DocketNumber： Docket No. 28122
Judges： Raum,Arundell
Filed Date： 5/13/1952
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 10/19/2024
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*198
1. In connection with the settlement of an indebtedness in January 1934, petitioner received 24,000 shares of its own stock which, in the settlement made, were subject to a 10-year option. During January 1934, shares of the stock, unrestricted by any option, were sold at prices between $ 1 1/8 and $ 2 1/2 per share. Under the terms of the option the stock was sold in December 1943.
2. Petitioner acquired in 1919 good will from its predecessor, a partnership.
3. In a recapitalization petitioner distributed1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*199 debenture bonds in exchange for its outstanding preferred stock and accumulated dividends due thereon. A part of this distribution was charged to earnings for the taxable year.
4. Petitioner, a corporation on the accrual basis, held a 10-year promissory note of its wholly owned subsidiary. The note provided for 5 per cent interest, but it was executed with the mutual understanding that no interest would be charged or paid until some future date to be determined by agreement of the parties to the note. Such an agreement was made subsequent to the year 1944, but was in no sense retroactive to cover 1944 and prior years.
18 T.C. 304">*305 Respondent has determined deficiencies in petitioner's income, declared value excess-profits, and excess profits taxes for the fiscal years ended October 31, 1944, and October 31, 1945, as follows:
| Declared | Excess | ||
| Year ended October 31 | Income | value excess-profits | profits |
| tax | tax | tax | |
| 1944 | $ 21,576.68 | $ 1,531.05 | $ 83,237.63 |
| 1945 | None | None | 14,274.51 |
Certain adjustments made by respondent in his deficiency notice are not contested by petitioner. The assignments of error raise four issues. The first and fourth issues relate to adjustments which increased petitioner's net income for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1944. The second and third issues relate to the computation of petitioner's excess profits credit based on invested capital. The issues are:
1. What is the amount of the long term capital gain realized by petitioner upon the transfer of 24,000 shares of its treasury stock to Raye H. Decker pursuant to the exercise of an option by her during the taxable year ended October 31, 1944.
2. What is the cost to petitioner of the good will transferred to it in 1919 as property paid in for stock for the purpose of computing its1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*201 equity invested capital for the taxable years 1944 and 1945 under
3. (a) Whether the sum of $ 171,680, being the excess of the face amount of debentures over the par value of preferred stock retired in exchange therefor during the taxable year 1944, was a distribution out of the earnings and profits of such taxable year so as not to result in a reduction of petitioner's equity invested capital for 1944 under
(b) If the above question is determined in favor of the petitioner, whether such sum of $ 171,680 was properly included in petitioner's borrowed capital for the taxable years 1944 and 1945 under
4. Whether the sum of $ 8,750 should be included in petitioner's income for the taxable year 1944 as interest on a certain promissory note of Harris & Frank Co., Los Angeles, California.
In his brief respondent concedes that petitioner's equity invested capital should not be reduced in the amount of $ 171,680 for the taxable year 1944. Issue 3 (a) is, therefore, determined in favor of the petitioner; however, Issue 3 (b) remains for our decision.
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*202 18 T.C. 304">*306 The stipulated facts are so found and are incorporated herein by this reference.
FINDINGS OF FACT.
The petitioner, Society Brand Clothes, Inc. (formerly known as Alfred Decker & Cohn, Inc.), is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Illinois, with its principal office in Chicago, Illinois. The tax returns for the two fiscal years here involved were filed with the collector for the first district of Illinois. Petitioner was an accrual basis taxpayer.
As of December 31, 1933, Alfred Decker, founder, president, and stockholder of petitioner was indebted to petitioner in the amount of $ 188,566.74. Of this amount, $ 18,860.41 constituted accrued interest which had been reported by petitioner as income for Federal tax purposes. In addition to this indebtedness, petitioner was liable as guarantor upon a personal debt of Alfred Decker in the amount of $ 15,075. This debt was owed to the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago and it was secured by 10,000 shares of the common stock of petitioner owned by Alfred Decker.
