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NOTES
NOTES
2. ATTRIBUTES OF A CORPORATION The Philippine jurisprudence adopted the Concession or Fiat Theory
(ALS-PAPI) which states that a corporation is conceived as an artificial person owing
1) It is an Artificial being existence through creation by a foreign power. Further, a corporation is
2) It is created by operation of Law without any existence until it has received the imprimatur of the State
3) It enjoys the right of Succession acting according to law, through the SEC. (Tayag vs Benguet
4) It has the Powers, Attributes and Properties expressly authorized by Consolidated Inc., GR No. L- 23145, Nov. 29, 1968)
law or Incident to its existence.
3) Right to Succession
1)Artificial Personality
A corporation has a capacity of continuous existence irrespective of the
A corporation is a legal or juridical person with a personality separate and death, withdrawal, insolvency, or incapacity of the individual stockholders
distinct from its individual stockholders or members and from any other or members and regardless of the transfer of their interest or shares of
legal entity into which it may be connected or related. stock.
2) Corporation as a Creation of Law or by Operation of Law 4) Powers, Attributes and Properties of a corporation
No corporation can exist without the consent or grant of the sovereign, The powers that a corporation can exercise are only those which are
and that the power to create corporations is one of the attributes of granted by the law of its creation. All powers which may be implied from
sovereignty. Corporations cannot come into existence by mere agreement those expressly provided by law and those which are incidental or
of the parties. essential to the corporation’s existence may also be exercised. (Sec.35,
RCC)
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Test: Whether the act of the corporation is in direct and immediate (2) Civil Corporation - a corporation not for the purpose of charity but for the
furtherance of its business, fairly incidental to the express powers and benefit, pecuniary or otherwise, of its members.
reasonably necessary to their existence.
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8. CAN A CORPORATION BE HELD CRIMINALLY LIABLE? No. in the The limited liability rule applies even if the corporation is the result of a
absence of MALICE joint venture agreement. "By choosing to adopt a corporate entity as the
Section. 17 last paragraphs. Cannot be held criminally liable under RPC or medium to pursue the joint venture enterprise, the parties (stockholders) to
felony because intent is required in felonies. Can be held criminally liable the joint venture are bound by corporate.
under a Special Law with express provision of the law. law principles under which the entity must operate. Among these
9. IS CORPORATION LIABLE BY THE ACTS OF AGENTS OR OFFICERS? principles is the limited liability doctrine. The use of a joint venture corporation
SEC. 30. Liability of Directors, Trustees or Officers. – Directors or allows the co-venturers to take full advantage of the limited liability feature of
trustees who willfully and knowingly vote for or assent to patently unlawful the corporate vehicle which is not present in a formal partnership
acts of the corporation or who are guilty of gross negligence or bad faith in arrangement."
directing the affairs of the corporation or acquire any personal or pecuniary Reason for the Limited Liability Rule. For small and/or closely held
interest in conflict with their duty as such directors or trustees shall be liable companies, limited liability may be the principal reason for the investor to use
jointly and Page 16 of 73 severally for all damages resulting therefrom the corporation as a vehicle in pursuing business. However, limited liability
suffered by the corporation, its stockholders or members and other persons. has advantages even if the ownership of shares in a corporation is diffused
A director, trustee, or officer shall not attempt to acquire, or acquire and spread among numerous stockholders or even if the management
any interest adverse to the corporation in respect of any matter which has (directors) is largely separated from ownership of the corporation.
been reposed in them in confidence, and upon which, equity imposes a Some legal writers propose that the reasons for the Limited
disability upon themselves to deal in their own behalf; otherwise, the said Liability Rule include:
director, trustee, or officer shall be liable as a trustee for the corporation and (1) investment in shares is encouraged because the task of evaluating
must account for the profits which otherwise would have accrued to the equity investment is greatly simplified considering that the low-probability
corporation. even of insolvency and the financial condition of other investors can already
be ignored;
10. LIMITED LIABILITY RULE (2) investment in risky ventures is encouraged;
Under this rule, "a stockholder is personally liable for the financial (3) banks and other financial intermediaries who are considered
obligations of the corporation to the extent of his unpaid subscription." While experts are encouraged to closely monitor corporate debtors more closely
stockholders are generally not liable, the stockholders may be liable if they
have not or have not fully paid the subscription price. 11. DE FACTO AND DE JURE CORPORATION
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(1) De jure corporation - a corporation organized in accordance with obligations
requirements of law.
