Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 15 - Corporate Powers, Duties and Safeguards
Section 1528 - Shares represented by certificates and uncertificated shares


(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

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 1501 - Corporate capacity

Section 1502 - General powers

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 1572 - Definitions

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

Section 1579 - Valuation proceedings generally

Section 1580 - Costs and expenses of valuation proceedings