A plan for the settlement of his indebtedness1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*203 to petitioner was proposed by Alfred Decker and submitted to petitioner's shareholders at a meeting held on January 15, 1934. At the time of this meeting, petitioner had 237 preferred stockholders, 718 common stockholders, and 91 stockholders who held both preferred and common stock. The preferred and common stock issued and outstanding were entitled to one vote per share. At the meeting on January 15, 1934, the holders of 2,973 shares of preferred stock out of 4,425 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding and the holders of 68,882 shares of common stock out of 88,960 shares of common stock issued and outstanding were present in person or by proxy. The shareholders adopted a resolution authorizing and directing the acceptance of the plan of settlement with certain modifications. In accordance with the resolution adopted at the meeting of the shareholders an agreement dated January 19, 1934, for the settlement of Alfred Decker's indebtedness to petitioner was entered into by and between petitioner and Alfred Decker and his wife, Raye H. Decker. Pursuant to the foregoing agreement, Alfred Decker's indebtedness to petitioner was reduced to $ 145,086.74 by the acceptance1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*204 by petitioner of certain collateral upon the following basis:
| Miscellaneous collateral at estimated market value | $ 12,000 |
| 123 shares of petitioner's preferred stock at $ 100 per share | 12,300 |
| 1,918 shares of petitioner's common stock at $ 10 per share | 19,180 |
| $ 43,480 |
18 T.C. 304">*307 Also, pursuant to and as a part of this settlement agreement, petitioner on or about January 23, 1934, paid Alfred Decker's indebtedness to the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago in the amount of $ 15,075, thereby discharging its liability as guarantor. Thereupon, petitioner, on its books, increased Alfred Decker's indebtedness to it to $ 160,161.74. The 10,000 shares of petitioner's common stock which had been pledged by Alfred Decker to secure the indebtedness to the Continental Bank were thereby acquired by petitioner subject to the option agreement hereinafter mentioned.
In the resolution of the stockholders dated January 15, 1934, adopting the settlement proposed by Alfred Decker, it was provided:
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in order to consummate the foregoing settlement and in compromise and satisfaction of any obligation of this Corporation to purchase1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*205 said 10,000 shares of Common Stock referred to in said letter of December 29, 1933, the Vice President and Treasurer of the Corporation are hereby authorized, empowered and directed, concurrently with the consummation of the settlement herein authorized, to purchase and acquire said 10,000 shares of Common Stock and pay therefor the sum of $ 15,075.00.
The terms of the option were set forth in a written agreement between petitioner and Raye Decker executed on January 23, 1934. It was provided therein (after referring to the 14,000 shares acquired at or about the same time from Raye Decker):
2. The Company has likewise acquired an additional 10,000 shares of its common capital stock through the purchase of the same for $ 15,075.00, as a part of a plan for compromising and collecting the obligation of Alfred Decker to the Company, * * *
In accordance with the settlement agreement, on January 23, 1934, petitioner released and discharged Alfred Decker from all liability upon his entire indebtedness to petitioner, and, as consideration for such release and discharge, Raye Decker assigned and delivered to petitioner on January 23, 1934, 14,000 shares of the common stock of petitioner subject1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*206 to a 10-year option to her and her assigns to repurchase the same. Under the option agreement Raye Decker was given the right to repurchase the 14,000 shares of common stock of petitioner at the following prices: On or before January 1, 1937 at $ 11 per share On or before January 1, 1940 at $ 12 per share On or before January 1, 1944 at $ 13 per share
The agreement expressly provided that in the event that petitioner shall, on or before January 1, 1944, receive from Raye Decker an amount equal to $ 160,161.74, with interest thereon at the rate of 4 per cent per annum from December 31, 1933, less certain credits hereinafter referred to, then petitioner shall forthwith deliver to her the 24,000 shares of common stock consisting of the 14,000 shares delivered to petitioner by Raye Decker and the 10,000 shares of common stock acquired by petitioner as aforesaid by the payment of Alfred Decker's 18 T.C. 304">*308 indebtedness to the Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago.
As a part of the settlement plan, Alfred Decker assigned his unpledged assets to a trustee for the benefit of his creditors, including the petitioner. Both the settlement agreement and the option1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*207 agreement provided that any amounts received by petitioner from its participation in the unpledged assets, and any amounts realized by petitioner upon the miscellaneous collateral taken in from Alfred Decker in excess of its estimated market value of $ 12,000 shall be deducted from the total amount required to be paid by Raye Decker and her assigns upon the exercise of her option. From February 23, 1934 to December 31, 1943, petitioner credited the option price with the sum of $ 26,723.19 received from these two sources.
