UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 0-13881

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State of organization)

 

853 Broadway, Suite 1607
New York, New York

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

13-6859211
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

10003-4703
(Zip Code)

 
 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 473-1918

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Units of Beneficial Interest
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X]   No [   ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
[X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes [   ]   No [X]

The aggregate market value of the Trust's Units of Beneficial Interest held by non-affiliates of the Trust based on the closing price of the Units on June 30, 2003 of $1.91 per unit was approximately $74.5 million.

At December 31, 2003, there were 38,979,372 Trust Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding. The aggregate market value of the Trust's Units of Beneficial Interest held by non-affiliates of the Trust based on the closing price of the Units on such date of $1.92 per Unit was approximately $74.8 million.


 
Page 2

 

To Our Unit Holders:

The accompanying financial report sets forth the status of the City Investing Company Liquidating Trust at December 31, 2003. Wrapped around this report is the January 27, 2004 tax letter, pages A through D, that provides 2003 Federal income tax information relevant to Unit Holders. Please remove wrap-around pages A through D carefully, as they should be helpful in calculating your 2003 tax consequences.

Since the Trust was created, the Trustees' objectives have been and continue to be to maximize the return to Unit Holders by resolving legal exposures and reducing to cash the remaining non-liquid assets as efficaciously as possible.

The Trust has posted on its web site: http://www.cnvlz.com the financial report and the tax letter for the year ended December 31, 2003. The Trust has also posted on its web site all of the tax letters issued since its inception in 1985. Quarterly financial reports for 2004 should be available on the Trust's web site no later than May 15, August 15, and November 15, 2004.

During 2003, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the District Court's dismissal of AmBase Corporation v. City Investing Company Liquidating Trust, et al. and denied AmBase's petition for rehearing. AmBase then filed a petition for certiorari with the United States Supreme Court seeking review of the Court of Appeals decision. The Supreme Court denied this petition for certiorari on November 17, 2003, bringing an end to this matter.

During 2003, the Trust's cash and cash equivalents and investment securities increased by $1.4 million to $83.1 million. The major assets held by the Trust are investments in U.S. Treasury securities. The Trustees believe that these resources are sufficient to meet all anticipated liquidity requirements. The Trust will continue to retain substantial cash and investment reserves pending the resolution of continuing exposures to substantial environmental remediation expense at certain Superfund sites formerly owned by affiliates of City Investing Company discussed in the accompanying report. The Trustees will continue to devote their energies to addressing the unresolved claims and to realizing the greatest value for the Trust's remaining assets in order to maximize a final distribution as soon as is prudently possible.

Cordially,

Eben W. Pyne
Trustee
John J. Quirk
Trustee
Lester J. Mantell
Trustee
 
January 27, 2004

For all information about unit holdings:
  Units held in street name, please communicate with your bank or broker.

Registered unit holders, please communicate with Mellon Investor Services, transfer agent for City Investing Company Liquidating Trust, at:

    telephone:
write to:
 
 
web site:
1-800-851-9677
Mellon Investor Services
P.O. Box 3315
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
http://www.melloninvestor.com
  For financial and tax information (10-K, 8-K and 10-Q), please go to the Trust's:
    web site: http://www.cnvlz.com
  For all information other than unit holdings, please communicate with us at:
    write to:
 
fax:
e-mail:
telephone:
CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
853 Broadway, Suite 1607, New York, NY 10003-4703
212-473-3927
shr@cnvlz.com
212-473-1918

 
Page 3

 
PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

THE TRUST

On September 25, 1985, pursuant to the Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution of City Investing Company ("City") approved by stockholders of City on December 12, 1984, City transferred all its remaining assets and liabilities ("Trust Estate") to the City Investing Company Liquidating Trust (the "Trust") to assure compliance with Section 337 of the Internal Revenue Code. The common stock transfer books of City were permanently closed on September 25, 1985, and the holders of record of common stock of City as of the close of business on that date became holders of units of beneficial interest in the Trust on the basis of one unit of beneficial interest for each share of common stock of City held on September 25, 1985. After September 25, 1985, the outstanding certificates that formerly represented shares of common stock of City are deemed to evidence the same number of units of beneficial interest in the Trust.

