Stock - Kabushiki (English spelling) share

Japanese: 株式 - かぶしき(英語表記)share
Stock - Kabushiki (English spelling) share

This refers to the legal status (shareholder rights) of a corporation's members (shareholders) with respect to the company. It is characterized by being in the form of subdivided proportional units. Shareholders have multiple statuses according to the number of shares they hold. This allows for investment with very small amounts of money in a corporation, makes it easier for a large number of people to participate, and enables the concentration of large amounts of capital. Furthermore, it brings various benefits to the management of legal relationships in a corporation with many members (such as the principle of shareholder equality).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Shareholders' Rights

With respect to the shares they hold, shareholders have the following rights: (1) the right to receive dividends from surplus funds, (2) the right to receive distributions of residual assets, (3) the right to vote at general shareholders meetings, and other rights recognized by the provisions of the Companies Act (Article 105, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act). Any provision in the articles of incorporation that does not grant shareholders all of the rights listed in (1) and (2) is invalid (Article 105, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act).

Shareholder rights are divided into self-interest rights and common-interest rights. Self-interest rights are rights that shareholders have to receive direct economic benefits from the company, and include the right to claim dividends from surplus (Article 105, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Company Law), the right to claim distribution of residual assets (Article 105, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Company Law), and the right to claim purchase of shares (Articles 116 to 119 of the Company Law). Common-interest rights are rights to participate in the management and operation of the company and to prevent and eliminate unfair management, and include the right to vote at general shareholders' meetings (Article 105, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Company Law), the right to sue to set aside resolutions of general shareholders' meetings (Article 831, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law), the right to sue to invalidate acts related to the company's organization (Article 828 of the Company Law), and the right to seek an injunction against illegal acts by directors (Article 360 ​​of the Company Law).

Shareholder rights are divided into sole shareholder rights, which are given to all shareholders, and minority shareholder rights, which can only be exercised by shareholders who own a certain number or percentage of shares. All self-interest rights are sole shareholder rights, but there are both types of common interest rights, and those that are particularly strong and at high risk of abuse are classified as minority shareholder rights. Examples include the right to propose (Articles 303 and 305 of the Company Law), the right to convene a general shareholders' meeting (Article 297 of the Company Law), the right to request the dismissal of directors, etc. (Articles 854 and 479 of the Company Law), and the right to inspect the books (Article 433 of the Company Law). However, in companies without a board of directors, the right to propose agenda items for general meetings is a sole shareholder right (Article 303, Paragraph 1, Article 305, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law), and all companies allow the relaxation of requirements for other minority shareholder rights or the conversion to sole shareholder rights in the articles of incorporation.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Principle of limited liability of shareholders

The principle that shareholders are only obligated to contribute to the company up to the subscription price of their shares, and are not directly liable to the company's creditors (Article 104 of the Companies Act). This principle has the effect of encouraging investment, as those who wish to invest can know in advance the amount of business risk they will be exposed to in the future. The Companies Act has a full payment system, and those who subscribe to shares must pay the full amount of their investment before the share issue takes effect (Articles 34, 63, and 208 of the Companies Act), so when the share issue takes effect and the subscriber becomes a shareholder, the shareholder has no obligation to the company. This principle is an absolute principle that is related to the essential nature of a joint-stock company, and it is not permitted to make exceptions to it and increase the liability of shareholders, even by the articles of incorporation or a resolution of the general shareholders' meeting.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Principle of shareholder equality

The principle that shareholders must be treated equally according to the type and number of shares they hold (Article 109, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act). Previously, only equality according to the number of shares held was mentioned, but the Companies Act enacted in 2005 also mentioned equality according to the type of shares held (same type, same treatment principle). As a result, different types of shares are now included in the principle of shareholder equality. For example, voting shares and non-voting shares were previously treated as exceptions to the principle of shareholder equality due to the presence or absence of voting rights, but now, since they are different types of shares, it is no longer an issue with the principle of equality as long as they are treated equally according to their type and number. The purpose of the principle of shareholder equality is to protect the interests of minority shareholders from the abuse of majority votes in a company. The Companies Act clearly stipulates equal treatment according to the number of shares in voting rights (Article 308, paragraph 1), dividends (Article 454, paragraph 3), and distribution of residual assets (Article 504, paragraph 3), and treatment according to the type of shares in Article 108, class shares. The principle of shareholder equality is not allowed to be exceptioned unless the law allows it or the disadvantaged shareholders individually consent, but individual consent may not be required when a hostile takeover defense measure is introduced with the approval of a majority of shareholders at the general meeting of shareholders. As an exception to this principle, private companies can stipulate in their articles of incorporation that different shareholders will be treated differently (Article 109, paragraphs 2 and 3), and personal provisions are possible.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Inherent rights

Among the rights of shareholders, rights that cannot be taken away without the consent of the shareholders, even by a majority vote at a general shareholders' meeting. This right is recognized as a limit to the majority rule in order to protect the essential interests of shareholders who participate in a company, and for example, the right to claim dividends from surplus is generally considered to be an inherent right (Article 105, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act). However, currently, whether or not a right can be taken away by majority vote is left to the interpretation of specific laws and regulations, and therefore the significance of inherent rights is not that great.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Sole shareholder rights

Rights that each shareholder can exercise individually as a shareholder, regardless of the number of shares he or she holds. It is a concept that contrasts with minority shareholder rights. All self-interest rights are sole shareholder rights. Common interest rights include various litigation rights such as voting rights (Article 308 of the Companies Act), the right to sue for the cancellation of a resolution of the general shareholders' meeting (Article 831 of the Companies Act), the right to sue for the invalidation of a new share issue (Article 828, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Companies Act), the right to sue for the invalidation of a company's incorporation (Article 828, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Companies Act), and the right to sue for the invalidation of a merger (Article 828, Paragraph 1, Item 7 of the Companies Act), as well as the right to file a representative lawsuit (Article 847, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act), and the right to seek an injunction against illegal acts by directors, etc. (Articles 360 and 422 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Minority Shareholder Rights

A right that can be exercised by one or more shareholders, provided that they hold a certain percentage of the total voting power of all shareholders or a certain number of shares. Among common rights, those that are particularly powerful and at high risk of abuse are classified as minority shareholder rights. Examples include the right to propose shares (Articles 303 and 305 of the Companies Act), the right to convene a general shareholders' meeting (Article 297, Paragraph 1 of the same Act), the right to inspect books (Article 433, Paragraph 1 of the same Act), and the right to request dissolution (Article 833, Paragraph 1 of the same Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Voting Rights

The right of shareholders to attend the general shareholders meeting and participate in the resolutions. In principle, shareholders have one vote per share (Article 308, Paragraph 1, Main Text of the Companies Act). However, as an exception, the following shares are not granted voting rights:

(1) Shares less than the whole lot (Article 308, Paragraph 1, proviso of the Companies Act) By eliminating the exercise of voting rights for shares less than the whole lot, the expenses incurred by shareholders (shareholder management costs) can be reduced.

