Glossary of Key Terms

• Investment Contract: A contract, transaction, or scheme where a person invests money in a common enterprise with the expectation of making a profit primarily from the efforts of others.
• Howey Test: A legal test established in SEC v. W.J. Howey Co. (1946) used to determine if a transaction qualifies as an "investment contract" and thus is a security under federal law.
• Securities Act of 1933: A U.S. federal law that requires the registration of securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and aims to ensure transparency and protect investors from fraud.
• Common Enterprise: An investment scheme in which investors pool their money and share in the profits and risks of an operation. The fortunes of investors are linked to the success or failure of the enterprise.
• Efforts of Others: The performance of key managerial and operational activities by someone other than the investor which significantly affect the investor's potential for profit.
• SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): The U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry.
• Regulatory Purview: The scope of a government agency's authority or responsibility in overseeing and regulating certain areas of activity or industries.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Passive Voice: A grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performs it.
• Securities: Financial instruments that represent ownership (stocks) or debt (bonds) in a company or government entity.
• Dividends: A portion of a company's profits distributed to shareholders, often in cash or additional shares.
• Common Stock: A type of security representing basic ownership in a company and typically grants voting rights to the holder.
• Preferred Stock: A type of security representing ownership in a company that usually does not grant voting rights but pays fixed dividends.
• Stock Exchange: A marketplace where stocks and other securities are bought and sold, like the NYSE and Nasdaq.
• Voting Rights: The rights granted to shareholders, usually common stockholders, to participate in major company decisions such as electing the board of directors.
• Bonds: A type of security representing a debt instrument where an investor loans money to a company or government entity.
• Principal Amount: The initial amount of money borrowed or lent, particularly referring to the initial value of a bond.
• Maturity: The date on which the principal amount of a bond is repaid to the bondholder.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Dutch East India Company: A Dutch trading company founded in 1602 that held a monopoly on trade with the East Indies.
• Stock: A share of ownership in a company.
• Monopoly: Exclusive control over a particular product or service.
• Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
• Trading post: A settlement or station for merchants or traders, especially in a remote or unpopulated area.
• Capital: Financial assets or the financial value of assets, such as cash.
• East Indies: A historical term for the maritime region of Southeast Asia, including modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Underwriter: A financial intermediary, typically an investment bank, that helps companies issue and sell securities to investors.
• Securities: Financial instruments that represent an ownership interest in a company (stocks) or a debt obligation (bonds).
• Stocks: Shares of ownership in a corporation that entitle the holder to a portion of the company's profits and voting rights.
• Bonds: Debt securities issued by companies or governments that represent a loan with a promise to repay the principal amount with interest at a future date.
• Initial Public Offering (IPO): The first sale of a company's stock to the public, allowing it to raise capital from a wider range of investors.
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): A U.S. government agency responsible for regulating the securities markets and protecting investors.
• Prospectus: A legal document that provides detailed information about a company and the securities offering to potential investors.
• Due Diligence: The process of thorough investigation and analysis conducted by underwriters and investors to assess the risks and potential returns of an investment.
• Market Capitalization: The total value of a company's outstanding shares of stock, calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares.
• Risk Assessment: The process of identifying and evaluating potential risks associated with an investment, such as market volatility, company performance, or regulatory changes.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Glossary of Key Terms

Initial Public Offering (IPO): The process by which a private company offers shares to the public for the first time.

Underwriter: A financial institution that helps a company prepare for an IPO, assesses investor interest, and guarantees the sale of shares.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): A U.S. government agency responsible for overseeing and regulating the securities markets.

Securities Disclosure: The process of providing transparent and accurate information about a company's financials, operations, and risks to potential investors.

Form 10-K: A comprehensive annual report that all publicly traded companies are required to file with the SEC.

Insider Trading: The illegal practice of trading a company's securities while in possession of material, non-public information about the company.

Whistleblower: A person who exposes illegal or unethical behavior within an organization.

