FL Corporations Flashcards
How can a person become a member of an LLC?
1) as provided in the O/A;
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
LLC can file ___________ stating each person’s authority and any limits on that authority
Statement of Authority (SoA)
A judgment creditor of a member of a multi-member LLC has as his only remedy a ____________
charging order
An LLC is dissolved and must wind up its business upon the occurrence of:
“To dissolve LLC as a REMEDY, OA, Consent, or 90 days no Memmy”
i) An event/circumstance triggered by O/A;
ii) 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 1 specified person as a member is given by transferees owning the rights to receive a majority of distributions; and (b) at least 1 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?
“Dean needs 3 ROLLIES but only 1 AP”
1
*Non-profits –> 3
What provisions cannot be altered by the operating agreement?
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?
i) The board of directors must adopt the amendment to the articles;
and
ii) The board must submit the amendment to the shareholders for their approval 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
Does Florida issue a certificate of incorporation?
No
In Florida, what is the primary cause of action available to persons who have traded stock?
Fraud
A ________________ is 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.”
Benefit corporation or “B Corp”
A court considers the following factors when determining whether to pierce the corporate veil:
- undercapitalization (i.e., not having sufficient capital) at the time of formation
- *disregard of corporate formalities
- use of corporate assets as the shareholders’ own assets
- self-dealing with the corporation
- siphoning of corporate funds or stripping of corporate assets
- use of the corporate form to avoid statutory requirements or legal obligations
- unreasonable shareholder capital contributions in the form of loans
- shareholders’ impermissible control or domination over the corporation
- wrongful, misleading, or fraudulent dealings with a corporate creditor and
- whether the failure to allow piercing will sanction fraud or promote injustice
***HOWEVER, failing to respect the corporate entity alone is INSUFFICIENT to pierce the corporate veil
Is failing to respect the corporate entity alone sufficient to pierce the corporate veil?
NO
To become an S corporation, the corporation must meet the following requirements:
- it can have NO MORE than 100 shareholders
- the shareholders must be individuals, estates, certain exempt organizations, and certain trusts
- the shareholders must be United States citizens or permanent residents
- the corporation CANNOT have more than 1 class of stock
and
- each shareholder must elect for the corporation to become an S corporation.
A member of a limited liability company has the power to withdraw their membership.
Can the LLC continue to operate w/o the approval of the withdrawing member?
Bonus: Is buying out the withdrawing member required?
Yes. LLC continues to operate if there are remaining members, WITHOUT the approval of the withdrawing member;
No. The remaining members are NOT required to buy out the withdrawing member
The issuance of stock may be authorized by the board of directors, or if the articles provide,
the Shareholders
What can constitute considerations for a stock?
Any tangible or intangible property
(e.g., cash, promissory note, other securities of the corporation) or
a benefit to the corporation
(e.g., services previously rendered, promise to perform services evidenced by a written contract, forgiveness of an existing debt)
A stock split does not result in the distribution of corporate assets to the shareholders.
Therefore, a stock split is not subject to the
Distribution Insolvency tests
A shareholder has a right to inspect and copy corporate records, books, papers, etc., upon
Five days’ WRITTEN notice
An ultra vires act may be enforceable if one of what the three situations does not exist?
Absent:
- a shareholder filing suit to enjoin the corporation’s ultra vires action
- the corporation taking action against a director, an officer, or an employee of the corporation who engages in such action or
- the state initiating a proceeding against the corporation to enjoin its ultra vires action (known as “quo warranto”)
Or presence of a third-party trying to challenge the act (no standing)
How many of the total # of directors have to be present at a meeting to have a quorum?
A majority.
E.g. 20 total directors
13 present at a meeting
13 > 10. Majority satisfied
*Quorum cannot be less than 1/3
When a quorum of directors is present, what is the minimum # of directors that must vote for the resolution to pass?
A majority.
*Quorum cannot be less than 1/3
Shareholders do not owe a fiduciary duty to their corporations, but a duty to MINORITY shareholders may arise when
the CONTROLLING (Big Majority, e.g. 51%) shareholder sells her interest to an outsider
The duty of loyalty requires directors (and officers) to act in a manner that the director reasonably believes is in the best interests of the corporation
A director engaged in a conflict-of-interest transaction, also known as self-dealing, violates her duty of loyalty
Terra Corp. is incorporated in Florida with its principal office in Destin. Phyllis is the president of Terra Corp. and owns 51% of its shares. A potential buyer approached Phyllis with an offer to purchase her shares. The buyer offered Phyllis an additional bonus if Phyllis would step down from her office as president. Phyllis approached her attorney to determine whether the agreement to sell her shares is valid.
The attorney should advise Phyllis that
Answers:
A) the agreement breaches Phyllis’s duty to the corporation as a majority shareholder
B) the agreement could breach Phyllis’ duty of loyalty as an officer of the corporation
C) the agreement is valid because shareholders never owe duties to one another
D) the agreement is valid because Phyllis is not trying to eliminate other shareholders
B) the agreement could breach Phyllis’ duty of loyalty as an officer of the corporation
Majority shareholder owes F/D to minority shareholders when selling their interests