Corporations Flashcards

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1
Q

When does a Corporation’s existence begin?

On the date the Articles of Incorporation areproperly filed with the Secretary of State (unless a delayed date is specified).

*An earlier date CANNOT be specified.

A

On the date the Articles of Incorporation are properly filed with the Secretary of State (unless a delayed date is specified).

*An earlier date CANNOT be specified.

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2
Q

What must the Articles of Incorporation contain?

A

They must contain:

1) The corporate name;
2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to

issue;

3) The address of the corporation’s initial registered office

and the name of its initial registered agent; AND

4) The name and address of each incorporator.

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3
Q

What is a de jure corporation, and when is it formed?

A

It is a legally formed corporation, and is formed when the Articles of Incorporation are filed with the Secretary of State.

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4
Q

Can a corporation that is NOT a de jure corporation enter into contracts?

A

No.

In such an instance, personal liability of the owners/promoters will result (unless De Facto Corporation or Corporation by Estoppel applies.)

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5
Q

When does a de facto corporation arise?

A

When the entity:

1) Made a good faith attempt to incorporate;
2) Is otherwise eligible to incorporate; AND
3) Took some action indicating that it considered itself a

corporation.

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6
Q

Who may assert the de facto corporation doctrine?

A

Only a person who was unaware that the corporation was not properly formed.

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7
Q

What is the doctrine of Corporation by Estoppel, and who does it apply to?

A

When any person/entity treated a business as a corp., they may be estopped from denying that the business is a corporation (even if a valid corp. was NOT formed)

It applies to both:
a) 3rd parties that treated the business as a corp; AND

b) An entity that held itself out as a corporation and benefited from that claim.

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8
Q

What is a Promoter?

A

A person who acts on behalf of a corporation that has not yet been formed.

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9
Q

When does a Promoter have personal liability, and what are the TWO exceptions to this?

A

Upon entering any pre-incorporation contracts, EVEN IF the corporation subsequently adopts the contract.

Two exceptions are:

1) There is a subsequent novation; OR
2) The contract explicitly provides that the promoter has no personal liability on the contract.

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10
Q

When is a Corporation liable on pre-incorporation contracts entered into by a Promoter?

A

When the corporation expressly or impliedly adopts the contract post-incorporation.

  • *Expressly** = through board resolution.
  • *Impliedly** = corp. knows the material terms and accepts/retains the benefits.
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11
Q

When are a Corporation’s activities deemed ultra vires?

A

When a corporation’s activities are outside of the scope of the stated corporate purpose.

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12
Q

Ultra Vires acts under:

Common Law

vs.

RMBCA

A

Common Law = deemed void and unenforceable.

RMBCA = generally valid and enforceable (those who approved the transaction can be held personally liable).

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13
Q

A court will Pierce the Corporate Veil, and hold the shareholders personally liable in what situations?

A

1) The corporation is acting as the alter ego of the shareholders (little or no separation between the shareholder and corporation);
2) Where the shareholders failed to follow corporate formalities;
3) The corporation was inadequately capitalized at its inception

to cover debts/liabilities; OR

4) To prevent fraud.

*Even if a court doesn’t pierce the veil, a person is ALWAYS liablefor their own torts.

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14
Q

What do shareholders in a Close-Corporation owe the other shareholders?

A

The duty of loyalty and good faith, and will be liable for any damages resulting from a breach of these duties.

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15
Q

What is watered stock?

A

Stock that is issued at a price that is greater than its actual market value.

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16
Q

Who has the power to issue dividends and make distributions in a corporation?

A

Only the Board of Directors have the power to issue dividends/distributions.

*Once declared, the SH has a legal right to that distribution.

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17
Q

A shareholder DOES NOT have the right to compel a corporation to issue a distribution, but when may acourt interfere with the board’s discretion?

A

They WILL interfere and order a distribution upon a showing of:

1) Bad faith or dishonest purpose; AND
2) That funds were available for the dividend/distribution.

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18
Q

A shareholder may vote shares at a meeting without physically attending through use of a proxy.

What is required for a valid proxy?

A

It must be signed on:

a) An appointment form; OR
b) An electronic transmission.

(oral proxy is invalid)

A proxy must be accepted by the corp. if on its face there are no reasonable grounds to deny its genuineness and authenticity.

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19
Q

Are proxy agreements freely revocable by the shareholder?

A

YES, even if the proxy states that it is irrevocable.

One exception to this rule is a proxy coupled with an interest or legal right, which is irrevocable if the proxy expressly states as such.

*A proxy is only valid for 11 months (unless it states otherwise).

20
Q

What is a Shareholder Voting Agreement?

A

An agreement (with no durational limit) providing how shareholders will vote their shares. It is specifically enforceable and must be in writing and signed by all parties.

*CANNOT remove the shareholder’s right to elect or remove directors.

21
Q

How is a voting trust different from a voting agreement?

A

A voting trust is more formal. It can only last for 10 years and requires:

1) Legal ownership of the shares to be transferred to the trust; AND
2) The shareholders provide the trust agreement to the Secretary of the corporation.

22
Q

When can the Board of Directors act or vote?

A

A quorum must be present at the time when the vote is being taken.

Quorum = a majority of the Board of Directors unless otherwise stated in the Articles of Incorporation (however at minimum one third must be present).

23
Q

The Board of Directors is allowed to determine the compensation of Directors and Officers.

What duty do they have concerning this?

A

A duty to set compensation in accordance with reasonable parameters, taking into account the needs of the corporation and ensuring they don’t waste assets.

