Registration - - CA Commercial Law

Section § 8401

This law explains when a company (issuer) must transfer ownership of a stock or bond to someone new. The company has to do this if a few conditions are met: the person asking for the transfer is allowed to own the security, the request is genuine and authorized, all tax rules are followed, and it doesn’t break any company rules on transfers. Also, the transfer musts be legitimate or go to someone who is protected under the law. If the company takes too long or refuses to transfer the ownership without a good reason, they could be responsible for any losses caused by the delay.

(a) If a certificated security in registered form is presented to an issuer with a request to register transfer or an instruction is presented to an issuer with a request to register transfer of an uncertificated security, the issuer shall register the transfer as requested if the following conditions are met:

(1) Under the terms of the security the person seeking registration of transfer is eligible to have the security registered in its name.

(2) The endorsement or instruction is made by the appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person.

(3) Reasonable assurance is given that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized (Section 8402).

(4) Any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes has been complied with.

(5) The transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the issuer in accordance with Section 8204.

(6) A demand that the issuer not register transfer has not become effective under Section 8403, or the issuer has complied with subdivision (b) of Section 8403 but no legal process or indemnity bond is obtained as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 8403.

(7) The transfer is in fact rightful or is to a protected purchaser.

(b) If an issuer is under a duty to register a transfer of a security, the issuer is liable to a person presenting a certificated security or an instruction for registration or to the person’s principal for loss resulting from unreasonable delay in registration or failure or refusal to register the transfer.

certificated security uncertificated security issuer register transfer endorsement appropriate person agent authority genuine instruction tax compliance transfer restriction protected purchaser issuer liability unreasonable delay security ownership actual authority

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8402

This law section allows an issuer, like a company or a bank, to make sure that any endorsements (like signatures on a financial document) or instructions are genuine and come from someone with the right authority. They can require a signature guarantee to confirm the person signing is who they say they are. If someone else signs on behalf of the holder, proof of their authority is needed. In cases involving a fiduciary, a document from the court may be needed. The issuer can even ask for extra proof if they think it's necessary. Signatures must be guaranteed by someone the issuer trusts, and issuers can set their own reasonable standards for approving documents.

(a) An issuer may require the following assurance that each necessary endorsement or each instruction is genuine and authorized:

(1) In all cases, a guaranty of the signature of the person making an endorsement or originating an instruction including, in the case of an instruction, reasonable assurance of identity.

(2) If the endorsement is made or the instruction is originated by an agent, appropriate assurance of actual authority to sign.

(3) If the endorsement is made or the instruction is originated by a fiduciary pursuant to paragraph (4) or (5) of Section 8107, appropriate evidence of appointment or incumbency.

(4) If there is more than one fiduciary, reasonable assurance that all who are required to sign have done so.

(5) If the endorsement is made or the instruction is originated by a person not covered by another provision of this subdivision, assurance appropriate to the case corresponding as nearly as may be to the provisions of this subdivision.

(b) An issuer may elect to require reasonable assurance beyond that specified in this section.

(c) In this section:

(1) “Guaranty of the signature” means a guaranty signed by or on behalf of a person reasonably believed by the issuer to be responsible. An issuer may adopt standards with respect to responsibility if they are not manifestly unreasonable.

(2) “Appropriate evidence of appointment or incumbency” means:

(A) In the case of a fiduciary appointed or qualified by a court, a certificate issued by or under the direction or supervision of the court or an officer thereof and dated within 60 days before the date of presentation for transfer.

(B) In any other case, a copy of a document showing the appointment or a certificate issued by or on behalf of a person reasonably believed by an issuer to be responsible or, in the absence of that document or certificate, other evidence the issuer reasonably considers appropriate.

endorsement assurance signature guaranty reasonable assurance identity verification authorizing agent fiduciary appointment court certificate responsibility standards transfer presentation extra proof requirement signature confirmation authority proof issuer responsibility

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8403

This law allows someone, who is in the right position to do so, to ask a company not to transfer a security to someone else by sending a notification to the company. The request is only valid if the company receives it in time to act. If someone else tries to transfer the security after the request is effective, the company must notify both the person who made the request and the person trying to transfer the security. The company will then delay the transfer for up to 30 days to give the requester a chance to take legal action or provide a financial guarantee. The company isn't responsible for any loss the requester suffers if they don't act in time, but the company can still be liable if the transfer wasn't properly authorized.

(a) A person who is an appropriate person to make an endorsement or originate an instruction may demand that the issuer not register transfer of a security by communicating to the issuer a notification that identifies the registered owner and the issue of which the security is a part and provides an address for communications directed to the person making the demand. The demand is effective only if it is received by the issuer at a time and in a manner affording the issuer reasonable opportunity to act on it.

(b) If a certificated security in registered form is presented to an issuer with a request to register transfer or an instruction is presented to an issuer with a request to register transfer of an uncertificated security after a demand that the issuer not register transfer has become effective, the issuer shall promptly communicate to (A) the person who initiated the demand at the address provided in the demand and (B) the person who presented the security for registration of transfer or initiated the instruction requesting registration of transfer a notification stating all of the following:

(1) The certificated security has been presented for registration of transfer or the instruction for registration of transfer of the uncertificated security has been received.

(2) A demand that the issuer not register transfer had previously been received.

(3) The issuer will withhold registration of transfer for a period of time stated in the notification in order to provide the person who initiated the demand an opportunity to obtain legal process or an indemnity bond.

