West Virginia Code 31D-6-625 – Form and content of certificates
(a) Shares may, but need not, be represented by certificates. Unless this chapter or another provision of this code expressly provides otherwise, the rights and obligations of shareholders are identical whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 31D-6-625
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, engraving, writing, or otherwise. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Person: includes , but is not limited to, an individual and an entity. See West Virginia Code 31D-1-150
- Shareholder: means the person in whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights granted by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation. See West Virginia Code 31D-1-150
- Shares: means the units into which the proprietary interests in a corporation are divided. See West Virginia Code 31D-1-150
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) At a minimum each share certificate must state on its face:
(1) The name of the issuing corporation and that it is organized under the law of this state;
(2) The name of the person to whom issued; and
(3) The number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, the certificate represents.
(c) If the issuing corporation is authorized to issue different classes of shares or different series within a class, the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations applicable to each class and the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series and the authority of the board of directors to determine variations for future series must be summarized on the front or back of each certificate. Alternatively, each certificate may state conspicuously on its front or back that the corporation will furnish the shareholder this information on request in writing and without charge.
(d) Each share certificate: (1) Must be signed, either manually or in facsimile, by two officers designated in the bylaws or by the board of directors; and (2) may bear the corporate seal or its facsimile.
(e) If the person who signed, either manually or in facsimile, a share certificate no longer holds office when the certificate is issued, the certificate remains valid.