer of all of the Debtor's shares in Genever BVI to the Chapter 11 Trustee.\n\n12. In accordance with the Corporate Governance Order, the Debtor's shares in Genever BVI were transferred to the Chapter 11 Trustee, and such transfer was registered with Harneys Corporate, the registered agent for Genever BVI.\n\n13. On August 30, 2022, the Chapter 11 Trustee filed the Application to retain Harneys Legal.\n\n14. On September 2, 2022, the Chapter 11 Trustee filed the supplemental declaration of Andrew Thorp in support of the Application [Docket No. 815] (the \"First Supplemental Declaration\"). The First Supplemental Declaration disclosed, among other things, that:\n\n- the Chapter 11 Trustee intends to appoint Claire Abrehart, a director of Harneys Corporate, to serve as the sole director of Genever BVI, pursuant to a director services agreement between Genever BVI and Harneys Corporate; and\n- Harneys Legal shares ultimate common ownership with Harneys Corporate, which is a separate legal entity that is operationally independent from Harneys Legal, and some members of the board of directors of Harneys Corporate are also partners of Harneys Legal.\n\n15. At the September 6, 2022 status conference, the Chapter 11 Trustee informed the Court that Genever BVI would enter into a director services agreement with Harney Corporate and that Harneys Corporate would accept payment of \\$6,667 on account of the pro-rated portion of the remaining four months of 2022 (*i.e.*, 1/3 of the annual fee of \\$20,000) and would **not** seek payment on its 2023 director fees (\\$20,000) until after the Estate has collected additional funds.\n\n## **HARNEYS CORPORATE'S QUALIFICATIONS**\n\n16. Harneys Corporate is a BVI Business Company authorized and regulated by the BVI Financial Services Commission to provide certain fiduciary services, including the provision of professional directors. Harneys Corporate maintains an office in the British Virgin Islands.\n\n17. Harneys Corporate has substantial expertise in the provision of fiduciary services to clients incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Its services include the provision of registered agent/registered office services, the provision of professional directors, and the provision of compliance and economic substance solutions.\n\n### **DIRECTOR SERVICES AGREEMENT5**\n\n18. Pursuant to, and subject to, the terms of the Director Services Agreement, Harneys Corporate will provide a person, namely Claire Abrehart, to serve as the director of Genever BVI. Upon her appointment as director, Ms. Abrehart would replace the current director of Genever BVI (*i.e.*, Mr. Ho Wan Kwok).\n\n19. As noted, pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Director Services Agreement, the Estate agrees to pay Harneys Corporate:\n\n<sup>5</sup> The following summary of the Director Services Agreement is qualified, in its entirety, by the terms of the Director Services Agreement, attached to the Abrehart Declaration.\n\n- (c) immediately after the execution of the Director Services Agreement, the pro rata share of the annual fee for the remainder of 2022 in the amount of \\$6,667.00; and\n- (d) any future annual fees that may come due, but only after the Estate has recovered additional funds sufficient to pay such future annual fees.