(2) Stocks with restricted voting rights (Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the said Law) In order to meet the needs of shareholders who are only interested in investment returns and have no interest in running the company, and the needs of management who do not want to increase the number of voting rights, the issuance of stocks with restricted voting rights on certain matters to be resolved at the general shareholders' meeting and stocks with no voting rights at all may be permitted.

(3) Stocks for the appointment and dismissal of directors and auditors (Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 9 of the Companies Act) If such stocks are issued, other shareholders will not have the voting rights for the directors and auditors appointed by those types of stock.

(4) Mutually held shares (Article 308, paragraph 1, parentheses of the said Act) For example, if Company A holds more than one-fourth of the voting rights of all shareholders of Company B, which is its shareholder, Company B will not have voting rights with respect to the Company A shares held by Company B. This is to ensure the fairness of the exercise of voting rights and to prevent their distortion.

(5) Treasury stock (Article 308, Paragraph 2 of the same Act) In order to prevent the risk of strengthening corporate control by directors, etc. and the will of shareholders not being reflected in general meetings, voting rights are not recognized.

(6) Shares of shareholders who are specially interested parties (Article 140, Paragraph 3, Article 160, Paragraph 4 of the Companies Act) A specially interested party is a person who has a personal interest in the content of a resolution. However, even if a shareholder has a special interest in the resolution of a general shareholders meeting, he or she is not generally denied voting rights, and only grounds for revoking the resolution may arise in certain cases (Article 831, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Companies Act).

(7) Shares acquired after the record date (Article 124 of the Companies Act) In a company with a large number of shareholders, a record date is set to determine the point in time at which shareholders should be allowed to exercise their voting rights, etc.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Stock certificate

Stocks are securities that represent the status of shareholders (shareholder rights). By making invisible stocks visible and circulating them, it is possible to facilitate the transfer of stocks. However, the Companies Act states that, in principle, stock certificates are not issued for joint-stock companies, in consideration of the actual demand for not issuing stock certificates, and that stock certificates will be issued if the articles of incorporation stipulate that stock certificates will be issued (Companies Act, Article 214). Stock-issuing companies that stipulate in their articles of incorporation that stock certificates will be issued must issue stock certificates without delay after the stock issuance date (Companies Act, Article 215, Paragraph 1). However, private companies may not issue stock certificates until a shareholder requests it (Companies Act, Article 215, Paragraph 4).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Details and types of shares

While the Companies Act provides that the rights of each shareholder should be the same as a general rule, it also allows for the diversification of shares within certain limits and under certain conditions in accordance with the diversification of fund-raising and control relationships.

[1] All shares issued by a company may be made into shares with special content (Article 107, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act). There are three types of shares that can be issued with special content:

(1) Restricted transfer shares: shares whose transfer requires the approval of the company.

(2) Shares with acquisition rights: Shares for which the shareholder can request the corporation to acquire them.

(3) Shares subject to acquisition: Shares that a company can acquire on the condition that certain events occur.

[2] Of the stocks issued by a company, the following nine types of stocks may be issued with different rights (Article 108, Paragraph 1 of the said Act): (1) dividends from surplus, (2) distribution of residual assets, (3) matters concerning the exercise of voting rights, (4) restrictions on transfer, (5) acquisition rights, (6) acquisition clauses, (7) total acquisition clauses, (8) approval by a general meeting of shareholders of a class of stocks (the so-called veto rights), and (9) the election of directors and auditors at a general meeting of shareholders of a class of stocks.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Common stocks and preferred stocks

When issuing different types of stocks for dividends and distribution of residual assets, the standard stock is called common stock, and the stock that is treated preferentially over common stock is called preferred stock. For example, a company with poor performance can easily solicit shareholders by issuing dividend preferred stock, which is a convenient system for raising capital. Preferred stocks are divided into participating and non-participating preferred stocks, depending on whether they receive preferential dividends of a certain amount or a certain percentage over common stocks, and whether they can also share in the residual profits along with the common stocks when there are profits. Preferred stocks are also divided into cumulative and non-cumulative preferred stocks, depending on whether the shortfall in dividends in a given year is made up from profits from the following year onwards, if the dividends in a given year do not reach the certain amount or percentage mentioned above. In general, preferred stocks are closer to corporate bonds in that dividends are more certain than common stocks, and this tendency is more noticeable in the case of non-participating and cumulative preferred stocks.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Subordinated shares (deferred shares) and mixed shares

In contrast to preferred stocks, subordinated stocks are stocks that are treated subordinately to common stocks, and are given a lower status than common stocks in terms of surplus dividends and distribution of residual assets. They are also called deferred dividend stocks. For example, a company with a large surplus can issue new shares as subordinated stocks, which has the advantage of avoiding a decrease in the amount of surplus dividends paid to existing shareholders. Mixed stocks are stocks that receive preferential treatment in some respects and subordinate treatment in other respects in terms of surplus dividends and distribution of residual assets.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Shares with restricted voting rights

Stocks that cannot exercise voting rights on all or some matters at the general shareholders' meeting (Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Companies Act). They respond to the demands of shareholders who are not interested in running the company and are only interested in returns, and to the demands of management who do not want to increase the number of voting rights of shareholders. Before the Commercial Code was revised in 2001, it was only permitted to issue non-voting stocks (also called stocks without voting rights) that had no voting rights as stipulated in the articles of incorporation, but since the Commercial Code was revised, it has become possible to issue not only non-voting stocks but also stocks with restricted voting rights that cannot exercise voting rights on some matters, regardless of the type of stock. To issue such stocks, the total number of types of stocks that can be issued and the matters and conditions for exercising voting rights must be specified in the articles of incorporation (Article 108, Paragraph 2, Item 3 of the Companies Act). Shareholders of this type of stock do not have rights that are premised on the existence of the restricted voting rights on matters (for example, the right to receive notice of general shareholders' meetings; Article 298, paragraph 2, parentheses of the Company Act), but they are granted other rights. In a public company, the total number of shares with restricted voting rights may not exceed half of the total number of issued shares (Article 115 of the Company Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Par value stocks and no par value stocks

In the past, stocks were divided into par value stocks and no par value stocks, depending on whether or not the par value was stated on the stock certificate. However, the value of par value stocks is determined by the economic value of the company itself, and the par value does not represent the value of the stock, the basis on which the par value is used to calculate the capital amount is unclear, and calculating the amount of dividends to shareholders based on the par value was the reason for the low dividend payout ratio. For these reasons, the par value stock system was abolished by the revision of the Commercial Code in 2001, and only no par value stocks are available.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Registered shares and bearer shares

Shares in which the shareholder's name is written on the stock certificate are called registered shares, while those in which the name is not written are called bearer shares. With the revision of the Commercial Code in 1990, all shares were unified under registered shares.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Redeemed Shares