The City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Agreement ("Trust Agreement") provides that the Trust is organized for the sole purpose of liquidating the Trust Estate in a manner calculated to conserve and protect the Trust Estate, and to collect and distribute to the beneficiaries proceeds therefrom in as prompt and orderly a fashion as possible after the payment of, or provision for, expenses and liabilities. The Trustees are required to distribute to the beneficiaries cash or other property comprising a portion of the Trust Estate as the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, determine may be distributed without detriment to the ability of the Trust to pay or discharge claims, expenses, charges, liabilities and obligations. The existence of the contingent liabilities referred to in Note 7 to the Trust's Financial Statements will affect the timing of future distributions of Trust assets, see Item 8--Note 7, "Litigation and Other Contingent Liabilities".

On June 18, 2003, the Trustees extended the time limit of the Trust's existence to September 25, 2004 from September 25, 2003 in order to continue the orderly resolution of legal exposures of the Trust and reducing to cash the remaining non-liquid assets.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trust has assumed the obligation to make payments, where required, to discharge certain litigation and other contingent liabilities of City which existed at September 25, 1985 or which have subsequently arisen. For a description of litigation terminated during the fourth quarter of 2003 and claims currently pending or threatened that affect the Trust, see Item 8 - Note 7, "Litigation and Other Contingent Liabliities".

 

 

 


 
Page 4

 
PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET PRICE OF UNITS

The Trust's Units of Beneficial Interest ("Units") trade on The Nasdaq stock exchange and appear daily in the list entitled Small Capitalization Issues, under the symbol CITYINVLQ or CNVLZ. Selected contemporaneous trading information is available on the Internet and can be accessed as follows--http://www.nasdaq.com. The high and low prices for the Units during 2003 and 2002 were as follows:


  2003   2002  
  High   Low   High   Low

First Quarter $2.50   $1.66   $1.95   $1.73
Second Quarter 2.11   1.54   1.94   1.85
Third Quarter 2.14   1.50   2.00   1.30
Fourth Quarter 2.01   1.82   1.91   1.87

As of December 31, 2003, there were approximately 12,800 registered holders of the Trust's Units of Beneficial Interest. No cash distributions were made in either 2003 or 2002.

The Trust may have a contingent liability to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other third parties.

 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


  Years ended December 31
(Amounts in thousands, except per unit data) 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

Losses on dispositions of assets, net $(141) $(797) $(268) $(38) $(105)
Interest, dividend and other income 1,457 2,707 5,953 3,711 3,185
Net income 924 1,504 5,337 3,387 2,799
Net income per unit 0.02 0.04 0.14 0.09 0.07
Total assets 84,104 83,180 81,676 76,339 72,952
Book value per unit 2.16 2.13 2.10 1.96 1.87

 

 

 


 
Page 5

 
ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Trust recorded net income of $924,000 ($0.02 per unit) in 2003 compared with $1,504,000 ($0.04 per unit) in 2002 and $5,337,000 ($0.14 per unit) in 2001. It is difficult to compare amounts in comparable periods, as the financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the basis of accounting used for Federal income tax purposes; that is, amounts are reflected in the financial statements when amounts are received or paid.

In February 2000, the Trust sold 39 percent of certain real estate acreage for $2,410,000 in cash, which resulted in a recognized long-term capital gain, net of expenses, of $610,000. In May 2000, the Trust sold its remaining real estate acreage for $478,000 in cash and a non-recourse promissory note of $3,683,000, payable in five equal annual installments plus interest at 8 percent. The May 2000 sale resulted in a recognized long-term capital gain, net of expenses, of $171,000 and deferred gain of $1,173,000. The deferred gain of $1,173,000 was recorded as a reduction to the $3,683,000 mortgage receivable. In June 2001, 2002 and 2003, cash payment installments of $960,000, $907,000 and $850,000, respectively, were received which resulted in a recognized long-term gain, net of expenses, of $183,000 in each of the years and net interest income of $274,000, $222,000 and $177,000, respectively. The deferred gains of $469,000 at December 31, 2003 and $704,000 at December 31, 2002 are netted against the gross mortgage receivable of $1,473,000 at December 31, 2003 and $2,210,000 at December 31, 2002. A one-year extension of the non-recourse promissory note to pay only interest in 2004 and principal and interest in 2005 and 2006 was requested by the mortgagee and is expected to be approved by the holders of the mortgage. It is projected that if the remaining payments are made, the remaining deferred gain of $469,000 will be subject to expenses estimated to be $102,000.

