Corporations Flashcards
Requirements for Formation of Corporations
People: Incorporators (must have more than one)
Paper: Articles of Incorporation
Act: Must have notarized articles delivered to the Secretary of State & Pay required fees
Incorporators
Sign the articles and deliver them to the secretary of state. Can be an individual or a business entity.
Articles of Incorporation
- The articles are a contract between the corporation and the shareholders.
- And also a contract between the corporation and the state.
Information in Articles of Incorporation
- Corporate Name
- Name and Address of Each Incorporator
- Name and Address of Each Initial Director.
- Name of Registered Agent and address of registered office.
- Statement of Purpose
Ultra Vires Activity
When a corporation acts outside its business purpose.
DeFacto Corporation Requirements
- The is a relevant incorporation statute (there is, every state has one)
- the parties made a good faith, colorable attempt to comply with the statute. and
- Some exercise of corporate privileges (acting like we have a corporation).
**if doctrine applies, the business is treated as a corporation for all purposes except in an action by the state.
Corporation by Estoppel
One who treats a business as a corporation may be estopped from denying that it is a corporation.
Promoter
A person acting on behalf of a corporation not yet formed. She might enter into a contract on behalf of a corporation not yet formed.
Express Adoption of Contract
Board takes an action adopting the contract
Implied Adoption of Contract
a corporation accepts the benefits of the contract.
Liability of the Promoter
Unless the contract clearly provides otherwise, the promoter is liable on pre-incorporation contracts until there is a novation.
Novation (Corporations)
An agreement of the promoter, the corporation, and the other contracting party that the corporation will replace the promoter under the contract.
Issuance
When the corporation sells its own stock
Par
minimum issuance price
Treasury Stock
This is stock the company issued and then reacquired. It is considered authorized but unissued, and the corporation can then resell it. if it does, the board sets any issuance price it wants.
De Jure Corporation
A corporation formed in accordance with the law
Piercing the Corporate Veil
the courts will disregard a corporate entity and hold individuals liable for corporate obligations
Elements Justifying Piercing
- Alter Ego
- Inadequate Capitalization of Time of Formation
- Avoidance of Existing Obligations, Fraud or Evasion of Statutory provisions.
Alter Ego
Where the corporation ignores corporate formalities such that it may be considered the alter ego of the shareholders or another corporation. (Situations may arise where shareholders treat corporate assets as their own, fail to observe corporate formalities etc.)
Inadequate Capitalization of Time of Formation
At the time of formation there is not enough unencumbered capital to reasonably cover prospective liabilities.
Avoidance of Existing Obligations, Fraud, or Evasion of Statutory Provisions
The corporate veil mau be pierced where necessary to prevent fraud or to prevent an individual shareholder form using the entity to avoid his existing personal obligations.