Sec. 56.006. LIMIT OF INDEBTEDNESS. (a) For the purposes of this section, the existing obligations of an agricultural finance corporation include the primary, secondary, fixed, and contingent obligations of the corporation but do not include an obligation for which a liable person has furnished to the corporation funds to pay the obligation at maturity.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, an agricultural finance corporation may not enter into a contract of acceptance, guaranty, endorsement, or suretyship if the total of its existing obligations plus its obligations resulting from the contract exceeds an amount equal to five times the total of its unimpaired capital and surplus at the time of the contract.

(c) An agricultural finance corporation may exceed the limit set by Subsection (b) of this section if, before entering into the contract, the corporation obtains written authorization from the banking commissioner to do so. If authorization is obtained, the corporation may not exceed the limit set by the commissioner, and the limit set by the commissioner may not exceed an amount equal to 10 times the total of the corporation's unimpaired capital and surplus at the time of the contract.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section, if a corporation enters into a contract in violation of this section, the contract is unenforceable against the corporation.

(e) This section does not prevent the enforcement of a prohibited obligation by a holder who has acquired the obligation:

(1) in due course;

(2) for value;

(3) before its maturity; and

(4) without notice of its defect.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1124, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.