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Latin American Law. Corporate law Basics. Last updated 30 Nov 11. Today’s topics. Civilian business organizations Types: “hub and spoke” Rules (mandatory / default) Organizational basics Formation Promoter / notary / authorization / registration Single act or public subscription
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Latin American Law Corporate lawBasics Last updated 30 Nov 11
Today’s topics • Civilian business organizations • Types: “hub and spoke” • Rules (mandatory / default) • Organizational basics • Formation • Promoter / notary / authorization / registration • Single act or public subscription • Constitutive documents • Structure • Shareholders / managers • Oversight: board / supervisory council • Centrality of shareholder meeting • Liability • Promoter liability for pre-formation agreements • “Piercing corporate veil” • Director/manager liability
Value of knowing other legal systems • Model for borrowing • Gain perspective • Discover truths • Impose / power State directed economy …
Latin American (Spanish) sociedad anónima (SA) sociedad cerrada sociedad colectiva sociedad en comandita (sociedad comanditaria) sociedad de empresas (en participación) sociedad de inversiones sociedad de responsabilidad limitada (SRL) sociedad filial sociedad matriz sociedad por acciones (SpA) sociedad pública (corporación) sociedad unipersonal United States Corporation close corporation (not “closed”) general partnership government agency limited partnership joint venture individual corporation investment company (mutual fund) limited liability company parent company subsidiary company 1-A / 2-B / 3-C / 4-E / 5-F / 6-H / 7-I / 8-K / 9-J / 10-A / 11-D / 12-G
“Hub and spoke” (civilian bus orgs) • Argentina Business • Organizations Act • Title II • Norms for legal entities • ------ • Registration • Voting • Limited liability Partnerships Limited liability companies Associations, foundations Corporations
Form an SRL / LLC SRL – Argentina • reserve a company name with a specific governmental form (IGJ form #3) • have company members' signatures verified by a notary • deposit subscribed capital in the national bank • publish an announcement of the company's formation in the Official Bulletin • pay the incorporation fee • register the corporation • obtain books for company record-keeping • submit books to a notary for certification • obtain a tax 'password’ • obtain a tax identification number • register for sales taxes with the local government • register with the Social Security Administration • obtain employment insurance • submit company books to Labor Ministry for certification LLC – US • ensure name availability within your state of organization • develop an operating agreement • file the articles of organization • apply for a tax identification number Sam Wellborn
Constitution Instrument Name (must include SA) Purpose Classes / rights of shares Amount of capital Subscription terms Identity of shareholders Election of directors Company domicile What are company “statutes”?
STRUCTURE FORMATION Members Notary Single act Public subscription Bank Board of Trustees Supervisory Council Comptroller Promoters Directorate Public RegistryJudge Company Winslow Taylor
Argentina is “a chronically unstable, endemically corrupt polity with a rich history of dictatorship, economic mismanagement and the occasional political lunacy.” In Argentina, the culture has created a “tendency towards individualism, unwillingness to engage in teamwork and a lack of trust in people.”
Form US branch of Argentine corporation? Form Argentine branch of US corporation? Inspeccion General de Justicia Secretary of State (foreign corporation) • Winslow Taylor • Corporate federalism?
According to Olivares, all Argentine shareholders enjoy the right to cumulative voting (one-third of the board vacancies) right to be informed in advance of the shareholder meeting matters pre-emptive right (right to purchase pro rata in any stock offering) right to request judicial oversight of the company “as a preventive measure … serious danger to the company.” right to dividends. • Sam Wellborn • Compare to US? • Shs better off in Argentina?
Argentina Business Organizations Act Article 59: The managers of the organization shall act loyally and exercise the level of care of a good businessman. If they neglect their obligations they are responsible unlimitedly and jointly for any harm that may result from their acts or omissions. • Taryn Kadar • How do you run the business? • Who might sue you? • Piercing the veil? • BJR?
A business purpose plays a significant role in Argentine corporate law. In Argentina, the description of a corporation’s objective must be “precise and definite.” Section 54 of the ACL provides that shareholders of a local corporation shall be held unlimitedly and jointly and severally liable if such corporation has been used as a mere vehicle to pursue goals alien to the corporate purpose, breach the law or the public order or to impair third parties rights [student]
The measure of a corporate law system is how it deals with executive compensation …
Invest in Argentine company? Grupo Financiero Galicia (GGAL)
IESE Business School in Spain: Argentine life is “characterized by making the least possible effort, ignoring the law and seeking individual advantage over any other interest.” Do “ethics codes” reassure foreign investors? Jen Beatty