“Preparing Your Company for an Initial Public Offering”

by John C. Yates, Esquire

Are Incorporation Documents and Corporate Records in proper form?

  • Articles of Incorporation must comply with state law (O.C.G.A. §14-2-202 for Georgia corporations) and should indemnify Directors to the maximum extent.
  • Bylaws must accurately reflect an effective plan for managing the Company and regulating its affairs and should protect the Company’s Officers and Directors from liability to the maximum extent provided by law.
  • Foreign Qualification Certificates must be available from every state in which the Company conducts the required level of business.
  • Stock

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Implementing a Revenue Recognition Plan

by John Yates

 

Introduction

This memorandum provides practical pointers for technology companies and their professional advisors to consider in view of the impact that accounting guidelines, industry practices, and other revenue recognition requirements may have on their business. In many cases, these pointers will help to reduce the amount of time required to respond to future inquiries from third parties and accountants regarding a company’s understanding and implementation of revenue recognition policies.

1. Determine Revenue Recognition Goals.

The technology company should determine whether its goal is to recognize revenue as soon as possible or defer the recognition of revenue. If the goal is

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Georgia Appellate Court Finds Hawks-Thrashers Sale Verbal Agreement Binding

The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a decision to hold Turner Broadcasting System to its apparent verbal agreement to transfer ownership of the Hawks and Thrashers franchises, ordering the payment of the original $281-million award.

Facts: During the course of negotiations with Texas business man David McDavid, Turner entered into a Letter of Intent that precluded binding negotiations without a  signed agreement. However, that contract had expired by the time Turner representatives purportedly said “we have a deal” in continued verbal negotiations. McDavid had prepared a press release to announce the purchase when Turner retracted the offer, prompting McDavid to sue

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