Newsletters

Directors' Liability - Torts and Wrongful Acts

TORTS AND WRONGFUL ACTS

Continuity of Existence in Choosing a Form of Business Organization

Continuity of existence is an important factor in choosing the structure of a business. The value of a business when viewed as a continuing or "going" concern is likely to be considered higher than the same business if it is being dissolved and its value is being distributed.

Tortious Interference with a Contract or with Prospective Contractual Relations

Parties to a contract are entitled to performance of the contract without interference from others. Interference with a contract can lead to claims of tortious interference with performance of the contract or tortious interference with prospective contractual relations.

Securities Transfer Agents

Transfer agents track the owners of securities. They also perform several other services for companies with registered and publicly traded securities in the course of tracking the owners of the securities. Transfer agents usually are banks or trust companies, although a company with publicly traded securities may perform transfer agent functions for its own securities.

Initial Public Offerings and Lockup Agreements

A lockup agreement is a contract between an underwriter and a company going public in which the insiders of the company, including directors, officers, employees, and friends and family agree that they will not sell shares of the company they own until a set period of time after the company's shares are sold to the public. The objective of the lockup agreement is to provide a stable market for the securities for a reasonable time after the initial public offering.