Corporations Flashcards
Unless the articles of organization or operating agreement state otherwise, who manages an LLC?
Members of the LLC
A merger between a parent corporation and a subsidiary corporation, when the parent owns at least _____of the voting power of each class of outstanding stock of the subsidiary, may occur without the approval of the shareholders of the subsidiary.
80%
How can a person become a member of an existing LLC?
(1) as provided in the operating agreement;
(2) as the result of a merger, an interest exchange conversion, or domestication;
(3) with the consent of all the members; or
(4) when a dissolved LLC has not had members for 90 consecutive days, by consent of transferees owning the right to receive a majority of the distributions.
Statement of Authority (SoA)
An LLC may file a statement of authority regarding status (member or manager) or position
(or office) of a person in the LLC, and it may also set limits on each person’s authority.
A judgment creditor of a member of a multi-member LLC has as his only remedy a ____________.
charging order
What is the minimum number of directors required for a not-for-profit corporation?
3
matt, his sister, and his mom. broke.
An LLC is dissolved and must wind up its business upon the occurrence of:
i) An event that the operating agreement states causes dissolution;
ii) The consent of all the members; or
iii) The passage of 90 consecutive days during which the company has no members, unless
(a) consent to admit at least one specified person as a member is given by transferees owning the rights to receive a majority of distributions; and
(b) at least one person becomes a member in accordance with the consent.
What must an LLC’s articles of organization state?
(i) the name of the LLC,
(ii) the address of the principal office, and
(iii) the name, address, and written acceptance of the company’s registered agent
In general, upon liquidation, a _____________ of the corporation will take precedence over a preferred shareholder with regard to the corporation’s funds, and a preferred shareholder will take precedence over a _________________.
secured creditor; common shareholder
Prior to formation of a corporation, what is the role of a promoter?
To engage in activities in order to bring the corporation into existence as a business entity.
How many directors must a Florida corporation have?
at least 1
u need at least 1 bod!
What provisions cannot be altered by the operating agreement?
the statutory provisions governing, among others, registered agents, dissolutions, mergers, indemnities, and the rights and obligations of members and managers.
What is the two-step approval process to amend the articles of incorporation if the company has issued stock?
(1) The board of directors must adopt the amendment to the articles;
and
(2) the shareholders have to approve the amendment by majority vote.
A corporation can protect itself against the failure to render future consideration by placing the stock in an ___________________or otherwise restricting the transfer of the stock until the promised services are performed, the promissory note is paid, or the promised benefit is received.
Escrow account
Upon a finding of ___________, Florida courts refuse to recognize the de facto status of a corporation.
bad faith
In Florida, what is the primary cause of action available to persons who have traded stock?
Fraud
Does Florida issue a certificate of incorporation?
no
Unless otherwise specified, how long is a proxy good for?
11 months
May a domestic corporation merge with one or more domestic or foreign eligible entities in the state of Florida?
yes
Benefit corporation or “B Corp”
a for-profit entity with a corporate purpose of creating or pursuing a general public benefit, which is anything that has a “material, positive effect on society and the environment.”
Is stock freely transferable in FL?
Yes
Are stock restrictions permissible?
Yes, the stock restriction must be:
(1) Reasonable
- total ban isn’t reasonable
- right of first refusal is reasonable
(2) Conspicuous to people
ultra vires
> abolished in FL
when the articles of incorporation state a narrow business purpose and the firm then conducts activities outside the stated purpose
can a third party challenge an ultra vires act?
No, only
> shareholder
> the corporation against a director/officer
> the state
To pursue a private cause of action for the fraudulent sale of a stock/security, a plaintiff must meet 7 reqs (BID BIRD):
(1) P must’ve bought or sold a security
(2) transaction involved the use of INTERSTATE commerce
(3/4) D engaged in fraudulent/DECEPTIVE conduct relating to basic material info
(5) D cted with intent or recklessness
(6) P relied on D’s conduct
(7) P suffered damages
actions for short swing profits
An insider should be restricted from rapid trading profits related to her firm’s stock
What decisions require a shareholder vote?
> selection of BOD
fundamental corp changes like merger or amending the articles
Quorum
needed for shareholder vote to be valid
> needs maj votes
> can be lowered max to 1/3
> remote fine
voting for directors
> Plurality Voting:
nominee with the most votes wins
> Cumulative Voting:
Number of shares you own X number of open director positions
Direct Shareholder Actions
(1) An action to recover for harm linked to their rights as a shareholder
(2) An action that does not arise based on the plaintiff’s status as a shareholder
Derivative Actions
Shareholder seeks to compel the corporation to file a lawsuit to recover for harm suffered by it
*cant be brought by a creditor
Piercing the Corporate Veil
corp AND shareholders could be liable
BOD voting reqs
> quorum aka a majority needed at meeting
maj vote win
cant enter into voting agreements
true or false:
Shareholders may alter the way in which a corporation is managed through a shareholder management agreement.
true
Must both voting trusts and voting pools be in writing?
yes
A corporation’s articles of incorporation must include what info?
> the corporation’s name and the address of its principal office
> number of shares of the corporation
> the name and address of the corporation’s registered agent and
> the name and address of each incorporator
Reqs to become an S corporation
> max 100 shareholders
shareholders must be individuals, estates, certain exempt organizations, and certain trusts
shareholders must be US citizens or permanent residents
corp can’t have more than 1 class of stock
each shareholders must elect the copr to become as S corp
*S corps are just taxed once
When a corporation transfers its assets to another entity, is that transferee entity responsible for the tort liabilities of the transferor?
No, unless it assumes liability
A promoter is personally jointly and severally liable for liabilities created while acting on behalf of the future corporation unless what?
if the corporation subsequently releases the promoter from liability with a novation
> adopting a K doesn’t release promotors from liability
Shareholders have a right to inspect corporate records. However, the inspection of some types of records, such as minutes from board meetings, require the shareholder to have a proper purpose.
For removal by shareholders, a director can be removed only at a meeting of the shareholders that’s stated purpose is the removal of the director.
A foreign corporation (corp in another state) must register with the Florida Department of State to bring or maintain legal actions in Florida.
A shareholder may pursue involuntarily dissolution of the corporation if:
> shareholders are deadlocked
directors are deadlocked in voting power + shareholders cant break it + there’s risk of irreparable injury
acts of directors are oppressive, illegal, fraudulent
the corporate assets are being misapplied or wasted
corp has abandoned its business and failed within a reasonable period of time to liquidate and distribute its assets and dissolve.
If an operating agreement does not state how profits and losses should be allocated, then they should be allocated based on each member’s contributions.