A. The articles of incorporation, bylaws, an agreement among shareholders, or an agreement between shareholders and the corporation may impose restrictions on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the corporation. A restriction does not affect shares issued before the restriction was adopted unless the holders of the shares are parties to the restriction agreement or voted in favor of the restriction.
B. A restriction on the transfer or registration of shares is valid and enforceable against the holder or a transferee of the holder if the restriction is authorized by this section and its existence is noted conspicuously on the front or back of the certificate or in the information statement required by subsection B of § 13.1-648. Unless so noted, a restriction is not enforceable against a person without knowledge of the restriction.
C. A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares is authorized:
1. To maintain the corporation’s status when it is dependent on the number or identity of its shareholders;
2. To preserve exemptions under federal or state securities law; and
D. A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares may:
1. Obligate the shareholder first to offer the corporation or other persons (separately, consecutively, or simultaneously) an opportunity to acquire the restricted shares;
2. Obligate the corporation or other persons (separately, consecutively, or simultaneously) to acquire the restricted shares;
3. Require the corporation, the holders of any class of its shares, or another person to approve the transfer of the restricted shares, if the requirement is not manifestly unreasonable; or
4. Prohibit the transfer of the restricted shares to designated persons or classes of persons, if the prohibition is not manifestly unreasonable.
E. For purposes of this section, “shares” includes any warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares or any security or other obligation of the corporation convertible into any such shares or into warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares.
History
1985, c. 522; 2005, c. 765; 2015, c. 611.
