Zugl.: Witten, Herdecke, Universiẗat, Diss., 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-287).

Zugl.: Giessen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2006/2007.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat Saarbrücken, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [255]-281) and index.

China permits foreign investors to establish foreign investment companies limited by shares (FICLBS) together with Chinese domestic investors after 1995. FICLBS are a new form of foreign investment in addition to Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures, Sino-foreign Contractual Joint Ventures and Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises. In the meantime, FICLBS have close relations with and are strictly governed by PRC Company Law. The double nature of FICLBS accounts for many characteristics of FICLBS. As a form of foreign investment, FICLBS are based on the foreign investment regime. FICLBS are governed by the legal provisions relating to foreign investment regime. At the same time, various State and Party policies give various characteristics to FICLBS and make them different from other foreign investment enterprises. As a form of modern company, FICLBS are greatly influenced by both civil law and common law as a result of the policy of joining the world economy. This thesis focuses on the common law influences. The influences of common law on FICLBS are manifest in various respects. On the other hand, various Chinese characteristics are intentionally remained. These Chinese characteristics can be found in many important phases and aspects of FICLBS such as corporate capacity, corporate governance, shares and dividends. The contradicting characteristics of FICLBS are a product of the contradicting State and Party policies underlying them. On one hand, China adopts the opening-up policy and has been making constant efforts to join the world economy. On the other hand, China has always been trying to maintain the so-called Chinese characteristics despite the fact that there is no generally accepted definition of Chinese characteristics. Although China has always been committed to keeping its policies consistent, the unstable nature of the policy basis of FICLBS will inevitably affect the future of FICLBS. However, since the opening-up policy of China will not possibly be reversed in the future, FICLBS will remain available for foreign investors no matter how the specific policies are changed.

This thesis examines creditors' use of the oppression remedy under the Canada Business Corporations Act and its provincial equivalents from historical and critical perspectives, assesses the consequences of the increasing willingness of Canadian courts to make the remedy available to creditors and concludes by offering some solutions to the problems that are identified. Part I traces the historical development of the oppression remedy, first in the United Kingdom and then in common law Canada. Next, the current state of the law relating to the oppression remedy is briefly examined, followed by a review of recent developments with respect to the use of the oppression remedy by creditors. Part II is a critical review of the evolving law with respect to creditors' use of the oppression remedy. This part of the thesis focuses on: (i) the relationship and potential conflict between the oppression remedy and other available remedies; and (ii) the impact of creditors' uses of the oppression remedy on the relationship between the corporation and its other stakeholders, including issues of shareholders' and directors' liability. In Part III, it is argued that the present use of the oppression remedy by creditors is not being developed in a coherent and principled manner. Certain guidelines are offered to provide the courts with reasonable controls on and principles to guide the use of the oppression remedy by creditors. In particular, it is argued that the oppression remedy should not be available to creditors when there are, either under corporate legislation or other, general legislation, appropriate remedies already available. The result would be that the oppression remedy should be available to creditors only in the limited category of cases where the creditor has no other effective remedy and the conditions for the use of the oppression remedy are met.

This work focuses on the special problems in the context of drafting the corporate charter and bylaws for American corporations the stocks of which are mainly owned by the members of one family. Although the ownership structure would also allow a partnership organization, there can be good reasons for choosing the corporate structure. Nevertheless, the family owners will want to preserve a partnership-like structure and a maximum amount of ownership influence. However, the three-tiered structure of the corporation (board of directors, officers, and shareholders) and their individual functions are fixed by a "statutory model" that the courts tend to adhere to and that has often been written into positive corporate statutes. / Hence, for each organizational level, this work tries to fathom the permissible deviations from the statutory model in order to maintain and exercise family influence. / Furthermore, the special legal forms provided by the legislators (especially "close corporation status") will be considered. / Because American corporate law is within the province of the state legislators, the work takes a comparative approach. Guided by the criteria of practical applicability and comparative interest, the Model Business Corporation Act as well as the state laws of Delaware, New York, California, and Nevada were selected.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Hamburg. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-285).

Univ., Diss.--Kiel, 2006. / Literaturverz. S. 285 - 309.

Univ., Diss.--Frankfurt (Main), 2005. / Literaturverz. S. 423 - 456.

Zugl.: Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2007/08. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-219).