Director Qualification Requirements, Nominations & Proxy Access

As discussed in this earlier post, the SEC's proxy access rule amendments will soon require many publicly traded companies to include shareholder nominees in their proxy statement and proxy cards.  This rule may reignite old questions about how to...

Legislature Passes Capital Access Company Bill

In July, I posted this item regarding California's Capital Access Company law.  My friend, Lee Petillon, was the mover behind the original legislation.  He is also the author and lead cheerleader for SB 1155 (Dutton & Price).  The Capital Access...

LLC Contractor License Bill Moves One Step Forward

A lot of bills didn't make it out of the legislature by the August 31 deadline.   However, SB 392 (Florez) was one of the fortunate few to make it to enrollment.  If signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger, this bill will allow limited liability...

DOC To Mandate Use of New Part 2 to Form ADV

Yesterday, the Department of Corporations issued this notice to investment advisers registered with the it.  The notice advises that the Department is adopting the new Part 2 to Form ADV effective October 12, 2010.  The Department has announced the...

"Cooked Dividends" Leads to Bloody Massacre

Cooking dividends is the practice of declaring a false or "cooked" dividend for the purpose of raising the value of a company's shares.   Apparently, this was a serious problem in the early days of both California and Nevada.  The practice is still...

"Extracts from the SEC's Proxy Access Amendments, With Some Remarks Upon Them"

James McRitchie at Corpgov.net recently made reference to a forthcoming law review article by J.W. Verret at George Mason University School of Law.  Professor Verret posits in various strategems for discouraging shareholder nominations.  He writes...

Placement Agent Bill Passes

The legislature has passed and sent AB 1743 (Hernandez) to Governor Schwarzenegger for signature.  If signed into law, this bill will require placement agents with respect to public retirement systems to register as lobbyists.  This would have many...

Legislative Session Now Ended (Almost)

Yesterday was the end of the current legislative biennium.  Under the California Constitution and legislative rules, this means that any bill not passed before today is now dead.  Cal. Cons. Art. IV, § 10(c), Legislative Joint Rule No. 61(b)(17)).

CA AG Files Criminal Complaint Against Sellers of Movie Loans

Last week, the California Attorney General filed this 89 count criminal complaint against three individuals.  The complaint alleges that these individuals offered and sold securities without qualification under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968. ...