UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, ~~2016~~2017

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

For the transition period from to

filed on behalf of:

Commission File Number of issuing entity: 001-31857

Central Index Key Number of issuing entity: 0001267753

Corporate Backed Trust Certificates, Toys “R” Us Debenture-Backed Series 2001-31 Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

by:

Commission File Number of depositor: 001-11661

Central Index Key Number of depositor: 0000829281

Lehman ABS Corporation

(Exact Name of Depositor as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		13-3447441
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
277 Park Avenue, New York, New York		10172
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York		10020
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (646) 285-9000

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


Title of Each Class		Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Corporate Backed Trust Certificates, Toys “R” Us Debenture-Backed Series 2001-31		New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

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 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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Not applicable.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-Accelerated Filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

The registrant has no voting stock or class of common stock that is held by non-affiliates.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The distribution reports to security holders filed on Form 8-K during the fiscal year in lieu of reports on Form 10-Q which include the reports filed on Form 8-K listed in Item 15(a) hereto are incorporated by reference into part IV of this Annual Report.

Introductory Note

Lehman ABS Corporation (the “Depositor”) is the Depositor in respect of the Corporate Backed Trust Certificates, Toys “R” Us Debenture-Backed Series 2001-31 Trust (the “Trust”), a common law trust formed pursuant to the Standard Terms for Trust Agreements, dated as of January 16, 2001, between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a Series Supplement (the “Series Supplement”) dated as of July 31, 2001 in respect of the Trust. The Trust’s assets consist solely of debentures issued by Toys “R” Us, Inc. The Certificates do not represent obligations of or interests in the Depositor or the Trustee.

The Depositor is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBHI”). On September 15, 2008 and periodically thereafter, LBHI and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”) (jointly administered proceedings, In re Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. et al., Case Number 08-13555). LBHI and Lehman Brothers Inc. have sold since September 15, 2008 significant businesses, including the sale on September 21, 2008 of the investment banking business to Barclays Capital Inc., which business included the employees who historically conducted the Registrant’s business.

On December 6, 2011, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) confirming the Modified Third Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and its Affiliated Debtors (the “Plan”). The Plan and the Confirmation Order were attached as Exhibit 2.1 and Exhibit 2.2, respectively, to LBHI’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2011. LBHI’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2011 contains a summary of the Plan.

On March 6, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), the Plan became effective and a notice of the Effective Date of the Plan (the “Notice of Effective Date”) was filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

As further described under Item 9B below, (i) Toys “R” Us and certain of its subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017, (ii) a final distribution was made to the Certificateholders in connection with the sale of the Underlying Securities, and (iii) the Trust was terminated under the terms of the Trust Agreement.

Toys “R” Us, Inc., the issuer of the underlying securities, is subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For information on the issuer of the underlying securities, please see its periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under Toys “R” Us, Inc.’s Exchange Act file number, 001-11609. The Commission maintains a site on the World Wide Web at “http://www.sec.gov” at which users can view and download copies of reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers filed electronically through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or “EDGAR.” Periodic and current reports and other information required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act by the issuer of the underlying securities may be accessed on this site. Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee has participated in the preparation of such reporting documents, or made any due diligence investigation with respect to the information provided therein. Neither the Depositor nor the Trustee has verified the accuracy or completeness of such documents or reports. There can be no assurance that events affecting the issuer of the underlying securities or the underlying securities have not occurred or have not yet been publicly disclosed which would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described above.

PART I

Item 1.

Business.

Not Applicable

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

Not Applicable

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not Applicable

Item 2.

Properties

Not Applicable

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

None

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

None

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The publicly offered Certificates representing investors’ interest in the Trust are represented by one or more physical Certificates registered in the name of “Cede & Co.”, the nominee of The Depository Trust Company. Those publicly offered Certificates are listed on the NYSE.

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.

Not Applicable

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.

Not Applicable

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not Applicable

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Not Applicable

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

Not Applicable

Item 9A(T).

Controls and Procedures.

Not Applicable

Item 9B.

Other Information.