24
Q

How may a Director be removed from the Board of Directors?

A

By a vote of the majority of shareholders for or without cause (unless stated otherwise in the Articles of Incorporation).

25
Q

When can an Officer be removed from their position in the corporation?

A

At ANY time, with or without cause, by:

a) The Board of Directors;
b) The Officer who appointed such officer; OR
c) By any other Officer (if authorized).

*Removal does NOT affect their contract rights.

26
Q

What is an Officer’s actual or apparent authority?

A

Actual authority: to act consistently with their duties as outlined by the bylaws OR as provided by the Board of Directors.

Apparent authority: to bind the corporation when a third-party reasonably believes the officer has authority to act on behalf of the corporation AND that belief is traceable to the corporation’s manifestations.

27
Q

What is the implied authority of the President of a corporation?

A

He has the implied authority to bind the corporation for matters within its ordinary course of business (normal and necessary for managing the business),

BUT does not have authority to bind the corporation for extraordinary acts.

28
Q
A
29
Q

What is a Director’s duty of care to the corporation?

A

They must discharge their duties:

1) In good faith;
2) In a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best

interest of the corporation; AND

3) With the care that a person in a like position would

reasonably believe appropriate under similar circumstances.

*If duty is breached, they will be liable.

30
Q

May a Director rely on the advice of advisors?

A

Yes, when such reliance was reasonable AND the advisor or committee was qualified to provide such advice.

*Directors must be reasonably informed on the decisions that they make, and can be held liable for breach of this duty.

31
Q

What does the Duty of Loyalty require of a Director/Officer?

A

That in his dealings with the corporation, he must act in the best interests of the corporation AND without personal conflict.

32
Q

What does the Duty of Loyalty forbid a Director/Officer from doing?

A

A Director is forbidden from:

a) Entering into conflicting interest transactions;
b) Usurping a corporate opportunity;
c) Competing with the corporation; OR
d) Trading on inside information.

33
Q

When is a conflicting interest transaction NOT a breach of loyalty?

A

When a director shows that:

a) It was approved by a majority of disinterested directors after full disclosure of all material facts;
b) It was approved by a majority of disinterested shareholders after full disclosure of all material facts; OR
c) The transaction as a whole was fair to the corporation at the time it was entered into.

34
Q

When does a conflict of interest arise?

A

When the Director or a family member either:

a) Is a party to the transaction;
b) Has a beneficial interest in the transaction or is so closely linked to it that the director’s judgment may be affected;

OR

c) Is involved with another entity that is conducting business with the corporation and that transaction would normally be brought before the Board because of its importance.

35
Q

What is a corporate opportunity?

A

Any opportunity that the corporation has an interest/expectancy in;

OR

Any opportunity that’s in the corporation’s line of business.

36
Q

When may a Director/Officer pursue a corporate opportunity?

A

If he:

1) First presents it to the corporation’s Board of Directors;

AND

2) The Board decides NOT to pursue the opportunity.

*It is not a defense to show that the corporation would not have been able to take the opportunity.

37
Q

Direct Action

vs.

Derivative Action

A

Direct Action: Involves an injury or breach of duty owed to the shareholder of a corporation. Damages are awarded directly to the shareholder.

Derivative Action: A shareholder is suing to enforce the corporation’s claim, NOT his own personal claim. Damages awarded will be paid to the corporation.

38
Q

What are the requirements to commence a Derivative Suit?

A

The plaintiff-shareholder must:

1) Be a shareholder at the time of the act/omission OR became a shareholder by operation of law from such a shareholder;
2) Be a shareholder through entry of judgment;
3) Fairly and adequately represent the interests of the

corporation; AND

4) Make a written demand upon the corporation to take

suitable action (suit can’t commence until 90 days after).

39
Q

What is needed for a Fundamental Change to be approved?

A

It must be approved by a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast for the corporation, NOT just the majority of votes present at the meeting.

*A corp. MUST hold a special meeting when a fundamental change is proposed, with notice mailed to all shareholders.

40
Q

What does Rule 10b-5 prohibit?

A

The use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce in any scheme to defraud, make material misrepresentations or omissions, or in any other way use fraud in the purchase and/or sale of securities.

41
Q

What are the elements of a Rule 10b-5 claim?

A

That the defendant:

1) Engaged in a fraudulent scheme or device;
2) That was relied upon;
3) In connection with the purchase/sale of securities;
4) Acted with scienter;
5) Used some means of interstate commerce; AND
6) Caused damages.

42
Q

What does a fraudulent scheme or device include?

A

It includes:

a) Misrepresentation of material facts;
b) Insider trading; OR
c) Tipping.

43
Q

What is an “insider”?

A

A person that discloses non-public information that a reasonable trader would want to know before buying/selling stock OR abstaining from trading.

44
Q

What does Section 16(b) require of a director, shareholder, or officer?

A

That if they own more than 10% of a corporation, they must surrender any profit realized to the corporation from the sale or purchase of equity securities within a 6 month period when the corporation:

a) Is publicly traded; OR
b) Has more than 10 million in assets and at least 2,000 shareholders.

45
Q

Upon Dissolution, in what order are corporate assets distributed?

A

1) Outside creditors
2) Inside creditors
3) Shareholders

46
Q

Under the Deep Rock Doctrine, when will the claims of shareholders (who make a loan to the corporation) be subordinated to the claims of outside creditors?

A

If the corporation:

a) was undercapitalized; OR
b) the shareholder acted wrongly.