One hundred years ago, landmark legislation was adopted in the state of Delaware. Known as the Delaware General Corporation Law of 1899, this legislation simplified the legal process of incorporation and granted certain tax advantages to corporations. The Delaware General Corporation Law also formalized the concept of a Chancery Court, offering businesses a consistent body of law and a well-established arena for settling disputes. These concepts, revolutionary at the time, were instrumental in increasing Delaware's popularity as a corporate "home."

CSC founders, Josiah Marvel and Christopher Ward, were two young, successful attorneys practicing law in the state of Delaware at the time the Delaware General Corporation Law was passed. Josiah Marvel, a President of the American Bar Association, the Delaware Bar Association, and founder of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, played a major role in drafting the Delaware General Corporation Law. Christopher Ward, an eminent historian and author, developed the framework for CSC's approach to registered agent services in Delaware. Both were visionary in their efforts to shape Delaware's future as America's corporate capital.

In 1899, Otho Nowland, President of Equitable Guarantee & Trust Company, approached Christopher Ward with the idea of establishing an agency to assist outside counsel in organizing corporations and acting as a local registered agent for them. Ward accepted the challenge. With an initial investment of $1,500, Ward founded the Delaware Incorporators' Trust Company, a pioneering company designed to register companies as corporate entities within the state of Delaware. Shortly thereafter, Josiah Marvel followed suit and founded a similar incorporation company.

The Incorporation "Business" Begins
Ward and Marvel form CSC

In 1920, Ward and Marvel decided to officially combine their two companies under the name Corporation Service Company (CSC). As the new company prospered, so did Delaware's reputation as "The Corporate State."

In its early days, CSC served only Delaware corporations. Business grew mainly from word-of-mouth referrals. By the late 1970's, however, CSC embarked on a period of accelerated growth. This growth continued throughout the 1980's with CSC's acquisition of eight respected service providers including the most notable - Prentice Hall Legal & Financial Services in 1995. Today, CSC is comprised of numerous offices including CSC service centers in key locations throughout the U.S.

In 1997, CSC ventured into the realm of the Internet to offer clients solutions for streamlining corporate legal tasks and accessing important legal information. The power of the Internet represented uncharted waters for the legal services industry as most service providers relied on software solutions. The release of CSC's interactive Web site called IncSpot (www.incspot.com) in 1997 marked the first Web site to go beyond traditional "brochureware" within the legal services marketplace. Today, IncSpot provides clients with access to their CSC account, service of process information, and more. IncSpot members and non-members also have access to non-proprietary information such as legal news and legislative updates, links to relevant legal Web sites, procedural outlines, and reference materials. Now, two years since the initial release, CSC continues to add exciting new features to IncSpot. The award-winning Web site has become an important and timesaving client extranet for CSC clients around the globe.

The CSC Organization
Today . . .

CSC is still a privately held company with third and fourth generation descendants of both founders serving as active, contributing members of the Board of Directors. Over 600 employees located in offices throughout the U.S. represent the CSC organization today.

As CSC celebrates its 100th birthday, we salute our founders, Josiah Marvel and Christopher Ward for their contributions to the Delaware General Corporation Law - recognized today by the business and legal community as the "corporate standard" and "model act." Because of our founders' unwavering commitment to the business community within the state of Delaware and beyond, the "small wonder" state has become the corporate home for many companies doing business throughout the world.

Copyright © 1999 Corporation Service Company