This collection of essays describes and analyzes the legal regimes governing directors' liability for corporate fault and default across eleven important trading jurisdictions. It asks:
- Are the reform provisions, especially director duties of 'due diligence, ' sharply enough aimed to attain the goal of corporate accountability?
- Will it be easy or difficult for defendants to establish that due diligence was exercised?
- Is it possible that more reliance on self-policing may lead to less documenting and reporting of wrongs and dangers?
- What impact may schemes of greater self-monitoring have on State regulation?
- In what ways might corporations react to these demands that they become guardians of the public weal?
The authors -- each an authority in his or her respective jurisdiction -- recognize that the reforms are a reaction to the political problems created by the ill fit of the corporation with the economic and political value systems that we purport to hold dear. As they survey the ways that vibrant economies can frame laws to influence the conduct of directors and companies, they invite further exploration into the political, economic, practical, and evolutionary factors that may explain the convergence and divergence of both statute law and judicial doctrines and the desirability or inevitability of this deeply significant trend.

This text compares the corporate governance structures of the US quoted company and its European equivalent and the role which employees, as non-shareholding stakeholders, hold within those structures. It focuses on the incidents of ownership normally exercised by stakeholders and raises questions regarding different responses to the issue of mandated labor market regulation on both sides of the Atlantic. The text considers theoretical and practical issues raised in this context.

Comparative Corporate Governance considers the impact of globalization on corporate governance issues and highlights how, despite the effect it has clearly had, predictions of legal convergence have not come true. By adopting a comparative legal approach, this book explores the tensions that exist between convergence attempts and the persistence of local models of governance in the US, Europe and Asia. Veronique Magnier assesses institutional, cultural and sociological factors as features of the disparities in governance. She does so by addressing the three main areas of tension in the legal aspects of corporate governance: theoretical pressure, which pits shareholder primacy against models advocating for greater participation of large corporations in general economic welfare; technical regulation, such as integrating corporate governance codes into national legal systems; and the need for context and reflection when transplanting governance approaches to different countries. Varying economic, societal and cultural environments make it vital to contextualize corporate governance in order to better understand how governance models operate in a globalized world. Lawyers, academics and advanced students of law looking to improve their understanding of corporate governance will find this a diverse and rewarding read.

This comprehensive guide to all the essential legal and business considerations in financing the business activities of the modern corporation. Readers are provided with a clear and concise introduction to the legal and contractual framework that governs the major capital raising transactions in which a firm might be involved, with a particular emphasis upon the federal and state securities laws. An indispensable resource for consummating any private investment transaction, public offering, or commerical loan transaction, as well as dealing with disclosure requirements, the structuring of underwriting arrangements, and complying with public company responsibilities. Intended for entrepreneurs and managers at firms of all sizes.

The model contract for oil and gas development known as the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) originated in Indonesia in 1966 and enjoyed over a decade of successful implementation, with minor adjustments, in several oil-producing countries. In more recent years, however, numerous problems have arisen as changes in economic realities have driven the level of private investment down. This study uses legal analysis as well as historical data to pinpoint the reasons for the initial success of the PSC and for its subsequent and persistent frustrations for investors. The author first examines the original Indonesian contract, along with the variants adopted in Malaysia and the People's Republic of China, and then proceeds to an in-depth analysis of the main clauses and their amendments and execution in all three countries. Taking into account various commissioned surveys and emerging policies and strategies espoused by both governments and industry representatives. He concludes with a detailed proposal for an overhauled contract that allows for meaningful adjustments, or even renegotiation, when the balance of interests between parties changes substantially.

This text sets out fact patterns which trigger liability in various jurisdictions and offers helpful real-world recommendations in a lucid, straightforward manner. The chapters follow the same basic frame and guidelines for ease of comparison. The book traces the rise in the number of cross-border transactions and large insolvencies in free-market countries has brought director liability to the foreground, most notably regarding positions that span multiple jurisdictions and do not involve an active role in management. It argues that directors must be aware of the rules applicable in the countries in which they hold positions, especially where their companies face financial difficulties or insolvency. Numerous differences in the law exist, even between countries close in proximity and those which speak the same language and share the same legal history. The cost of failure to conform to applicable laws may be dire. The text draws attention to the numerous factors that hamper access to the applicable rules such as the lack of a multi-national treaty dealing in depth with insolvency, corporate restructuring, or directors' liabilities; the lack of unity in applicable sanctions; the complex and numerous sources of jurisdictional rules (the Insolvency Act, the Corporations Act, and the Criminal Code, or some combination); the lack of jurisdictional consistency in classifying a particular behaviour as illegal; the significant role of a constantly evolving body of case law; and the instructions imposed on public prosecutors by governmental bodies. Lawyers and business people should be able to appreciate this clear, practical guidance in a particularly challenging area of the law.