(2) De facto corporation - a corporation that is formed where there exists a 12. CORPORATE NAME. ITS IMPORTANCE (SEC.17, RCC)
flaw in its incorporation but there is colorable compliance with the Just like the names of natural persons, the name of the corporation is
requirements of law. necessary for identification and not need an indication of its purpose. The
What are the elements of a de facto corporation? Supreme court explained that the very law of their creation and continued
The requisites of a de facto corporation are as follows: existence requires each to adopt and certify a distinctive name. A corporation
a. Existence of a valid law under which it may be has the power of succession under its corporate name. The name of the
incorporated; corporation is therefore essential to its existence.
b. Attempt in good faith to incorporate; and Jurisprudence provides that a name is peculiarly important as
c. Actual use or exercise in good faith of corporate powers. necessary to the very existence of a corporation. Its. Name is one of its
attributes, an element of its existence, and essential to its identity. The
DE FACTO DE JURE
general rule as to corporations is that each corporation must have a name by
One which actually exists for all One created in strict or substantial
which it is to sue and be sued and do all legal acts.
practical purposes as a corporation conformity with the mandatory
but which has no legal right to statutory requirements for
13. LIMITATION IN THE USE OF CORPORATE NAME
corporate existence as against the incorporation.
1. SEC. 17. Corporate Name. – No corporate name shall be allowed
state.
by the Commission if it is not distinguishable from that already
There is a colorable compliance with There is substantial compliance with
reserved or registered for the use of another corporation, or if such
the requirements of the law creating the requirements of the law creating
name is already protected by law, or when its use is contrary to
the corporation. the corporation.
existing law, rules and regulations.
Can be attacked directly but not Its right to exist as a corporation
A name is not distinguishable even if it contains one or more of the
collaterally. cannot be successfully attacked or
following:
questioned by any party even in
(a) The word “corporation”, “company”, “incorporated”,
direct proceeding for that purpose
“limited”, “limited liability”, or an abbreviation of one of such words;
by the State.
and
Stockholders enjoy exemption from personal liability for corporate
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(b) Punctuations, articles, conjunctions, contractions, A corporation has a personality separate and distinct from its
prepositions, abbreviations, different tenses, spacing, or number of members. It has a personality separate and distinct from the persons
the same word or phrase. composing it as we l as from that of any other entity to which it may he
related. This separate juridical personality is recognized under the New Civil
2. Under Section 17 of the RCC, any corporate name is allowed,
Code because its article 44 specifies corporations as among those
provided that none of the following disqualifications are present, to wit;
considered as Juridical persons with juridical personality, separate, and
a. Not distinguishable from that already reserved or registered for the use of distinct from that of each shareholder or member. Hence, corporations have
another corporation. separate properties, rights and obligations. For instance, rights can be
b. Name is already protected by law. enforced for and against the corporation and the filing g of a complaint
c. Use is contrary to existing law, rules, and regulations. against the stockholder is not ipso facto a complaint against the corporation.
Further, appending the following words to the corporate name, does
not mean that it is already distinguishable, to wit:
a. The word corporation, company, incorporated, limited, limited liability, 16. DOCTRINE OF PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL (P. 177 GN)
or an abbreviation of one of such words. The doctrine of piercing the corporate veil is the doctrine that allows
b. Punctuations, articles, conjunctions, contractions, prepositions, the State to disregard, for certain justifiable reasons, the notion that a
abbreviations, different tenses, spacing, or number of the same word corporation has a personality separate and distinct from the persons
or phrase. composing it.
Basic in corporate law is the principle that a corporation has a
14. OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK separate personality distinct from its stockholders and from other
Outstanding Capital Stock refers to the total shares of stock issued corporations to which it may be connected. It is a fiction created by law with
to subscribers or stockholders, whether or not fully or partially paid except the intent that it should be treated as true. However, under the doctrine of
treasury shares so long as there is a binding subscription agreement. piercing the veil of corporate entity, the corporation's separate juridical
15. DOCTRINE OF SEPARATE JURIDICAL PERSONALITY personality may be disregarded when there is an abuse of the corporate
The Doctrine of corporate juridical personality states that a form. Whenever the doctrine applies, the principal and the conduit will be
corporation is a juridical entity with legal personality separate and distinct treated as one; the controlled corporation will be deemed to have, "so to
from those acting for and in its behalf and, in general, from the people speak, no separate mind, will or existence of its own, and is but a conduit for
comprising it. its principal. If applicable, "the corporation is merely an aggregation of
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persons whose liabilities must be treated as one with the corporation. The The term of existence of a corporation is now perpetual under the
conduit corporation will then be solidarily liable with the principal. RCCP. However, it may also choose to have a fixed term.
