How to File a Corporate Disclosure Statement for Publicly Traded Corporations

A corporate disclosure statement is a legal document that discloses the power structure and financial activity of a company. This statement serves as a permanent record of the key executives at the company, their financial dealings as well as their misdeeds. The following steps use California law as a basis, but whatever your state, you can use these basic steps to file a disclosure statement.

Instructions

Basic Information

1. Go to your secretary of state's office and get a corporate disclosure form. It may be available on the secretary of state's website.

2. Fill out the form from top to bottom in order. You're required to answer every question listed in this form if it pertains to your company.

3. Write down the name of the corporation.

4. Give the name of the independent auditor who prepared the latest auditor report.

5. State any other services performed by the auditor.

Key Executives

1. Fill out the key executives from top to bottom, answering every applicable question.

2. Present the names of the board of directors.

3. Provide the names of executive officers.

4. Write the name of the chief executive officer. Name any other executive officers if there are others.

5. Disclose all compensation and stock options given to all officers in the document. You also must disclose if the officers have been convicted of fraud or have filed for bankruptcy.

Other Disclosures

1. Provide the amount of any loans given to the board of directors along with the terms of the loan.

2. Write whether the corporation has filed for any bankruptcy relief within the last 10 years.

3. Give information about any currently pending law suits the corporation is involved in.

4. Identify and disclose any law suits in which the corporation has been found liable for wrongdoing.

5. List any other loans that were given to board officers if it was more than one.

6. Complete your form by signing and dating the form. By signing, you maintain that the information in the document is true.

7. File your disclosure statement at your secretary of state's office.

Tips & Warnings

• Give the name of the auditor who assisted in the audit if different from the auditor of record.