Global in scope and written by leading scholars in the field, the Research Handbook on Mergers and Acquisitions is a modern-day survey providing cutting edge analysis of the state of M&A using history, theory, and empirical work, and also providing a theoretical framework for future research and development in the field. Its chapters explore the history of mergers and acquisitions, considering the theory behind the structure of modern transaction documentation. The authors also address other key M&A issues, such as takeover defenses; judges and practitioners' perspectives on litigation; the appraisal remedy and other aspects of Federal and state law, as well as M&A considerations in the structure of start-ups. The book's coverage is novel as well as broad, broaching comparative issues and shareholder activism in addition to more traditional areas. This Research Handbook will be an invaluable resource for scholars, practitioners, judges and legislators

This book adopts a cross-jurisdictional perspective to consider contemporary corporate whistleblowing issues from an ethical theoretical perspective, regulatory perspective, and practical perspective. It includes in particular arguments in favour of and against the adoption of financial incentive schemes for whistleblowers, as well as the potential implications of adopting such schemes. This approach provides a valuable opportunity for comparison from a law reform perspective. The book brings together authors from various jurisdictions - Canada, Australia, and the USA - who, through their exposure to this area of law, be it as practitioners, regulators, or academics, offer valuable and interesting insights on the emerging and topical area of corporate whistleblowing generally, and whistleblowing rewards in particular. These three jurisdictions were selected on the basis of their reform-oriented stance on corporate whistleblowing and/or implementation of financial incentives for whistleblowing, creating an opportunity to assess contemporary regulatory structures and in particular how incentives measures could interact with corporate whistleblowing regulatory frameworks, and how they could contribute to improved governance. The reasons for the rejection of the notion of financial incentives in the United Kingdom are also reviewed, in order to provide a comparative overview. The book provides useful guidance for those who may be affected by the implementation of corporate whistleblowing schemes, including for reward, whether as regulators, practitioners, company directors, or whistle blowers.

Japanese corporate governance and managerial practice is at a critical juncture. At the start of the decade pressures mounted for Japan to move to a shareholder-value driven, "Anglo-American" system of corporate governance. Subsequent changes, however, may be seen as an adjustment and renewal of the post-war model of the Japanese firm. In adapting to global corporate governance standards, Japanese managers have also been reshaping them according to their own agenda of reform and restructuring of decision-making processes.
The board's role is seen in terms of strategic planning rather than monitoring, and external directors are viewed as advisers, not as representatives of the shareholders. Managers have adopted a variety of defences against hostile takeovers, including poison pills in some cases. Although shareholder influence is more extensive than it was, central aspects of the Japanese "community firm" remain in place. The commitment to stable or "lifetime" employment for a core of employees, although coming under severe pressure, is still an important point of reference for Japanese management.
Corporate Governance and Managerial Reform in Japan is based on detailed and intensive field work in large Japanese companies and interviews with investors, civil servants, and policy makers in the period following the adoption of significant corporate law reforms in the early 2000s up to the months just before the global financial crisis of 2008. The Japanese experience suggests that there are limits to the global convergence of company law systems, and that the widespread association of Anglo-American practices with the "modernization" of corporate governance has been misplaced. This conclusion is unlikely to be altered--it may be reinforced--by reactions to the financial crisis.

'Bainbridge and Henderson have given us one of the most important books on one of the most important contemporary legal issues, the liability of individual and corporate shareholders for corporate debts. There is no issue in corporate law more subject to uncertainty and no issue more likely to be litigated. No single book has ever attempted, much less carried off, the complete historical, international, economic and legal theoretical exegesis of limited liability, which these two authors do with range, depth, confidence and even a bit of panache. This monograph, of crucial interest both to scholars and practitioners, will become an instant classic and an immediate authority.' Stephen B. Presser, Northwestern University and the author of Piercing the Corporate Veil The modern corporation has become central to our society. The key feature of the corporation that makes it such an attractive form of human collaboration is its limited liability. This book explores how allowing those who form the corporation to limit their downside risk and personal liability to only the amount they invest allows for more risks to be taken at a lower cost. This comprehensive economic analysis of the policy debate surrounding the laws governing limited liability examines limited it not only in an American context, but internationally, as the authors consider issues of limited liability in Britain, Europe and Asia. Stephen Bainbridge and M. Todd Henderson begin with an exploration of the history and theory of limited liability, delve into an extended analysis of corporate veil piercing and related doctrines, and conclude with thoughts on possible future reforms. Limited liability in unincorporated entities, reverse veil piercing and enterprise liability are also addressed. This comprehensive book will be of great interest to students and scholars of corporate law. The book will also be an invaluable resource for judges and practitioners.