\n\n20. In addition, under Section 6.3 of the Director Services Agreement, in the event the Chapter 11 Trustee requests that Harneys Corporate provide director services for up to four additional entities affiliated with the Genever BVI and/or Ho Wan Kwok (such additional entities, the \"Affiliated Companies\"), the annual fee payable for each such additional entity shall be \\$7,500, rather than \\$20,000.<sup>6</sup> For the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with Section 6.2(a) of the Director Services Agreement, the Estate agrees to pay such additional annual fees, but only after the Estate has recovered additional funds sufficient to pay such additional annual fees.7\n\n21. Under the Director Services Agreement, the Estate is **not** agreeing to pay any other amounts that may come due under the Director Services Agreement.\n\n## **HARNEYS CORPORATE IS DISINTERESTED**\n\n22. To the best of the Chapter 11 Trustee's knowledge in reliance upon the Abrehart Declaration, and except as disclosed therein, neither Ms. Abrehart nor Harneys Corporate, nor any member or associate thereof, represents professionally, or has any connection with, the Debtor, his creditors, any other party-in-interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States Trustee, or any person employed in the Office of the United States Trustee.\n\n 6 The Chapter 11 Trustee anticipates that it will require additional director services from Harneys Corporate in connection with the exercise of corporate control over additional Debtor-controlled BVI entities.\n\n<sup>7</sup> Pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Director Services Agreement, in the event that any fees to Harneys Corporate have accrued in accordance with the Director Services Agreement prior to January 1, 2024 (the \"Interest Date\") and have not been paid by the Interest Date (by virtue of the operation of Section 6.3 of the Director Services Agreement or otherwise), such fees shall carry interest at an annualized rate of 7.5%, compounded annually and calculated from the Interest Date.\n\n#### **BASIS FOR RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n23. The Chapter 11 Trustee does not believe that Court approval is necessary for the Estate to enter into the Director Services Agreement for the limited purposes of paying the annual fees in accordance with Section 6 thereof. Indeed, the director services under the Director Services Agreement will be provided to Genever BVI, which is **not** a debtor in the Chapter 11 Case or any other bankruptcy case. Nor is Harneys Corporate being retained by the Trustee or the Estate. Moreover, the Trustee considers the payment of \\$6,667 by the Estate (as well as any additional annual fees, in accordance with the terms of the Director Services Agreement), to be a transaction in the ordinary course of business that may be undertaken pursuant to section 363(c)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code without a notice or hearing.\n\n24. Nevertheless, at the request of the United States Trustee, the Chapter 11 Trustee has agreed to file this Addendum requesting that the Court formally authorize and approve the Estate's entry into Director Services Agreement pursuant to section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, solely for the purpose of paying the annual fees in accordance with Sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 of the Director Services Agreement.8\n\n25. Under applicable case law in this and other circuits, if a debtor's proposed use of its assets pursuant to section 363(b) of the Bankruptcy Code represents a reasonable business judgment on the part of the debtor, such use should be approved. *See, e.g.