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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70669</law_id><section_number>13.1-645</section_number><catch_line>Share dividends</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Virginia Stock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Shares and Distributions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> provide otherwise, <span class="dictionary">shares</span> may be issued pro rata and without consideration to the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> or to the <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> of one or more classes or series of <span class="dictionary">shares</span>. An issuance of <span class="dictionary">shares</span> under this subsection is a share dividend. <a id="paragraph-254936" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-645/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> <span class="dictionary">Shares</span> of one class or series may not be issued as a share dividend in respect of <span class="dictionary">shares</span> of another class or series unless (i) the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> so authorize, (ii) a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued approve the <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, or (iii) there are no outstanding <span class="dictionary">shares</span> of the class or series to be issued. For purposes of this subsection, if a security convertible into or carrying a right to subscribe for or acquire <span class="dictionary">shares</span> of the class or series to be issued is outstanding, the holders shall be deemed to be holders of the class or series. <a id="paragraph-254937" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-645/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If the board of directors does not fix the <span class="dictionary">record date</span> for determining <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> entitled to a share dividend, it is the date the board of directors authorizes the share dividend. <a id="paragraph-254938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-645/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 13-37, 13.1-19; 1956, c. 428; 1972, c. 580; 1975, c. 500; 1985, c. 522; 2019, c. 734.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