(c) The period described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) may not exceed 30 days after the date of communication of the notification. A shorter period may be specified by the issuer if it is not manifestly unreasonable.

(d) An issuer is not liable to a person who initiated a demand that the issuer not register transfer for any loss the person suffers as a result of registration of a transfer pursuant to an effective endorsement or instruction if the person who initiated the demand does not, within the time stated in the issuer’s communication, either:

(1) Obtain an appropriate restraining order, injunction, or other process from a court of competent jurisdiction enjoining the issuer from registering the transfer.

(2) File with the issuer an indemnity bond, sufficient in the issuer’s judgment to protect the issuer and any transfer agent, registrar, or other agent of the issuer involved from any loss it or they may suffer by refusing to register the transfer.

(e) This section does not relieve an issuer from liability for registering transfer pursuant to an endorsement or instruction that was not effective.

register transfer notification certificated security uncertificated security legal process indemnity bond effective endorsement withhold registration reasonable opportunity notification of demand liable for registration restraining order injunction court process transfer delay

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8404

This law explains when an issuer is responsible for mistakenly transferring a security to someone who shouldn't get it. They're liable if the transfer happened because of a bad signature, ignoring a stop-transfer order, not obeying court orders, or if they teamed up with the wrongdoer. If found liable, they have to give the rightful owner a similar security and any missed payments. However, they aren't liable if the transfer was based on a proper endorsement or instructions, unless other specific conditions apply, like tax collection laws.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 8406, an issuer is liable for wrongful registration of transfer if the issuer has registered a transfer of a security to a person not entitled to it, and the transfer was registered in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Pursuant to an ineffective endorsement or instruction.

(2) After a demand that the issuer not register transfer became effective under subdivision (a) of Section 8403(a) and the issuer did not comply with subdivision (b) of Section 8403.

(3) After the issuer had been served with an injunction, restraining order, or other legal process enjoining it from registering the transfer, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the issuer had a reasonable opportunity to act on the injunction, restraining order, or other legal process.

(4) By an issuer acting in collusion with the wrongdoer.

(b) An issuer that is liable for wrongful registration of transfer under subdivision (a) on demand shall provide the person entitled to the security with a like certificated or uncertificated security, and any payments or distributions that the person did not receive as a result of the wrongful registration. If an overissue would result, the issuer’s liability to provide the person with a like security is governed by Section 8210.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or in a law relating to the collection of taxes, an issuer is not liable to an owner or other person suffering loss as a result of the registration of a transfer of a security if registration was made pursuant to an effective endorsement or instruction.

wrongful registration security transfer issuer liability ineffective endorsement stop-transfer order court injunction collusion rightful owner like security overissue missed payments effective endorsement tax laws legal process collusion with wrongdoer

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8405

If you lose, destroy, or have your stock certificate wrongfully taken, you can get a new one from the company, but you need to ask before someone else buys your original certificate, give an indemnity bond, and meet any other reasonable requirements the company asks for. If the original certificate is later found and legally presented to the company, they must transfer it unless it would cause more shares to exist than allowed. In such a case, different rules apply. The company can also ask for the new certificate back from those it's been given to, unless they are protected purchasers.

(a) If an owner of a certificated security, whether in registered or bearer form, claims that the certificate has been lost, destroyed, or wrongfully taken, the issuer shall issue a new certificate if the owner does all of the following:

(1) So requests before the issuer has notice that the certificate has been acquired by a protected purchaser.

(2) Files with the issuer a sufficient indemnity bond.

(3) Satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the issuer.

(b) If, after the issue of a new security certificate, a protected purchaser of the original certificate presents it for registration of transfer, the issuer shall register the transfer unless an overissue would result. In that case, the issuer’s liability is governed by Section 8210. In addition to any rights on the indemnity bond, an issuer may recover the new certificate from a person to whom it was issued or any person taking under that person, except a protected purchaser.

certificated security lost certificate destroyed certificate wrongfully taken certificate issuer new certificate issuance indemnity bond protected purchaser registration of transfer overissue recover certificate

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8406

If you lose a security certificate or it's stolen, and you don't tell the issuer in a reasonable time, you can't blame them if they transfer it before they know. You also can't demand a new certificate in that case.

If a security certificate has been lost, apparently destroyed, or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the issuer of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of it and the issuer registers a transfer of the security before receiving notification, the owner may not assert against the issuer a claim for registering the transfer under Section 8404 or a claim to a new security certificate under Section 8405.

security certificate lost certificate stolen certificate issuer notification registering transfer claim against issuer transfer of security wrongfully taken reasonable time new security certificate

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 8407

This law says that if someone acts on behalf of a company to handle tasks like transferring ownership of securities, issuing new security certificates, or canceling old ones, they have the same responsibilities to the security holder as the company itself does for those tasks.

A person acting as authenticating trustee, transfer agent, registrar, or other agent for an issuer in the registration of a transfer of its securities, in the issue of new security certificates or uncertificated securities, or in the cancellation of surrendered security certificates has the same obligation to the holder or owner of a certificated or uncertificated security with regard to the particular functions performed as the issuer has in regard to those functions.

authenticating trustee transfer agent registrar issuer securities registration security certificates uncertificated securities transfer of securities cancellation of certificates agent responsibilities holder obligations securities issue new security certificates surrendered security certificates business agent roles

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 497, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Investment Securities

Chapter 4Registration

Section § 8401

Section § 8402

Section § 8403

Section § 8404

Section § 8405

Section § 8406

Section § 8407

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