United States v. Vanguard Inv. Co., Inc.

694 F. Supp. 1219, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10310, 1988 WL 94708
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. North Carolina
DecidedJune 10, 1988
DocketC-87-374-G
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 694 F. Supp. 1219 (United States v. Vanguard Inv. Co., Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Vanguard Inv. Co., Inc., 694 F. Supp. 1219, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10310, 1988 WL 94708 (M.D.N.C. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

HIRAM H. WARD, Chief Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment on its complaint (February 12, 1987) and on defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (March 7, 1988) and Motion to Strike plaintiff’s notice of amounts due *1222 (April 15, 1988). In its complaint the Small Business Administration [SBA] 1 seeks the following: (a) forfeiture of defendant’s license and dissolution pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 687(d), (b) a permanent injunction and receivership for the purpose of liquidating defendant and satisfying claims against it, and (c) a money judgment for principal and interest due on debentures and securities. On the other hand, defendant Vanguard Investment Company [Vanguard] moves for summary judgment that it be allowed to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. For the reasons stated below, the Court will grant plaintiff’s motion and deny defendant’s motions.

I. Factual Background

On January 2,1970, Vanguard was incorporated under the laws of North Carolina. Its principal place of business is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. On July 14, 1970, the SBA licensed Vanguard as a “small business investment company” [SBIC] under section 301(d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, (codified as amended at 15 U.S. C. § 681(d)). SBA licensed Vanguard as an SBIC solely to do business under the provisions of the aforesaid act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. In accordance with statutory authority, SBA purchased a total of $500,000.00 worth of preferred stock from Vanguard on dates from November 29, 1974 to February 28, 1979. Additionally, SBA purchased subordinated debentures in the total face amount of $1,270,000 from Vanguard on dates from November 29, 1974 to September 5, 1979. Other facts will be incorporated into the discussion as relevant.

II. Procedural History

SBA filed its Complaint and Motion and Application for Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction, and Temporary Receivership on June 11, 1987. On June 16, 1987, the Court held a hearing on the motion for a TRO and temporary receivership; both parties were represented. Upon considering the evidence and hearing argu meat, the Court entered a TRO and appointed a temporary receiver. See (Temporary Restraining Order and Appointment of Temporary Receiver filed herein on June 16, 1987). The June 16, 1987, Order brought Vanguard under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court and ended the authority of Vanguard’s directors, officers, employees, and agents to act on behalf of Vanguard. (Id. at 3-4). The parties stipulated that the Order would be effective until the preliminary injunction matter was heard and ruled upon by the Court. (Id. at 3).

Prior to the hearing on the preliminary injunction, but approximately three weeks after the Court’s June 16, 1987, Order, a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code was filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia purportedly on behalf of Vanguard. However, the Court proceeded with the July 13, 1987, preliminary injunction hearing because the actions of suspended directors, officers, or employees were a nullity and did not invoke the automatic stay provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 362.

Subsequently, the Court entered its opinion of August 7, 1987, granting a preliminary injunction and continuing the receivership. Therein, the Court held the purported bankruptcy filing to be void. See (Memorandum Opinion and Order For Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Receivership filed herein on August 7, 1987, at 3-7 [hereinafter Opinion of August 7, 1987]). 667 F.Supp. 257. Additionally, the Court held that Vanguard was not entitled as a matter of right to file a bankruptcy petition. (Id.). However, the Court did not reach the question of whether, in its equitable discretion, it should allow a petition in bankruptcy as an appropriate remedy.

On October 5, 1987, the receiver filed his Report and Recommendations. On November 16, 1987, Vanguard filed its Objections thereto. Thereafter, the parties filed the pending motions.

*1223 III. Discussion

The familiar standard for summary judgment mandates that if the record shows that no genuine issue of material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, then summary judgment should be entered forthwith. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. If the record indisputably establishes regulatory violations by an SBIC, then summary judgment may be appropriate in cases such as the one sub judice. See generally United States v. Coleman Capital Corp., 295 F.Supp. 1016, 1020-21 (N.D.Ill.1969); United States v. First Carolina Fund, 276 F.Supp. 767, 768 (D.S.C.1967). Moreover, conclusory allegations that are unsupported by specific facts are ineffective to defeat a motion for summary judgment if the movant has otherwise carried his burden on regulatory violations. See Coleman Capital Corp., 295 F.Supp. at 1021.

The Court will first address whether plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment on its claim to forfeit defendant’s license and dissolve defendant. Then, the Court will consider defendant’s motion for summary judgment to allow it to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Lastly, the Court will address the issues related to an injunction, receivership, and money judgment.

A. Is SBA Entitled to Summary Judgment that Vanguard Is Subject to License Forfeiture and Dissolution?

Section 687(d) of Title 15, controls dissolution for statutory or regulatory violations. It states:

Should any small business investment company violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or of regulations prescribed hereunder, all of its rights, privileges, and franchises derived therefrom may thereby be forfeited. Before any such company shall be declared dissolved, or its rights, privileges, and franchises forfeited, any noncompliance with or violation of this Act shall be determined and adjudged by a court of the United States of competent jurisdiction in a suit brought for the purpose in the district, territory, or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in which the principal office of such company is located. Any such suit shall be brought by the United States at the instance of the Administration or the Attorney General.

15 U.S.C. § 687(d).

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Bluebook (online)
694 F. Supp. 1219, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10310, 1988 WL 94708, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-vanguard-inv-co-inc-ncmd-1988.