Passive Voice: A grammatical structure in which the subject receives the action rather than performing it.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Common Stock: A security representing ownership in a company, granting shareholders voting rights and potential for dividends and capital appreciation.
• Bonds: Debt securities representing loans made by investors to companies or governments, with the issuer obligated to repay principal and interest.
• Options: Contracts granting the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specified price on or before a specific date.
• Mutual Funds: Investment vehicles pooling money from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of securities, managed by professionals.
• Securities: Tradable financial assets representing ownership (stocks) or debt (bonds).
• Diversification: A risk management strategy involving investing in a variety of assets to reduce the impact of any single investment's performance.
• Principal: The original amount of money invested or loaned.
• Interest Payments: Periodic payments made to bondholders as compensation for lending money.
• Capital Appreciation: The increase in the value of an asset over time.
• Dividends: Payments made by companies to their shareholders, representing a share of the profits.
• Portfolio: A collection of investments held by an individual or institution.
• Risk: The possibility of losing money on an investment.
• Return: The profit or loss generated from an investment.
• Investment Vehicle: A product or strategy used to invest money.
• Hedge: An investment strategy to reduce risk.
• Speculate: To invest in an asset with the hope of making a profit from price fluctuations.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Equity securities, primarily common stock, signify ownership in a company, granting voting rights and potential dividend payments. In contrast, debt securities, such as bonds, represent a loan relationship where the issuer (borrower) promises to repay the principal and interest to the bondholder (lender). This distinction highlights the core difference between owning a piece of a company versus lending it money. The passage provides a basic understanding of these two main types of securities.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Consideration: Something of value exchanged between parties in a contract.

A grasp of something: An understanding or comprehension of a concept or subject.

Blow your mind: To be astonished or amazed by something.

A peppercorn: A small, dried fruit of a pepper plant, often used metaphorically to represent something of very small value.

A riddle: A question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning. 

To enter into a contract: To form a legally binding agreement.

Peppercorn theory: A legal principle that even something of nominal value, like a peppercorn, can constitute valid consideration if freely agreed upon by the parties.

To play out: To unfold or develop in a particular way.

Way out of balance: Significantly unequal or disproportionate.

To take advantage: To exploit or unfairly benefit from a situation or someone's vulnerability.

A bargain/deal: An agreement reached through negotiation, often involving an exchange of goods or services.

A takeaway: A key point or lesson learned from an experience or discussion.

Way out of whack: Similar to "way out of balance," meaning significantly out of alignment or proportion.

To mull over: To think about something carefully and thoughtfully.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

Key Concepts:

• Contract: A legally binding agreement between two or more parties that creates mutual obligations enforceable by law.
• Unilateral Contract: A contract where one party makes a promise in exchange for another party's action. Acceptance of the offer is the performance of the action.
• Bilateral Contract: A contract where two parties exchange mutual promises to be performed in the future.
• Offer: A proposal to enter into a contract, outlining specific terms and conditions.
• Acceptance: Agreement to the terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.
• Consideration: Something of value exchanged by each party in a contract.
• Breach of Contract: Failure to perform one's obligations under a contract.
• Remedies: Legal means of enforcing a right or redressing a wrong.
• Damages: Monetary compensation awarded for losses suffered due to a breach of contract.
• Specific Performance: A court order requiring a party to fulfill their contractual obligations.
• Injunction: A court order prohibiting a party from performing a specific act.
• Modal Verbs: Verbs like "shall," "must," "may," and "will" that indicate obligation, permission, or possibility in legal contracts.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?

legally binding: An agreement that creates legal obligations enforceable in court.

to regurgitate textbook: To repeat information from a textbook without understanding.

to kick off: To begin or start something.

a valid offer: A proposal made with the intention to be bound, with clear terms.

vague language: Words or phrases that are unclear or imprecise.

down the line: In the future.

consideration: Something of value exchanged between parties in a contract.

acceptance: Agreement to the terms of an offer.

intention to create legal relations: The shared understanding that an agreement is legally enforceable.

capacity to enter into a contract: The legal ability to form a binding contract.

unenforceable: A contract a court will not enforce due to a legal defect.

set in stone: Fixed and unchangeable.

stay on top of something: To remain informed and in control of a situation.

to hone a skill: To improve or refine a skill.

grasp a nuance: To understand a subtle difference in meaning.

Need Classes?

Legal English innovation has several classes weekly, focusing on commercial law and other areas to help you communicate better with your clients.

+57 320-315-4781

Follow us on Instagram!

Friends on Facebook?

Like us on Linked In?