This system existed before the enactment of the Companies Act in 2005, and was a special type of stock that was scheduled to be cancelled with profits that could be distributed to shareholders. Originally, stocks, unlike corporate bonds, were not supposed to be redeemed in principle, but when a company issues dividend preferred stocks due to the need for temporary fundraising, the law specifically allows them to be redeemed after a certain period of time by attaching a redemption clause, since leaving them in place would be a heavy accounting burden. Stocks that could be redeemed at the shareholders' option were called mandatory redemption stocks, and those that could be redeemed at the company's option were called optional redemption stocks (whether mandatory or optional is an expression from the company's perspective). Under the Companies Act enacted in 2005, the former corresponds to shares with acquisition rights (Article 108, Paragraphs 1-5 and 2-5 of the Companies Act), and the latter corresponds to shares with acquisition clauses (Article 108, Paragraphs 1-6 and 2-6), in which money is given as consideration (Article 108, Paragraph 2, Item 5 (i); Article 107, Paragraph 2, Item 2 (ho); Article 108, Paragraph 2, Item 6 (i); Article 107, Paragraph 2, Item 3 (to)).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Convertible Stock

This system existed before the enactment of the Companies Act in 2005, and when "several types of stock" were issued, they were stocks that were given the right to be converted into other types of stock (conversion rights). For example, preferred stocks were initially issued without voting rights for shareholders who were not interested in company management and were only interested in dividends, but if they later decided they wanted to be involved in company management depending on business performance, they could be converted into common stock and their voting rights restored, which had the advantage of making it easier to solicit new shares. Stocks that could be converted at the request of shareholders were called stocks with conversion options, and stocks that could be converted when the company's articles of incorporation occurred were called stocks with mandatory conversion clauses. Under the Companies Act enacted in 2005, the former corresponds to shares with acquisition rights (Article 108, Paragraphs 1-5 and 2-5 of the Companies Act), and the latter corresponds to shares with acquisition clauses (Article 108, Paragraphs 1-6 and 2-6), in which a different type of shares is issued as consideration (Article 108, Paragraph 2-5(b) and Article 108, Paragraph 2-6(b)).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Issuance of shares

Basically, shares are issued in two cases: when a company is established and when a capital increase occurs after the company is established. The differences between the two are that (1) the issuance of shares after the company is established requires simple and quick procedures, and (2) the issuance of shares after the company is established requires reconciliation of interests with existing shareholders. The issuance of shares after the company is established, including the disposal of treasury stock held by the company, is referred to as "issuance of publicly-subscribed shares, etc." (Article 199 and following of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Promoting and subscribing

When a company is established, the promoters subscribe to all the shares to be issued, which is called "establishment by promoters" (Article 25, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Companies Act), while the promoters subscribe to some of the shares and the remaining shares are widely solicited from shareholders, which is called "establishment by offering" (Article 25, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Companies Act). The procedures for the establishment by offering are more complicated, as it is necessary to go through the process of soliciting shareholders (Article 57 and following of the Companies Act) and to hold an inaugural general meeting to decide on the matters concerning the establishment of the company (Article 87 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Capital Increase

After a company is established, it is called a capital increase when the company meets the demand for long-term funds by increasing its own capital. One method of increasing capital under the Companies Act is to issue public shares.

[1] Amount of capital increase When a company is established, the total number of shares that can be issued is determined and at least one-quarter of that is issued (Article 37 of the Companies Act), and the remaining unissued shares are authorized to be issued by the board of directors, etc. If a company wishes to issue more shares, it can increase the total number of shares that can be issued by amending the articles of incorporation, but it cannot increase the number of shares by more than four times the total number of shares issued (Article 113, paragraph 3, main text of the same act). However, private companies do not have such restrictions when increasing the total number of shares that can be issued (Article 37, paragraph 3, proviso, Article 113, paragraph 3 of the same act).

[2] Decision-making body for capital increase The body that decides on the matters to be offered varies depending on the type of company. (1) In private companies, the decision is made by a special resolution of the general shareholders' meeting in principle (Article 199, paragraph 2, Article 309, paragraph 2, item 5 of the same law), but it can also be delegated to the directors (or the board of directors in the case of a company with a board of directors) (Article 200, paragraph 1 of the same law. However, a special resolution of the general shareholders' meeting is required to decide on the delegation. Article 200, paragraph 1, Article 309, paragraph 2, item 5 of the same law). (2) In public companies, the decision is made by a resolution of the board of directors within the scope of the total number of shares that can be issued (Article 201, paragraph 1 of the same law. However, if the shares are to be issued to a third party at a particularly favorable price, a special resolution of the general shareholders' meeting is required. Article 199, paragraph 3, Article 201, paragraph 1, Article 309, paragraph 2, item 5 of the same law).

A method of stock offering in which shareholders are given the right to receive an allotment of shares in proportion to the number of shares they hold is called a shareholder allotment. In a public company, a shareholder allotment can be made by a resolution of the board of directors, and in a private company, by a special resolution of the general shareholders meeting (Article 202 of the same law).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Public/non-public recruitment

There are two methods for issuing stocks: public offering and private offering. The former is a method in which shareholders are widely solicited from the general public, while the latter is a method in which shares are subscribed to by specific individuals or limited related parties.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Shareholder allotment/third-party allotment

Depending on who is to subscribe to the new shares when increasing capital, there are two types: shareholder allotments and third-party allotments. Issuance of publicly-subscribed shares that gives shareholders the right to receive an allotment of shares according to the number of shares they hold is called a shareholder allotment, while issuance of publicly-subscribed shares that gives people other than shareholders the right to receive an allotment of shares is called a third-party allotment. In addition, when shares are allotted to shareholders without being based on the number of shares they hold, a third-party allotment also falls under this category. In addition, when the scope of third-party allotments is limited to certain people such as employees or business partners, it is called a personal allotment, and when there is no limitation, it is called a public offering. In Japan, it has been customary to allocate all or part of the shares to shareholders. Even in the case of a public offering, shareholders have been allowed to have priority application rights.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Issue at face value/issue at market value

Before the par value stocks were abolished by the revision of the Commercial Code in 2001, it was common to issue new shares at their par value regardless of the market price (par value issue), or to set the issue price at a level between the market price and the par value, or slightly higher than the par value (premium issue). Currently, when issuing public offering shares, it is common to issue new shares at market price, where the issue price is set at a level slightly lower than the market price, based on the market price of the stock.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Special stock offering

While normal stock issuance is accompanied by the purpose of fund raising, stock issuance without the purpose of fund raising is sometimes called "special stock issuance." Examples include stock splits, stock issuance as consideration for the exercise of acquisition rights or acquisition clauses, exercise of stock acquisition rights, and stock issuance as consideration for a merger.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Stock split