On or about December 22, 1943, Raye Decker and her assigns exercised the option by the payment to petitioner of $ 195,260.66, and the 24,000 shares of common stock were thereupon delivered to her and her assigns.
From the time that it received the 24,000 shares of common stock subject to the option, on January 23, 1934, until the exercise of the option on December 22, 1943, petitioner was required by the terms of the option agreement to hold, and held, such shares in its treasury. During this entire period, petitioner in all of its audit reports, published financial statements, and annual reports to shareholders referred to the 24,000 shares of common stock in its1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*208 treasury as "under option to Mrs. Raye H. Decker." The option agreement prohibited petitioner from transferring the 24,000 shares held in its treasury and petitioner at no time during the option period made any effort to sell, pledge or otherwise deal with those shares. No one expressed to petitioner an interest to purchase such shares.
The 24,000 shares of common stock received by petitioner in the foregoing transactions, restricted as they were by the option held by Raye H. Decker, had no ascertainable fair market value at the time they were received. The 24,000 shares of common stock were received by petitioner as part of the settlement, which settlement was in full discharge of the indebtedness of Alfred Decker.
The stipulated facts contain the following:
Summary of Transactions Pertaining to Indebtedness of Alfred Decker as Shown by Books of Society Brand Clothes, Inc., Formerly Alfred Decker & Cohn, Inc.
| Indebtedness as of December 31, 1933: | ||
| Amount of principal | $ 169,706.33 | |
| Amount of accrued interest | 18,860.41 | |
| Total | $ 188,566.74 | |
| Paid to Continental Illinois Bank and Trust Co., 1-31-1934 | 15,075.00 | |
| Total | $ 203,641.74 | |
| Settled as follows: | ||
| 1-31-34 Miscellaneous collateral | $ 12,000.00 | |
| 1-31-34 123 shares Alfred Decker & | ||
| Cohn, preferred | 12,300.00 | |
| 1-31-34 1,918 shares Alfred Decker & | ||
| Cohn, common | 19,180.00 | |
| 43,480.00 | ||
| Total [Difference] | $ 160,161.74 | |
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*209 18 T.C. 304">*309 The above account as shown on petitioner's books showed "Balance due as at 12-31-43 $ 133,438.55." This figure of $ 133,438.55 was arrived at by subtracting from the total of $ 160,161.74 shown to be due January 31, 1934, the total credits of $ 26,723.19 posted to the account between the dates of February 28, 1934, and December 31, 1943.
The exercise of the option to acquire the 24,000 shares of common stock exercised by Raye Decker on December 31, 1943, is reflected on petitioner's books as follows:
| Exercise of option: | |
| Cash received 12-31-43 from Mrs. Decker was applied as follows -- | |
| Account * * * common stock under option | $ 160,161.74 |
| Less * * * special reserve | 26,723.19 |
| 133,438.55 | |
| Cash received 12-31-43 | 195,260.66 |
| Balance transferred to account 238, capital surplus | $ 61,822.11 |
For its taxable year ended October 31, 1934, petitioner filed an income tax return showing a net loss of $ 187,560.95, and no deduction of any loss on the Alfred Decker indebtedness was made for tax purposes. Petitioner neither obtained nor could have obtained a tax benefit on account of this indebtedness, either in the taxable year 1934 or in any other year.
The taxable1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*210 long term capital gain realized by petitioner upon the transfer of the 24,000 shares of its common stock to Raye Decker in its fiscal year 1944 was $ 61,822.11.
In 1902, Alfred Decker, Abe Cohn, and Adolphus G. Peine commenced business as a partnership under the firm name and style of Alfred Decker & Cohn for the manufacture and sale of men's clothing exclusively at wholesale. For the period from October 31, 1903, through October 26, 1919, its annual sales increased from $ 68,168 to $ 8,641,811, its net tangible assets increased from $ 15,830 to $ 1,612,166, and its annual net profits increased from $ 6,738 to $ 467,624. The growth in the partnership net tangible assets resulted entirely from earnings.
