George Morton, Ltd Petitioners [1900] ScotLR 37_777 (16 June 1900)

George Morton, Ltd Petitioners [1900] ScotLR 37_777 (16 June 1900)

The company is entitled to reduce its capital by the amount lost or unrepresented by available assets, notwithstanding an apparent surplus in the balance-sheet, as the statute authorises such reduction and the surplus is available for dividend, not capital.

Citation
[1900] ScotLR 37_777
Parties
Petitioner: George Morton, Limited
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
16 June 1900
Procedural Posture
Petition to Confirm Reduction of Capital / Judgment After Report and Hearing
Outcome
Petition granted; reduction of capital confirmed.
Legal Topics
Reduction of Capital, Companies Act 1877, Capital Lost or Unrepresented by Available Assets

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Parties

George Morton, Limited

Petitioner

Procedural Posture

Petition to Confirm Reduction of Capital / Judgment After Report and Hearing

  1. 1 Whether the company may reduce its capital by cancelling shares to reflect capital lost or unrepresented by available assets under the Companies Act 1877, section 3
  2. 2 Whether the existence of a surplus in the balance-sheet precludes such reduction

Ratio Decidendi

The company is entitled to reduce its capital by the amount lost or unrepresented by available assets, notwithstanding an apparent surplus in the balance-sheet, as the statute authorises such reduction and the surplus is available for dividend, not capital.

Court Disposition

Petition granted; reduction of capital confirmed.

Orders

  • Confirm the reduction of capital as resolved by the special resolutions of 22nd March and 21st April 1900.
  • Approve the minute set forth in the petition.