A stock split is when existing issued shares are divided into smaller shares to create a larger number of shares than before. Under the Companies Act, it is a uniform increase in the number of shares of the same type by a certain ratio (an increase in the number of shares; Article 183, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act). For example, one share becomes two shares, or two shares become three shares. Since the company's net assets remain the same and only the number of issued shares increases, it has the effect of decreasing the net assets per share, lowering the share price, and increasing the marketability of the shares. As long as the split does not result in a fractional share, there is no change in the actual status of the existing shares, and in companies with a board of directors, it can be decided by a board of directors resolution (Article 183, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Free distribution

A company may issue new shares to shareholders free of charge by resolution of the board of directors using all or part of the amount of reserve funds or the amount of capital in excess of par value. In 1990, the Commercial Code was amended to remove the provisions regarding free issuance, and stock dividends and stock splits were consolidated into one.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Pre-emptive Rights

This concept was used before the enactment of the Companies Act in 2005, and its meaning has changed subtly with the flow of the Commercial Code amendment. Previously, it meant a passive right to subscribe to shares preferentially in the case of new stock issuance. It meant a short-lived right that was not intended to last forever and was only effective during the period of capital increase. However, when the Commercial Code was amended in 1981, the concept of pre-emptive rights was also applied to the warrant portion, so that it became an optional right in which the right holder had the initiative, and even those who planned to hold it for a long time were included in the concept. In response to this conceptual confusion, the Commercial Code was amended in 2001 to separate the optional right and call it a stock acquisition right. In the Companies Act enacted in 2005, the concept of pre-emptive rights was abolished in law, and the concept of "right to receive allocation of shares" (Article 202 of the Companies Act) is used. The right to receive new stock allocations is given to shareholders in proportion to their shareholding ratio (shareholder allocations, Article 202, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the same law) or to third parties (third-party allocations). If shareholders are given the right to receive stock allocations, they can subscribe to new shares and make up for the decline in the profit dividend rate due to the issuance of new shares with the profits from the new shares, and they can maintain their ratio of voting rights at the general shareholders' meeting, which has the advantage of avoiding fluctuations in power in terms of corporate control. However, on the other hand, in order to ensure flexible fund raising, it is more advantageous to make a public offering without giving shareholders the right to receive stock allocations, and there is also the advantage that the company can receive more issuance consideration because the shares can be issued at an issue price corresponding to the market value of the shares. Therefore, whether or not shareholders should have the right to receive stock allocations as a rule was a question of legislative theory. In this regard, the Companies Act states that, although shareholders of a private company are not automatically entitled to receive an allotment of shares, in a public company an allotment can be made by a resolution of the board of directors, and in a private company an allotment can be made by a special resolution of the general shareholders' meeting (Article 202, Paragraph 3, Item 4, and Article 309, Paragraph 2, Item 5 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Dividends on stocks

The amount of profits distributed to stocks is called a dividend. One of the main reasons investors invest in stocks is to receive a share of corporate profits distributed to their stocks in the form of dividends. In a broad sense, stock dividends can refer to all dividends on stocks, including cash dividends, but under the Commercial Code, stock dividends refer only to dividends paid in the form of the company's stock instead of cash. Stock dividends are paid by a resolution of the general shareholders' meeting, when distributable profits are incorporated into capital, new stock is issued, and these are then distributed to shareholders. In the 1990 (Heisei 2) amendment to the Commercial Code, the provisions regarding stock dividends were deleted and stipulated as stock splits. This remains the same after the enactment of the Companies Act in 2005.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Pledge, cancellation and consolidation of shares

[1] Pledge of shares Stocks have value as property, so they are subject to security rights. The Companies Act prescribes the method of establishing a pledge (Article 146, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act) as a method of pledge of shares, while common law uses the method of transferable security. There are two methods of pledge of shares. (1) There is a summary pledge (Article 146, Paragraph 2, Article 147, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Companies Act), which takes effect upon the agreement to establish a pledge and the delivery of the stock certificates, and requires the continued possession of the stock certificates as a requirement for third party opposition. In this case, the pledgee is allowed to exercise subrogation in real property (Article 151 of the Companies Act). (2) There is a registered pledge (Article 148 of the Companies Act), in which the company, after satisfying the requirements for a summary pledge, enters and records the name and address of the pledgee and the stock that is the subject of the pledge in the shareholder register with the consent of the pledgor. In this case, the pledgee is allowed to exercise subrogation in real property for certain acts (Article 151 of the Companies Act). In other words, in certain cases, the registered pledgee can receive money, etc. directly from the company. In addition, in the case of a company that does not issue stock certificates, unless the name and address of the pledgee of the shares is entered and recorded in the shareholder register, the pledge cannot be asserted against the company or other third parties (Article 147, Paragraph 1 of the same Act), and summary pledge cannot be used.

[2] Cancellation of shares The absolute cancellation of specific shares during the existence of a company. Under the Companies Act, the cancellation of shares is unified to the system of cancelling treasury stock (Article 178 of the Companies Act).

[3] Consolidation of shares The act of combining several shares to make a smaller number of shares (Article 180, Paragraph 1 of the same act). For example, 10 shares to 1 share, or 3 shares to 2 shares. Since this has a significant impact on the interests of shareholders, a special resolution of the general shareholders' meeting (Article 180, Paragraph 2, Article 309, Paragraph 2, Item 4 of the same act) and notification or public announcement to shareholders and pledge registrants are required (Article 181 of the same act). It is used for capital reduction, preparation for merger, etc. In addition, since any fractional shares that arise from the consolidation of shares are treated as cash (Article 234 of the same act), there is a risk that they could be used to exclude minority shareholders.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Transfer of shares

In principle, a corporation can freely transfer shares (Article 127 of the Companies Act). For shareholders, the significance of freedom of shares being guaranteed as a method of collecting capital invested, excluding opportunities for dissolution of a company or distribution of surplus, is largely true for shareholders to guarantee the freedom of shares as a method of recovering capital. However, restrictions under the provisions of the law include the following:

[1] Restrictions on transfer under the Articles of Incorporation (restricted shares) Under the Companies Act, the Articles of Incorporation may require approval from the company for the acquisition of all shares or shares of some types of shares (Article 107, Paragraph 1, Item 1, Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 4). This is to meet the company's requests to place importance on the individuality of shareholders. The decision to approve is made by a resolution of a board of directors for companies with a board of directors, and for companies with no board of directors, it is also permitted to make a resolution of a general shareholders' meeting, but it is also permitted to make a separate provision in the Articles of Incorporation (Article 139, Paragraph 1, Article 139, Paragraph 1, the same Act).

[2] Restrictions on transfer of rights and shares by law (1) Restrictions on transfer of rights and shares The status of the underwriter before the company is established or the issuance of new shares is called rights and shares. Transfer of rights and shares is valid between the transfer parties, but does not take effect on the company (Article 35, Article 50, Article 50, Article 63, Article 208, Article 4 of the same Act). This is for the convenience of the company's administrative work regarding the creation of a shareholder register or issuance of stock certificates.