18 T.C. 304">*310 By October 1919, the partnership had built up a substantial amount of good will. It had attained a reputation in the men's clothing manufacturing industry as a leader in style, particularly in young men's clothing. For a considerable period the partnership had been an active national advertiser and also cooperated closely with retail dealers in popularizing the trade names "Society Brand Clothes" and "Alfred Decker & 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*211 Cohn." The result was that these trade names became well known throughout the entire country and were particularly well established with a large number of the most substantial and representative retail clothing houses. The partnership sold its products throughout the United States, and also in foreign countries. One of the partners, Adolphus G. Peine, was regarded at that time as an outstanding designer of men's clothing and the partnership advertising publicized his association with the firm.
On October 10, 1919, petitioner was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois under its former name of Alfred Decker & Cohn, Inc. By a bill of sale dated October 27, 1919, the former partners, Alfred Decker, Abe Cohn and Adolphus G. Peine, transferred to petitioner all of the partnership assets, including all the intangibles, the name and good will of the business. Petitioner paid to the partners therefor the sum of $ 540,750.66 in cash, plus 100,000 shares of the petitioner's common stock, and petitioner assumed all of the partnership liabilities.
On September 6, 1919, the three partners entered into a contract with A. G. Becker & Co., a Chicago brokerage firm, whereby they agreed1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*212 that, upon the formation of petitioner and the transfer of the partnership assets to it, they would cause petitioner to sell to the brokerage company the 25,000 shares of its preferred stock for $ 2,500,000, and upon the payment of such sum by A. G. Becker & Co., the three partners were to transfer 20,000 shares of the common stock (to be issued to them) to the brokers without additional consideration.
The partnership's good will was entered on petitioner's books at $ 1 as a matter of conservative accounting practice and not in any way as a reflection of the value of the good will. On its returns for the taxable years here in question petitioner valued the good will at $ 1,400,000 as property paid in as invested capital. The Commissioner has allowed only $ 850,000.
Trading in petitioner's common stock on the Chicago Stock Exchange commenced on October 16, 1919, on an unlisted basis. The issue was listed on November 3, 1919, and listed trading commenced on that date and continued thereafter. On October 16, 1919, the stock sold at a low of $ 38.50 and at a high of $ 42; from October 17, 1919, to the end of the unlisted trading on October 29, 1919, sales were made at prices ranging1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*213 from a low of $ 43 to a high of $ 49; 18 T.C. 304">*311 on October 27, 1919, the date on which all of the partnership assets were transferred to petitioner the sales price of the common stock on the Chicago Stock Exchange was $ 45; and from November 3, 1919, the date of the first listed trading through December 29, 1919, the stock sold within a range of $ 43 to $ 46, with most of the sales occurring at a price of $ 45. The volume of trading from October 16 to December 29, 1919, amounted to 4,059 shares.
For the fiscal years indicated below the net profits of Alfred Decker & Cohn (partnership) were as follows:
| Fiscal year ending in | Net profits |
| 1915 | $ 139,344.85 |
| 1916 | 351,137.73 |
| 1917 | 354,480.31 |
| 1918 | 528,456.08 |
| 1919 | 467,624.43 |
The net profits as indicted are unadjusted for compensation due to the partners and for income taxes due by a corporation. The net profits for the partnership during the fiscal period ending in 1919 were earned as follows:
| Period | Amount |
| November 1, 1918-April 26, 1919 | $ 355,683.70 |
| April 26, 1919-October 26, 1919 | 111,940.73 |
| Total for fiscal period | $ 467,624.43 |
It was stipulated that the net assets of the partnership, exclusive of good will, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*214 trademarks, and other intangibles, were $ 1,612,166.92 as of the close of business on October 26, 1919.
Petitioner's initial capitalization consisted of 25,000 shares of $ 100 par value 7 per cent cumulative preferred stock, and 100,000 shares of no par value common stock. All of the common stock was issued to the former partners in return for the partnership assets, including all the intangibles, the name and good will of the business. All of the preferred stock was sold to investment bankers who resold it publicly at $ 98 per share. The investment bankers offered one share of petitioner's common stock at $ 30 per share with each three shares of preferred stock purchased. The 8,333 shares of common stock sold by the investment bankers in this manner had been acquired by them from the former partners.
The fair market value of the good will transferred to petitioner on October 27, 1919, as property paid in for stock was $ 1,000,000.