In 1985, City Investing Company purchased a group annuity contract from The Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential). Upon the 2002 demutualization of Prudential, the Trust received 885 shares of Prudential Financial Inc. As the Trust had a $0 basis in this asset, all of the $29,000 proceeds received upon the sale of these shares is reported as long-term capital gain.

Legal fees attributable to issues that relate to periods before the liquidation of City of $324,000 in 2003, compared to $1,009,000 in 2002 and $451,000 in 2001 are reflected as losses on dispositions of assets.

Interest, dividend and other income of $1,457,000 in 2003, $2,707,000 in 2002and $5,953,000 in 2001, was principally derived from interest earned on U.S. Treasury securities. In 2001, the Trust purchased Treasury Notes due to the cessation of the issuance of one-year Treasury Bills by the U.S. Government. As the Trust reports on a cash basis, both interest received on Treasury Bills and semi-annual interest received on Treasury Notes were reported as income in 2001. In addition, declining interest rates adversely affected interest income received in 2003 and 2002.

Administrative expenses were $392,000 in 2003, $406,000 in 2002, and $348,000 in 2001. The Trust is a party to a five-year lease of office space (which can be cancelled as of July 2004 without penalty in the event of the Trust's liquidation) which requires total remaining lease payments of $94,000, $26,000 of which is due in less than one year, $54,000 within one-three years and $14,000 within three-five years.

At December 31, 2003, the Trust had cash and cash equivalents and investment securities of $83,069,000. The Trustees believe that such cash resources and investment securities are sufficient to meet all anticipated liquidity requirements.

No cash distributions have been made since May 12, 1990. For information regarding considerations affecting the future distribution of Trust assets, see Item 8--Note 8, "Future Distributions of Trust Assets".


 
Page 6

 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

 
The Trustees and Holders of Units of Beneficial Interest
City Investing Company Liquidating Trust:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of the City Investing Company Liquidating Trust (the "Trust") as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of operations, cash flows and changes in trust equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust's Trustees. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Trustees, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As described in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Trust's policy is to prepare its financial statements on the basis of accounting used for Federal income tax reporting purposes. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements are not intended to present financial position, income and expenses, cash flows and changes in trust equity in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

See Note 7 to the financial statements for a description of litigation and other contingent liabilities.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the assets, liabilities, and trust equity of City Investing Company Liquidating Trust as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and its income and expenses, cash flows and changes in trust equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003, on the basis of accounting described in Note 2.

 

 

KPMG LLP
New York, New York
January 27, 2004

 

 


 
Page 7

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31


(Amounts in thousands, except per unit data) 2003 2002 2001

Losses on dispositions of assets, net
Interest, dividend and other income
$(141)
1,457
$(797)
2,707
$(268)
5,953

Total income
Administrative expenses
1,316
392
1,910
406
5,685
348

Net income $924 $1,504 $5,337

Net income per unit $0.02 $0.04 $0.14

Outstanding units 38,979 38,979 38,979

 

BALANCE SHEETS
December 31


($ in thousands) 2003 2002

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Investment securities
Restricted funds
Investments
Mortgage receivable, net of deferred gain
 
$78
82,991
4
27
1,004
 
$158
81,485
4
27
1,506

Total assets $84,104 $83,180

Liabilities and trust equity
Trust equity
 
$84,104
 
$83,180

Total liabilities and trust equity $84,104 $83,180

See accompanying notes to financial statements

 

 


 
Page 8

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31


($ in thousands) 2003 2002 2001

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities
:
Gain on sale of real estate
Gain on sale of securities
Amortization of premium of investment securities
 
