(a) General rule.--The shares of a business corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated shares.
(b) Issue of certificates.--Every shareholder shall, except as otherwise provided in a provision of the articles adopted pursuant to subsection (f) or in the terms of a subscription that has not been fully performed by the subscriber, be entitled to a share certificate representing the shares owned by him.
(c) Form of certificate.--Share certificates shall state:
(1) That the corporation is incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) The name of the person to whom issued.
(3) The number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, that the certificate represents.
(d) Notice of variations in rights.--Every certificate representing shares issued by a business corporation that is authorized to issue shares of more than one class or series shall set forth upon the face or back of the certificate (or shall state on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation will furnish to any shareholder upon request and without charge) a full or summary statement of the designations, voting rights, preferences, limitations and special rights of the shares of each class or series authorized to be issued so far as they have been fixed and determined and the authority of the board of directors to fix and determine the designations, voting rights, preferences, limitations and special rights of the classes and series of shares of the corporation. See also sections 1524(d) (relating to rights of subscribing shareholder), 1529(f) (relating to notice to transferee) and 2321(c) (relating to notice of statutory close corporation status).
(e) Execution.--Every share certificate shall be executed, by facsimile or otherwise, by or on behalf of the corporation issuing the shares in such manner as it may determine.
(f) Uncertificated shares.--The articles may provide that any or all classes and series of shares, or any part thereof, shall be uncertificated shares except that such a provision shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates by subsections (c) and (d). Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates and the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares of the same class and series shall be identical. See section 2321(a) (relating to uncertificated shares prohibited).
(g) Bearer shares prohibited.--A business corporation may not issue share certificates in bearer form. This subsection may not be varied by the articles.
(Dec. 19, 1990, P.L.834, No.198, eff. imd.; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1333, No.169, eff. 60 days; July 9, 2013, P.L.476, No.67, eff. 60 days)
2013 Amendment. Act 67 added subsec. (g).
1992 Amendment. Act 169 amended subsec. (f).
1990 Amendment. Act 198 amended subsecs. (b), (d) and (f).
Cross References. Section 1528 is referred to in sections 1502, 1524, 1529, 1554, 1914, 2547 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 15 - CORPORATIONS AND UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS
Chapter 15 - Corporate Powers, Duties and Safeguards
Section 1501 - Corporate capacity
Section 1503 - Defense of ultra vires
Section 1504 - Adoption, amendment and contents of bylaws
Section 1505 - Persons bound by bylaws
Section 1506 - Form of execution of instruments
Section 1507 - Registered office
Section 1508 - Corporate records; inspection by shareholders
Section 1509 - Bylaws and other powers in emergency
Section 1510 - Certain specifically authorized debt terms
Section 1511 - Additional powers of certain public utility corporations
Section 1512 - Informational rights of a director
Section 1513 - Forum selection provisions
Section 1521 - Authorized shares
Section 1522 - Issuance of shares in classes or series; board action
Section 1523 - Pricing and issuance of shares
Section 1524 - Payment for shares
Section 1525 - Stock rights and options
Section 1526 - Liability of shareholders
Section 1527 - Issuance of fractional shares or scrip
Section 1528 - Shares represented by certificates and uncertificated shares
Section 1529 - Transfer of securities; restrictions
Section 1530 - Preemptive rights of shareholders
Section 1531 - Voting powers and other rights of certain securityholders and other entities
Section 1532 - Effect of failure to surrender securities converted by reorganization
Section 1551 - Distributions to shareholders
Section 1552 - Power of corporation to acquire its own shares
Section 1553 - Liability for unlawful dividends and other distributions
Section 1554 - Financial reports to shareholders
Section 1571 - Application and effect of subchapter
Section 1573 - Record and beneficial holders and owners
Section 1574 - Notice of intention to dissent
Section 1575 - Notice to demand payment
Section 1576 - Failure to comply with notice to demand payment, etc
Section 1577 - Release of restrictions or payment for shares
Section 1578 - Estimate by dissenter of fair value of shares