On February 3, 1944, petitioner issued debentures in the face amount of $ 600,880 in exchange for its preferred stock and dividend 18 T.C. 304">*312 arrearages thereon. The total par value of the preferred1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*215 stock was $ 429,200. Cash in the amount of $ 42,560 was also distributed to the preferred stockholders.
The earned surplus account of petitioner for the fiscal year ending in 1944, as shown by its books of account and tax return, Form 1120, is as follows:
| Balance October 31, 1943 | $ 414,138.74 | |
| Additions to surplus: | ||
| Net profit for fiscal year 1944 | $ 185,217.79 | |
| Special credit to income -- adjustment of prior | ||
| year's income taxes | 84,468.22 | |
| Discount on debentures retired | 2,190.00 | |
| 271,876.01 | ||
| 686,014.75 | ||
| Deductions from surplus: | ||
| Excess of face value of debentures over par | ||
| value of preferred stock | 171,680.00 | |
| Cash paid on exchange of debentures for | ||
| preferred stock | 42,560.00 | |
| Dividends paid | 42,759.00 | |
| 256,999.00 | ||
| Balance October 31, 1944 | $ 429,015.75 |
The sum of $ 171,680, being the excess of the face amount of debentures over the par value of preferred stock retired, was a distribution out of petitioner's earnings and profits of the fiscal year ending in 1944, and petitioner's equity invested capital for that fiscal year is not to be reduced therefor.
The accumulated unpaid dividends upon the shares of preferred1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*216 stock outstanding amounted to $ 79.92 per share as of October 31, 1943, or an aggregate of $ 343,016.64. Each share of stock, together with all accumulated unpaid dividends thereon, was surrendered to the petitioner in exchange for debentures of the principal amount of $ 140 and the sum of $ 10 in cash. It was explained to the stockholders that the following entry would reflect the exchange:
To give effect to the conversion of shares of Preferred Stock into Debentures and cash, the accounts of the Corporation will be adjusted by (1) establishing an obligation in the sum of $ 600,880 representing the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, (2) charging off the capital account allocable to the shares of the Preferred Stock, being the aggregate par value thereof in the sum of $ 429,200, (3) charging the earned surplus with the sum of $ 171,680, being the sum by which the principal amount of the Debentures exceeds the aggregate par value of the shares of Preferred Stock, and (4) charging to earned surplus the cash distribution of $ 42,920 made to the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock at the rate of $ 10.00 per share.
18 T.C. 304">*313 The debentures were a general obligation 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*217 of the petitioner, junior and subordinate and subject to all other indebtedness then existing or thereafter created.
On petitioner's excess profits tax returns for the fiscal years ending in 1944 and 1945, petitioner included in its average borrowed capital the amount of outstanding debentures in the sum of $ 600,880, less certain relatively small amounts representing debentures retired during such taxable years.
The full face amount of the outstanding debentures, including the $ 171,680, is to be included in petitioner's borrowed capital for the taxable years ending in 1944 and 1945, in accordance with the provisions of
Harris & Frank Co., a Delaware corporation, was a wholly owned subsidiary of petitioner from 1927 until April 1947. During this period Harris & Frank Co. operated a men's retail clothing store in Los Angeles, California. Both Harris & Frank Co. and petitioner kept their books and filed their Federal income tax returns on an accrual basis, and the fiscal year of each company ended on October 31.
In the fiscal year 1940, Harris & Frank Co. owed petitioner a sum in excess of $ 175,000 for merchandise on a 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*218 noninterest bearing account payable. This account was carried on the books of Harris & Frank Co. as a current liability, and as an account receivable on the books of petitioner. At this time the current liabilities of the subsidiary exceeded its current assets, and its deficits exceeded its capital stock account. The company was encountering credit difficulties, and this problem was discussed by the president of Harris & Frank Co. and the officers of petitioner. They reached an agreement whereby in order to improve the credit rating of the debtor the current account payable owing to petitioner would be converted into a long term liability to the extent of $ 175,000. Pursuant thereto, Harris & Frank Co. executed and delivered to petitioner on October 28, 1940, a 10-year note in that amount providing for the payment of interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum. It was orally agreed between the two companies acting through their respective officers that liability for interest would not commence and that no interest would be due and payable until such time as the two companies should agree that the financial condition of Harris & Frank Co. would permit it to commence the payment1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*219 of interest.