$924
 
 
(183)
-
1,458
 
$1,504
 
 
(183)
(29)
2,043
 
$5,337
 
 
(183)
-
534

Net cash provided by operating activities 2,199 3,335 5,688

Cash flows from investing activities:
Maturities/sales of investment securities
Purchases of investment securities
Proceeds from sale of real estate
Proceeds from sale of securities
Other, net
 
121,277
(124,242)
685
-
1
 
79,149
(83,228)
685
29
1
 
73,784
(79,983)
685
-
(1)

Net cash used for investing activities (2,279) (3,364) (5,515)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
(80)
158
(29)
187
173
14

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $78 $158 $187

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST EQUITY
Year Ended December 31


($ in thousands) 2003 2002 2001

Balance at beginning of year
Net income
$83,180
924
$81,676
1,504
$76,339
5,337

Balance at end of year $84,104 $83,180 $81,676

See accompanying notes to financial statements

 

 

 


 
Page 9

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1 - Organization

The City Investing Company Liquidating Trust (the "Trust") was created on September 25, 1985, pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust ("Trust Agreement") by and between City Investing Company ("City") and the three individuals then serving as trustees of the Trust ("Trustees"). The Trust Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

On September 25, 1985, pursuant to a Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution approved by stockholders of City on December 12, 1984, City transferred all its remaining assets and liabilities ("Trust Estate") to the Trust to assure compliance with Section 337 of the Internal Revenue Code. The sole purpose of the Trust is to liquidate the Trust Estate in a manner calculated to conserve and protect the Trust Estate, and to collect and distribute to the beneficiaries the income and proceeds therefrom in as prompt and orderly a fashion as possible after the payment of, or provision for, expenses and liabilities.

The common stock transfer books of City were permanently closed on September 25, 1985, and the holders of record of common stock of City as of the close of business on that date became holders of units of beneficial interest in the Trust on the basis of one unit of beneficial interest for each share of common stock of City held on September 25, 1985. After September 25, 1985, the outstanding certificates that formerly represented shares of common stock of City are deemed to evidence the same number of units of beneficial interest in the Trust.

The Trust Agreement, signed on September 25, 1985, set forth a time limit of three years for the disposition of the Trust's assets and distribution to the unit holders unless a later termination was required by the Trustees. As a result of the protracted nature of certain litigation and other claims asserted against the Trust, the Trustees extended the time limit of the Trust's existence a number of times, most recently to September 25, 2004.

 

Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation : The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting used for Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, certain revenue and the related assets are recognized when received rather than when earned; certain expenses are recognized when paid rather than when the obligation is incurred; and assets are reflected at their tax basis.

Valuation of assets and liabilities : The Trust Equity balance on September 25, 1985 was established at an amount equivalent to the number of units of beneficial interest outstanding (38,979,372) multiplied by the average of the high and low trading prices of such units on the first day of trading ($3.1875), or an aggregate of $124.2 million. The fair market value for Federal income tax purposes of each asset other than cash and cash equivalents was determined by that asset's proportionate share of the Trust Equity increased by accounts payable and decreased by cash and cash equivalents at September 25, 1985. The proportionate share of each of these assets was determined by the estimated value of such Trust asset in relation to the estimated value of all of the Trust assets other than cash and cash equivalents. In determining the estimated value of Trust assets, the Trustees evaluated, where appropriate, such factors as City's historical carrying values, expected amounts and dates of realization, prevailing interest rates, available market prices and restrictions with respect to disposition.

Income taxes : For Federal income tax purposes, the September 25, 1985 transfer of assets and liabilities to the Trust and distribution to stockholders of units in the Trust was treated as a distribution of assets and liabilities by City to its stockholders and a contribution by the stockholders of such net assets to the Trust in return for units.

The Trust is treated as a grantor trust and not as a corporation. Accordingly, any income or loss of the Trust will not be taxable to the Trust but will be taxable to the unit holders as if the unit holders had themselves realized the income or loss from their undivided interests in Trust assets.

