Corporations Flashcards
What are the different rules of revocation for pre & post incorporation subscriptions?
pre- irrevocable for 3 months unless otherwise stated
post- remains revocable until corporations
What are the 2 rules that effect subscriber default of payment?
if subscriber paid…
- < 50% of purchase price & fails to pay balance w/ in 30 days of written demand = corp may keep money (forfeiture) & cancel shares
- > 50% of purchase price & fails to pay balance w/ in 30 days of written demand corp must try to sell stock 1st
- if no sale= forfeiture & cancellation of shares
- if sale for > purchase price, defaulting subscriber recovers excess
When is corp liable for pre-incorporation contracts? (3)
- express adoption
- implied adoption (corp accepts benefit knowingly)
- novation
- corp replaces promoter in contract= relieves promoter of liability
- mere adoption not novation (promoter still liable)
In corp formation, what is necessary to establishing par value?
At least 1 class of unlimited voting & dividend rights, for stocks or bonds (respectively)
What circumstances allow a court to pierce the corp veil?
- to prevent fraud & use of corporations to cloak illegality
- excessive domination
What are the 4 mechanical requirements of forming a corp?
- execute (sing) C.O.I.
- deliver to secretary of state
- pay filing fee
- hold organizational meeting to
- adopt bylaws
- elect board
What are the requirements of a valid restriction on sale/ transfer of shares?
- restriction on the certificate/ share
- is reasonable under circumstances
- not an undue restraint
- right of 1st refusal by corp. is a valid restriction if price reasonable
When is a de facto corp created?
under limited circumstances to prevent injustice & shareholders from being personally liable
What are the 3 requirements for establishing de facto corp status?
- relevant incorporation statute
- parties make good faith attempt to comply
- there is some exercise of corporate privileges
What are 5 forms of allowable considerations for issuing stock? (what can you trade for stock?)
- $
- property
- labor or services
- binding promise to purchase
- binding promise to perform future services
When can a corp not declare dividends due to insolvency?
- if paying dividends would make corp insolvent
- if corp is (already) insolvent
What are the requirements of a valid proxy?
- writing
- signed by record shareholder
- directed to secretary of corps
- proxy good for 11 months & freely revocable unless it states otherwise to coupled w/ an interest
What are pre-emptive rights?
right of existing shareholder to maintain his percentage of ownership by buying stock whenever there is a new issuance for $
- before 2/22/98: such rights exist for all commonstock
- after: don’t exist unless granted in COI
What does a shareholder inspection rights grant?
allowed to inspect
- minutes
- record of shareholers
- list of current directors/ officers
What can corp require shareholder to disclose in an affidavit prior to inspection?
- purpose of inspection not against interst of corp
2. shareholder has not sold a shareholder list in last 5 years
What are the 4 reqs for a shareholder to bring a derivative suit?
shareholder
- owns stock at time of claim’
- owns stock when action brought through entry of judgement
- adequately represents interests of corp (not self)
- make a demand on board, unless demand futile
What 3 factors make a demand on board futile?
- majority of board interested in transaction (or under control of interested board members)
- board uninformed of transaction
- action so egregious on its face that bus. jud. rule doesn’t apply
How can a director be removed from he board w/o cause?
only by shareholders & if COI allows such removal
What are directors not permitted to do in terms of director voting?
- no voting agreements
- cant use proxies for director voting
- shareholders may enter into voting agreement for electing directors, must be provided for in COI