Montgomery Bank & Trust Co. v. State
Montgomery Bank & Trust Co. v. State
Opinion of the Court
The bill of complaint shows, and it so appears from the evidence, that the respondent corporation was organized under the laws of Alabama in 1906, with a papital stock of $250,000, and was authorized by its articles of incorporation to do a general banking business, with all the powers incident thereto, and also to exercise all the rights, privileges, and franchises conferred upon trust companies by the laws of Alabama; that in January, 1912, its capital stock was reduced to $150,000; that in April, 1913, its entire banking business was transferred to and taken over by the Exchange National Bank, since which time respondent has not engaged in the business of banking, but its sole business has been that of a trust company; that in February, 1917, upon notice from complainant Walker, as superintendent of banks, that its capital stock had been found to be impaired to the extent of about $87,500, respondent reduced its capital stock to $50,000. The bill also alleges that, since April, 1913, “its expenses have been largely in excess of its receipts, and its assets are being further dissipated, wasted, and reduced by reason of expenses and fixed charges incident to maintaining its corporate existence; that in order to preserve the remaining assets of said company, and to prevent the further dissipation and depletion thereof, it is necessary that this court appoint a receiver thereof.”
The theory of the bill is: (1) That the respondent corporation, as a hank, is subject to .dissolution and liquidation under section *448 3512 of the Code, because it has suspended and abandoned its banking business, which it cannot in future resume, by reason, of the lack of funds to carry it on; and (2) that, as a trust company, it is subject to dissolution and liquidation because'it has disqualified itself, from doing business in Montgomery, by reducing its capital stock below the minimum of $100,000 prescribed by the Code (section 3529), and cannot in any reasonable time resume its business with the required capital stock.
As we view the situation, we think that respondent’s reduction of its capital stock from $150,000 to $50,000 must be taken as conclusive evidence that respondent has not the financial means necessary to carry on its business of a trust company in Montgomery in a lawful maimer, viz., with an unimpaired capital stock of $100,000, and hence that respondent has suspended its trust business for lack of funds necessary to carry it on. The result is that respondent, though regarded solely as a trust company, is subject to dissolution at the suit of complainant .under section 3512 of the Code.
Here, upon the showings made, the corporate dissolution of respondent seems to be forecast with reasonable certainty, unless, before final action is taken, its debt^ have been provided for, and sufficient funds provided for its safe and lawful resumption of business (Code, § 3512), and a provisional receivership is clearly contemplated and authorized by the statute.
Let the decree of the circuit court be affirmed.
Affirmed.
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