Capitalization is the process of financing a business operation via investment from the owners (shareholders) and other sources. Most commonly reported in the equity section of the balance sheet. Initial investment is reported as common stock and capital paid in excess.
The shareholder agreement lays out the rules of the relationship between the shareholders of a company. Most often the agreement is poorly written because the legal team fails to understand the business aspect of each of the respective sections. One of these sections is referred to as the Article of Capitalization or commonly called the Capitalization Clause.
When shareholders invest into a corporation, there is an expectation of limited losses amounting to the financial investment made. However, if the company is not properly run, officers, directors and shareholders are exposed to the blade of the law. This is known as piercing the corporate veil. Therefore it is critical for any shareholder, director, or officer of a small corporation to understand what is required to protect your personal assets from exposure to creditors and the long arm of the government.