For the fiscal years 1940 through 1944, Harris & Frank Co. paid no interest on the note to petitioner, did not accrue such interest on 18 T.C. 304">*314 its books as an expense or a liability, and took no deduction for interest on this note for Federal income tax purposes. Nor was interest for such fiscal years accrued or paid by Harris & Frank Co. at any time thereafter. The audit reports of Harris & Frank Co. for these fiscal years showed the principal amount of the note as a liability but did not show interest on the note as an expense or a liability. For the fiscal years 1940 through 1944, petitioner did not receive interest on this note, did not accrue such interest on its books as income or as an asset, and did not include such interest as income for Federal income tax purposes. Nor was interest for such fiscal years accrued or received by petitioner at any time thereafter. The audit reports of petitioner for these fiscal years show the principal amount of the note as an asset but do not show interest on the note as income or as an asset.
In June or July of 1945, officers of Harris & Frank Co. and petitioner reached an agreement that the financial condition of Harris1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*220 & Frank Co. was such as to permit the commencement of interest payments on the note as of the beginning of the 1945 fiscal year. The first payment of interest on the note was received by petitioner on August 31, 1945, being the sum of $ 6,562.53, covering the period from November 1, 1944, to July 31, 1945. Interest subsequent to this period was regularly paid and received.
The sum of $ 8,750 should not be included in petitioner's income for the taxable year 1944, as no interest was due and payable to petitioner for that year on the promissory note of Harris & Frank Co.
OPINION.
As has been mentioned in our preliminary statement, four issues are presented in this proceeding.
The first issue relates to the transaction whereby petitioner sold 24,000 shares of its treasury common stock in December 1943, to Raye Decker for $ 195,260.66 under the terms of an option. On its tax returns for the taxable year petitioner reported no income from the transaction, but on brief it concedes that a taxable long term capital gain of $ 61,822.11 was realized. 1 In the deficiency notice respondent determined that petitioner realized a long term capital gain of 18 T.C. 304">*315 $ 192,908.85, but in his 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*221 brief respondent computes the long term capital gain to be $ 166,185.66. 2
Hence, the question is whether the long term capital gain which resulted from the sale of the stock in 1944 amounted to $ 61,822.11 or $ 166,185.66, and this question, in turn, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*222 depends upon whether the basis of the capital asset is $ 133,438.55 as contended by petitioner, or $ 29,075 as determined and contended by respondent.
We think petitioner's contention must be sustained. It seems to us that the acquiring of the 24,000 shares of petitioner's common stock, the granting of the 10-year option to Raye Decker and the release of Alfred Decker from the indebtedness which he owed petitioner, including the $ 15,075 which petitioner paid the Continental Bank when it took over the 10,000 shares of stock, must all be treated as one integrated transaction. If the shares of stock, encumbered as they were by the 10-year option, had an ascertainable fair market value at the time they were received in the cancelation of Alfred Decker's indebtedness to petitioner, then the transaction was one by which petitioner collected its debt against Alfred Decker to the extent of the fair market value of the stock and the cost basis of the stock to petitioner thereafter was its fair market value at the time it was received. If, however, the 24,000 shares of stock, encumbered as they were by the 10-year option, had no fair market value at the time they were received, then it 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*223 could not be ascertained how much of petitioner's indebtedness against Alfred Decker was collected by receipt of the stock and cost basis of the stock to petitioner was the net amount of the indebtedness of Alfred Decker which was ultimately canceled in the transaction after allowances had been made for all other collections on the account. See
In the
It is undisputed that, if the cost basis to be given the preferred shares is $ 1,200,000, the admitted cost to the appellee of what it exchanged for them, the judgment below was right. And it is also undisputed that, if the shares had a fair market value when acquired in the amount for which the government contends, the appellee may not recover anything in this suit. And so the first issue on this appeal is whether or not these shares had a fair market value when they were acquired by the taxpayer. If that goes against the government, it is not only the first but it is the decisive issue.