Losses on dispositions of assets : Losses on dispositions of assets, net of gains, includes legal fees attributable to issues that relate to periods before the liquidation of City.

Net income per unit : Net income per unit is calculated by dividing net income of the Trust by the number of outstanding Units of Beneficial Interest.

 

 


 
Page 10

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

Cash and cash equivalents: The Trust considers all investments in money market funds as cash equivalents.

Note 3 - Investment Securities

Investment securities, all of which mature within one year, consist of U.S. Treasuries and are carried at original cost, net of premium amortization recorded at interest collection dates. The fair value of U.S. Treasuries is based on quoted market prices.

Investment securities at December 31, consist of the following:

  2003
2002
 
($ in thousands)
Carrying
Value
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Carrying
Value
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value

U.S. Treasuries $82,991 $82,991 $83,053 $81,485 $81,485 $81,886

The gross unrealized gains/(losses) on investment securities at December 31, consist of the following:
($ in thousands) 2003 2002

Gross unrealized gains $68 $401

Gross unrealized (losses) (6) -

 

Note 4 - Restricted Funds

Restricted funds at December 31, 2003 and 2002 represent a rent deposit of $4,000.

 

Note 5 - Investments

Investments at December 31 are as follows:
($ in thousands) 2003 2002

Oklahoma Energy Corp. $27 $27

The Trust holds 310,810 shares of Oklahoma Energy Corp. common stock, which are carried at their tax basis. At December 31, 2003 and 2002, the fair value of the Oklahoma Energy stock, based on quoted market prices, was $31 and $9,324, respectively.

Note 6 - Real Estate

In February 2000, the Trust sold 39 percent of certain real estate acreage for $2,410,000 in cash, which resulted in a recognized long-term capital gain, net of expenses, of $610,000. In May 2000, the Trust sold its remaining real estate acreage for $478,000 in cash and a non-recourse promissory note of $3,683,000, payable in five equal annual installments plus interest at 8 percent. The May 2000 sale resulted in a recognized long-term capital gain, net of expenses, of $171,000 and deferred gain of $1,173,000. The deferred gain of $1,173,000 was recorded as a reduction to the $3,683,000 mortgage receivable. In June 2001, 2002 and 2003, cash payment installments of $960,000, $907,000 and $850,000, respectively, were received which resulted in a recognized long-term gain, net of expenses, of $183,000 in each of the years and net interest income of $274,000, $222,000 and $177,000, respectively. The deferred gains of $469,000 at December 31, 2003 and $704,000 at December 31, 2002 are netted against the gross mortgage receivable of $1,473,000 at December 31, 2003 and $2,210,000 at December 31, 2002. A one-year extension of the non-recourse promissory note to pay only interest in 2004 and principal and interest in 2005 and 2006 was requested by the mortgagee and is expected to be approved by the holders of the mortgage. It is projected that if the remaining payments are made, the remaining deferred gain of $469,000 will be subject to expenses estimated to be $102,000.

 


 
Page 11

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

Note 7 - Litigation and Other Contingent Liabilities

In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trust has assumed the obligation to make payments, where required, to discharge certain litigation and other contingent liabilities of City which existed at September 25, 1985 or which have subsequently arisen. The Trust may have a contingent liability with respect to certain issues described below:

AmBase Corporation v. City Investing Company Liquidating Trust, et al. (01 Civ. 0771) : On January 30, 2001, AmBase Corporation ("AmBase") filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York claiming that the Trust was primarily liable for certain potential tax liabilities of City and seeking to recover expenses incurred by AmBase in defending against those liabilities in the Tax Court of the United States. Although a subsequent decision by the Tax Court concluding that City was not liable for the taxes in question has mooted any claim for reimbursement of the tax liability, AmBase's claim seeking recovery of its expenses remained at issue. A virtually identical suit by AmBase against the Trust in the Delaware Chancery Court was dismissed on statute-of-limitations grounds on January 3, 2001. On January 11, 2002, Judge Stanton granted the Trust's motion to dismiss the New York action on the statute of limitations grounds. On February 14, 2002, Judge Stanton denied AmBase's motion for reconsideration. AmBase thereafter appealed Judge Stanton's decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which Court affirmed the District Court's dismissal of this action. AmBase filed a petition for rehearing with the Court of Appeals which was denied on June 12, 2003. AmBase then filed a petition for certiorari with the United States Supreme Court seeking review of the Court of Appeals decision. That petition was denied by the Supreme Court on November 17, 2003, bringing an end to this matter.

