Small Business Reading Room


Friday, April 01, 2011

Important Notice from the Division of Corporations.

Online Services at www.corp.delaware.gov will be briefly interrupted on two days in April. The State has issued the following announcement.

Online Services Scheduled Maintenance -

The Division of Corporations Online Services will be unavailable due to Schedule Maintenance on the following days:

· April 3, 2011 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm EST

· April 9, 2011 from 9:00am until 4:00 pm EST

We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.

Those wishing to pay franchise tax or utilize other web services on the State's site should make note of this and plan accordingly.

0 comments


The Delaware Corporate Legislation Tracker

The Delaware Corporate Legislation Tracker is a free service, designed to keep you informed on current and pending legislation related to Delaware Corporate rules, regulations, and Delaware business matters. Stay on top of changes to the DGCL & the Delaware Code with the Delaware Corporate Legislation Tracker!

The following Legislation affecting Title 10 - Courts and Judicial Procedures was acted upon by the General Assembly on 3/29/2011:

HB 64
Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 10 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO JUDICIAL LAW CLERKS.



Synopsis:

This Bill amends and in some instances, adds, language to make uniform the individual courts’ various statutory provisions relating to judicial law clerks.


Bill History:

Mar 29, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House





The following Legislation affecting Title 29 - State Government was acted upon by the General Assembly on 3/29/2011:

HB 69
Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FISCAL PROJECTIONS.



Synopsis:

This bill adds incoming revenue, if any, as part of a full-cost analysis of fiscal projections, often referred to as fiscal notes or F/N. Consideration would be given to the economic implications caused by action of the General Assembly in creating jobs and the revenue that might be generated, as well as predictable revenue calculated by contract or direct action. This bill also requires a fiscal note to show the math used to determine the cost or revenue projections.


Bill History:

Mar 29, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to House Administration Committee in House





The following Legislation affecting Title 6 - Commerce and Trade was acted upon by the General Assembly on 3/30/2011:

HB 72
Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEBT MANAGEMENT SERVICES.



Synopsis:

The Delaware Debt Management Services Act was modeled after the uniform act developed by the National Council of Commissioners on Uniform Laws (NCCUSL). This Bill incorporates the 2008 changes for consistency with other states adopting the uniform act. Changes include a definition for a “certified debt specialist” and a provision for a temporary license when a criminal history has not yet been received.
In addition, in 2010 the Federal Trade Commission made changes to the telemarketing act that prohibits the collecting of advance fees by debt settlement companies. This bill incorporates changes to the uniform act by NCCUSL so that the provisions are consistent with federal regulation and no advance fees can be collected. Regulation of trust accounts is broader. The changes also make fee caps consistent with the uniform act.

Sections 6 and 14 incorporate the NCCUSL language in the insurance provisions.

Sections 18 and 22 provide new disclosure language for debt settlement providers.The added disclosure informs individuals that not all creditors will agree to reduce the principal amount of the debt in a debt settlement plan.

Section 55 clarifies that these administrative procedures were not superseded by the provisions in Chapter 25 of Title 29 and adds a provision for an appeal of an administrative decision on the record to the Superior Court.

Bill History:

Mar 30, 2011 - Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee in House






The following Legislation affecting Title 18 - Insurance Code was acted upon by the General Assembly on 3/31/2011:

SB 46
Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS, DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND REHABILITATION AND LIQUIDATION.



Synopsis:

Recent turmoil in the financial markets has heightened scrutiny, in the capital markets and among financial institutions, about identifying, managing and limiting risk, the need for adequate capitalization and for understanding the interdependency of the different financial sectors. One source of risk to financial market participants has arisen due to the lack of certainty in the treatment of qualified financial contracts and netting agreements in the event of the insolvency of state regulated insurers. The importance of maintaining certainty among the participants in these markets has been acknowledged and addressed through changes in the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (governing the insolvency of banks), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and other federal legislation and regulatory orders, as well as in the laws of major non-U.S. jurisdictions applicable to the insurers’ trading counterparties. This bill corrects this lack of certainty under the Delaware insurance laws by specifying the status of “qualified financial contracts” and the permissibility of netting under such contracts in a formal delinquency proceeding. This bill brings Delaware’s insurance law into conformance with similar provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Insurance Receivership Model Act (“IRMA”).
This bill also eliminates a threat to the financial stability of Delaware insurers and addresses a competitive disadvantage of Delaware insurers vis-a-vis their competitors in other jurisdictions where netting legislation has been adopted. Qualified financial contracts and netting agreements have proven to be of great assistance to Delaware insurers during the recent market downturn in managing their risks. Given the recent experience of financial market participants, however, the lack of certainty of the treatment of these agreements and contracts in a formal delinquency proceeding now threatens the ability of Delaware insurers to continue to use qualified financial contracts and netting agreements to manage their risks and remain financially strong. Recent changes in the international capital rules for banks under the Basel II accords, events in the financial markets over the past few years and the increasingly sophisticated risk control methods of financial institutions have placed a spotlight on the lack of protections for these contracts under the insurance laws of Delaware and many other states. Without the certainty that adoption of this bill will provide, it will become difficult for the counterparties of Delaware insurers to obtain the necessary legal comfort to transact business with Delaware insurers. The consequence for Delaware insurers will be increased costs in the pricing for their transactions (due to the perceived increased risk), and potentially, lack of access to these financial instruments. An inability to continue to trade or the increase in the prices at which insurers can transact potentially threatens the competitiveness and financial strength of Delaware insurers. For these reasons, as of March 4, 2011, eleven states have already taken action to adopt legislation validating these netting arrangements for insurers and several more states are currently considering adoption of similar legislation.

