涉外 | 加州公司法剪影——如何在加州注册公司
The following article is from 中美法律评论 Author 陈宝茵
本涉外主题，我们一起来了解一下美国加利福尼亚州于1975年颁布的《加利福尼亚州公司法典》（以下简称“加州公司法典”）以及该法典的一些重要条款。通过这些法条，我们可以“管中窥豹”的了解下如何在加州注册公司。
1975年的加州公司法典还借鉴了许多其他州的法规，从而制定了新的加利福尼亚州法律，这一编纂亦对加利福尼亚州的公司法产生了实质性的变化。
对加州《公司法》中关于外国公司的重要性条款、规定进行了解，有助于我们进一步了解美国的公司法律制度与体系，这对我们如何在加州注册公司也有一定启示作用。
本文翻译的部分为第2100-2105条，为加州《公司法》第二十一章关于外国公司的规定的前六条，主要主要包括外国公司的界定、注册流程和所需材料、注册展期、注册代理人等关于外国公司的基本内容。
CORPORATIONS CODE - CORP《公司法典》
TITLE 1. CORPORATIONS [100 - 14631]
(Title 1 enacted by Stats. 1947, Ch. 1038.)
DIVISION 1. GENERAL CORPORATION LAW [100 - 2319]
(Division 1 repealed and added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)
CHAPTER 21. Foreign Corporations [2100 - 2117.1]
(Chapter 21 added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)
第一编：公司（100-14631）
(由《美国制定法大全》第1947卷，第1038章制定）
第一分部：普通公司法
(由《美国制定法大全》第1975卷，第682章第1分部废止并增加）
第二十一章：外国公司
(由《美国制定法大全》第1975卷，第682章补充）
2100
This chapter applies only to foreign corporations transacting intrastate business, except as otherwise expressly provided.
(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)
除非另有明确规定，本章仅适用于从事州内业务的外国公司。
(该条由《美国制定法大全》第1975卷，第682章补充）
2101
(a)Any foreign corporation (other than a foreign association) not transacting intrastate business may register its corporate name with the Secretary of State, provided its corporate name would be available pursuant to Section 201 to a new corporation organized under this division at the time of such registration.
(b)Such registration may be made by filing (1) an application for registration signed by a corporate officer stating the name of the corporation, the state or place under the laws of which it is incorporated, the date of its incorporation, and that it desires to register its name under this section; and (2) a certificate of an authorized public official of the state or place in which it is organized stating that such corporation is in good standing under those laws. Such registration shall be effective until the close of the calendar year in which the application for registration is filed.
(c)A corporation that has in effect a registration of its corporate name may renew such registration from year to year by annually filing an application for renewal setting forth the facts required to be set forth in an original application for registration and a certificate of good standing as required for the original registration between the first day of October and the 31st day of December in each year. Such renewal application shall extend the registration for the following calendar year.
(d)A corporation that has in effect a registration of its corporate name may cancel the registration by delivering to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State for filing, a certificate of cancellation of foreign name registration signed by a corporate officer containing the name of the corporation and the Secretary of State’s file number of the corporation.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 834, Sec. 4. (SB 1041) Effective January 1, 2015.)
（a）任何不经营州内业务的外国公司(外国社团除外)均可向州务卿注册其公司名称，前提是在登记时，该公司名称可以根据第201条的规定适用于本部门下成立的新公司。
（b）此类注册可通过提交以下文件来完成：(1)一份由公司高级职员签署的注册申请书，其中写明了公司名称、公司成立时所依据法律的州或地方、公司成立日期以及公司希望根据本条规定注册其名称；(2)一份由公司所在州或地方授权的公职人员出具的证明，证明该公司在当地法律的管辖下经营状况良好。该注册应在提出注册申请的日历年度结束前有效。
（c）已经对公司名称进行有效注册的，公司可每年提交一份续期申请以对该注册进行展期，该申请需要列明原始登记申请中所要求的各项事实，并在每年10月1日至12月31日期间提供原始注册申请书所要求的一份公司经营良好的证明。该续展申请可将注册延续至下一日历年内。
（d）已经对公司名称进行有效注册的，公司可以注销注册。该公司可按照州务卿规定的格式向州务卿提交一份由公司高级管理人员签署的外国名称注册撤销证明，包含公司名称和公司在州务卿的备案号。
（该条由《美国制定法大全》第2014卷，第834章，第4节（SB 1041）修订，自2015年1月1日起生效。）
2102
A foreign corporation which has filed a designation of an agent for the service of process, pursuant to the requirements of any law relating to the qualification of foreign corporations in force at the time of the filing, need not file the statement provided for in Section 2105, but shall file an amended statement and designation when required by Section 2107.
(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)
根据申报时生效的关于外国公司资质的法律要求，已经申报了送达诉讼文书代理人委任书的外国公司，无需提交第2105条规定的声明，但应根据第2107条的要求，提交修订后的声明和指定。
(该条由《美国制定法大全》第1975卷，第682章补充）
2103
Nothing in this chapter repeals, alters or amends the provisions of Sections 1600 to 1607, inclusive, of the Insurance Code or prevents any foreign insurance company from carrying out contracts made before the surrender of its right to engage in intrastate business or contracts made with citizens of other states who subsequently become citizens of or residents in this state.
(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)
本章内容不废止、更改或修正《保险法典》第1600至1607条（包括该条）的规定，也不阻止任何外国保险公司履行在放弃其从事州内业务的权利之前订立的合同，或与后来成为本州公民或居民的其他国家公民所签订的合同。
(该条由《美国制定法大全》第1975卷，第682章补充）
2104
Any foreign lending institution which has not qualified to do business in this state and which engages in any of the activities set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 191 shall be considered by such activities to have appointed the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process for any action arising out of any such activities, and, on or before June 30th of each year, shall file a statement showing the address to which any notice or process may be sent in the manner and with the effect provided in Section 2111.