(2) Restriction of share transfer before issuance of share certificates A share transfer before issuance of share certificates is valid between the transfer parties, but does not take effect on the company (Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the same Act). This is for the convenience of the company's administrative procedures regarding issuance of share certificates. However, in cases where the company is unfairly delayed in issuing share certificates, it is recognized by the case law that the transfer of share certificates is valid only through the shareholder's intentions.

になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

(4) Restrictions on the transfer of shares under the Special Act The Antimonopoly Act restricts the acquisition and holding of shares that may result in private monopolies or unfair trading restrictions (Articles 9-11 and 14 of the Antimonopoly Act).

(5) Acquisition of treasury stock If a company is allowed to freely acquire shares issued by its own company, there are problems in terms of capital maintenance (refunds of capital contributions), shareholder equality (consideration imbalance, etc.), fairness in controlling the company (expansion of control of current management), and fairness in stock transactions (the risk of insider trading and market manipulation). Therefore, the Companies Act allows a company to acquire its treasury stock only in certain cases (Article 155 of the Companies Act).

[3] Restrictions on transfer under contracts: Share transfer may be restricted. For example, under the employee stockholding system of a closed company, when an employee retires, an employee may sign a contract with a company that will sell the shares to a person designated by the board of directors or a specific person, such as an employee stockholding association, at the same price as the acquisition price. In the case of precedents, such contracts are valid.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Fractional processing

When a company issues shares and consolidates or divides shares, there may be a fractional number less than one share. For example, if two shares are consolidated into one share, one share will be 0.5 shares. In the Commercial Code amendment in 1981 (Showa 56), such fractions were treated as fractional shares, and was listed in the base stock register, giving a portion of the interests of the owner. Under the Companies Act enacted in 2005 (Heisei 17), when a fractional share occurs, it was decided to be processed by paying a substantial amount of money (Article 234 of the Companies Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Unit share system/unit share system

In the 1981 (Showa 56), the Commercial Law reform was introduced, which was a system in which a certain number of shares were combined into one unit, with a net worth of 50,000 yen, and the unit shares recognized all rights recognized in the stock, but only self-interest rights are recognized for shares, but not common interest rights are recognized for shares. In the 2001 (Heisei 13), the net asset value regulation of 50,000 yen per unit was abolished, and a system was introduced that allowed the company to freely decide the number of shares that are the standard for granting common interest rights. This is called the unit share system.

になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. The principle is that an increase in the number of shares per unit (Article 2, No. 20 of the same Act) requires a resolution to change the articles of incorporation at a general meeting of shareholders (Article 466 of the same Act, Article 309, Paragraph 2, No. 11 of the same Act), but a resolution to the general meeting is not required to increase the number of shares per unit at a certain time at the same time as a stock split (Article 191 of the same Act; in the case of a change, Article 195 of the same Act).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Stock certificate custody transfer system

になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. The Corporate Bond Stock Transfer Act came into effect in January 2009, and as a result, the traditional stock certificate custody transfer system was abolished and the new transfer system was decided.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Closed approach to stocks and corporate bonds

Both stocks and corporate bonds are the means of raising funds for the company, and although there are legal and economic differences, both have the technical characteristics of absorbing small and small public funds as part of a fragmented, equal amount.

The two are different in that stocks are the means of raising capital, corporate bonds are the means of raising capital, and by law, stocks are shareholder positions, and shareholders are members of the company, while corporate bonds are claims to the company, and corporate bonds are creditors to the company.

Taking into account the above differences, there are specific differences between the status of shareholders and corporate bondholders in the following points:

(1) Shareholders cannot receive surplus dividends unless they have a dividendable profit to the company (Articles 453 and 461 of the Companies Act), but corporate bondholders may request payment of the concluded interest regardless of whether the company has any profit or not (Articles 676, Paragraph 3 of the same Act).

(2) In principle, refunds of investments to shareholders are not permitted (but there is acquiring treasury stock), but corporate bondholders receive the principal redemption once the deadline for redemption of the corporate bonds arrives.

(3) Shareholders have the right to participate in the management of the company (common interest rights), and have the right to voting (Article 308, Paragraph 1, Article 325 of the same Act) and the right to correct various supervision, but corporate bondholders do not have the right to participate in such participation.

(4) The shareholder's economic claims against the company are subordinated to the creditor, and after paying interest to the creditor, the company receives surplus dividends, and in the case of the company's dissolution, the remaining assets are distributed after paying all obligations to the creditor (main text of Article 502 of the same Act), but the creditor's economic claims against the company are paid in the same ranking as the ordinary creditor.

Although there are the differences as mentioned above between stocks and corporate bonds, recently stocks with a bond-like nature and corporate bonds with a stock-like nature have been permitted, and the two are in close proximity. For example, non-participatory cumulative preferred stock (Article 108, Paragraph 1, Item 1) can only receive a priority dividend even if there is a large profit, and cannot participate in the dividends of common stock (non-participatory), and even if a priority dividend is not made in a certain year, priority rights carry over to the next year (cumulative), so shareholders are ensured that a certain amount of economic profit can be obtained, and their nature approaches corporate bonds. In addition, bonds with stock acquisition rights are corporate bonds with stock acquisition rights (Article 2, No. 22 of the same Act), but when stock acquisition rights are exercised later, shares are issued, and the bondholders with stock acquisition rights become shareholders (corporate bonds may or may not be redeemed).

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

Internationalization of stocks

Under the title of internationalization of stocks, there are two points to be discussed: one is a method that allows internationally active companies to raise funds overseas, while the other is the acquisition of control over companies in other countries by foreign companies.

[1] Funding abroad (1) Listing foreign stocks There is a way for companies to list on exchanges in other countries and directly recruit foreign investors. For example, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has been listed since 1973 (Showa 48). There was originally a foreign stock market, but after the market was abolished in 2005 (Heisei 17), it has been designated as the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Mothers. Foreign stocks can be purchased in yen denominated by listing on Japanese exchanges.

になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. Furthermore, the beneficiary security trust introduced under the revised Trust Act, which came into effect in 2007, has created a vessel for introducing Japanese Depositary Receipts (JDR).

[2] Acquiring control by foreign companies There are several methods in which foreign companies acquire control of Japanese companies and intervene in management.

(1) Market Purchase This is a means of buying up stocks and acquiring control in the financial instruments trading market. If the shares exceed 5%, you will be required to submit a large-scale holding report (Article 27-23, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act).

になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.

[3] Triangular Merger A triangular Merger refers to a merger in which, when a subsidiary B of a company A absorbs another company C, surviving company B provides shareholders of the disappearing company C with shares of its parent company A as compensation rather than the shares of the surviving company B itself. This method allows a foreign company to use a subsidiary established in Japan to absorb domestic companies. In the first place, it is easy for a foreign company to absorb Japanese companies with relatively low market capitalization in advance, using its own shares with extremely high market capitalization in return, and in return, it is easy for a foreign company to absorb Japanese companies with relatively low market capitalization. However, according to traditional interpretation of the Companies Act, foreign companies cannot directly absorb Japanese companies, and even if they merge, they will not accept registration. Therefore, a system has been required to place Japanese companies under their own control without a direct absorption-type merger. Part of the introduction of triangular Mergers also exists.

