Shareholders Flashcards
(28 cards)
SH Duties
SHs elect BoD & vote on fundamental changes
Meetings
Annual: mandatory to elect BoD
Special: to approve fundamental change
SH Meeting Notice
Required ≤ 10 and ≥ 60 days before meeting
- Content (where/when held)
- Special meeting notice needs purpose
- Failure to provide notice allows SH to challenge actions
- Waiver: SH held to waive defends in notice by signed writing/meeting attendance
SH Voting
Only SH who owns shares on record date entitled to vote
Record Date
Fixed by BoD
Can’t be more than 70 days before meeting
SH after record date can’t vote w/o proxy from record owner
Proxy (SH Voting)
3P can be appointed to vote if signed writing sent to corp
signed for 11 months unless otherwise stated
Revocable unless otherwise specified & coupled w/ interest
Quorum (SH Voting)
Majority of votes representing eligible outstanding shares
Quorum must be present at meeting
Number Required (SH Voting)
If quorum exists cote approved if votes in favor > votes against (unless Articles say otherwise)
Cumulative Voting (SH Voting)
Articles can give SH number of votes equal to number of shares multiplied by number of directors
Votes = (Share #) x (Director #)
Class Voting
Articles can create classes of stock w/ greater or no voting power
Voting Agreements (SH)
SH can enter contractual agreement to vote shares in specific way
SoF applies, enforceable thru specific performance
3 Types of SH Voting Agreements
- Voting Pool
- Voting Trust
- Management Agreement
Voting Pool
Binding voting agmt where SHs retain legal ownership
Doesn’t need to be filed w/ corp, no time limit
Voting Trust
Trust to which legal ownership of SH’s stock transferred
Trustee votes shares & distributes dividends in accord w/ trust
Must be in writing
Limited to 10 years, Filed w/ Corp
Management Agreement
Lets SHs alter way corp manages even if agate inconsistent w/ statutory provisions
SH Right To Inspect Records
SH can inspect/copy records w/ 5 days’ notice stating proper purpose
SH Right to Sue Corporation
SH can bring direct/derivative action against corp
Direct Suit
recover damages for breach of duty to SH individually, causing direct harm
SH vindicating his own rights, not required to make demand on BoD before proceeding w/ litigation
Derivative Suit
SH sues on behalf of corp to vindicate corp’s rights (SAD)
Standing, adequacy, demand
Standing
Must be SH at time of harm & maintain ownership throughout litigation
Adequacy
Must fairly adequately represent interests of the corporation
Demand
Must make written demand to BoD & wait 90 days before commencing action unless BoD rejects it earlier/waiting would cause irreparable harm
Demand may be excused if futile
Recovery
Any recovery goes to Corp, SH can demand reimbursement for atty’s fees if action benefitted corp
SH Liability Generally
SHs don’t owe duty to each other/corp but can be liable to 3P or if controlling SH in close corp