Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 3 - Capital Accounts, Dividends, and Retirement of Shares
Section 2-309 - Distributions; Stock Dividends and Stock Splits

(a)    In this section, “reverse stock split” means a combination of outstanding shares of stock of a corporation into a lesser number of shares of stock of the same class without any change in the aggregate amount of stated capital of the corporation, except for a change resulting from the elimination of fractional shares in accordance with § 2–214 of this title.
    (b)    If authorized by its board of directors, a corporation may make distributions to its stockholders, subject to any restriction in its charter and the limitations in § 2–311 of this subtitle.
    (c)    (1)    A division of issued shares into a greater number of shares of the same class without any change in the aggregate amount of stated capital is a stock split, and a division with a change in the aggregate amount of stated capital is a stock dividend within the meaning of this subsection.
        (2)    If authorized by its board of directors and unless the charter provides otherwise, shares may be issued by a corporation, without consideration to the holders of one or more classes or series of stock, as a stock split or a stock dividend.
        (3)    If a stock dividend is payable in a corporation’s own stock with par value, the shares shall be issued at par value and, at the time the stock dividend is paid, the corporation shall transfer from surplus to stated capital an amount at least equal to the aggregate par value of the shares to be issued.
        (4)    If a stock dividend is payable in a corporation’s own stock without par value, the board of directors shall adopt at the time the stock dividend is declared a resolution which sets the aggregate amount to be attributed to stated capital with respect to the shares that constitute the stock dividend and, at the time the stock dividend is paid, the corporation shall transfer at least that amount from surplus to stated capital.
    (d)    If the board of directors of a corporation has given general authorization for a distribution and provides for or establishes a method or procedure for determining the maximum amount of the distribution, the board may delegate to an officer of the corporation the power, in accordance with the general authorization, to fix the amount and other terms of the distribution.
    (e)    (1)    This subsection applies to a corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
        (2)    Unless prohibited by the charter of a corporation by reference to this subsection or the subject matter of this subsection, the board of directors of the corporation may amend the charter, with the approval of a majority of the board of directors and without stockholder action, to effect a reverse stock split that results in a combination of shares of stock at a ratio of not more than 10 shares of stock into one share of stock in any 12–month period.
        (3)    Within 20 days after the effective date of the reverse stock split, the corporation shall give written notice of the reverse stock split to each holder of record of the combined shares of stock as of the effective date.

Structure Maryland Statutes