Capital Structure & Dist.
Stock & Recap
- Common Stock: Residual Claims Against Corp.
Asset
- Par
- Used 2 B sig. b/c if SH not put into corp. amt = 2 par value
received, liab.
- Now, elim. liab. by lwring par value 2 nominal sum
- Low par / no par ok'ed in all jxn
- Contrib. by SH
- Cash, prop. & past serv's perf'ed 4 stock ok
- Maj. not allow prom. of future pay / perf. 4 present issue
of stock
- RMA ok prom. as consid. of stock but min.
- Preemptive Rts
- SH rt 2 subscribe / buy in his proportional int. when corp.
give new issue
- Apply 2 close corp.
- Not exist unless specif'ly created by [1] articles of incorp.,
[2] stt, & [3] equity by ct. (min.)
- Sr. Sec.
- Pref'ed Stock
- Fixed div. in rel. 2 common issued @ par today
- Bd's discretion 4 decl'ing div.
- Equity int.
- Articles of incorp. def's pref'ed stock & MAY def.
- Cumulative div. so div. may not B lost if skipped
- Convertible pref'ed stock @ fixed ratio so pay less in div.
- Redeemable / callable stock w/premium 2 call back stock
- Bonds
- Sr 2 pref'ed stock
- Liab. int. so fixed legal oblgn 2 pay in int., not div.
- Convertible 2 common stock so pay less in int.
- Freq'ly redeemable
- Recap
- Def.
- Material change in SH's rts, pref's, / privileges in class
of stock
- Maj. SH of Affected Class Vote 2 Approve Change
- Del §242)a)4 & b says maj. votes 4 affected class
can amend articles 2 cancel / affect rts of any class 2 receive
div. but not decl'ed
- Preventing Unfairness 2 Pref'ed SH
- Exit option
- High stand. 4 vote / unanimity
- SH agmt
- Could have put by compelling corp. 2 buy back stock @ par
+ all accrued unpaid div.
Getting $ From Corp. As SH Capacity
- Divid.
- Def.
- Dist. of corp. profit 2 SH quarterly / annually (close corp)
@ bd's discretion
- Pro rata w/in class
- Lawful 2 make div. as long as axn not unduly prejud. creditors
- Six Tests: Always A Test + INSOLVENCY (MUST COME 2ND)
- Insolvency
- Can't pay divid. if render corp. insolvent
- Balance near / short term debts & liq. asset 2 det. solvency
- Balance Sheet
- Can pay divid. if Asset - (Liab. + Stated Cap.)
- Stated cap. is collective par value
- Any surplus other than stated cap is divid. payment
- Revalution surplus: surplus after reeval. fixed asset
- Paid in surplus: issue common stock @ lwr par value
- Reduction surplus: amend articles 2 change par value after
issued @ par
- Nimble Divid. Test (DL)
- Can pay divid. 2 extent have current earnings / profit
- Profit det'ed by income stmt where net inc. = gross inc. -
expense
- Current 4 short X
- Earned Surplus Test: Maj. Jxn
- Can pay divid. 2 extent have funds in earned surplus / retained
earning
- Earned surplus is portion of cap. surplus = 2 balance of net
undist'ed profits, income, gains, & losses from incorp.
- CA Modern Test
- Retained earning / earned surplus test OR
- Alt. ratio test (new) which is conjunctive
- Divid. 2 extent total asset - (total liab. X 125%) +
- Divid. 2 extent current asset exceed current liab.
- More senstive 2 creditors by giving cushion but can choose
test that yields higher #
- Revised Model Act Test: 6.40 (Min. Jxn)
- Can pay divid. if Asset - Liab.
- Any rsbl acct'ing method / fair valuation method
- Liab. 4 Improper Divid. Payment
- Dir'ors: liab. 4 voting 4 illegal divid. but good faith reliance
on fin. stmt
- Liab. 4 improper divid. payment amt (Maj)
- Liab. 4 damage from improper divid. (Min.)
- SH: Not liab. 2 return amt unless knew / had rsn 2 know was
improper
- Compelling Divid Pay By Ct: Rare
- In pub. corp, busi. jgmt & exit so not compel
- In close still reluctant 2 possible
- Stock Repurchase
- Dif. From Divid.
- Cap. gain not ord. inc.
- May / not B pro rata
- Same Tests as Divid. B/C Same Prob. 4 Creditors
- Installment plan so issue of when 2 apply tests
- Insolvency when each payment made but earned surplus in beginning
as if entire payment paid in beginning (Neimark v. Mel Kramer)
This material is copyrighted by the author. Use of this material
for profit is strictly prohibited without written consent
from author.
12/7/1996
Ms. Haeji Hong
Go Back to Law School Notes
Go Back to Busi Assn Outlines