Directors’ Reliance on Corporate Books and Records
When directors perform their corporate responsibilities, the duty of care requires them to exercise the care that an ordinary prudent person would exercise in the management of his or her own affairs under similar circumstances. To be able to invoke the protections of the business judgment rule, directors must make informed business decisions.
Disclosure of a Corporate Opportunity
Generally, a corporate director breaches the duty of loyalty if she seizes a business opportunity for herself that the corporation was financially capable of undertaking or in which the corporation had a reasonable interest or expectancy. Additionally, the director’s loyalty is called into question if she takes personal advantage of a business opportunity that was in line with the corporation’s business.
Medallion Signature Guarantees
Transfer agents and issuers of securities, pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code, may require a guarantee of the validity of the signature of the person transferring the securities in order to prevent a fraudulent transfer. The Securities and Exchange Commission has designated institutions that may issue such guarantees, and the Securities Transfer Association has developed the Medallion Signature program for those institutions to follow in guaranteeing signatures.
Private Treble Damage Actions Under Federal Antitrust Law
Under federal antitrust law, persons and companies harmed by anticompetitive conduct may seek an award of triple their damages, an injunction, and costs of the action (including attorney fees) against a party that violates federal antitrust laws. For example, price fixing or an agreement among competitors on the price they will charge is considered a per se illegal violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 1 that the government may prosecute as a felony. As a further deterrent to such activity, those harmed by the violation may seek treble damages and an injunction.
Regulation of “Penny Stock” Sales
Rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 define and regulate “penny stocks.” Penny stocks are defined in Rule 3a51-1 as unregistered stocks priced at less than five dollars issued by a company with net tangible assets of less than $2 million after being in operation for three years or less than $5 million after being in operation less than three years.