No foreign lending institution solely by reason of engaging in any one or more of the activities set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 191 shall be required to qualify to do business in this state nor be subject to (a) any of the provisions of the Bank and Corporation Tax Law (commencing with Section 23001) of the Revenue and Taxation Code or (b) any of the provisions of this code or the Financial Code or Insurance Code relating to qualifications for doing or transacting business in this state or to requirements pertaining thereto or to the effects or results of failure to qualify to do business in this state.
(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 641.)
任何在本州的经营资质的外国贷款机构，如从事第191条(d)款所规定的任何活动，应被视为已指定州务卿为其送达诉讼文书的代理人，以处理任何此类活动引起的任何诉讼程序，并且应在每年6月30日或之前提交一份声明，说明可按照第2111条规定的方式和效力发送任何通知或诉讼文书的地址。
任何外国贷款机构仅因从事本编第191条第(d)款中规定的任何一项或多项活动，均无需具备在本州开展业务的资格，也不受以下条款的约束：(a)《税收与征税法典》中《银行和公司税法》（从第23001条开始）的任何规定，或(b)本法或《金融法典》或《保险法典》中有关在本州经营业务的资格的任何规定，或与其相关的要求，或未取得在本州经营业务的资质的影响或结果的任何规定。
（该条由《美国制定法大全》第1976卷，第641章修订）
2105
(a)A foreign corporation shall not transact intrastate business without having first obtained from the Secretary of State a certificate of qualification. To obtain that certificate it shall file, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement and designation signed by a corporate officer or, in the case of a foreign association that has no officers, signed by a trustee stating:
(1)Its name and the state or place of its incorporation or organization.
(2)The street address of its principal executive office.
(3)The street address of its principal office within this state, if any.
(4)The mailing address of its principal executive office, if different from the addresses specified pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3).
(5)The name of an agent upon whom process directed to the corporation may be served within this state. The designation shall comply with subdivision (b) of Section 1502.
(6)(A)Its irrevocable consent to service of process directed to it upon the agent designated and to service of process on the Secretary of State if the agent designated or the agent’s successor is no longer authorized to act or cannot be found at the address given.
(B)Consent under this paragraph extends to service of process directed to the foreign corporation’s agent in this state for a search warrant issued pursuant to Section 1524.2 of the Penal Code, or for any other validly issued and properly served search warrant, for records or documents that are in the possession of the foreign corporation and are located inside or outside of this state. This subparagraph shall apply to a foreign corporation that is a party or a nonparty to the matter for which the search warrant is sought. For purposes of this subparagraph, “properly served” means delivered by hand, or in a manner reasonably allowing for proof of delivery if delivered by United States mail, overnight delivery service, or facsimile to a person or entity listed in Section 2110, or any other means specified by the foreign corporation, including, but not limited to, email or submission via an Internet Web portal that the foreign corporation has designated for the purpose of service of process.
(7)If it is a corporation that will be subject to the Insurance Code as an insurer, it shall state that fact.
(b)Annexed to the statement and designation shall be a certificate by an authorized public official of the state or place of incorporation of the corporation to the effect that the corporation is an existing corporation in good standing in that state or place or, in the case of an association, an officers’ certificate stating that it is a validly organized and existing business association under the laws of a specified foreign jurisdiction.
(c)Before it may be designated by a foreign corporation as its agent for service of process, a corporate agent must comply with Section 1505.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 47. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
（a）未从州务卿处获得资质证书的外国公司不得经营本州内业务。要获得该证书，公司应当按照州务卿规定的格式提交一份声明和委托书，并由公司高级管理人员签署，或者，如果是没有高级管理人员的外国社团，则应由一名受托人签署，说明：
（1）该公司的名称及其注册或组织的州或地点。
（2）该公司的主要经营管理地的街道地址。
（3）该公司的州内主要经营管理地的街道地址（如有）。
（4）该公司的经营管理地的邮政地址，如与第（2）款和第（3）款所规定的地址不一致。
（5）可以在本州内向公司送达诉讼文书的代理人的姓名。对该代理人的指定应符合第1502条(b)款的规定。
（6）（A）如果公司指定的代理人或代理人的继任者不再被授权行事或无法在指定的地址找到，则该公司不可撤销地同意将诉讼文书送达给州务卿。（B）对本款规定的同意扩展适用于向外国公司在本州的代理人送达根据《刑法》第1524.2条的规定签发的或任何其他有效签发和适当送达的搜查令，以获取由外国公司所持有并位于本州境内或境外的记录或文件。本项所规定的内容适用于被申请搜查令针对事项的一方当事人或非当事方的外国公司。本项所称的“适当送达”是指专人送达，或者，如果通过美国的邮件、隔夜递送服务或传真方式递送给第2110条中所列的任何个人或实体，或以该外国公司指定的任何其他送达方式，包括但不限于电子邮件或通过该外国公司指定的用于送达诉讼文书而指定的互联网门户网站提交，应以合理允许送达证明的方式送达。
（7）如果该公司将作为保险人受到《保险法典》约束，该公司应当说明这一情况。
（b）声明和指定书的附件应附有公司注册成立的州或地方的授权公职人员出具的证明，证明该公司是该州或该地现存的一家经营状况良好的公司，或者，如果是社团，则提供一份社团负责人的证明书，证明该社团是一家根据特定的非本法辖区的法域的法律有效组织并存续的商业社团。
（c）在被外国公司指定为其送达诉讼文书代理人之前，公司代理人必须符合第1505条的规定。
（该条由该条由《美国制定法大全》第2016卷，第86章第47节（SB 1171）修订，自2017年1月1日起生效）
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