Articles Posted in Corporations

|

AdobeStock_414456803-300x118Both employees and employers need to understand how stock options work. Employers who issue stock options without understanding them can lose significant value or control of their businesses. Employees who do not understand their stock options could miss out on a significant part of the compensation they are owed for their employment. The experienced California stock option lawyers at Structure Law Group help employers and employees understand their legal rights and obligations regarding stock options.

A Timeline Of the Stock Option Life Cycle

Like other financial assets, stock options have a life cycle. Understanding this life cycle can help you understand the true value of the asset. There are three general phases in the life cycle of stock options:

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_239826817-300x200The Board of Directors is a critical factor in the success – or failure – of any new startup company. Entrepreneurs must therefore be strategic about if and when they give Board seats to investors. Entrepreneurs must also be cautious of the total number of seats that are given away. Board seats represent voting power, and if investors create a voting block, they could change the entire direction of the company. They could even vote the founders out entirely.

The Difference Between the Board Of Directors and an Advisory Board

The key difference between a board of directors and an advisory board is the authority to make binding decisions on behalf of the company. An advisory board provides strategic – but non-binding – advice about the management of a company. The Board of Directors has the authority to make binding decisions of a company. Some investors may be satisfied to receive a seat on an advisory board and simply consult about the direction of the company. Others may require a seat on the Board in order to retain the authority to make binding decisions. This is especially common in when financing from venture capitals. Because venture capitals usually involve a larger investment than angel or seed money, finance professionals want to protect their investment by staying directly resolved in the management of the startups.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_299947443-300x162It is important to structure a business entity that will best meet your needs before starting a new business. Even once you have selected a corporation over a partnership or LLC, there are still choices to be made. S corporations and C corporations have some similarities. There are also critical differences, and it is important to understand how each type of corporation functions before selecting the one that will best meet your business needs. 

Only One Class Of Stock

There are several key differences in how ownership may be held in S corporations and C corporations. S corporations may issue only one class of stock, while C corporations can have multiple classes. S corps are limited to a maximum of one hundred shareholders – all of whom must be United States citizens or lawful residents. C corporations have no such restrictions on ownership. S corporations also cannot be owned by other S corporations, C corporations, LLCs, partnerships, or trusts. These stock and ownership restrictions make an S corporation unsuitable for many corporations. Be sure to consult with your business lawyer about your specific plans for issuing stock and apportioning ownership in your new business.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_238077911-300x200A private placement memorandum (PPM) is used to offer security in a private company to specific groups of qualified investors. It is used as a marketing tool to provide information and generate interest, but it also serves to meet the requirements of SEC regulations. It is therefore important to be sure that your company’s PPM is reviewed by an experienced investment attorney. An incomplete or vague PPM can expose your business to liability or SEC fines. While investment bankers usually prepare these memos, they may not be qualified to provide legal advice. A small investment of attorney’s fees now could save your business significant fines, penalties, and legal fees later on.

United States Investors Versus Overseas Investors

Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933 allows private securities offerings to be made to foreign investors. These offers can, however, bring up other complicated legal issues. For example: if the offer is made directly to foreign investors in another country, the offeror could be subject to that country’s securities laws and regulations.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_414492192-300x169Secured creditors use collateral to protect their investments. Collateral can be a good form of financial protection, but the security only exists if creditors follow all legal requirements. If all legal requirements are not met, a secured creditor might not have priority over other creditors – or have no legal rights to the collateral at all. An experienced securities lawyer can help your business protect its assets by securing your transactions appropriately.

There are many ways that a creditor can gain priority over other creditors. Mortgage lenders, for example, file specific legal documents along with the recorded deed to ensure that they have a secured interest in the home if the borrower stops making required mortgage payments. These documents are made publicly available by the county recorder. As a result, the mortgage lender is able to claim priority over other claimants to the home and even secure priority in any bankruptcy proceedings the borrower might file.

The same principles apply to businesses that have a secured interest in collateral to protect their investments. Documents are drafted to conform to the Uniform Commercial Code. These “UCC filings” are then sent to the office of the Secretary of State to be recorded. These public records serve as notice to other creditors. Like a mortgage recorded at the county recorder’s office, the security is protected because other creditors have been notified that the secured creditor has priority.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_278805688-300x200Term sheets are, by design, made to be simple. They are supposed to give a general overview of a proposed investment in very broad terms. Despite this, a term sheet can contain provisions that could create complications for your business in the future. An experienced investment lawyer can help you fully understand the implications of all term sheet provisions in order to protect your business from future problems.

