Public Act 93-496 has created a new crime entitled "misconduct by a corporate official." Although the Act applies to all corporate directors and officers, most of the provisions refer to capital stock or stockholders and, therefore, would be inapplicable to non-profit corporations.
The law criminalizes the following:
Directors of For-Profit Corporations:
If the director knowingly with a purpose to defraud, concurs in any vote or act of the directors of the corporation, or any of them, which has the purpose of:
- making a dividend except in the manner provided by law;
- dividing, withdrawing or in any manner paying any stockholder any part of the capital stock of the corporation except in the manner provided by law;
- discounting or receiving any note or other evidence of debt in payment of an installment of capital stock actually called in and required to be paid, or with purpose of providing the means of making such payment;
- receiving or discounting any note or other evidence of debt with the purpose of enabling any stockholder to withdraw any part of the money paid in by him on his stock; or
- applying any portion of the funds of such corporation, directly or indirectly, to the purchase of shares of its own stock, except in the manner provided by law; or
Directors or Officers of For-Profit Corporations:
If the director or officer with purpose to defraud:
- issues, participates in issuing, or concurs in a vote to issue any increase of its capital stock beyond the amount of the capital stock thereof, duly authorized by or in pursuance of law;
- sells, or agrees to sell, or is directly interested in the sale of any share of stock of such corporation, or in any agreement to sell such stock, unless at the time of the sale or agreement he is an actual owner of such share, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to a sale by or on behalf of an underwriter or dealer in connection with a bona fide public offering of shares of stock of such corporation;
- executes a scheme or attempts to execute a scheme to obtain any share of stock of such corporation by means of false representation.
Directors or Officers of Any Corporation with Financial Reporting Requirements:
If the director or officer with purpose to defraud or evade a financial disclosure reporting requirement of this State or of Section 13(A) or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 15 U. S. C. 78M(A) or 78O(D):
- causes or attempts to cause a corporation or accounting firm representing the corporation or any other individual or entity to fail to file a financial disclosure report as required by State or federal law; or
- causes or attempts to cause a corporation or accounting firm representing the corporation or any other individual or entity to file a financial disclosure report, as required by State or federal law, that contains a material omission or misstatement of fact.
Fraud In Insolvency
A person commits a crime if, knowing that proceedings have or are about to be instituted for the appointment of a receiver or other person entitled to administer property for the benefit of creditors, or that any other composition or liquidation for the benefit of creditors has been or is about to be made:
- destroys, removes, conceals, encumbers, transfers, or otherwise deals with any property or obtains any substantial part of or interest in the debtor's estate with purpose to defeat or obstruct the claim of any creditor, or otherwise to obstruct the operation of any law relating to administration of property for the benefit of creditors;
- knowingly falsifies any writing or record relating to the property; or
- knowingly misrepresents or refuses to disclose to a receiver or other person entitled to administer property for the benefit of creditors, the existence, amount, or location of the property, or any other information which the actor could be legally required to furnish in relation to such administration.
If you would like additional information about any of these developments, please contact Nancy Armatas at 312-922-4447.
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