This book studies takeovers from the acquirer's perspective. More precisely the book focuses on the legal and regulatory treatment of the risks faced by the acquiring company shareholders in takeovers. The identified risks are categorised into two main groups: first, risks generated by managerial choices and second, regulatory or external risks. The analysis considers the legal context but also draws on the economic literature, seeking to map the area under consideration and to suggest measures to improve the present position from both a law and economics perspective. More specifically, the book examines various methods of protecting the acquiring shareholders against value-decreasing or self-interested acquisitions, such as the class transaction rules, fiduciary duties, the acquiring directors' responsibilities under the Takeover Code, the court scheme procedure, the role of institutional shareholders and reward strategies, and methods of making the acquiring directors more exposed to the discipline of the market. The effects of the choice of the medium of payment are also covered. In addition, it covers the Code's position with regard to auction situations and seeks to identify ways of addressing the acquiring shareholders' interests in auctions, including auctions where buyout teams or white Knights are involved. Moreover it identifies situations where deviations from horizontal equality rules, which increase takeover premia, are or should be recognised. To that effect the Code's rules on mandatory bids, the determination of the price and the form of payment offered, partial offers and squeeze outs are considered. In addition, it covers the Code's position with regards to auction situations and seeks to identify ways of addressing the acquiring shareholders' interests in auctions, including auctions where buyout teams or White Knights are involved. Moreover it identifies situations where deviations from horizontal equality rules, which increase takeover premia, are or should be recognised. To that effect the Code's rules on mandatory bids, the determination of the price and the form of payment offered, partial offers and squeeze outs are considered. The analysis covers both hostile and friendly situations. In relation to hostile takeovers, the legal and regulatory framework of toehold strategies is analysed (Code's requirements, Disclosure Rules and Companies Act disclosure requirements etc). Market Abuse issues in relation to stake building are also highlighted. In relation to friendly takeovers the operation of lock-up agreements and break fees (Code's requirements, fiduciary law, financial assistance and other contract law concerns), is also explored. Finally, the Panel's position on adverse changes, pre-conditions and conditions which the offer can be subject to and the bidder's exposure to Material Adverse Change risk are assessed. The book discusses developments in the area under consideration including the Takeover Code regime after the implementation of the Takeover Directive and the Companies Act 2006.

A Basic Guide to International Business Law is an introduction to those parts of European and international law that are relevant to business. Having read this book, students will come away with a broad understanding of the international rules of law within the EEC, institutional rules of the European Union, international contract law, rules of competition and the four freedoms within the EEC. The edition includes student friendly features, such as summaries of statements and references to relevant case law, making the book an ideal introduction for those on law and/or business programmes.

This comprehensive and comparative study examines the landscape of contemporary shareholder activism in the UK, focusing on minority shareholder activism in publicly listed companies. It argues that contemporary shareholder activism in the UK is dominated by two groups: the institutional shareholders whose shareholder activism is largely seen as a driving force for good corporate governance, and the hedge funds whose shareholder activism is based on value extraction and exit. The book provides a detailed examination of both types of shareholder activism, and critically discusses the nature of, motivations for, and consequences of following both types of shareholder activism. The book then locates both types of shareholder activism in the theory of the company and the fabric of company law, and argues that institutional shareholder activism based on exercising a voice at general meetings is well supported in theory and law. The call for institutions to engage in more informal forms of activism in the name of 'stewardship' may bring about challenges to the current patterns of activism that institutions engage in. The book argues, however, that a more cautious view of hedge fund activism and the pattern of value extraction and exit should be taken. More empirical evidence is likely to be necessary, however, to weigh up the long terms benefits and costs of hedge fund activism. It will be of interest to policy-makers, academics, and post-graduate students studying corporate governance and corporate law.

This volume contains the national reports and the general report on the topic of corporate takeovers through the public markets, as presented at the XIVth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law held in Athens, Greece, between 31 July and 6 August 1994. The main aim of the report is to study public market transactions, with particular emphasis on policy. It presents a compilation and examination of the key issues relating to corporate takeovers worldwide and provides information and policy analysis for the scholar as well as for the legislator and the legal practitioner. The national reports cover the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.

