N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-7-120
When the capital stock of a company organized under this Article is impaired, the company may, upon a vote of the majority of the stock represented at a meeting legally called for that purpose, reduce its capital stock and the number of shares thereof to an amount not less than the minimum sum required by law, but no part of its assets and property shall be distributed to its stockholders. Within 10 days after such meeting the company must submit to the Commissioner a certificate setting forth the proceedings thereof and the amount of the reduction and the assets and liabilities of the company, signed and sworn to by its president, secretary, and a majority of its directors. The Commissioner shall examine the facts in the case, and if they conform to law, and in his judgment the proposed reduction may be made without prejudice to the public, he shall endorse his approval upon the certificate. Upon filing the certificate so endorsed with the Secretary of State and paying a filing fee of five dollars ($5.00), the company may transact business upon the basis of the reduced capital as though it were original capital, and its charter shall be deemed to be amended to conform thereto, and the Commissioner shall issue his certificate to that effect. The company may, by a majority vote of its directors, after the reduction, require the return of the original certificates of stock held by each stockholder in exchange for new certificates it may issue in lieu thereof for such number of shares as each stockholder is entitled to in the proportion that the reduced capital bears to the original capital.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-7-120