Corporation

shares of ownership – доли собственности

stock certificate – акционерный сертификат

shareholder / stockholder – акционер

limited liability – ограниченная ответственность

private limited company - закрытое акционерное общество; частная компания

с ограниченной ответственностью

public limited company - открытое акционерное общество, общество с ограниченной

ответственностью

general public – широкая общественность

Stock Exchange - фондовая биржа, биржа ценных бумаг

market value – рыночная, курсовая стоимость

expiry of the charter -окончание, истечение срока действия устава

provincial government – местные власти

Acorporation is a business owned by a few persons or by thousands of persons. A business corporation is an institution established for the purpose of making profit. The shares of ownership of the members of the corporation are represented by stock certificates. A person who owns a stock certificate is called a shareholderora stockholder. The stockholders do not directly manage the corporation; they elect a board of directors to represent their interests. The board of directors selects the president and vice president, who manage the corporation for the stockholders.

The key factor in owning any company is the guarantee called limited liability: the owners of a company never have to pay more than they have invested in the company. Their liabilities are limited. When a company goes bankrupt, the owner can never be required to pay its unpaid bills. That is why corporations are also referred to as limited companies. A limited company may be private or public. Many countries make a clear distinction between public and private companies. If it is a private limited company, a shareholder can only sell shares if all the other shareholders agree. In some countries, a large company is said to be privately owned if its shares are not available to the general public. If it is a public limited company, shares can be bought and sold freely, usually at Stock Exchange. The price you pay at the Stock Exchange (or to a shareholder) for your shares is their market value.

There are several advantages of the corporate form of ownership.

Limited companies are less risky from an owner’s point of view. If the company fails, it will stop trading and go into liquidation. This means that all the company’s property and equipment (its assets) must be sold and the money from the sale will be used to pay all its debts to its creditors. The shareholders may loose the money they paid for the shares. But the personal assets of the owners are protected from the creditors of the company. In other words, the shareholders’ liability for debts is limited to the value of their shares.

The next advantage of corporation is the ability to attract financial resources. Corporation attracts a large amount of capital it can invest in plants, equipment and research.

Corporation can offer higher salaries and thus attract talented managers and specialists.

Limited companies do not end with the death of owners. It can terminate only by bankruptcy, expiry of its charter, or majority of its shareholders.

Disadvantages

It is more expensive and complicated to establish corporations than proprietorships or partnerships. A charter, which requires the services of a lawyer, must be obtained through provincial government or the federal government.

Limited companies are subject to federal and provincial income taxes. Limited companies are taxed twice: on the profits they earn and on the dividends which come out of the profits.

WORD STUDY

Ex. 18. Study the different meanings of the word share and use it to translate the sentences.

share (n) 1) доля, часть; квота

to have a share in the profits — иметь долю в прибыли

lion’s share – львиная доля

2) участие; роль

3) акция; доля, пай

shares are rising — акции поднимаются (в цене); курс акций растет [поднимается]

shares are down — акции падают (в цене); курс акций снижается [падает]

to issue shares — выпускать акции

share (v) 1) делить, распределять; разделять

2) делиться