Applying the emergent Business and Human Rights (BHR) regime as a case, this book analyses regulatory strategies, communicative approaches and public-private processes to develop new sustainability-related norms, particularly for business, for maintaining and promoting public policy objectives and societal needs. Karin Buhmann sets out the concerns of public regulators and businesses that both inform debates and create power struggles in the construction of sustainability norms between public policy interests and the market. The author focuses on three trends in argumentative strategies applied in the BHR context and considers the use, impact and complementarity of these for sustainability regulation. Through analysis of selected transnational regulatory processes, the book identifies argumentative and negotiation strategies that led to agreement on BHR despite conflicting interests across public, private and not-for-profit (NGO) stakeholders, and develops insights for future multi-stakeholder sustainability regulation, focusing both on the regulatory process and the outcome. Changing Sustainability Norms through Communication Processes will be a valuable read for NGOs, regulators, managers and academics with a concern for sustainability regulation by helping to enhance their understanding of how to influence normative change in organisations, in support of sustainability and responsible business conduct.

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'Ruhmkorf's thought-provoking book has a powerful message: that we cannot rely on the discretion of business to promote CSR voluntarily. Through the devastating example of the Rana Plaza disaster, Ruhmkorf shows that we must get beyond business rhetoric and develop a multidimensional approach to the regulation of global supply chains. Whilst recognising the existing limitations of private law, his book highlights the potential contribution of private law to the development and promotion of CSR. The task is not an easy one, but by adopting a pluralistic approach to corporate law and by employing contract law, consumer law and tort law more dynamically, English private law could fill many of the regulatory gaps. The message is urgent and strong. This is a must read book for anyone concerned with CSR, supply chains and the law.' - Charlotte Villiers, University of Bristol, UK 'This book fills an important gap in discussions of international CSR standards. It is all very well to say that states must protect and companies should respect human rights, but when breaches of human rights do occur, it is remedies that matter. Ruhmkorf explores the limits of private law avenues for seeking such remedies. In so doing, he provides a valuable understanding of obstacles to fuller realization of the three-pillared ''Protect, Respect and Remed'' Framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. - Alice de Jonge, Monash University, Australia Current debate surrounding social responsibility has neglected to fully comprehend the important role of national private law in achieving socially responsible conduct in business. This insightful book demonstrates how private law makes a significant contribution to the promotion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how it could be improved. Based on the analysis of four substantive areas (company law/corporate governance, contract law, consumer law and tort law), this inclusive book covers a full range of issues that are important for CSR. These include directors duties, corporate reporting, the incorporation of CSR policies into the supply chain, consumer rights and the tortious liabilities of companies. The book discerns how national private law in the home state of multinational enterprises can legally affect their socially responsible conduct worldwide. Andreas Ruhmkorf demonstrates that private law already promotes and, with certain amendments, could better promote CSR in the regulation of global supply chains. The book's findings are applied to the collapse of the Rana Plaza Building in Bangladesh, which offers a supportive empirical insight. As an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of CSR and global supply chains, this work will benefit researchers and practitioners interested in the fields of CSR, private law, international law, political economy, international labor standards and sustainable supply chains.

A merger or acquisition is one of the most significant events in the life of a firm and the consequences thereof are multi-faceted: Directors' fiduciary duties, shareholders' rights, valuation methods, structuring, and financing of the deal, to cite a few. Moreover, it requires an army of savvy professionals (accountants and investment banks, etc.) throughout the process; those understanding the technicalities of M&A guarantees and preventing costly missteps. This book explains the steps, distilling the process of both the legal and financial aspects of M&A, for both students and practitioners.

Contrasting arbitration of securities disputes with litigation in the courts, this book reviews the interaction of federal securities laws and arbitration in light of caselaw. This review culminates in the recent U.S. Supreme Court cases supporting the validity of predisputed arbitration agreements even when there are claims of fraud and violations of federal securities law. The common law view of arbitration and the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 are discussed, as are the arbitration process and forums within the securities industry. Procedures (e.g. evaluating the merits of a claim, presenting a securities case to arbitration panels throughout the nation, and appealing an arbitration award) are also examined. It is the only book to date to discuss the new AAA Securities Arbitration Rules.

Ideal for lawyers and securities industry professionals, the book discusses the theories for brokerage firm liability such as securities fraud, churning, the Know Your Customer rule, suitability, problems with trades (e.g. failure of execution or orders), and improper record keeping. It also discusses the use of arbitration to resolve disputes between those working in the industry and reviews the requirements for statements of claims in an arbitration process. Methods of evaluation, statutes, and forms are provided, which will be helpful to both the individual and the lawyer contemplating prosecuting a securities claim in arbitration versus litigation.