*, *Comm. of Equity Sec. Holders v. Lionel Corp. (In re Lionel Corp.)*, 722 F.2d 1063, 1070 (2d Cir. 1983) (\"The rule we adopt requires that a judge determining a § 363(b) application expressly find from the evidence presented before him at the hearing a good business reason to grant such an application.\");\n\n<sup>8</sup> For the avoidance of doubt, by the Addendum, the Chapter 11 Trustee is requesting Court authorization for the Estate to pay all future annual fees that may come due in accordance with the Director Services Agreement, including annual fees in respect of services to be provided to Affiliated Companies (subject to the Estate having collected additional funds sufficient funds to make such payments).\n\n*Comm. of Asbestos-Related Litigants v. Johns-Manville Corp. (In re Johns-Manville Corp.)*, 60 B.R. 612, 616 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1986) (\"Where the debtor articulates a reasonable basis for its business decisions (as distinct from a decision made arbitrarily or capriciously), courts will generally not entertain objections to the debtor's conduct\").\n\n26. The Estate's payment of the annual fees (in accordance with the terms of the Director Services Agreement) is a sound exercise of the Chapter 11 Trustee's business judgment. The shares in Genever BVI have already been transferred to the Chapter 11 Trustee; however, at this time, the Debtor continues to hold the position of a director for Genever BVI. In order for the Chapter 11 Trustee to be able to exercise full control over Genever BVI—and, by extension, its wholly owned subsidiary Genever Holdings LLC (\"Genever US\"), which, in turn holds title to the Sherry-Netherland apartment—the Chapter 11 Trustee needs to replace the Debtor with a new director at Genever BVI. This requires Genever BVI to retain the services of a corporate services provider to supply a person to serve as the new director. Harneys Corporate has agreed to provide such services on favorable terms.\n\n27. Furthermore, because Genever BVI does not have any funds available at this time—indeed, its only asset is its membership interest in Genever US—the Chapter 11 Trustee has no choice but to pay the relevant fees out of Estate funds in order to obtain the services of a director for Genever BVI. Importantly, and in recognition of the Estate's limited resources, Harneys Corporate has agreed to certain modifications to its standard fee structure, including allowing the Chapter 11 Trustee to defer payment of any future annual fees until such time as the Estate has recovered additional funds sufficient to pay such future annual fees.\n\n28. In addition, to the extent that the Chapter 11 Trustee seeks to exercise corporate control over additional BVI entities owned and/or controlled by the Debtor, Harneys Corporate\n\nhas agreed to provide director services at a reduced annual fee of \\$7,500 (again, with payment to be deferred until the Estate has collected sufficient additional funds). Thus, the only out-ofpocket expense, at this time, is the payment of \\$6,667 for the pro rata share of the 2022 annual fee with respect to the director services for Genever BVI, while the payment on all future annual fees is deferred until the Estate has recovered sufficient additional funds.\n\n29. The above fee structure is highly advantageous to the Estate, as it reflects not only a substantial reduction in the annual for additional director services for the Affiliated Companies, but Harneys Corporate agrees to defer the Estate's payment of future annual fees until sufficient additional funds are recovered by the Estate. Moreover, Harneys Corporate has agreed to forego accrual of any interest on such deferred fees until January 1, 2024. Harneys Corporate would not have agreed to these concessions absent Harneys Legal being retained as the Chapter 11 Trustee's BVI counsel.\n\n30. For all the reasons, the Chapter 11 Trustee submits that the Estate's payment of the annual fees on the terms set forth in the Director Services Agreement, is reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.\n\n#### **NOTICE**\n\n31. Notice of this Application has been given to the United States Trustee, the Debtor, the Committee, and, by electronic filing utilizing the Court's electronic filing (\"CM/ECF\") system, to all appearing parties who utilize the CM/ECF system.\n\n#### **NO PRIOR REQUEST**\n\n32. No previous application for the relief requested herein has been made to this or any other Court.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank.*]\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, Luc A. Despins, the Chapter 11 Trustee,\n\nrequests that the Court enter the Revised Proposed Order, substantially in the form attached\n\nhereto are **Exhibit B**, granting the Application (as expanded by the Addendum) and such other\n\nand further relief as the Court deems just and proper.\n\nDated: September 13, 2022 Chapter 11 Trustee in Chapter 11 Case of Ho Wan Kwok\n\n> */s/ Luc A. Despins* Luc A. Despins","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格州破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\nx\n\n关于：\n第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），\n案件编号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。\n\n------------------------------------------------------ x\n\n第 11 章受托人依据《破产法典》第 327、328 及 330 条、《破产规则》第 2014 及 2016 条以及《本地破产规则》第 2014-1 及 2016-1 条申请作出命令，授权并批准聘请及任用 HARNEY WESTWOOD AND RIEGELS LP 作为第 11 章受托人的英属维尔京群岛法律顾问的申请书之补充文件\n\nLuc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯）先生以在上述 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（下称“债务人”）的第 11 章案件（下称“第 11 章案件”）中被任命的第 11 章受托人（下称“第 11 章受托人”）身份，特此就第 11 章受托人于 2022 年 8 月 30 日提交的申请书［案件卷宗编号 807］（下称“原申请书”）1 提交本补充文件（下称“本补充文件”），请求法院除批准并授权第 11 章受托人聘用 Harney Westwood and Riegels LP（下称“Harneys Legal”）律师事务所作为其就本第 11 章案件的英属维尔京群岛法律顾问外，还授权第 11 章受托人代表债务人破产财团（下称“破产财团”）与 Harneys Corporate Services Limited（下称“Harneys Corporate”）及 Genever Holdings Corporation（下称“Genever BVI”）订立日期为 2022 年 9 月 13 日的董事服务协议（下称“《董事服务协议》”）2，其唯一目的为由破产财团根据《董事服务协议》第 6 条支付年费。为\n\n1 本文中使用但未另行定义的首字母大写术语具有原申请书中所载的含义。\n\n2 《董事服务协议》之副本作为附件 D 附于本文后。\n\n支持本补充文件，第 11 章受托人提交作为附件 A 附于本文后的 Claire Abrehart（克莱尔·阿布雷哈特）的声明（下称“《阿布雷哈特声明》”），该声明通过引用纳入本文。为进一步支持本补充文件，第 11 章受托人陈述如下：\n\n所请求的救济\n\n1. 通过本补充文件，第 11 章受托人寻求由法院作出一项形式实质上如同作为附件 B 附于本文后的命令（下称“经修订的拟议命令”）3，除授权并批准聘请及任用 Harneys Legal 作为第 11 章受托人的英属维尔京群岛法律顾问（如原申请书中所详述）外，还授权并批准破产财团在受制于《董事服务协议》条款的前提下订立《董事服务协议》，其唯一目的为就 Harneys Corporate 向 Genever BVI 及最多四家关联公司（定义见下文）提供的董事服务支付年费。\n\n2. 具体而言，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.2 条，破产财团同意向 Harneys Corporate 支付：\n\n- (a) 在《董事服务协议》签署后立即支付 2022 年剩余时间按比例分摊的年费，金额为 $6,667.00 美元；以及\n- (b) 未来可能到期的任何年费，但仅在破产财团追回足以支付此类未来年费的额外资金之后方予支付。\n\n3. 此外，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.3 条，若第 11 章受托人请求 Harneys Corporate 为与 Genever BVI 及/或 Ho Wan Kwok 关联的最多四家额外实体（此类额外实体统称“关联公司”）提供董事服务，则为每一家此类额外实体应支付的年费应\n\n3 经标记以显示对原申请书所附拟议命令做出之修改的经修订拟议命令修订对照本，作为附件 C 附于本文后。\n\n为 $7,500 美元，而非 $20,000 美元。4 为免生疑问，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.2(a) 条，破产财团同意支付此类额外年费，但仅在破产财团追回足以支付此类额外年费的额外资金之后方予支付。\n\n4. 上述收费结构对破产财团极为有利，因为这不仅体现了针对关联公司的额外董事服务年费的大幅减免，而且 Harneys Corporate 同意推迟破产财团支付未来年费的时间，直至破产财团追回充足的额外资金。此外，Harneys Corporate 已同意在 2024 年 1 月 1 日之前免除对此类递延费用的任何计息。若未聘请 Harneys Legal 作为第 11 章受托人的英属维尔京群岛法律顾问，Harneys Corporate 不会同意这些让步。\n\n管辖权、审判地及法定依据\n\n5. 本法院根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 和 1334 以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地区法院）的《转交案件现行命令》（经修订）对本事项拥有管辖权。在 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 的含义内，这属于核心诉讼程序。\n\n6. 依据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 和 1409，本司法管辖区作为审判地是适当的。\n\n7. 本补充文件中请求救济的法定依据是《破产法典》第 363(b) 条。\n\n背景\n\n8. 2022 年 2 月 15 日（下称“申请日”），债务人向本法院提交了依据《破产法典》第 11 章寻求救济的自愿破产申请书。\n\n4 第 11 章受托人预计，在对受债务人控制的其他英属维尔京群岛实体行使公司控制权的过程中，将需要 Harneys Corporate 提供额外的董事服务。\n\n9. 2022 年 3 月 21 日，United States Trustee（联邦破产受托人）在债务人的第 11 章案件中任命了 Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors（无担保债权人官方委员会）（下称“委员会”）。\n\n10. 2022 年 7 月 8 日，法院作出一项命令［案件卷宗编号 523］，准予任命 Luc A. Despins 为本第 11 章案件中的第 11 章受托人。\n\n11. 2022 年 8 月 10 日，法院作出了公司治理命令［案件卷宗编号 717］（下称“《公司治理命令》”），根据该命令，法院除其他事项外，(a) 确认第 11 章受托人为了破产财团的利益，就所有受债务人控制的实体（定义见《公司治理命令》）持有债务人的全部经济和治理权利，包括但不限于 Genever BVI，以及 (b) 指示债务人签署股份转让文据（及相关文件），以实现将债务人在 Genever BVI 中的全部股份转让给第 11 章受托人。\n\n12. 根据《公司治理命令》，债务人在 Genever BVI 中的股份已被转让给第 11 章受托人，且该转让已在 Genever BVI 的注册代理人 Harneys Corporate 处完成登记。\n\n13. 2022 年 8 月 30 日，第 11 章受托人提交了聘请 Harneys Legal 的原申请书。\n\n14. 2022 年 9 月 2 日，第 11 章受托人提交了 Andrew Thorp（安德鲁·索普）支持原申请书的补充声明［案件卷宗编号 815］（下称“《第一份补充声明》”）。《第一份补充声明》披露了（除其他事项外）：\n\n- 第 11 章受托人打算根据 Genever BVI 与 Harneys Corporate 之间的董事服务协议，任命 Harneys Corporate 的董事 Claire Abrehart 担任 Genever BVI 的唯一董事；以及\n- Harneys Legal 与 Harneys Corporate 拥有最终的共同所有权，而 Harneys Corporate 是一个在运营上独立于 Harneys Legal 的独立法律实体，且 Harneys Corporate 董事会的部分成员同时也是 Harneys Legal 的合伙人。\n\n15. 在 2022 年 9 月 6 日的状况会议上，第 11 章受托人告知法院，Genever BVI 将与 Harneys Corporate 订立董事服务协议，且 Harneys Corporate 将接受就 2022 年剩余四个月按比例分摊的部分支付 $6,667 美元（即年费 $20,000 美元的 1/3），并且在破产财团归集到额外资金之前不会要求支付其 2023 年的董事费用（$20,000 美元）。\n\nHARNEYS CORPORATE 的资质\n\n16. Harneys Corporate 是一家由 BVI Financial Services Commission（英属维尔京群岛金融服务委员会）授权并监管以提供特定信托服务（包括提供专业董事）的英属维尔京群岛商业公司。Harneys Corporate 在英属维尔京群岛设有办事处。\n\n17. Harneys Corporate 在向在英属维尔京群岛注册成立的客户提供信托服务方面拥有深厚的专业知识。其服务包括提供注册代理人/注册办事处服务、提供专业董事以及提供合规与经济实质解决方案。\n\n董事服务协议5\n\n18. 根据并受制于《董事服务协议》的条款，Harneys Corporate 将提供一人，即 Claire Abrehart，担任 Genever BVI 的董事。在被任命为董事后，Abrehart 女士将接替 Genever BVI 的现任董事（即 Ho Wan Kwok 先生）。\n\n19. 如前所述，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.2 条，破产财团同意向 Harneys Corporate 支付：\n\n5 以下对《董事服务协议》的摘要完全受制于附在《阿布雷哈特声明》之后的《董事服务协议》条款的限制与解释。\n\n- (c) 在《董事服务协议》签署后立即支付 2022 年剩余时间按比例分摊的年费，金额为 $6,667.00 美元；以及\n- (d) 未来可能到期的任何年费，但仅在破产财团追回足以支付此类未来年费的额外资金之后方予支付。\n\n20. 此外，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.3 条，若第 11 章受托人请求 Harneys Corporate 为与 Genever BVI 及/或 Ho Wan Kwok 关联的最多四家额外实体（此类额外实体统称“关联公司”）提供董事服务，则为每一家此类额外实体应支付的年费应为 $7,500 美元，而非 $20,000 美元。6 为免生疑问，根据《董事服务协议》第 6.2(a) 条，破产财团同意支付此类额外年费，但仅在破产财团追回足以支付此类额外年费的额外资金之后方予支付。