It needs no citation of authorities, of course, for the principle that respondent's determination in the instant case1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*225 that the stock had a fair market value at the time it was received is presumed to be correct. However, there is much evidence in the record, both from petitioner's witnesses and respondent's witnesses, as to the fair market value of the shares of petitioner's common stock at the time it was received by petitioner, encumbered as it was by a 10-year option to Raye Decker to acquire. We shall not undertake in this opinion to discuss this testimony in any great detail. The substance of it is that at the time petitioner acquired these shares from Raye Decker and the Continental Bank early in 1934, the country was slowly emerging from the great depression; common stocks of the strongest and best known corporations in the United States were selling at bargain prices and there was but very little demand for common stock of corporations like petitioner which, at that time, were incurring heavy annual losses and were piling up accumulated unpaid dividends on preferred stock.
Both petitioner's and respondent's expert witnesses seemed to agree that the fair market value of petitioner's common stock at that time was $ 1 per share, unrestricted by any option. Shares of petitioner's common stock, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*226 unrestricted by any option, were sold on the Chicago Stock Exchange at prices between $ 1 1/8 and $ 2 1/2 per share during the month of January 1934, when the settlement agreement was entered into. However, all agreed that these prices were for a comparatively small number of shares and that the number of shares here involved could not have been marketed for a greater amount than $ 1 per share. The $ 1 per share fair market value was with reference to shares unencumbered by any option. The shares here involved were definitely 18 T.C. 304">*317 encumbered by a 10-year option as has been explained in our Findings of Fact. As we interpret the testimony of the expert witnesses, these shares, encumbered as they were by the 10-year option, had no fair market value at the time they were received or, at least, only a nominal value. During the course of the testimony of one of respondent's expert witnesses, Richard S. Cutler, the following questions were asked by respondent's counsel:
Q. My question, Mr. Cutler, is whether or not you have in your mind determined what the value of, we will say, 24,000 shares of the common stock of Alfred Decker and Cohn would be subject to this option?
* * * *
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*227 The Witness: In that case, where you could not possibly hope to get delivery of the stock for ten years, it would have almost a nominal value, five cents a share, or something of that.
A. I think you probably could have gotten a speculator to put up five cents a share in that case.
Upon the strength of this testimony and other testimony in the record we have made a finding of fact under Issue 1 as follows: "The 24,000 shares of common stock received by petitioner in the foregoing transactions, restricted as they were by the option held by Raye H. Decker, had no ascertainable fair market value at the time they were received." In thus making the foregoing finding of fact we do not mean to hold that as a matter of law the restriction of the sale of stock by an option necessarily destroys its fair market value. We think whether the fair market value of stock has been destroyed by an option will depend upon what kind of stock it is and upon the kind of option which has been granted and other relevant facts and circumstances of the particular case. All that we mean to hold in the instant case is that under the evidence we have here, when petitioner1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*228 received the 24,000 shares of its common stock in part settlement of the indebtedness which it held against Alfred Decker, encumbered as it was by the 10-year option described in our Findings of Fact, it had no fair market value at the time it was received. This being true, we think petitioner is correct in its contention that the cost basis of these shares to petitioner under
Since these shares did not then have a fair market value, no profit or loss from the standpoint of taxation was realized when they were taken in exchange for the debt in 1915.
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*229 If the rule as to fixing the basis for taxpayers'
On this issue we sustain petitioner.
The second issue to be decided in this proceeding is the value of good will acquired by petitioner from its shareholders in 1919.
In computing its equity invested capital under the provisions of
1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*230 Petitioner used a value of $ 1,400,000 for good will in the preparation of its excess profits tax returns. In computing petitioner's equity invested capital for the deficiency notice respondent used a value of $ 850,000 for the good will. Petitioner, on brief, for the first time contended that the fair market value of the good will was $ 3,428,583.74. However, it seems clear to us that the good will of Alfred Decker & Cohn partnership at the time of transfer to Alfred Decker & Cohn, Inc., had no such value as petitioner now seeks to place upon it in its brief.
It was on October 27, 1919, that petitioner acquired all the business properties, including good will, of the partnership, Alfred Decker & Cohn. Petitioner was organized to succeed the partnership, and prior to October 27, 1919, petitioner was not engaged in business. Trading in petitioner's common stock, nevertheless, was commenced on October 16, 1919, on the Chicago Stock Exchange. At the time the partnership assets were transferred to petitioner its shares of common stock were selling on the Exchange at $ 45. However, petitioner's common stock was being marketed by brokers during this same period at $ 30 per share, 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*231 along with shares of petitioner's preferred stock. Under these circumstances, the fair market value of the good will is 18 T.C. 304">*319 to be determined primarily from the past earnings record of petitioner's predecessor, the general conditions of the men's clothing business at that time, and the prospective future earnings of the petitioner. 4 In arriving at the fair market value of the good will acquired by petitioner from its predecessor in business we have considered the stipulated facts, the exhibits, the testimony of witnesses, in fact, all the evidence, and we have determined a fair market value of $ 1,000,000.
