The Corporate Veil

公司的面纱

A company is a legal person distinct from its member. This principle may be referred as “the veil of incorporation”.

不同于成员，公司是法律意义上的人。这一原则被称作“公司的面纱”。

The effect of this principle is that there is a fictional veil between the company and its members.

此原则的作用是在公司和成员之间形成了一层虚拟的隔层。

Lifting or piercing the corporate veil

揭开公司的面纱

When a company using this veil for fraud or improper conduct, it became necessary for the courts to break through or lift the veil and look at the persons behind.

当某个公司借助面纱来搞歪门邪道时，就需要法庭来揭开这层面纱从而看清其幕后。

Advantages of Incorporation

成立公司的优点

Limited liability 有限责任

The liability of all the members is limited to the nominal amount of their shares. 各成员的债务只限于各自的股权。

Transferability of shares 股权转让

Shares in a company can be transferred from one person to another, without the consent of the other members. 公司的股权可以从一个成员转到另一个，而不影响其他成员。

Separated legal entity 独立法律实体

A company has separate legal entity from its members an its existence is not affected by the death or insolvency of a member. 公司是独立的法律实体，不受其成员破产或死亡的影响。

Control 控制权

A company can be secured by acquisition of the majority of the company’s shares which carry the voting power. 通过取得多数具有权益的股权而实现对公司控制。

Management 管理

The formation of a company permits the proprietor of a business to realize his goodwill or to relieve himself of actual management if he so desires, while retaining the controlling interest in the business. 公司这一组织形式允许投资人可以在不损失利益的前提下，如果他愿意，就可以变现自己的信誉或者置身事外。

Dealing b/w members and the company 公司和成员间的交易

In the case of a company which is a legal person distinct from its member, loans between the members and the company and its members present no difficulty. 因为公司独立与其成员，所以公司成员间和公司与其成员间的借贷显得很容易。

2022年4月  北京