[Fukuhara Norihiko]

"Stocks" by Kou Tsuneo, Kawamoto Ichiro, Takeuchi Akio, and others (1982, Yuhikaku)""Watanabe Shigeo and Nishimura Ken, "The New Company Law of the Stock System That Only You Need to Know about Company Executives 3: Key Points of the Stock System" (2005, Commercial Law)""Nakajima Katsuhisa, Noguchi Masato, and Muneda Hiroyuki, "How to Use Types of Stocks and Stock Acquisition Rights and Accounting and Taxation" (2006, Chuo Keizaisha)""Practical Guide to Companies Law 2: Stock Acquisition Rights and Organizational Reorganization" (2006, Chuo Keizaisha)""Miyake Shigehisa, Capital and Stock Accounting and Taxation" (2006, Chuo Keizaisha)""Hashimoto Masaaki, Artis, Basic Knowledge of Stocks" 6th Edition (2006, Business Education Publishing)""New edition of "Stock Practical Handbook" by Azusa Audit Corporation (2007, Seibunsha)""Types of Stock Guidebook: Complete Utilization and Accounting and Taxation" by Azusa Audit Corporation (2007, Seibunsha)""Stock Glossary Dictionary, 9th Edition (Nikkei Bunko)"

[Reference Items] | American Depositary Receipts | Companies Act | Merger | Stock Certificates | Stock Company Stocks | Tender Offer Plan | Issuance of Market Value | Stock Market | Stock Dividends | Shareholders | Shareholders' Rights | General Meeting of Shareholders | Shareholders' Litigation | Voting Rights | Restricted Shares | Named Shares | Timber Merger | Treasury Stock | Share Buying | Capital Liberalization | Bonds | Stock Exchanges | Minority Shares | New Shares | Stock Reservation Rights | Stock Recruitment Rights | Shares | Shares with Underwriting Rights | Stock Recruitment Rights | Shares | Shares Acceptance Rights | Capital Increase | Third-Party Allocation | Mass Holdings Report | Unit Shares | Convertible Shares | Registration Quality | Fractional Stock | No Voting Stock | Bearer Stock | Profit Dividend

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

株式会社の社員(株主)の会社に対する法律上の地位(株主権)をさす。細分化された割合的単位の形をとるところに特色がある。株主は、その有する株式数に応じて複数の地位を有する。これにより、株式会社においては、零細な資金による出資も可能となり、多数の者の参加が容易になり、大規模の資本の集中が可能となる。さらに、多数の社員からなる株式会社の法律関係を処理するうえで、さまざまな便益がもたらされる(株主平等の原則など)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株主の権利

株主はその有する株式につき、(1)剰余金の配当を受ける権利、(2)残余財産の分配を受ける権利、(3)株主総会における議決権、その他会社法の規定により認められた権利を有する(会社法105条1項)。株主に(1)および(2)に掲げる権利の全部を与えない旨の定款の定めは無効である(同法105条2項)。

 株主の権利は、自益権と共益権に分けられる。自益権は、株主が会社から直接経済的な利益を受ける権利で、これには剰余金配当請求権(同法105条1項1号)、残余財産分配請求権(同法105条1項2号)、株式買取請求権(同法116条~119条)などが認められている。共益権は、会社の管理運営に参加し、不当な経営を防止・排除する権利をいい、株主総会における議決権(同法105条1項3号)、株主総会決議取消訴権(同法831条1項)、会社組織に関する行為の無効訴権(同法828条)、取締役の違法行為差止請求権(同法360条)などがある。

 また、株主権は、すべての株主に与えられている単独株主権と、一定数または一定割合の株式を有する株主のみが行使することができる少数株主権に分けられる。自益権はすべて単独株主権であるが、共益権には双方があり、とくに権利が強力で濫用の危険が大きいものは少数株主権に分類されている。たとえば、提案権(同法303条、305条)、株主総会の招集権(同法297条)、取締役等の解任請求権(同法854条、479条)、帳薄閲覧権(同法433条)などがある。ただし、取締役会非設置会社では、総会の議題提案権は単独株主権となっており(同法303条1項、305条1項)、その他の少数株主権についても、すべての会社において、定款で要件の緩和または単独株主権化が許容されている。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株主有限責任の原則

株主は、その有する株式の引受け価額を限度とする出資義務を会社に対して負うだけであって、会社債権者に対しては直接なんらの責任も負わないという原則(会社法104条)。この原則により、出資をしようとする者は将来的に自分が負わされる事業リスクの額を事前に知ることができるために、出資を促進させる効果がある。会社法では、全額払込制がとられており、株式を引き受けた者は株式発行の効力が発生する前に出資額を全額払い込まなければならないために(同法34条、63条、208条)、株式発行の効力が生じて株式引受人が株主となった時点では、株主は会社に対してなんらの義務を負うことはない。この原則は株式会社の本質的な性格にかかわる絶対的な原則であって、定款や株主総会の決議をもってしても、その例外を定めて株主の責任を加重することは認められない。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株主平等の原則

株主は、その有する株式の内容および数に応じて、平等に取り扱わなければならないという原則(会社法109条1項)。以前は、持株数に応じた平等のみを言及していたが、2005年(平成17)制定の会社法によって、株式の内容に応じた平等についても言及するようになった(同一種類同一取扱原則)。これにより、種類株式も株主平等の原則の範疇(はんちゅう)に入るようになった。たとえば、有議決権株と無議決権株とでは、以前は議決権の有無により株主平等の原則の例外として扱われていたが、現在では、異なる種類の株式なので、それぞれその内容と数に応じて平等に取り扱われれば、平等原則の問題とはならなくなった。株主平等の原則の趣旨は、会社における多数決の濫用から少数派株主の利益を保護する点にある。会社法は、株式の数に応じた平等取扱いについては、議決権(同法308条1項本文)、剰余金配当(同法454条3項)、残余財産分配(同法504条3項)等において、株式の内容に応じた取扱いについては、会社法108条の種類株式において、それぞれ明定している。株主平等の原則は、法が許容する場合のほか、不利益を受ける株主が個別的に同意しない限り、その例外は認められないが、株主総会の大多数の賛成を得た敵対的企業買収防衛策を導入する場合には、個別同意が不要となる可能性もある。同原則の例外として、非公開会社においては、株主ごとに異なる取扱いを行う旨を定款で定めることができ(同法109条2項・3項)、属人的な定めが可能である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

固有権

株主の権利のうち、株主の同意がなければ、株主総会の多数決をもってしても奪うことができない権利。この権利は、会社に参加する株主の本質的な利益を保護するために、多数決原則の限界として認められたものであり、たとえば剰余金配当請求権は一般に固有権であると解されている(会社法105条2項)。もっとも、現在では、多数決で奪いうる権利か否かは、具体的法規の解釈にゆだねられ、したがって固有権の意義はそれほど大きくはない。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