As to Issue 3 (a), respondent concedes that petitioner's equity invested capital should not be reduced in the amount of $ 171,680 for the fiscal year ending in 1944, as was proposed in the deficiency notice. Since 1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*232 petitioner's earnings and profits for the taxable year exceeded the amount of the distribution (excess of the principal amount of the debentures over the par value of the preferred stock), it is presumed that the distribution is made from earnings and profits of the taxable year. See
At the hearing respondent filed an amended answer raising Issue 3 (b). In our Findings of Fact we have described the recapitalization of petitioner which took place on February 3, 1944. The issue for us to decide is whether petitioner's borrowed invested capital is to be computed by including the debentures therein at their face value, or at the par value of the preferred stock surrendered to petitioner in exchange for the debentures.
In the instant proceeding, as a consequence of issuing the securities, petitioner is deemed to have distributed out of its earnings and profits for the taxable year ending in 1944, the sum of $ 171,680, Issue 3 (a), and for all subsequent taxable years petitioner's equity invested capital will be reduced accordingly from what it otherwise would have been, save for the distribution of the $ 171,680. To the extent of $ 171,680, therefore, petitioner converted equity invested capital into borrowed1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*235 capital. There is no statutory prohibition against this practice, 6 in fact, petitioner converted preferred stock of the par value of $ 429,200 (equity invested capital) into debentures (borrowed capital) by this same recapitalization. Respondent would have us distinguish the face value of debentures arising from the redemption of the canceled preferred stock and the face value of debentures arising from the satisfaction of the accumulated dividends due on the preferred stock, yet in the absence of the recapitalization the earned surplus used to satisfy the accumulated dividends on the preferred stock and the par value of its preferred stock were both includible alike in petitioner's equity invested capital.
Respondent is not sustained as to Issue 3 (b).
The fourth issue presents a question involving interest income from a promissory note held by petitioner. Respondent contends that petitioner, an accrual1952 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 198">*236 basis taxpayer, must include in income the interest due and payable to petitioner as provided under the terms of a note for $ 175,000. The 10-year note was executed by petitioner's wholly owned subsidiary in 1940. According to the note interest was due and 18 T.C. 304">*321 payable at the rate of 5 per cent. Petitioner has established, however, that there was a mutual agreement that no interest was to be charged or paid on the note until an undetermined future date to be determined subsequently upon the agreement between the parties to the note that the subsidiary was financially able to pay the interest. The books and the tax returns of both petitioner and the subsidiary were set up on a consistent basis and in accordance with the oral agreement of the promisor and the promisee.
There is no material difference in the issue presented here and the one in
As to this final issue we think respondent erred in determining that petitioner earned interest income during the fiscal year ending in 1944 in the amount of $ 8,750 on the note of its subsidiary.
1. Instead of including the amount of $ 61,822.11 in its net income for the fiscal year, petitioner credited its capital surplus by that amount. The credit to capital surplus, which petitioner now concedes to be the amount of the gain, was computed by petitioner as follows:
| Cash received from Mrs. Decker | $ 195,260.66 |
| Unpaid balance of indebtedness of Alfred Decker | 133,438.55 |
| Difference -- credited to capital surplus | 61,822.11 |
2. Respondent computes the long term capital gain as follows:
| Proceeds from sale of 24,000 shares of stock | $ 195,260.66 | |
| Basis of 10,000 shares (cost) | $ 15,075.00 | |
| Basis of 14,000 shares (fair market value) | 14,000.00 | |
| Cost basis for the 24,000 shares of stock | 29,075.00 | |
| Long term capital gain realized | 166,185.66 |
3.
(a) Basis (Unadjusted) of Property. -- The basis of property shall be the cost of such property; * * *↩
4. See Regulations 112, section 35.718-1 for a discussion of the various factors which may be considered in determining fair market value.↩
5. Invested capital is defined in section 715 of the Code.↩
6. See: