bankruptcy of its subsidiary was undoubtedly a most unwelcome
prospect for Raytheon.
83. The crucial question is whether Raytheon, on the eve of the requisition, and after the closure of the plant and the dismissal, on 29 March
1968, of the majority of the employees, was in a position to cany out
its orderly liquidation plan, even apart from its alleged frustration by the
requisition. That plan, as originally conceived, contemplated that the disposa1 of plant and assets might produce enough to pay al1 creditors
100 per cent of their dues, with a modest residue for the shareholders. In
one of the affidavits quoted above it is stated : "If the assets had been disposed of at book value al1 liabilities, including the payables to Raytheon
Company, would have been paid in full." And, indeed, the trustee in
bankruptcy, in his report of 28 October 1968 to the bankruptcy judge,
explained that in March 1968:
"the management of Raytheon-Elsi decided, and publicly stated
their intention (which was later adopted by the Board of Directors),
to suggest to the shareholders the liquidation of the Company. The
intention was to proceed with an orderly liquidation of al1 assets in
order to pay al1 the Company's creditors 100 per cent."
This must have seemed a reasonable aim, for the "book value" may well
have been a conservative figure. It has not been demonstrated that ELSI
was, until shortly before the bankruptcy petition, ever actually in default.
Moreover, Raytheon had opened an account in Milan for the payment at
100 per cent of small creditors.
84. Nevertheless since no new investment capital was forthcoming, the
possibility of paying creditors in full depended upon putting the orderly
liquidation plan into operation in good time. Time was running out
because money was running out. As the position worsened daily, the
moment might at any time arrive when liabilities exceeded assets, or
default resulted from lack of liquidity. ELSI's management had prepared
the assessment of the "quick-sale value" (see paragraph 18 above),
which was markedly less than book value, being aware that the sale of the
company's assets might fail to provide sums approximating to bookvalue.
There were plans also to approach the large bank creditors in the hope
of securing their agreement to Settlements of 50 percent.
85. Did ELSI, in this precarious position at the end of March 1968, still
have the practical possibility to proceed with an orderly liquidation plan?
The successful implementation of a plan of orderly liquidation would
have depended upon a number of factors not under the control of ELSI's
management. Since the company's coffers were dangerously low, funds
had to be forthcoming to maintain the cash flow necessary while the plan