単独株主権

各株主が、その持株数に関係なく、単独に行使できる株主としての権利。少数株主権に対する概念である。自益権はすべて単独株主権である。共益権では、議決権(会社法308条)、株主総会決議取消訴権(同法831条)、新株発行無効訴権(同法828条1項2号)、会社設立無効訴権(同法828条1項1号)、合併無効訴権(同法828条1項7号)などの各種の訴権や、代表訴訟提起権(同法847条1項)、取締役等の違法行為差止請求権(同法360条、422条)などがこれに属する。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

少数株主権

一人または数人の株主が総株主の議決権の一定割合以上あるいは一定数以上の株式保有を要件として行使しうる権利。共益権のうち、とくに権利が強力で濫用の危険が大きいものが少数株主権に分類されている。たとえば、株主提案権(会社法303条、305条)、株主総会招集権(同法297条1項)、帳簿閲覧権(同法433条1項)、解散請求権(同法833条1項)などである。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

議決権

株主が株主総会に出席してその決議に加わる権利。株主は原則として、1株につき1議決権を有する(会社法308条1項本文)。ただし、例外として、以下の株式には議決権は認められない。

(1)単元未満株式(同法308条1項但書) 単元未満株式の議決権行使を排除することによって、株主に要する費用(株主管理コスト)を削減することができる。

(2)議決権制限株式(同法108条1項3号) 投資利回りだけに関心があって会社経営に興味がない株主側の必要、議決権数を増やしたくないという経営者側の必要に応じて、一定の株主総会決議事項について議決権を制限する株式・完全無議決権株式の発行を認める。

(3)取締役・監査役選解任株式(同法108条1項9号) 当該株式を発行した場合には当該種類株式によって選任される取締役・監査役についてはその他の株主には議決権がない。

(4)相互保有株式(同法308条1項括弧(かっこ)書) たとえばA社がその株主であるB社の総株主の議決権の4分の1を超える株式を有しているときには、B社はその有するA社株式について議決権を有しない。議決権行使の公正さを確保し、その歪曲(わいきょく)化を防止するためである。

(5)自己株式(同法308条2項) 取締役等による会社支配が強化され株主の意思が総会に反映されない危険を防止するために、議決権を認めない。

(6)特別利害関係人である株主の株式(同法140条3項、160条4項) 特別利害関係人とは、決議内容について個人的な利益を有する者のことをいう。ただし、株主総会の決議について特別利害関係を有する株主であっても、一般的には議決権を排除されることはなく、一定の場合に決議取消事由が生じうるだけである(同法831条1項3号)。

(7)基準日後に取得された株式(同法124条) 株主が多数存在する会社において、どの時点において株主である者に議決権等の権利行使を認めるかを判断するために、基準日を設定する。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株券

株式すなわち株主の地位(株主権)を表章する有価証券。目に見えない存在である株式をこれによって目に見える形にして、これを流通させることによって株式譲渡を容易にすることができる。ただ、会社法では、株券を発行したくないとの実際の要求を踏まえて、株式会社においては株券不発行が原則であり、株券を発行する旨が定款で定められている場合には、株券が発行される(会社法214条)としている。定款で株券発行を定める株券発行会社は、株式発行日以後遅滞なく株券の発行を要する(同法215条1項)。ただし、非公開会社では、株主の請求があるまで株券を発行しないことができる(同法215条4項)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の内容と種類

会社法は、各株主の権利の内容が同一であることを原則としつつも、資金調達および支配関係の多様化に応じて、一定の範囲と要件のもとに、株式の多様化を許容している。

〔1〕会社が発行するすべての株式について、特別の内容の株式とすることができる(会社法107条1項)。特別の内容の株式を発行できるのは、以下の3種である。

(1)譲渡制限株式 譲渡による株式の取得について株式会社の承認を要する株式。

(2)取得請求権付株式 株主が当該株式について株式会社に対して取得を請求できる株式。

(3)取得条項付株式 株式会社が当該株式について一定の事由が生じたことを条件として取得することができる株式、である。

〔2〕会社が発行する株式のうち、以下の9種については、権利内容の異なる種類の株式を発行することができる(同法108条1項)。すなわち、(1)剰余金配当、(2)残余財産分配、(3)議決権行使事項、(4)譲渡制限、(5)取得請求権、(6)取得条項、(7)全部取得条項、(8)種類株主総会による承認(いわゆる拒否権)、(9)種類株主総会における取締役・監査役選任、である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

普通株・優先株

剰余金配当や残余財産分配について異なる種類の株式を発行する際に、標準となる株式を普通株といい、普通株式よりも優先的な扱いを受ける株式を優先株という。たとえば、業績不振の会社が剰余金配当優先株式を発行することによって、株主を容易に募集することができ、資本調達を図るうえで便宜な制度である。剰余金配当優先株は、普通株に優先して一定額または一定割合について優先的配当を受けるほか、さらに利益があるときは普通株とともにその残余の利益にもあずかることができるか否かにより、参加的優先株と非参加的優先株に分けられる。また、ある年度の剰余金配当が前記の一定額または一定割合に達しない場合、その不足分の配当を次年度以降の利益から補填(ほてん)されるか否かによって、累積的優先株と非累積的優先株に分けられる。一般に優先株は普通株よりも配当が確実である点において、社債に接近し、その傾向は非参加的、累積的の場合に顕著である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

劣後株(後配株)・混合株

優先株とは反対に、普通株に対し劣後的取扱いを受ける株式を劣後株といい、剰余金配当や残余財産分配について普通株よりも低い地位しか与えられない。後配株ともいう。たとえば、剰余金の多い会社は新株を劣後株として発行することによって、既存の株主の剰余金配当額が低下することを避けるという利点もある。混合株は、剰余金配当または残余財産の分配のうち、ある点では優先的取扱いを受け、他の点では劣後的な取扱いを受ける株式である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

議決権制限株式

株主総会の全部または一部の事項について議決権を行使することができない株式(会社法108条1項3号)。会社経営に興味はなく、ただリターンにのみ関心がある株主側の要求、および株主の議決権数を増やしたくないという経営者側の要求に応じる。2001年(平成13)の商法改正以前は利益配当優先株式に限って、定款の規定で議決権を有しないものとされた無議決権株式(議決権なき株式ともいう)を発行することが認められていたが、商法改正以来、株式の種類を問わずに、かつ、無議決権だけではなく一部の事項について議決権を行使できない議決権制限株式をも発行できるようになった。この株式を発行するには、発行可能種類株式総数と議決権行使の事項・条件を定款で定める(会社法108条2項3号)。この種類株式の株主は、議決権が制限される事項につき、その議決権の存在を前提とする権利を有しない(たとえば、株主総会招集通知を受ける権利。同法298条2項括弧書)が、それ以外の権利は認められる。公開会社では、議決権制限株式の総数は発行済株式総数の2分の1を超えてはならない(同法115条)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