~~None~~Reference is made to Corporate Backed Trust Certificates, Toys “R” Us Debenture-Backed Series 2001-31, Class A-1 and Class A-2 (together, the “Certificates”) issued by the Trust. The sole asset of the Trust consisted of a certain $13,090,000 aggregate principal amount 8.75% Debenture due September 1, 2021 (the “Underlying Securities”) issued by Toys “R” Us, (the “Underlying Securities Issuer”). On Form 8-K filed October 2, 2017, the Trust announced that the Underlying Securities Issuer and certain of its subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, VA, and that The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) suspended trading the Class A-1 Certificates prior to the opening of trading on September 21, 2017 and intended to delist the Certificates. Copies of the Toys “R” Us, Inc. Press Release dated September 18, 2017 and the New York Stock Exchange Press Release dated September 21, 2017 regarding the suspension of trading and delisting of the Certificates were attached as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on October 2, 2017.

An event of default under the Trust Agreement had occurred due to the Underlying Securities Issuer filing for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

On October 23, 2017, the Trustee sent a Notice of Event of Default indicating, among other things, that “unless directed otherwise by holders of a majority of Voting Rights, the Trustee will sell the Underlying Security pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Series Supplement, thirty days after the date hereof, in the manner prescribed by Section 13 of the Series Supplement by soliciting bids from at least three leading dealers.” The holders of a majority of Voting Rights did not instruct the Trustee to not proceed with a sale of the Underlying Securities within thirty days of such notice. Consequently, the Underlying Securities were sold on December 11, 2017.

On December 19, 2017, a final distribution was made to the Certificateholders in connection with the sale of the Underlying Securities and the termination of the Trust under the terms of the Trust Agreement.

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Not Applicable

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

Not Applicable

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Not Applicable

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

None

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not Applicable

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)

The following documents have been filed as part of this report.

1. Trustee’s Distribution Statements documented on Form 8-K regarding the distributions from the Trust to the certificateholders for the period from January 1, ~~2016~~2017 through and including December 31, ~~2016~~2017 have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are hereby incorporated by reference. Filing dates are listed below:

Trust Description		Distribution Date		Filed on
Corporate Backed Trust Certificates, Toys “R” Us Debenture-Backed Series 2001-31 Trust		03/01/~~2016~~2017 09/01/~~2016~~2017 12/19/2017		03/1008/~~2016~~2017 09/11/2017 12/~~2016~~22/2017

None.

Exhibits:

31.1 – Certification by Senior Vice President and Controller of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 – Annual Compliance Report by Trustee pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1 – Disclosure documented on Form 8-K regarding the legal claim disclosed in Item 9B - Other Information to this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

99.2 – Disclosure documented on Form 8-K regarding the legal claim disclosed in Item 9B - Other Information to this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

The Trust covered by this Annual Report was formed prior to June 30, 2003 and there is no requirement in the trust agreement for the preparation of a report by an independent public accountant regarding the Trustee’s compliance with its obligations.

(b)

See Item 15(a) above.

(c)

Not Applicable.

EXHIBIT INDEX


Reference Number per Item 601 of Regulation SK	Description of Exhibits	Exhibit Number in this Form 10-K

(31.1)	Certification by Senior Vice President and Controller of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	31.1

(31.2)	Annual Compliance Report by Trustee pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	31.2

(99.1)	Disclosure documented on Form 8-K regarding the legal claim disclosed in Item 9B - Other Information to this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference.	99.1

(99.2)	Disclosure documented on Form 8-K regarding the legal claim disclosed in Item 9B - Other Information to this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2017 and is hereby incorporated by reference.	99.2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	Lehman ABS Corporation, as Depositor for the Trust (the “Registrant”)
Dated: March 29, 2017	By:	/s/ Clifford S. Feibus
Dated: March 29, 2018	By:	/s/ Clifford S. Feibus
	Name:	Clifford S. Feibus
	Title:	Senior Vice President and Controller

EXHIBIT INDEX

Reference Number per Item 601 of Regulation SK	Description of Exhibits	Exhibit Number in this Form 10-K
(31.1)	Certification by Senior Vice President and Controller of the Registrant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	31.1
(31.2)	Annual Compliance Report by Trustee pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	31.2

Filing Compare · LEHMAN ABS CORP BCKD TR CRTS TOYS R US DB BCK SE 01-31