North Carolina § 54-148 - Stock; membership certificates; when issued; voting; liability; limitation on transfer of ownership.

§ 54-148. Stock; membership certificates; when issued; voting; liability; limitation on transfer of ownership.

When a member of an association established without capital stock has paid his membership fee in full, he shall receive a certificate of membership. No association shall issue stock to a member until it has been fully paid for. The promissory notes of the members may be accepted by the association as full or partial payment. The association shall hold the stock as security for the payment of the note, but such retention as security shall not affect the members' right to vote. Except for debts lawfully contracted between him and the association, no member shall be liable for the debts of the association to an amount exceeding the sum remaining unpaid on his membership fee or his subscription to the capital stock, including any unpaid balance on any promissory notes given in payment thereof. A cooperative association, incorporated under this Subchapter, may fix or limit in its bylaws the amount of stock which one member might own in said association. No member or stockholder shall be entitled to more than one vote; provided, however, that any association organized hereunder, all of whose members are other associations organized hereunder shall have power to determine by its bylaws the number of votes to which each member association shall be entitled and to provide for the appointment or election of delegates to cast such votes and to represent the member associations at all members' meetings. Any association organized with stock under this Subchapter may issue preferred stock, with or without the right to vote. Such stock may be redeemable or retirable by the association on such terms and conditions as may be provided for by the articles of incorporation and printed on the face of the certificate. The bylaws shall prohibit the transfer of the common stock of the association to persons not engaged in the production of agricultural products, and such restrictions must be printed upon every certificate of stock subject thereto. The association may at any time, except when the debts of the association exceed fifty percent (50%) of the assets thereof, buy in or purchase its common stock at book value thereof as conclusively determined by the board of directors, and pay for it in cash within one year thereafter. History (1921, c. 87, s. 14; C.S., s. 5259(u); 1935, c. 436, s. 2; 1955, c. 596; 1963, c. 1168, s. 12.)