【文章內(nèi)容簡介】 tions ? 1. Definition and Characteristics of Corporations ? In mon usage the word “ pany” means those associated for economic purpose, . to carry on a business for profit, and covers partnership, trusts, clubs, incorporated association and to some extent almost any business operation operating as “ the pany” . “ Company” is broader than “ corporation” . ? Corporation refers to as a legal person that is established according to the law of corporation for profit. ? A corporation has the following characteristics: (1) The establishment of corporation is according to the ordain of law or the permission of the government. (2) The purpose of a corporation is for profit. (3) A corporation is a seperate legal person. An artificial entity ? The simplest and usually the most useful way of viewing a corporation is to consider it a fictitious being or artificial entity independent of the owners or investors. This artificial entity may conduct businesses in its own name much in the same way a real person could. Law of some Countries ? (1) British Company Law ? 1835 Trade Company Law貿(mào)易公司法 ? 1844 Common Stock Law共同股份法 ? 1855 Law of Limited Liability有限責(zé)任法 ? 1907 Limited Liability Partnership Law有限責(zé)任合伙法 ? 1908 Company Incorporate Law公司合并法 ? 1929 Company Law公司法 ? 1948 Company Law (new)新公司法 ? (2) American Company Law ? 1933 The Model Business Corporation Act標(biāo)準商事公司法 ? 1969 The Model Business Corporation Act標(biāo)準商事公司法（修訂版） ? 1984 The Model Revised Business Corporation Act標(biāo)準修訂商事公司法 ? (3) French Company Law ? 1673 Business Act商事條例 ? 1807 Business Code商法典 ? 1867 Company Law公司法 ? 1925 Limited Company Law有限公司法 ? 1940 Company Lawrevised in 1985 ? (4)German Company Law ? 1892 Limited Liability Company Law ? 有限責(zé)任公司法 ? 1897 German Business Code德國商法典 ? 1937 Stock Law股份法 ? 1965 Stock Law (new)新股份法 ? (5) Chinese Company Law ? 3. Classifications of Corporations ? (1) Classification by Liability of Members ? 以成員 /投資者的責(zé)任為標(biāo)準 大陸法系的分類 ? 1) Companies limited by shares. ? 2) Companies limited by guarantee. ? 3) A pany limited by guarantee with a share capital. ? 4) An unlimited pany. ? 5) Noliability pany. ? (2) Classification by Membership英美法系的分類 ? 1) Public/open panies（開放式公司） . ? 2) Private/closed panies（封閉式公司）. ? （ 3） Parent corporation（母公司） , subsidiary corporation（子公司） , ? 第十三條 第二款 ? 公司可以設(shè)立子公司，子公司具有企業(yè)法人資格，依法獨立承擔(dān)民事責(zé)任。 ? （ 4） head office(總公司 ) and branch/affiliated corporation（分公司） ? 《公司法》第十三條 公司可以設(shè)立分公司，分公司不具有企業(yè)法人資格，其民事責(zé)任由公司承擔(dān)。 以公司 承擔(dān)責(zé)任的信用基礎(chǔ) 為標(biāo)準的分類 ： ? 人合公司（企業(yè)）：無限公司、合伙 ? 資合公司：股份有限公司 ? 人合兼資合公司：有限責(zé)任公司 limited liability pany(有限責(zé)任公司 ), stock limited pany(股份有限公司 ) ? 馬克思說：“假設(shè)必須等待積累去使單個資本增長到能修鐵路的程度，那恐怕今天世界上還沒有鐵路，但是集中通過股份公司，轉(zhuǎn)瞬之間就把這事辦成了” of Corporation ? (1) Creation. A corporation may be created only by permission of a government. ? (2) Legal Status. A corporation is a legal person and a legal entity independent of its owners and managers. ? (3) Powers. A corporation may acquire, hold, and convey property in its own name and it may sue and be sued in its own name. ? (4) Management. Shareholders elect a board of directors to manage the corporation. ? (5) Owner’ s Liability. Shareholders have limited liability. ? (6) Transferability of Owner’ s Interest. Generally shareholders can transfer their shares freely. ? (7) Taxation. A corporation pays ine taxes on its profits, and when the corporation distribute aftertax profits as dividends, the shareholders pay tax on the dividends. ? 5. Creation/establishment of Corporation(公司的設(shè)立 ) ? (1) Incorporation Procedure ? 1) Select a name of the pany. ? 2) Draw up Memorandum of Association/Articles of Incorporation. ? 3) Certificate of incorporation. ? 4) Appoint the directors. ? 5) Complete and lodge the application form. ? (2) Name and Registration Number ? A name is available if it doesn’ t clash with an existing pany name, or is not included in the business names registered or has not been declared by the regulations to be unacceptable. In foreign countries, the pany is normally required a unique pany number. Otherwise the pany will face to the tax penalty. The business number is available for the public searching on the inter. ? (3) Memorandum of Association ? The memorandum of association (also called articles of incorporation or the certificate of incorporation) is the primary document, and generally regulates the pany’ s activities with the outside world. ? The bylaws (also called articles of association in some countries) are the secondary document, such as procedures for board meetings and shareholders’ meeting. ? (4) Tax ? Corporations have a double tax. Both corporate profits and shareholder dividends are taxed, but corporate profits are taxed at a lower rate than the rates for individuals. ? 5. Corporate Financing ? (1) Stocks/Shares ? Shares normally have a nominal or par value, which is the limit of the shareholder’s liability to contribute to the debts of the pany on an insolvent liquidation. Different kinds of shares offer different rights to the shareholders. ? A pany may issue both ordinary shares and preference shares. ? The total number of issued shares in a pany is said to represent its capital. Shares usually confer the holder a number of rights: ? 1) Voting rights. ? 2) Rights to dividends declared by the pany. ? 3) Rights to any return of capital either upon redemption of the share, or upon the liquidation of the pany. ? 4) Preferential rights to participate in future share issues by the pany. ? (2) Debt Securities（債券） ? Debt securiti