Foreword by Rt. Hon Mary Arden,D.B.E. The purpose of this new work is to provide an in-depth analysis of circumstances giving rise to the disqualification and personal liability of directors of insolvent companies. By way of introduction, the book commences by considering the legal indentification of a company director and the general corporate responsibilities and duties expected from a director of an insolvent company. Following the introduction, the first part of the work is devoted to an examination of the statutory provisions which may potentially render a director to be made personally liable to contribute to the debts and liabilities of an insolvent company. Accordingly, Part I of this book considers the law governing misfeasance proceedings, fraudulent trading, wrongful trading, phoenix companies and the misuse of corporate names under section 349(4) of the Companies Act 1985. Part II of the book involves an examination of the disqualification process under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. The ability and powers of the courts to impose disqualification orders have generated an abundance of case law. Part II commences with a general analysis of the disqualification process before moving on to specifically concentrate its attention on section 6 of the Act, namely the disqualification of directors for unfit conduct. The final chapter of the work involves an analysis of the procedural aspects of the disqualification process. Table of Contents Part I - Personal Liability of Company Directors Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Misfeasance Proceedings Chapter 3 - Fraudulent Trading Chapter 4 - Wrongful Trading Chapter 5 - The Phoenix Syndrome Chapter 6 - Section 349(4) of the Companies Act 1985 Part II - Disqualification of Company Directors Chapter 7 - The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 Chapter 8 - Disqualification for Unfit Conduct in the Management of an Insolvent Company (section 6, CDDA 1986) Chapter 9 - Procedural and Evidential Matters Pertinent to the CDDA 1986

Shareholders Agreements have a growing influence on the general understanding of corporate law since they bind not only the shareholders but also affect the constitution of the corporation and can have a severe impact on capital markets. Therefore, Shareholders Agreements are more and more subject to regulation in corporate, capital market and also insolvency law on the national, the European and the international level. This handbook provides a general examination of conceptual questions of Shareholders Agreements and provides an analysis of the regulation of Shareholders Agreements in European and international law and of the national law of more than 20 jurisdictions. Readers will get a general understanding of the theoretical and practical problems involved with Shareholders Agreements and detailed information on the regulation of Shareholders Agreements in several jurisdictions and the applicable law in the case of transnational corporations and cross-border transactions.

Corporate Finance for Lawyers explores the intricate relationship between law and corporate finance. Utilizing the 'Financial Mindmap' throughout, chapters depict financial concepts by using colours and visualizations in a clear and intuitive manner. The book provides an introduction into the basic building blocks of corporate finance including, Enterprise Value, Equity Value and Net Debt, and the dominant company valuation methods of EBITDA-multiples and Discounted Cash Flow. The book further explains finance patterns from both a finance and a legal perspective, most notably the use of non-interest bearing, secured credit, shareholder loans and guarantees, ending with reorganization procedures. By providing a uniquely integrated analysis of law and corporate finance, this practical book will be a beneficial resource for lawyers, including judges, from all over the world involved in financial transactions and corporate litigation. Students of law and finance will find the book an excellent learning experience, since it discusses the foundational principles of law and finance and how they relate to real-world practices. Finance professionals will also benefit greatly from the depiction of finance in action rather than as assumed under perfect markets.

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions are an imperative part of the accelerated economic globalization of our time. Cross-border transaction volume now accounts for almost one-third of global M&A activity and this number will only increase as business world-wide continues to expand. The complex legal issues to be handled in such transactions encompass the co-ordination of different concepts of corporate governance and capital market regulations in the laws involved, as mirrored by the intense debate on M&A law making within the European Union, and for example, Germany. Lawyers engaged in the M&A practice will inevitably be confronted with cross-border transactions and will have to appropriately counsel their clients in the variable aspects of the law. This book, based on an international conference held by the Law Centre for European and International Cooperation (RIZ) in co-operation with the Centre of Commercial Law Studies, the Asian Institute of International Financial Law, and the SMU Institute of International Banking and Finance, provides a comprehensive exploration of the legal implications of a cross-border merger or acquisition. Applying a comparative approach, the compilation of articles by professors, practitioners and bankers provides thorough information on relevant topics. In addition to this, case studies analyzing the Daimler/Chrysler Merger and the British Petroleum/Amoco Merger have been included to illustrate the impact that different structures can have on the success of a business combination.