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California Shareholders Corporate Officers

Allen Matkins

If You Agree That Stock Issuance Was Not "Compensation, Salary, Or Income", You May Want To Think Carefully Before Issuing A Form...

Allen Matkins on

Ten years ago, Hovik Nazaryan sued Femtometrix, Inc. claiming that the company had issued shares to him than it had promised.  The parties settled the lawsuit.  The settlement agreement provided that the stock issued to Mr....more

Allen Matkins

So You Want To Sue "The Board", Is That Even Possible?

Allen Matkins on

A little more than eight years ago, I wrote about U.S. District Court Judge Ronald M. Whyte's ruling that a corporate board of directors lacks the capacity of being sued.  Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. v. Leland Stanford Junior...more

Allen Matkins

Just What Are The Duties Of A Controlling Shareholder And How Should Claims Of Breach Be Brought?

Allen Matkins on

In a recent post, Professor Stephen Bainbridge discusses the question of when a controlling shareholder owes fiduciary duties to minority shareholders.  Knowing when controlling shareholder owes fiduciary duties is one thing,...more

Allen Matkins

The Importance Of Calling

Allen Matkins on

The validity of a board meeting hinges on three things - a quorum, notice and call.  Many lawyers focus on the first two and may overlook the third.   For California and Nevada corporations, the question of who may call a...more

Allen Matkins

Does Amending A Shareholders Agreement Require Qualification Under The California Corporate Securities Law?

Allen Matkins on

A significant amount of background is required to answer the question of whether amending a shareholders agreement is subject to qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law.  As an initial matter, the CSL...more

Allen Matkins

Professor Bainbridge Queries Whether SB 313 Eviscerates Omnicare, But Does That Question Have Any Relevance To California...

Allen Matkins on

Delaware practitioners and legal scholars are digesting the implications of SB 313 which adds a new Section 122(18) to the Delaware General Corporation.  According to the bill's synopsis, this new provision...more

Allen Matkins

Directors Removing Directors

Allen Matkins on

Seven years ago, I addressed the question of whether the board of directors of a California corporation could remove a fellow director...more

Allen Matkins

Can Shareholders Elect Corporate Officers?

Allen Matkins on

The classic model of corporate governance is that the board of directors appoints and removes the principal corporate officers.  This is consistent with the general principle that the business and affairs of a corporation...more

Allen Matkins

When A California Corporation Converts To A California Limited Liability Company, What Happens To Its Nevada Business License?

Allen Matkins on

NRS 107.028(1)(d) requires that a trustee under a deed of trust be a "domestic or foreign entity which holds a current state business license issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to chapter 76 of NRS".   In Mahban v....more

Allen Matkins

Not Every California Corporation Is Governed By The California General Corporation Law

Allen Matkins on

The California General Corporation Law is part of the California Corporations Code, but not every corporation incorporated in California is formed or governed by the General Corporation Law.   In fact, the Corporations Code...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Delaware's Status as the Favored Corporate Home: Reflections and Considerations

In recent months, a conversation has emerged as to whether Delaware should remain the favored state of incorporation for business entities. Indeed, many of our clients have asked us whether they should remain in Delaware or...more

Allen Matkins

What Egregious Error Have Courts Made Nearly 9,000 Times (And Counting)?

Allen Matkins on

In a recently published article, Professors Samantha J. Prince & Joshua P. Fershée focus on the propensity to conflate corporations with limited liability companies...more

Allen Matkins

Do E-mail Exchanges Constitute A Meeting Of The Board?

Allen Matkins on

I recently discussed whether chat messages constitute "minutes" of a meeting.  A related question is whether emails constitute a meeting....more

Allen Matkins

California Legislator Proposes To Enhance Criminal Fines For California, But Not Delaware, Business Entities

Allen Matkins on

In February of this year, California Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel introduced a bill making certain technical, nonsubstantive changes to a provision of the Penal Code concerning the removal of prison inmates for court...more

Allen Matkins

How Will The Secretary Of State Know A Corporation's Purpose?

Allen Matkins on

Yesterday I wrote about my concern that about the constitutionality of  SB 1168 (Limón).  This bill  would allow the California Secretary of State to cancel the articles of incorporation or the filing of a statement and...more

Allen Matkins

What Exactly Must A Board Approve When It Approves A Merger?

Allen Matkins on

Last Friday, John Jenkins wrote about another momentous ruling by Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick.  In Sjunde AP-Fonden v. Activision Blizzard, Inc., 2024 WL 863290 (Del. Ch. Feb. 29, 2024), she ruled...more

Allen Matkins

For How Long Is That Proxy Valid?

Allen Matkins on

Section 705(a) of the California Corporations Code provides that no proxy is valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  This is a reflection of the fact that proxies...more

Allen Matkins

Can The California Attorney General Enforce The Inspection Rights Of Stockholders And Directors Of Delaware Corporations?

Allen Matkins on

The California General Corporation Law expectedly grants inspection rights to shareholders and directors of California corporations.  Unexpectedly (at least to practitioners outside California), the GCL extends those rights...more

Allen Matkins

Is The General Counsel Ipso Facto A Corporate Officer?

Allen Matkins on

One difficulty of answering the question of whether a general counsel is a corporate officer is that the California General Corporation Law does not define "officer".  Corporations Code Section 312(a) requires a corporation...more

Allen Matkins

If Corporate Charters Are Contracts, Must They Be Signed By The Corporation?

Allen Matkins on

Recently, Professor Ann Lipton wrote that the California Supreme Court has granted review of EpicentRx, In.c v. Superior Court, 95 Cal. App. 5th 890 (2023), review granted 539 P.3d 118 (2023).   This was a case that I...more

Allen Matkins

Court Rules Director Of California Corporation Has A Duty To Disclose When Soliciting Consents

Allen Matkins on

The California General Corporation Law permits shareholders to take action by written consent, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.  Cal. Corp. Code § 603(a).  When shareholder action is taken by...more

Allen Matkins

Lawyer Revives Zombie Corporation In Attempt To Enforce Decades Old Lien - Was He Successful?

Allen Matkins on

In 1995, Panrox International (USA), Inc. recorded a deed of trust on a home in Los Angeles to secure an indebtedness of $141,000.  On January 2, 2001, the State of California suspended Panrox for failure to pay taxes. ...more

Allen Matkins

When Cumulative Voting Precludes Election Of Directors By Ballot

Allen Matkins on

The California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law contemplates three different methods for members to take action: at a meeting, by ballot, and by unanimous written consent.  Cal. Corp. Code §§ 7512(a), 7513 & 7516. ...more

Allen Matkins

When May Shares Be Voted Without A Proxy Or Without Transfer Into The Holder's Name?

Allen Matkins on

In most cases, Generally speaking, only the record owners of shares on the record date are entitled to vote under the California General Corporation Law.  As with most generalizations, however, there are exceptions.  For...more

Allen Matkins

Must A Parent Of A Constituent Corporation Sign The Agreement Of Merger?

Allen Matkins on

In California practice, a merger reorganization will typically involve two agreements - one short, the other not.  The Corporations Code refers to the shorter agreement as the "agreement of merger".   At a minimum it must...more

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