By providing for the enforcement of netting and closeout rights as provided in this bill for “qualified financial contracts,” Delaware will bring its insurer insolvency law into harmony with federal law and IRMA, will give both insurers and their creditors the certainty and safety they need, and will eliminate a competitive disadvantage of Delaware insurers.
Section 1 of this bill confirms the power of the Delaware Insurance Commissioner to issue rules, regulations an orders relating to investments by insurers, including setting standards for the prudent use of derivative instruments and other “qualified financial contracts.”

Section 2 of this bill adds new subsections (14)-(24) to § 5901 of the Insurance Code, providing, for purposes of Chapter 59, definitions of specific types of financial contracts commonly used in the financial markets, including swap agreements, repurchase agreements, forward contracts, commodity contracts and securities contracts as “qualified financial contracts” and the related “netting agreements” in addition to related terms including affiliate, creditor, claimant, formal delinquency proceeding and transfer. These definitions are intended to be consistent with those used under IRMA and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, applicable to bank insolvencies.

Section 3 of this bill adds a new § 5933 to the Insurance Code. Subsection (a) of § 5933 provides for the enforcement and recognition of the contractual rights of the insurer’s counterparties under qualified financial contracts, netting agreements and related security arrangements to terminate, liquidate, accelerate and close out such contracts, to set off and net out obligations owing under such contracts, and to enforce any security rights under such agreements, free of any stay, injunction or prohibition which might otherwise apply under Chapter 59. Subsection (b) of § 5933 provides for the transfer by the non-defaulting party to the receiver of any net or settlement amount owing to the insurer under a qualified financial contract. Subsection (c) of § 5933 provides for the transfer of all financial contracts between an insurer and a single counterparty and its affiliates together if a bulk transfer of insurer liabilities or contracts is made by the receiver. Subsection (d) of § 5933 provides for notification upon transfer of a netting agreement or qualified financial contract by the receiver. Subsection (e) of § 5933 provides for validation of payments and transfers of money and property under netting agreements and qualified financial contracts made prior to the commencement of a rehabilitation, insolvency or conservation proceeding, unless such transfers were made with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud the insurer, the receiver or other creditors. Subsection (f) of § 5933 provides that if the receiver disaffirms or repudiates any qualified financial contracts or netting agreements with a counterparty, it must disaffirm or repudiate all such contracts. Subsection (g) of § 5933 provides a definition of the term “contractual right’ as such term is used in this new § 5933. Subsection (h) of § 5933 provides that this new § 5933 will not apply to affiliates of an insurer subject to proceedings under Chapter 59, unless the Commissioner has previously approved the application of § 5933 to a particular affiliate. This new § 5933 would apply to contracts of both general and separate accounts of insurers.

Section 4 provides that upon enactment this bill would be effective immediately, except that it would only apply to a liquidation, receivership or conservatorship proceeding that commences under Chapter 59 of the Delaware Insurance Code on or after the enactment of this bill.

Bill History:

Mar 31, 2011 - Assigned to Insurance Committee in Senate



0 comments


What Does It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur?

Perhaps the truth is relative.

Here's something interesting to consider: a scholarly article describing a quantitative analysis of the differences between entrepreneurial CEOs and professional CEOs appeared in the September 2010 issue of “International Journal of Business and Management” (PDF) where entrepreneurs were deemed comparatively more motivated to go for unusual goals, more willing to take risks and accept challenges, better at handling uncertainty, and less inclined to maintain the status quo.



0 comments


Monday, March 28, 2011

Delaware LP/LLC/GP Franchise Tax Due June 1, 2011

Delaware Intercorp, Inc. has sent all notifications for the 2010 Delaware LP/LLC/GP Franchise Tax. The payment deadline to avoid a late penalty and interest charges is June 1, 2011.

The LP/LLC/GP franchise tax amount due is $250, which is unchanged from last year. Failure to file the tax payment by the due date will result in a $200 State assessed penalty and 1.5% interest, per month.

More details on payment options are available on our website. Alternatively, you may view the electronic notice we emailed directly to all LP/LLC/GP clients.

Don’t forget you can always contact our Franchise Tax Coordinator Joanne directly by emailing her at tax@delawareintercorp.com with your Delaware franchise tax related questions!

0 comments





link to Atom Feed
links

magazines

blogs

Archives

Delaware Intercorp, Inc.
113 Barksdale Professional center
Newark, DE 19711-3258

"For all the best reasons to incorporate,the best place
is Delaware and the best incorporator is
Delaware Intercorp!"

Call Monday - Friday 09:00 (am) - 17:00 (pm) Eastern Time (GMT-05:00)

Toll Free - USA only - 888.324.1817
International: (1) 302.266.9367
FAX: 302.266.9940
Email: info@delawareintercorp.com