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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63843</law_id><section_number>8.8A-202</section_number><catch_line>Issuer&amp;#8217;s responsibility and defenses; notice of defect or defense</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="8.8A">Commercial Code &#x2014; Investment Securities</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Issue and Issuer</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> Even against a purchaser for value and without notice, the terms of a certificated security include terms stated on the certificate and terms made part of the security by reference on the certificate to another instrument, indenture, or document or to a constitution, <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, rule, regulation, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or the like, to the extent the terms referred to do not conflict with terms stated on the certificate. A reference under this subsection does not of itself charge a purchaser for value with notice of a defect going to the validity of the security, even if the certificate expressly states that a person accepting it admits notice. The terms of an uncertificated security include those stated in any instrument, indenture, or document or in a constitution, <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, rule, regulation, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, or the like, pursuant to which the security is issued. <a id="paragraph-232569" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> The following rules apply if an issuer asserts that a security is not valid: <a id="paragraph-232570" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A security other than one issued by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, even though issued with a defect going to its validity, is valid in the hands of a purchaser for value and without notice of the particular defect unless the defect involves a violation of a constitutional provision. In that case, the security is valid in the hands of a purchaser for value and without notice of the defect, other than one who takes by original <span class="dictionary">issue</span>. <a id="paragraph-232571" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Paragraph (1) applies to an issuer that is a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality only if there has been substantial compliance with the legal requirements governing the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> or the issuer has received a substantial consideration for the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> as a whole or for the particular security and a stated purpose of the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> is one for which the issuer has power to borrow money or <span class="dictionary">issue</span> the security. <a id="paragraph-232572" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Except as otherwise provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Effect of unauthorized signature on security certificate" href="/8.8A-205/">8.8A-205</a>, lack of genuineness of a certificated security is a complete defense, even against a purchaser for value and without notice. <a id="paragraph-232573" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> All other defenses of the issuer of a security, including nondelivery and conditional delivery of a certificated security, are ineffective against a purchaser for value who has taken the certificated security without notice of the particular defense. <a id="paragraph-232574" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> This section does not affect the right of a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to cancel a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for a security &#x201C;when, as and if issued&#x201D; or &#x201C;when distributed&#x201D; in the event of a <span class="dictionary">material</span> change in the character of the security that is the subject of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or in the plan or arrangement pursuant to which the security is to be issued or distributed. <a id="paragraph-232575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f"><p><span class="prefix-number">f.</span> If a security is held by a securities intermediary against whom an entitlement holder has a security entitlement with respect to the security, the issuer may not assert any defense that the issuer could not assert if the entitlement holder held the security directly. <a id="paragraph-232576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.8A-202/#f"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 216.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