Marina Pacifica: Environmental Protection Agency Claim . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has identified Marina Pacifica as a Potentially Responsible Party ("PRP") under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") with respect to the Operating Industries, Inc. Site in Monterey, California ("Site"). The Site, a landfill for municipal and industrial waste, was included on the National Priorities List in May 1986.

Marina Pacifica was a California limited partnership, the general partner of which was a subsidiary of City Investing Company. Marina Pacifica was in the business of developing and selling condominiums. Development of one construction site required the relocation of six oil wells. Drilling muds generated during the relocation activities were allegedly disposed of at the Site.

In September 1990, EPA sent a special notice letter to all PRPs, including Marina Pacifica, demanding payment of the total costs incurred by the government since June 1, 1988, which EPA estimated were at least $15.3 million. EPA also requested a good faith offer to perform or pay for the remedy selected for the third remedial stage. Marina Pacifica did not make a counter offer. Counsel for Marina Pacifica notified EPA that Marina Pacifica had been dissolved and would be unable to participate in any settlements. On September 30, 1997, the EPA sent a further special notice letter to all PRPs, including Marina Pacifica, that requested a good-faith offer to perform or pay for, among other things, the final remedial measures covered by the September 1996 Record of Decision. The EPA included an updated list of 280 PRPs on which Marina Pacifica appeared 84th in volumetric terms. Marina Pacifica did not make a counter offer, and has not received anything further from EPA.

The EPA has conducted site control and monitoring activities at the Site since May 1986. In addition, EPA has conducted a number of removal actions and studies at the Site to stabilize site conditions and to evaluate the extent of contamination. Other PRPs have entered into several consent decrees requiring clean-up work or payments to EPA, including a December 2001 decree that requires work estimated to cost $340 million. Based on its volumetric share and other material factors, counsel would expect actual payments, if any, required of Marina Pacifica to be a small fraction of the total costs for which it could still be held liable. Given that City Investing Company had nothing to do with day-to-day operations of Marina Pacifica or its general partner, the Trust should not be liable for any clean-up responsibilities of Marina Pacifica.

Admiral Home Appliances Site . Maytag Corporation ("Maytag") has sued Rheem Manufacturing Company ("Rheem") in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Aiken Division, (Maytag Corporation v. Rheem Manufacturing Company v. City Investing Company, et al. Civ. Action 1-01-0137-22) , seeking to recover environmental remediation expenses for which Maytag is liable under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act because of ownership by a subsidiary of Maytag of the

 

 


 
Page 12

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

Admiral Home Appliances Super Fund Site in Williston, South Carolina (the "Admiral Site"). In its Complaint against Rheem, Maytag claimed that Rheem was liable for a share of the remediation expenses because of Rheem's prior ownership of the Admiral Site. On October 23, 2001, Rheem filed a Third Party Complaint against City Investing Company ("City"), alleging that City, as owner of the stock of first and second-tier subsidiaries which conducted manufacturing operations at the Admiral Site from 1968 to 1981, was liable to reimburse Rheem for some or all of Rheem's liability. The Trust was added as a Third Party Defendant in an amended pleading. On October 23, 2002, the District Court dismissed Rheem's action against the Trust for lack of personal jurisdiction. Rheem did not attempt to appeal the District Court's decision within the required time and is barred from suing City or the Trust in South Carolina, but Rheem is not barred from attempting to sue City and/or the Trust in other jurisdictions. While the Trust has been advised by its counsel that the Trust is not liable for environmental remediation expenses related to the Admiral Site, no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of the Trust's exposure to this environmental matter.

Other Matters . The Trust also remains subject to possible claims by other third parties.

Lease Commitment . The Trust has leased office space at 853 Broadway, Suite 1607, New York, NY 10003-4703, beginning July 1, 2002. The five-year lease can be cancelled after two years without penalty in the event of the liquidation of the Trust. Base annual lease expense beginning July 1, 2002, will be approximately $24,000 during the first year of the lease, escalating to an estimated $27,000 during the last year of the lease. Annual lease expense was $25,000 in 2003, $31,000 in 2002, and $32,000 in 2001.

Note 8 - Future Distributions of Trust Assets

The existence of the contingent liabilities referred to in Note 7 will affect the timing of future distributions of Trust assets.

Note 9 - Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

The quarterly financial data for 2003 and 2002 are as follows:
  Three months ended:
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per unit data)
March 31,
2003
June 30,
2003
September 30,
2003
December 31,
2003

 
Total income
Administrative expenses
$404
$125
$623
$73
$225
$47
$64
$147

 
Net income/(loss) $279 $550 $178 ($83)

 
Net income/(loss) per unit $0.01 $0.01 $0.00 $(0.01)

 

  Three months ended:
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per unit data)
March 31,
2002
June 30,
2002
September 30,
2002
December 31,
2002

 
Total income
Administrative expenses
$402
$146
$619
$74
$518
$54
$371
$132

 
Net income $256 $545 $464 $239

 
Net income per unit $0.01 $0.01 $0.00 $0.01

 

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trust carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Trust's management, including the Trustee who is the functional equivalent of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Trust's internal disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. That Rule requires that such controls and procedures assure that information required to be included in the Trust's periodic SEC filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms. Based upon that evaluation, the

 


 
Page 13

 

Trustees concluded that the Trust's internal disclosure controls and procedures are effective in assuring that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic SEC filings is accurate and communicated to the Trust's management in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There have not been any significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of such evaluation.

PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees of the Trust are Eben W. Pyne, John J. Quirk and Lester J. Mantell. Each Trustee will serve for the term of the Trust subject to his earlier resignation or removal. There are no family relationships between the Trustees.

Eben W. Pyne (86) retired in 1982 as a Senior Vice President of Citibank, N.A. He was a director of City, AmBase and W.R. Grace and Co.

John J. Quirk (60) is a managing director at Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. He was a principal at Churchill Capital, Inc., a private equity firm, from 1998 to 2001. He was the Chairman and Co-founder of Quirk Carson Peppet Inc. from 1985 to 1998. He served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of City prior to March 1985.

Lester J. Mantell (66) was an officer of City and AmBase prior to 1997.

The Audit Committee of the Trust consists of Messrs. Pyne and Quirk, neither of whom has been determined to be an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of Item 401 (h) (i) of Regulation S-K since neither possesses all the attributes required for such designation by that regulation.

The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics that is applicable to the Trustees, one of whom is the functional equivalent of its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, and the Trust's Administrator. See Exhibit 14--"Code of Ethics" .

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Trust Agreement, the Trustees, in lieu of commissions or other compensation fixed by law for Trustees, receive as compensation for services there under the aggregate sum of $36,000 per year to be allocated equally among the Trustees. Each Trustee is also reimbursed from the Trust Estate for all expenses reasonably incurred by him in the performance of his duties pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

There are no plans, pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation was paid or distributed during the last fiscal year, or is proposed to be paid or distributed in the future, to the Trustees, except for amounts that one Trustee may receive as a holder of 1,000 Units of Beneficial Interest.

 


 
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ITEM 12.   SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following are the only persons known to the Trust to own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) more than five percent of the Trust's Units of Beneficial Interest. The information provided below was obtained from Form 4 of Goldman, Sachs & Co., as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as of August 10, 2001, from Form 4 of Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. filed with the SEC as of January 14, 2004, and from Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G as filed with the SEC by Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC as of January 22, 2002.

 
 
Name and Addresses of Beneficial Owners
Units
Beneficially
Owned
 
%
of Class

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad St, New York, NY 10004
 
12,631,464 32.4%
Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C.
One Maritime Plaze, Suite 1325, San Francisco, CA 94111
 
12,356,896 31.7%
Franklin Mutual Advisors, LLC
51 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Short Hills, NJ 07078
 
6,529,648 16.8%

Totals 31,518,008 80.9%

The following table shows the Units of Beneficial Interest of the Trust beneficially owned by each Trustee and the Trustees as a group as of January 7, 2004.

