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Corporate Law Case Digest: Makati Sports Club Inc v. Cecile Cheng (2010)

G.R. No. 178523               June 16, 2010
Lessons Applicable: Certificate of stock = merely tangible evidence of stock(Corporate Law)

FACTS:
  • October 20, 1994: Makati Sports Club Inc (MSCI) BOD adopted a resolution authorizing the sale of 19 unissued shares at a floor price of P400,000 and P450,000 per share for Class A and B, respectively.
  • Cheng was a Treasurer and Director of Makati Sports Club in 1995
  • July 7, 1995: Hodreal expressed his interest to buy a share, for this purpose he sent the letter requesting to be wait listed
  • November 1995: McFoods acquiried shares of Makati Sports Club at P1,800,000 through Urban Bank
    • December 15, 1995: Stock cert. was issued to McFoods
  • December 27, 1995: McFoods advised its offer to resell 
  • November 24, 1995: Hodreal paid McFoods P1,400,000
  • December 27, 1995: Hodreal again paid P1,400,000
  • February 7, 1996:  Cheng advised sale by McFoods to Hodreal of the share evidenced by a certificate
    • new certificate was issued
  • 1997: investigation showed that Cheng profited from the transaction because of her knowledge
  • MSCI sought judgment that would order respondents to pay the sum of P1,000,000.00, representing the amount allegedly defrauded, together with interest and damages
  • CA affirmed RTC: dismissed
ISSUE: W/N MSCI was defrauded by Cheng's collaboration with Mc Foods

HELD: NO. petition is DENIED
  • no evidence on record that the Membership Committee acted on Hodreal's letter 
  • SEC. 29. (a) The Membership Committee shall process applications for membership; ascertain that the requirements for stock ownership, including citizenship, are complied with; submit to the Board its recommended on applicants for inclusion in the Waiting List; take charge of auction sales of shares of stock; and exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be authorized by the Board.
    • Membership Committee failed to question the alleged irregularities attending Mc Foods’ purchase 
  • purchase price of P1,800,000.00 is P1,400,000.00 more than the floor price - NOT detrimental
  • Upon payment and the execution of the Deed of Absolute Sale, it had the right to demand the delivery of the stock certificate in its name. 
    • The right of a transferee to have stocks transferred to its name is an inherent right flowing from its ownership of the stocks
  • certificate of stock
    • paper representative or tangible evidence of the stock itself and of the various interests therein
      • not a stock in the corporation but is merely evidence of the holder’s interest and status in the corporation, his ownership of the share represented thereby
  • MSCI failed to repurchase Mc Foods’ Class "A" share within the 30 day pre-emptive period 
  • no proof that Cheng personally profited