Pennsylvania Co. v. Wilmington Trust Co.

166 A.2d 726, 39 Del. Ch. 453, 1 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 67, 1960 Del. Ch. LEXIS 132
CourtCourt of Chancery of Delaware
DecidedDecember 9, 1960
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 166 A.2d 726 (Pennsylvania Co. v. Wilmington Trust Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Chancery of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pennsylvania Co. v. Wilmington Trust Co., 166 A.2d 726, 39 Del. Ch. 453, 1 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 67, 1960 Del. Ch. LEXIS 132 (Del. Ct. App. 1960).

Opinion

Seitz, Chancellor:

Pennsylvania Company (“plaintiff”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, commenced this action against the Wilmington Trust Company and J. Russel Coulter,1 trustees under the will of George P. McNear, Jr., deceased. The trustees will be referred to as “defendants” although it is understood that Coulter’s predecessor was trustee at the crucial dates here involved.

Plaintiff seeks specific performance of an alleged contract by which the defendants agreed to sell to plaintiff a trust asset in the [455]*455form of 23,400 shares of stock of the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Company (“T.P. & W.”). Plaintiff seeks, alternatively damages from the trust estate for the alleged breach.

Under the terms of the McNear testamentary trust, the defendants held some 73,800 shares of the outstanding T.P. & W. stock, representing 82% thereof. The trustees were given a power of sale by the trust instrument. On April 15, 1955, agents of the corporate defendant met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with officials of plaintiff and of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company (“Santa Fe”) to discuss a sale of T.P. & W. stock. Prior discussions concerning the sale to plaintiff and to others had taken place and defendants were conversant with the financial picture — indeed they were “in control” of the T.P. & W.

Plaintiff and Santa Fe were unwilling to buy all of the trustee’s holdings but each was interested in purchasing 26% of the total outstanding. After some negotiation, and at the time and place mentioned, the plaintiff wrote and delivered a letter to the defendants dated April 15, 1955, offering to purchase the 26%. Acceptance of the offer was noted on the letter at that time and place on behalf of the defendants, the then individual co-trustee having by telephone authorized an agent of the corporate trustee to endorse his acceptance on the letter. That document reads as follows:

“April 15, 1955
“Wilmington Trust Company and Guy A. Gladson,
Trustees under the Will of George P. McNear, Jr.
Wilmington, Del.
“Gentlemen:
“This letter is to confirm the understanding we have reached with you in connection with the stock of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad Company.
“We desire to purchase 23,400 shares of the stock, representing 26% of the total outstanding, at a price of $100. per share, [456]*456no commissions being involved on either side. This offer is subject to formal approval by our Board of Directors and such approval, if any, as may be necessary from the Interstate Commerce Commission. It is our understanding that the Company will continue to be operated as an independent organization. It is understood that all necessary details to implement this will be worked out by our respective Counsel.
“If this meets your approval, will you kindly indicate your acceptance on the attached carbon.
“Very truly yours
/s/ David C. Bevan
Vice-President.
Accepted
/s/ Jos. W. Chinn, Jr.
/s/ J. Sellers Bancroft
for the Trustees u/w of George P. McNear, Jr.”
At the same time and place an offer was received from Santa Fe and accepted by defendants in the same manner. It reads:
“Chicago, April 15, 1955.
“Wilmington Trust Company,
Wilmington, Del.
“Mr. Guy A. Gladson,
Chicago, 111.
“Co-Trustees under the Will of George P. McNear, Jr. “Gentlemen:
“Pursuant to earlier discussions and my conversation today with Messrs. Chinn and Bancroft, this is to confirm the offer to you for the purchase of 23,400 shares, or 26% of the total number of shares outstanding, of the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad Company, at a price of $100 a share net cost to us.
[457]*457“This offer, as you will understand, is subject to formal approval by the Board of Directors of this Company and such approval as may be necessary from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The payment of the 2,340,000 total amount for the 23,400 shares is to be made upon delivery of the stock when all required approvals have been obtained.
“It is understood that the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad Company is to continue its operation as an independent organization after our acquisition of the above described stock. As we agreed, all necessary details, including a purchase agreement, will be arranged by our respective legal representatives.
“If this offer has your acceptance, will you kindly so indicate on the enclosed copy of this letter.
“Sincerely yours,
/s/ E. S. Marsh
Vice-President — Finance.
Accepted
/s/ Jos. W. Chinn, Jr.
/s/ J. Sellers Bancroft
for the Trustees u/w of George P. McNear, Jr.”

By letter dated April 20, 1955, plaintiff sent the corporate trustee’s attorney drafts of resolutions to be adopted by plaintiff’s board of directors. The letter and the accompanying resolutions are also set forth in full:

“April 20, 1955
“Robert H. Richards, Jr., Esq.
Richards, Layton and Finger 4072 Du Pont Building Wilmington, Delaware
“Dear Mr. Richards:
“I enclose herewith for your review two copies of draft of resolutions of the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Company [458]*458providing for the purchase of stock from Wilmington Trust Company and Guy A Gladson, Trustees under the Will of George P. McNear, Jr.
“We are preparing draft of agreement for purchase and sale of this stock, and I will forward same to you shortly.
“Very truly yours,
/s/ Edwin K. Taylor Edwin K. Taylor
Assistant General Counsel
EKT :hh Enc.”
“Pennsylvania Company Board of Directors
“Resolved, that the Board approves and authorizes the purchase from Wilmington Trust Company and Guy A. Gladson, Trustees under the will of George P.

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Bluebook (online)
166 A.2d 726, 39 Del. Ch. 453, 1 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 67, 1960 Del. Ch. LEXIS 132, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pennsylvania-co-v-wilmington-trust-co-delch-1960.