Where it appears that business enterprises are owned, conducted and What are the revisions under the RCC on corporate term?
controlled by the same parties, law and equity will disregard the legal fiction a. A corporation shall have perpetual existence unless its articles
that these corporations are distinct entities and shall treat them as one. This of incorporation provide otherwise.
is in order to protect the rights a of third persons. (Vicmar vs. Elarcos) b. Corporations with certificates of incorporation issued prior to
In order to justify the piercing of the corporate veil, allegation or proof the effectivity of the RCC, and which continue to exist, shall
of fraud or other public policy considerations is needed (Hacienda Luisita vs have perpetual existence, unless the corporation, upon a vote
Presidential Agrarian Reform, 2011) of its stockholders representing a majority of its outstanding
Note: This is an exception to the Doctrine of Separate Corporate capital stock, notifies the SEC that it elects to retain its specific
Entity. corporate term pursuant to its articles of incorporation:
Provided, That any change in the corporate term under this
Effect of piercing the corporate veil section is without prejudice to the appraisal right of dissenting
1. The corporation will be treated merely as an association of stockholders.
persons undertaking a business and the liability will attach c. The period to extend the corporate term has been reduced
directly to the officers and stockholders. from five (5) to three (3) years prior to the original or
2. Where there are two (2) corporations, they will be merged into subsequent expiry date(s).
one, the one being merely regarded as the instrumentality, d. Extension of the corporate term shall take effect only on the
agency, conduit or adjunct of the other. day following the original or subsequent expiry date(s).
Note: Notwithstanding that the corporate veil has been pierced, e. A corporation whose term has expired is not ipso facto
the corporation continues for other legitimate objectives, the dissolved but may apply for a revival of its corporate existence.
corporate character is not necessarily abrogated. (Reynoso vs Upon approval by the SEC, the corporation shall be deemed
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f. Use is contrary to existing law, rules, and regulations. b) As to third persons
Further, appending the following words to the corporate name, does GR: They are not bound
not mean that it is already distinguishable, to wit: XPN: They have knowledge or notice of the by-laws at the time the contract
c. The word corporation, company, incorporated, limited, limited liability, was executed.
or an abbreviation of one of such words.
Punctuations, articles, conjunctions, contractions, prepositions, abbreviations, 12. DIFFERENT CORPORATE POWERS (P177)
different tenses, spacing, or number of the same word or phrase. 1) Express Powers – granted by law, the Corporation Code, and its
Articles of Incorporation or Charter, and administrative regulations;
2) Inherent/incidental powers – not expressly stated but are deemed to
6. KINDS OF CORPORATION NA KINAHANGLAN MAY RECOMMENDATION be within the capacity of corporate entities;
3) Implied/necessary powers – exists as a necessary consequence of
7. HOW TO AMEND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION (SEC.15) the exercise of the express powers of the corporation or the pursuit of
8. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF AOI its purposes as provided for in the Charter.
9. IS THE CORPORATE NAME ONLY ARE THE ONE THAT CAN BE
Exercise of Corporate Powers
AMENDED?
a) Stock – power to exercise corporate powers vests in the Board of
10. WHAT IS BY-LAWS (P174, GN)
Directors
By-laws are rules and regulations or private laws enacted by the corporation
(Great Asian Sales vs CA)
to regulate, govern and control its own actions, affairs and concerns and its
b) Non – Stock - power to exercise corporate powers vests in the Board of
stockholders or members and directors and officers in relation thereto and
Trustees
among themselves in their relation to it.
11. WHAT ARE BINDING EFFECTS OF A CORPORATION BY LAWS (P175,
13. ATLEAST 5 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RCC AND NEW CORPORATE LAW
GN)
a) As to members/stockholders, officers, trustees/directors and
corporation
They are bound by and must comply with it. They are presumed to know the
provisions of the by-laws
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