Corporations
公司
A corporation is a kind of business organization with an unlimited lifetime.
股份有限公司是一种无时间限制的企业组织形式。
Corporations can sell stock as a way to raise money.
公司可以通过出售股票来筹集资金。
Stock represents shares of ownership in a company.
股票是个人持有公司股份多少的凭证。
Investors who buy stock can trade their shares or keep them as long as the company is in business.
只要公司处于经营之中,投资者可以随意出售或一直持有自己的股份。
A company might use some of its earnings to pay dividends as a reward to shareholders.
公司获利后,会将收益的一部分当作回报分给股东,
Or it might reinvest the money into the business.
或是将钱再投资到公司的项目。
If shares lose value, investors can lose all of the money they paid for their stock.
如果股份失去价值,投资者就会亏掉购买股票的资金,
But shareholders are not responsible for the debts of the corporation.
但他们不承担公司债务。
A corporation is a legal entity separate from its owners.
股份有限公司是独立于所有者以外的法律实体。
A board of directors controls corporate policies.
董事会负责制定公司政策,
The directors appoint top company officers,but might or might not hold shares in the corporation.
他们可以任命公司高级职员,但却不一定持有公司的股份。
Corporations can have a few major shareholders.
公司可以有几个主要股东,
Or ownership can be spread among the general public.
也可以将所有权分散给大众。