In re United Metal Spinning Co., 2 B.T.A. 520 (1925)

The stockholders of the United Metal Spinning Co., Inc., during the year 1919 were Buben Kasher and one Langert, who each owned 50 per cent of its capital stock. In 1917 one Leon Lapidus came to Kasher with a proposition that the two of them acquire a controlling interest in the capital stock of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co., a New York corporation, with its place of business in the City of New York. Lapidus had formerly been employed by this company which was then in financial difficulties. After a careful inspection of the plant of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co., Kasher acquired one-third of the stock of the company from its then president, one Brown, or from Beckett, the other stockholder. Lapidus acquired another third of the capital stock of the company, the par value of the one-third interest being $5,000, from Brown, paying $1,800 cash therefor and giving his note to Brown for $2,000 additional and a further note for $1,200 payable from the profits of the business. A little later Langert and Kasher acquired the remaining third of the ca|)ital stock of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. and also acquired Brown’s interest in the notes which had been given by Lapidus to Brown for the third interest acquired by Lapidus. All of the money paid by Kasher and Langert for the stock of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. was advanced to them by the taxpayer, United Metal Spinning Co., Inc. The shares of stock acquired were turned over to the taxpayer’s attorney, one Pompan. The shares of stock acquired by Lapidus were also turned over to Pompan— whether for safe-keeping or as security for the payment of Lapidus’ notes to Brown is not clear. Lapidus was manager of the factory of p. 521the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. He voted his stock at all meetings of the stockholders.

The evidence adduced at the hearing of this appeal is not definite. The shares of stock of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. acquired by the taxpayer were apparently, in the first instance, acquired by two individuals, each of whom owned 50 per cent of the stock of taxpayer. These certificates were acquired with money advanced by the taxpayer and they were turned over to one Pompan, an attorney, apparently for safe-keeping. It is not at all clear whether the shares of stock were carried as an investment on the taxpayer’s books of p. 522account. The certificate for the shares of stock in the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. acquired by Lapidus was also held by Pompan, — whether for safe-keeping or as security for the payment of a note originally given to Brown, but later acquired either by Kasher or the taxpayer, is not certain. Lapidus had an agreement with Kasher whereby he could sell his stock to Kasher at any time that he might desire to retire from the business. Apparently, however, Lapidus was not required to offer the stock to Kasher if he did not desire to do so. Lapidus voted the stock as he wished at all meetings of the stockholders and apparently the taxpayer had no control over the shares of stock. The only conclusion to be drawn from the evidence is that the taxpayer owned two-thirds of the shares of stock of the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co. and the remaining third was owned by Lapidus, who owned no stock whatever of the taxpayer. This ownership is not enough to entitle the corporation to file a consolidated return with the B. & L. Auto Lamp Co.