 
 
Names of Beneficial Owners
Units
Beneficially
Owned
 
%
of Class

Eben W. Pyne 1,000 *
John J. Quirk - -
Lester J. Mantell - -
Trustees as a group (three) 1,000 *

* Represents less than one quarter of 1% of the class.

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit fees: The aggregate fees paid in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of the Trust's annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in the Trust's Forms 10-Q were as follows:

2003 2002
$43,750 $24,600

The Audit Committee of the Trust met in the first quarter of each of the fiscal years shown above and unanimously approved a proposal by KPMG LLP to provide the services described above. There were no audit-related, tax, non-audit, review or attest services provided by KPMG LLP to the Trust during the periods shown.

 


 
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PART IV
   
ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
Page
(a) Documents Filed as Part of This Report:
  1. Index to Financial Statements:
Independent Auditor's Report
Statements of Operations
Balance Sheets
Statements of Cash Flows
Statements of Changes in Trust Equity
Notes to Financial Statements
 
6
7
7
8
8
9
  2. Index to Financial Statement Schedules:
Not applicable
 
  3. Exhibits:  
  2.

Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution of City Investing Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2A to City Investing Company Form 8-K dated December 12, 1984 and filed on December 21, 1984).

 
  3.

Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 25, 1985 by and between City Investing Company and Geo. T. Scharffenberger, Eben W. Pyne and Lester J. Mantell, as Trustees, together with Schedule I thereto (incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1985), as amended on September 7, 1988 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1988), as amended on April 23, 1990 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1990), as amended on September 2, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1992), as amended on June 16, 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1994), as amended on June 27, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996), as amended on July 28, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998), as amended on July 8, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999), as amended on July 17, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000) as amended on July 23, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001) as amended on July 30, 2002 by action of John J. Quirk, Eben W. Pyne and Lester J. Mantell, as Trustees, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002) as amended on June 18, 2003 by action of John J. Quirk, Eben W. Pyne and Lester J. Mantell, as Trustees, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6.1 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

 
  3a.

Specimen certificate representing Units of Beneficial Interest in City Investing Company Liquidating Trust (certificate formerly representing shares of Common Stock of City Investing Company, showing legends to be placed on certificates when issued from time to time upon transfer of Units of Beneficial Interest) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 8-B filed with the Commission on September 25, 1985).

 
  14.

Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to City Investing Company Liquidating Trust Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002).

 
  31.

Certification Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 


 
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  32. Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  
  Exhibits 31 and 32 are included in the Form 10-K posted on our web site: http://www.cnvlz.com.
(b) Form 8-K
The Trust was not required to file a Current Report on Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

SIGNATURES:

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 27th day of January 2004.

 

CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST

 

LESTER J. MANTELL
Trustee

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant on the 27th day of January 2004.

The Trustees:

 

EBEN W. PYNE
Trustee

 

JOHN J. QUIRK
Trustee

 

LESTER J. MANTELL
Trustee

 

 


 
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Exhibit 31

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, Lester J. Mantell, the functional equivalent of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of the City Investing Company Liquidating Trust;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;

4.   I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures [as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)] for the registrant and I have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to me by others, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;

b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on such evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report; and

c) Disclosed in this Annual Report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;

5.   I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's trustees:

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves individuals who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Trust and will be retained by the Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 
    Dated: January 27, 2004
By: _________________________
    Lester J. Mantell, Trustee

 

 

 

 

 


 
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Exhibit 32

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

      In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the CITY INVESTING COMPANY LIQUIDATING TRUST, a Delaware Trust (the "Trust") for the period ending December 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Lester J. Mantell, the functional equivalent of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:

      1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Trust.

      The foregoing certification is incorporated solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not intended to be used for any other purposes.

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Trust and will be retained by the Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 
    Dated: January 27, 2004
By: _________________________
    Lester J. Mantell, Trustee