HOW ARE SHARES OF STOCKS TRANSFERRED?

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• For shares of stocks with a stock certificate, there must be delivery of the stock certificate, indorsement and recording in the stock and transfer book of the corporation.

• For shares of stocks without a stock certificate, transfer must be done by means of a deed of assignment and recording in the stock and transfer book of the corporation.

• The Corporation is not a party to the transfer of shares of stocks through any form of conveyance.

Shares of stocks in a corporation are treated as personal property under our existing laws. Like any other personal property, an owner of shares of stocks can sell, assign, transfer or convey his property to another person as an attribute of ownership. However, the law may regulate shares of stocks since by its nature, it is considered as intangible personal properties. As such, any manner of conveyance or transfer must also be regulated.

 

The law says:

Section 62 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines states that:

SEC. 62. Certificate of Stock and Transfer of Shares. – The capital stock of corporations shall be divided into shares for which certificates signed by the president or vice president, countersigned by the secretary or assistant secretary, and sealed with the seal of the corporation shall be issued in accordance with the bylaws. Shares of stock so issued are personal property and may be transferred by delivery of the certificate or certificates indorsed by the owner, his attorney in-fact, or any other person legally authorized to make the transfer. No transfer, however, shall be valid, except as between the parties, until the transfer is recorded in the books of the corporation showing the names of the parties to the transaction, the date of the transfer, the number of the certificate or certificates, and the number of shares transferred. The Commission may require corporations whose securities are traded in trading markets and which can reasonably demonstrate their capability to do so to issue their securities or shares of stocks in uncertificated or scripless form in accordance with the rules of the Commission. No shares of stock against which the corporation holds any unpaid claim shall be transferable in the books of the corporation. (Emphasis supplied.)

 

What are the requirements of a valid transfer of shares of stocks?

For shares of stocks that are represented by a stock certificate, the following must be strictly complied with:

1. delivery of the stock certificate;
2. indorsement by the owner or his agent;
3. recording in the books of the corporation. (Sec. 62, Revised Corporation Code)

However, if the shares of stocks are not represented by a stock certificate, such as when the certificate has not yet been issued or when such certificate is not in the possession of the stockholder, the transfer must be:

1. by means of a deed of assignment; and
2. such is duly recorded in the books of the corporation.

 

Jurisprudence says:

For the delivery of the stock certificate, the Supreme Court ruled that the term delivery means delivery to the assignee or the transferee and not delivery to the corporation. (Teng v. Securities and Exchange Commission, G.R. No. 184332, 17 February 2016)

In the case of Rural Bank of Lipa v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 124535, 28 September 2001), the Supreme Court has held that for the transfer of shares of stocks to be valid and binding to third parties, such transfer must be recorded in the books of the corporation.

It must be noted that the registration in the stock and transfer book is not necessary if the conveyance is by way of chattel mortgage. However, there must be due registration with the Register of Deeds. (Chua Guan v. Samahang Magsasaka, G.R. No. L-42091, 2 November 1935)

Registration is likewise necessary if the heirs of the deceased shareholder acquire the latter’s shares of stocks. (Reyes v. RTC and Zenith Insurance Corporation, G.R. No. 165744, 11 August 2008)

The corporation whose shares of stock are the subject of a transfer through sale, donation, or any mode of conveyance, is not a party to the transaction. (Forest Hill Golf & Country Club v. Vertex Sales and Trading, G.R. No. 202205, 6 March 2013)

 

May a stockholder bring a suit to compel the corporate secretary to register valid transfer of stocks?

Yes, a stockholder may compel the corporate secretary to register a valid transfer of stocks. It is the duty and obligation of the corporate secretary to register the transfer of stocks.

Is the attachment or mortgage of shares of stocks required to be registered in the corporation’s stock and transfer books to be valid and binding on the corporation and third parties?

No, an attachment or mortgage of shares of stocks need not be registered in the corporation’s stock and transfer books inasmuch as a chattel mortgage over shares of stocks does not involve a transfer of shares.

Only absolute transfers of shares of stocks are required to be registered in the corporation’s stocks and transfer book in order to have the force and effect against third persons. (Chemphil Export and Import Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 112438-39, 12 December 1995)

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