This title shall be known and may be cited as Maryland Uniform Commercial Code -- Bulk Transfers.

A “bulk transfer” is any transfer in bulk and not in the ordinary course of the transferor’s business of a major part of the materials, supplies, merchandise or other inventory (§ 9-102) of an enterprise subject to this title. A transfer of a substantial part of the equipment (§ 9-102) of such an enterprise is a bulk transfer if it is made in connection with a bulk transfer of inventory, but not otherwise. The enterprises subject to this title are all those whose principal business is the sale of merchandise from stock, including those who manufacture what they sell, restaurants, and all vendors and sellers of alcoholic beverages, regardless of the form in which such beverages are sold, and regardless of whether sold on a wholesale or retail basis. Except as limited by the following section all bulk transfers of goods located within this State are subject to this title.

The following transfers are not subject to this title: Those made to give security for the performance of an obligation; General assignments for the benefit of all the creditors of the transferor, and subsequent transfers by the assignee thereunder; Transfers in settlement or realization of a lien or other security interest; Sale by executors, administrators, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, or any public officer under judicial process; Sales made in the course of judicial or administrative proceedings for the dissolution or reorganization of a corporation and of which notice is sent to the creditors of the corporation pursuant to order of the court or administrative agency; Transfers to a person maintaining a known place of business in this State who becomes bound to pay the debts of the transferor in full and gives public notice of that fact, and who is solvent after becoming so bound; A transfer to a new business enterprise organized to take over and continue the business, if public notice of the transaction is given and the new enterprise assumes the debts of the transferor and he receives nothing from the transaction except an interest in the new enterprise junior to the claims of creditors; Transfers of property which is exempt from execution. Public notice under subsection (6) or subsection (7) may be given by publishing once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation where the transferor had its principal place of business in this State an advertisement including the names and addresses of the transferor and transferee and the effective date of the transfer.

Except as provided with respect to auction sales (§ 6-108), a bulk transfer subject to this title is ineffective against any creditor of the transferor unless: The transferee requires the transferor to furnish a list of his existing creditors prepared as stated in this section; and The parties prepare a schedule of the property transferred sufficient to identify it; and The transferee preserves the list and schedule for six months next following the transfer and permits inspection of either or both and copying therefrom at all reasonable hours by any creditor of the transferor, or files the list and schedule in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the property was located at the time of transfer. The list of creditors must be signed and sworn to or affirmed by the transferor or his agent. It must contain the names and business addresses of all creditors of the transferor, with the amounts when known, and also the names of all persons who are known to the transferor to assert claims against him even though such claims are disputed. If the transferor is the obligor of an outstanding issue of bonds, debentures or the like as to which there is an indenture trustee, the list of creditors need include only the name and address of the indenture trustee and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the issue. Responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the list of creditors rests on the transferor, and the transfer is not rendered ineffective by errors or omissions therein unless the transferee is shown to have had knowledge.

In addition to the requirements of the preceding section any bulk transfer subject to this title except one made by auction sale (§ 6-108) is ineffective against any creditor of the transferor unless at least ten days before he takes possession of the goods or pays for them, whichever happens first, the transferee gives notice of the transfer in the manner and to the persons hereafter provided (§ 6-107).

In addition to the requirements of the two preceding sections: Upon every bulk transfer subject to this title for which new consideration becomes payable except those made by sale at auction it is the duty of the transferee to assure that such consideration is applied so far as necessary to pay those debts of the transferor which are either shown on the list furnished by the transferor (§ 6-104) or filed in writing in the place stated in the notice (§ 6-107) within thirty days after the mailing of such notice. This duty of the transferee runs to all the holders of such debts, and may be enforced by any of them for the benefit of all. If any of said debts are in dispute the necessary sum may be withheld from distribution until the dispute is settled or adjudicated. If the consideration payable is not enough to pay all of the said debts in full, distribution shall be made pro rata. The transferee may within ten days after he takes possession of the goods file a petition in the circuit court for the county in which the place of business of the transferor is situated and pay the consideration into such court asking that a receiver or receivers be appointed by said court to take charge of the distribution of the agreed purchase price and the transferee may discharge his duty under this section by giving notice by registered or certified mail to all the persons to whom the duty runs that the consideration has been paid into that court and that they should file their claims there. If said receivership is granted then said receiver or receivers, upon qualification by filing an approved bond in the amount fixed by the court, shall be entitled to the custody and distribution of the agreed purchase price under orders of the court as in other receiverships.

The notice to creditors (§ 6-105) shall state: That a bulk transfer is about to be made; and The names and business addresses of the transferor and transferee, and all other business names and addresses used by the transferor within three years last past so far as known to the transferee; and Whether or not all the debts of the transferor are to be paid in full as they fall due as a result of the transaction, and if so, the address to which creditors should send their bills. If the debts of the transferor are not to be paid in full as they fall due or if the transferee is in doubt on that point then the notice shall state further: The location and general description of the property to be transferred and the estimated total of the transferor’s debts; The address where the schedule of property and list of creditors (§ 6-104) may be inspected; Whether the transfer is to pay existing debts and if so the amount of such debts and to whom owing; Whether the transfer is for new consideration and if so the amount of such consideration and the time and place of payment; and If for new consideration the time and place where creditors of the transferor are to file their claims. The notice in any case shall be delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail to: The Comptroller; All the persons shown on the list of creditors furnished by the transferor (§ 6-104); and All other persons who are known to the transferee to hold or assert claims against the transferor.

A bulk transfer is subject to this title even though it is by sale at auction, but only in the manner and with the results stated in this section. The transferor shall furnish a list of his creditors and assist in the preparation of a schedule of the property to be sold, both prepared as before stated (§ 6-104). The person or persons other than the transferor who direct, control or are responsible for the auction are collectively called the “auctioneer.” The auctioneer shall: Receive and retain the list of creditors and prepare and retain the schedule of property for the period stated in this title (§ 6-104); Give notice of the auction personally or by registered or certified mail at least ten days before it occurs to: The Comptroller; All persons shown on the list of creditors; and All other persons who are known to the auctioneer to hold or assert claims against the transferor; and Assure that the net proceeds of the auction are applied as provided in this title (§ 6-106). Failure of the auctioneer to perform any of these duties does not affect the validity of the sale or the title of the purchasers, but if the auctioneer knows that the auction constitutes a bulk transfer such failure renders the auctioneer liable to the creditors of the transferor as a class for the sums owing to them from the transferor up to but not exceeding the net proceeds of the auction. If the auctioneer consists of several persons their liability is joint and several.

The creditors of the transferor mentioned in this title are those holding claims based on transactions or events occurring before the bulk transfer, but creditors who become such after notice to creditors is given (§§ 6-105 and 6-107) are not entitled to notice.

When the title of a transferee to property is subject to a defect by reason of his noncompliance with the requirements of this title, then: A purchaser of any of such property from such transferee who pays no value or who takes with notice of such noncompliance takes subject to such defect, but A purchaser for value in good faith and without such notice takes free of such defect.

No action under this title shall be brought nor levy made more than six months after the date on which the transferee took possession of the goods unless the transfer has been concealed. If the transfer has been concealed actions may be brought or levies made within six months after its discovery.