Wonder Book vs. PBCOM

G.R. No.
187316 July 16, 2012
WONDER BOOK CORPORATION, Petitioner,

vs.
PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS, Respondent.
Facts:
Wonder Book Corporation (Wonder Book) is a corporation duly organized and
existing under Philippine laws engaged in the business of retailing books, school and office
supplies, greeting cards and other related items. It operates the chain of stores known as the
Diplomat Book Center. Wonder Book and eight (8) other corporations, collectively known as
the Limtong Group of Companies (LGC), filed a joint petition for rehabilitation with the RTC,
which the court subsequently approved. After LGCs Rehabilitation Plan was approved,
Wonder Book filed its own Petition for Rehabilitation before the RTC and cited the following
as causes for its inability to pay its debts as they fall due:
(a) high interest rates, penalties and charges imposed by its creditors;
(b) low demand for gift items and greeting cards due to the widespread use of cellular
phones and economic recession;
(c) competition posed by other stores; and
(d) the fire on July 19, 2002 that destroyed its inventories worth P264 Million, which are
insured for P245 Million but yet to be collected.
PBCOM filed an opposition asserting primarily that it is clear from Wonder Books
financial statements that it is insolvent and can no longer be rehabilitated. The bank also
raised that there is no guaranty that the insurance claim of Wonder Book on its destroyed
inventories will be paid. It also stressed that Wonder Books sales and marketing plan does
not specifically discuss how sales and marketing will be carried out alleging that the
strategies might not really produce profits. RTC sided with Wonder Book and approved its
Rehabilitation Plan.
PBCOM filed a Petition for Review, which the CA granted. CA noted that the total
assets of Wonder Book is only P144,922,218.00 whereas its liabilities totaled to
P306,141,399.00. In effect, the debt ratio of Wonder Book is 2.11 to 1. This means that
Wonder Book has P2.11 pesos in debt for every peso of asset. Obviously, Wonder Book is in
terrible financial condition as it does not have enough assets to pay its obligations. Wonder
Book instituted the present petition claiming that the CA erred in dismissing its petition for
rehabilitation.
Issue:
Whether or Not the CA was correct in dismissing Wonder Books petition for
rehabilitation.
Ruling:
CA was correct in ruling against Wonder Book. SC explained that rehabilitation is not
the proper remedy for Wonder Books dire financial condition. Given that it is actually
insolvent and not just suffering from temporary liquidity problems, rehabilitation is not a
viable option.
Rehabilitation contemplates a continuance of corporate life and activities in an effort
to restore and reinstate the corporation to its former position of successful operation and
solvency. The purpose of rehabilitation proceedings is to enable the company to gain a new
lease on life and thereby allow creditors to be paid their claims from its earnings. The
rehabilitation of a financially distressed corporation benefits its employees, creditors,
stockholders and, in a larger sense, the general public.
Rehabilitation proceedings have equitable and rehabilitative purposes. On one hand,

they attempt to provide for the efficient and equitable distribution of an insolvent debtors
remaining assets to its creditors; and on the other, to provide debtors with a "fresh start" by
relieving them of the weight of their outstanding debts and permitting them to reorganize
their affairs.
Rehabilitation is therefore available to a corporation who, while illiquid, has assets

that can generate more cash if used in its daily operations than sold. Its liquidity issues can
be addressed by a practicable business plan that will generate enough cash to sustain daily
operations, has a definite source of financing for its proper and full implementation, and
anchored on realistic assumptions and goals. This remedy should be denied to corporations
whose insolvency appears to be irreversible and whose sole purpose is to delay the
enforcement of any of the rights of the creditors, which is rendered obvious by the following:
(a) the absence of a sound and workable business plan; (b) baseless and unexplained
assumptions, targets and goals; (c) speculative capital infusion or complete lack thereof for
the execution of the business plan; (d) cash flow cannot sustain daily operations; and (e)
negative net worth and the assets are near full depreciation or fully depreciated.
The figures appearing on Wonder Books financial documents and the nature and
value of its assets are indeed discouraging. Reasons:
As of August 2006, Wonder Books total assets are worth P144,922,218.00 and its
total liabilities amount to P306,141,399.00 and this is a clear evidence of its actual
insolvency, not mere illiquidity, and dispossession of financial leverage.
The bulk or approximately seventy-two percent (72%) of its current assets consists of
inventories and the average turn-over rate is seventy-three (73) days, hence, cannot
be relied on for a quick cash flow.
A majority or seventy-seven percent (77%) of its non-current assets is comprised of

deferred tax assets or taxes that have been paid on income that have not yet been
reported, hence, may only be used to decrease future tax liability but not for the
increase of capital, the finance of operations or the purchase of an asset.
Its property and equipment comprise only two percent (2%) of its non-current assets.
Apart from the fact that these consist largely of personal properties computers and
store equipment that are certain to depreciate over time, there is no evidence that
the valuation assigned to them by Wonder Book is attributable to an independent
third-party appraiser. There is likewise no mention of their actual market values as,
more often than not, they will be sold for less than their book value.

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G.R. No.

187316 July 16, 2012

WONDER BOOK CORPORATION, Petitioner,

Rehabilitation proceedings have equitable and rehabilitative purposes. On one hand,

Rehabilitation is therefore available to a corporation who, while illiquid, has assets

A majority or seventy-seven percent (77%) of its non-current assets is comprised of

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