Investment Amount

The amount to be invested is usually the most important provision of a term sheet. Many investors, especially new investors, get distracted by the overall amount of the proposed investment, which can distract an entrepreneur from other important investment terms. The investment could be contingent on the business being valued above a set amount. It could come in installments. The installments could also be contingent on the business meeting certain goals by certain dates. Business owners must thoroughly understand the terms of any such contingencies and how they could impair the company’s ability to secure the full amount of the proposed investment.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_312736469-300x200There are many ways to capitalize a new business. Angel financing, venture capital, and private equity are popular methods of raising capital, but it is important for business owners to understand the difference. These different methods are appropriate at different stages of your business life cycle. Successful entrepreneurs know when and how to use them effectively. 

Stages of the Business Life Cycle

Before a business starts any operations or has a single customer, it will need startup capital. It is at this beginning when angel financing (or “seed investors”) comes in. These initial investments of “seed money” allow entrepreneurs to take their initial idea and turn it into reality. The earliest phase of the business cycle, however, is also the riskiest. There is a high chance that angel financiers will lose their entire investment. But angel financing typically has the highest returns on investment to compensate for this risk.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_377846636-300x225Shareholders have important legal rights under California law. These rights protect a shareholder’s ability to make informed financial decisions about their ownership rights in a company. If you do not understand these legal rights, a company can try to get around them and benefit itself at the expense of its own shareholders. The experienced shareholders’ rights attorneys at Structure Law Group can help you protect your legal rights in order to shield your financial interests. Learn more about your shareholder rights – and the limitations placed on these rights.

Statutes

The California Corporations Code provides shareholders with the specific legal right to inspect corporate documents. The statute allows for the inspection of the accounting books, records, and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the board and committees of the board (or a true and accurate copy if the original has been lost, destroyed, or is not normally physically located within the State of California). This inspection can be made with a written demand on the corporation by any shareholder (or holder of a voting trust certificate) at any reasonable time during usual business hours. The statute requires that the demand be made for a purpose reasonably related to the holder’s interests as a shareholder.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_280928050-300x200As with every new year, 2021 has brought changes to the law that can affect your business. California business owners must stay up to date on the legal changes that can affect their liabilities. The experienced business attorneys at Structure Law Group are here to help you understand all potential liabilities your business could face and develop an effective strategy for mitigating these risks.

New Code of Civil Procedure Statutes Enacted For 2021

The Code of Civil Procedure has been amended to include three new specific sections related to the discovery process. Section 2031.280(a) of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended so that parties responding to an inspection demand may no longer produce documents “as they are kept in the usual course of business.”  Instead, when produced, the documents “shall be identified with the specific request number to which the documents respond.” This can add extensive administrative labor to reorganize documents and produce them as requested.

Continue reading ›

|

AdobeStock_332552950-300x200When a company suffers financial harm due to mismanagement by a corporate officer or a board member, it is the shareholders that usually suffer the consequences. The law allows shareholders to sue for their losses when a company cannot or will not sue the officers that caused it. These are known as “derivative” suits because the shareholder’s cause of action actually derives from the company’s losses. The corporate attorneys at Structure Law Group can help you understand and enforce these rights in order to protect your financial interests as a shareholder. If you believe that funds have been mismanaged, we can help you investigate the claim and plan the legal strategy that best protects your rights. Our experienced litigators can also protect your rights in court.

Suing For Money Mismanagement on Behalf of All Investors of a Fund

When a corporate officer or member of the board engages in mismanagement, the financial consequences often affect all shareholders. Shareholders in this situation will often consolidate their claims into a single case. This saves on both legal expenses and the time it takes to get the case onto a court docket. A single plaintiff will be named to represent the entire “class” of plaintiffs, which in this case is the other shareholders who suffered the same loss. Because the shareholders are actually pursuing the company’s claim, proceeds from the lawsuit can actually go to the company. This is why many shareholder derivative suits seek remedies other than compensation. The shareholders might sue for better accounting practices, or the removal of a board member who engaged in fraudulent transitions, or some other specific relief that will prevent similar losses in the future.

Continue reading ›