7\n\n21. 根据《董事服务协议》，破产财团并未同意支付依据《董事服务协议》可能到期的任何其他款项。\n\nHARNEYS CORPORATE 属于无利害关系人\n\n22. 据第 11 章受托人依据《阿布雷哈特声明》所知悉的最佳情况，且除其中所披露者外，Abrehart 女士和 Harneys Corporate 及其任何成员或合伙人，在专业上均不代表债务人、其债权人、任何其他利害关系方、各自的律师和会计师、United States Trustee 或在联邦破产受托人办公室任职的任何人，亦与他们没有任何关联。\n\n6 第 11 章受托人预计，在对受债务人控制的其他英属维尔京群岛实体行使公司控制权的过程中，将需要 Harneys Corporate 提供额外的董事服务。\n\n7 根据《董事服务协议》第 6.4 条，若在 2024 年 1 月 1 日（下称“计息日”）之前已根据《董事服务协议》产生应付给 Harneys Corporate 的任何费用，且截至计息日尚未支付（无论是由于《董事服务协议》第 6.3 条的实施还是其他原因），则该等费用应按 7.5% 的年化利率计息，按年计复利，并自计息日起算。\n\n所请求救济的依据\n\n23. 第11章受托人（Chapter 11 Trustee）认为，就根据《董事服务协议》（Director Services Agreement）第6条支付年费这一有限目的而言，破产财团（Estate）签署该协议并无必要取得法院的批准。事实上，《董事服务协议》项下的董事服务将提供给Genever BVI（英属维尔京群岛Genever公司），而该公司并非第11章案件或任何其他破产案件中的债务人。受托人或破产财团亦未聘请Harneys Corporate。此外，受托人认为破产财团支付$6,667（以及根据《董事服务协议》条款支付的任何额外年费）属于日常业务范围内的交易，可根据《破产法典》（Bankruptcy Code）第363(c)(1)条进行，无需发出通知或举行听证。\n\n24. 尽管如此，应美国联邦受托人（United States Trustee）的要求，第11章受托人已同意提交本补充文件（Addendum），请求法院根据《破产法典》第363(b)条，仅为根据《董事服务协议》第6.2条、第6.3条及第6.4条支付年费之目的，正式授权并批准破产财团签署《董事服务协议》。8\n\n25. 根据本巡回区及其他巡回区的适用判例法，如果债务人根据《破产法典》第363(b)条拟对其资产的使用体现了债务人合理的商业判断，则该等使用应予以批准。参见，例如，Comm. of Equity Sec. Holders v. Lionel Corp. (In re Lionel Corp.), 722 F.2d 1063, 1070 (2d Cir. 1983)（“我们所采纳的规则要求，审理§ 363(b)申请的法官必须根据听证中呈递给他的证据，明确认定批准该申请具有充分的商业理由”）；\n\n8 为免生疑问，通过本补充文件，第11章受托人正请求法院授权破产财团支付根据《董事服务协议》可能到期的所有未来年费，包括就向关联公司（Affiliated Companies）提供服务而产生的年费（以破产财团已筹集到足以支付该等款项的额外资金为前提）。\n\nComm. of Asbestos-Related Litigants v. Johns-Manville Corp. (In re Johns-Manville Corp.), 60 B.R. 612, 616 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1986)（“凡债务人对其商业决策阐明了合理依据（区别于任意或反复无常作出的决策），法院通常不会审理针对债务人行为的异议”）。\n\n26. 破产财团支付年费（根据《董事服务协议》的条款）是第11章受托人商业判断的合理解析与行使。Genever BVI的股份已转让给第11章受托人；然而，此时此刻，债务人（Debtor）仍继续担任Genever BVI的董事职务。为了使第11章受托人能够对Genever BVI行使完全控制权——并进而对其全资子公司Genever Holdings LLC（“Genever US”）行使完全控制权，而后者又持有Sherry-Netherland（雪梨内瑟兰）公寓的所有权——第11章受托人需要更换债务人，并在Genever BVI任命一名新董事。这要求Genever BVI聘请一家企业服务提供商的服务，以提供一人担任新董事。Harneys Corporate已同意按优惠条件提供该等服务。\n\n27. 此外，由于Genever BVI目前没有任何可用资金——事实上，其唯一的资产是对Genever US的成员权益——第11章受托人别无选择，只能从破产财团资金中支付相关费用，以获取Genever BVI的董事服务。重要的是，考虑到破产财团的有限资源，Harneys Corporate已同意对其标准收费结构进行某些修改，包括允许第11章受托人推迟支付任何未来的年费，直至破产财团收回足以支付该等未来年费的额外资金之时。\n\n28. 此外，在第11章受托人寻求对债务人拥有和/或控制的其他BVI实体行使公司控制权的范围内，Harneys Corporate\n\n已同意按$7,500的优惠年费提供董事服务（同样，付款将延期至破产财团筹集到足够的额外资金为止）。因此，目前唯一的自付费用是按比例支付的与Genever BVI董事服务相关的2022年年费$6,667，而所有未来年费的支付均延期至破产财团收回足够的额外资金为止。\n\n29. 上述收费结构对破产财团极为有利，因为它不仅体现了为关联公司提供额外董事服务的年费的大幅减少，而且Harneys Corporate同意推迟破产财团对未来年费的支付，直至破产财团收回足够的额外资金。此外，Harneys Corporate已同意放弃计收截至2024年1月1日止该等延期费用的任何利息。若非Harneys Legal被聘为第11章受托人的BVI法律顾问，Harneys Corporate本不会同意做出这些让步。\n\n30. 基于所有上述理由，第11章受托人认为，破产财团按照《董事服务协议》中规定的条款支付年费，在当前情况下是合理且适当的。\n通知\n\n31. 本申请（Application）的通知已送达至美国联邦受托人、债务人、委员会（Committee），并通过使用法院电子归档（“CM/ECF”）系统的电子归档方式，送达至所有使用CM/ECF系统的出庭当事方。\n此前无请求\n\n32. 此前未曾就本申请所请求之救济向本法院或任何其他法院提出过申请。\n\n[本页其余部分有意留白。]\n\n为此，基于上述理由，第11章受托人Luc A. Despins，\n\n请求法院签署实质上采用随附之附件B形式的《修改后的拟定裁定》，批准该申请（经本补充文件扩充），并给予法院认为公正和适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2022年9月13日 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第11章破产案之第11章受托人\n\n> /s/ Luc A. Despins Luc A. Despins","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Je","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":2852,"status":"published","published_at":"2022-08-30 00:00:00","created_at":"2022-08-30","updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:28:27"}