額面株式・無額面株式

かつて株式は、株券上に券面額が記載されているか否かによって、額面株式と無額面株式とに分けられていた。しかし、額面株式の価値は企業自体の経済的価値によって決定され額面は株式の価値を表すものではないこと、額面が資本金額算定の基礎となる根拠が不明確であること、額面を基準に株主への配当額を算定することが低配当性向の理由となっていたこと、などの理由により、2001年(平成13)の商法改正によって額面株式制度を廃止し、株式は無額面株式のみとなった。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

記名株式・無記名株式

株主の氏名が株券上に記載されている株式を記名株式といい、そうでないものを無記名株式という。1990年(平成2)の商法改正によって、記名株式に一本化された。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

償還株式

2005年(平成17)の会社法制定以前に存在した制度であり、株主に配当しうべき利益をもって消却されることが予定されている特別の種類の株式であった。本来、株式は社債と異なり償還しないのが原則であるが、会社が一時的な資金調達の必要から配当優先株を発行する場合に、それがいつまでも残存すると経理上の負担が重くなるので、償還条項をつけて一定の時期以後それを償還しうることを法がとくに認めたものである。償還が株主の選択によってなされるものを義務償還株式、会社の選択によってなされるものを随意償還株式とよんでいた(義務か随意かは、会社の側にたった表現である)。2005年制定の会社法においては、前者は取得請求権付株式(会社法108条1項5号・2項5号)に、後者は取得条項付株式(108条1項6号・2項6号)に、それぞれ対価として金銭を交付する場合(108条2項5号イ・107条2項2号ホ、108条2項6号イ・107条2項3号ト)に相当する。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

転換株式

2005年(平成17)の会社法制定以前に存在した制度であり、「数種の株式」が発行される場合、他の種類の株式に転換することができる権利(転換権)を与えられた株式であった。たとえば、会社経営に興味がなく、もっぱら配当にしか興味がない株主のために最初は優先株を議決権を排除して発行するが、後日、営業成績いかんにより会社経営に関与したいと思えば普通株に転換して議決権を復活させられるものとすれば、新株の募集を容易に行える利点がある。転換が株主の請求によってなされるものを転換予約権付株式、会社が定款の定める事由の発生により転換することができるものを強制転換条項付株式とよんでいた。2005年制定の会社法においては、前者は取得請求権付株式(会社法108条1項5号・2項5号)に、後者は取得条項付株式(108条1項6号・2項6号)に、それぞれ対価として別の種類の株式を交付する場合(108条2項5号ロ、108条2項6号ロ)に相当する。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の発行

株式は、基本的には会社設立時と会社成立後の増資の二つの場合に発行される。両者の特色における相違点としては、(1)成立後の株式発行は簡易迅速な手続が要求される、(2)成立後の株式発行では既存株主との利害調整が必要である、ことにある。なお、会社成立後の株式発行は、会社が保有する自己株式の処分を含めて、「募集株式の発行等」と称される(会社法199条以下)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

発起設立・募集設立

会社設立に際し、発行する株式をすべて発起人が引き受け、それによって設立させる方法を発起設立といい(会社法25条1項1号)、発起人が一部を引き受け、残部については広く株主を募集する方法を募集設立という(同法25条1項2号)。株主を募集する手続(同法57条以下)が必要である、および株式会社の設立事項について決定するために創立総会を開催する(同法87条)など、募集設立のほうが手続は複雑である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

増資

会社設立後、会社が自己資本を増加することによって、長期資金の需要を満たすことを増資という。会社法における増資方法としては、募集株式発行が存在する。

〔1〕増資の量 会社の設立の際に、発行可能株式総数を定め、その4分の1以上を発行する(会社法37条)、残りの未発行株式については、取締役会などにその発行を授権する。さらに株式を発行したいときには、定款を変更して発行可能株式総数を増やせるが、発行済株式総数の4倍を超えて増やすことはできない(同法113条3項本文)。ただし、非公開会社では発行可能株式総数を増やす際に前記のような制約がない(同法37条3項但書、113条3項但書)。

〔2〕増資の決定機関 募集事項の決定はどこの機関が行うかは、会社の種類によって異なる。(1)非公開会社では、原則的に株主総会の特別決議で行う(同法199条2項、309条2項5号)が、取締役(取締役会設置会社では取締役会)に委任することもできる(同法200条1項。ただし、委任を決定するためには株主総会の特別決議が必要。同法200条1項、309条2項5号)。(2)公開会社では、発行可能株式総数の範囲内で取締役会の決議による(同法201条1項。ただし、第三者に対してとくに有利な価額で交付する場合には、株主総会の特別決議を要する。同法199条3項、201条1項、309条2項5号)。

 持株数に比例して株式の割当てを受ける権利を株主に付与する株式募集の方法を株主割当てという。公開会社では取締役会決議により、非公開会社では株主総会の特別決議により、株主割当てをすることができる(同法202条)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

公募・非公募

株式の発行方法は、公募と非公募の二つの方式に分けられる。前者は、一般の不特定多数人から広く株主を募集する方式であり、後者は、特定の者または限定された縁故者などに株式を引き受けさせる方式である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株主割当て・第三者割当て

増資にあたってだれに新株を引き受けさせるかにより、株主割当てと第三者割当てとに分けられる。株主に対して、その持株数に応じて株式の割当てを受ける権利を与えて行う募集株式の発行等を株主割当てといい、株主以外の者に対して株式の割当てを受ける権利を与えて行う募集株式の発行等を第三者割当てという。なお、株主にその持株数に応じずに株式を割当てるときも第三者割当てに該当する。また、第三者割当ては、割り当てる者を募集する範囲を、従業員・取引先など一定の者に限定する場合を縁故募集といい、限定しない場合を公募という。日本の場合には、慣行として全部あるいは一部を株主に割り当てる方法がとられてきた。また、公募の場合でも、株主に優先応募権が認められてきた。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

額面発行・時価発行

2001年(平成13)の商法改正によって額面株式が廃止される以前においては、新株を発行する際には、株式の市価とは関係なく額面金額で発行する方法(額面発行)、あるいは、株式の市価と額面金額との中間、あるいは額面金額を若干上回ったところで新株の発行価額を定める方法(プレミアム付発行)が一般的であった。現在では、募集株式を発行する際には、株式の時価を基準として、実際には時価より若干低いところで新株の発行価額を定める時価発行で行うのが一般的である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

特殊な株式発行

通常の株式発行では資金調達目的が伴うが、資金調達目的を伴わずに株式が発行されることを「特殊の株式発行」ということもある。株式の分割、取得請求権・取得条項行使の対価としての株式発行、新株予約権行使、合併対価としての株式発行などである。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の分割

株式の分割とは、発行済の既存の株式を細分して従来よりも多数の株式とすることをいう。会社法上、同一の種類の株式について一定の割合で一律に数を増加させることである(株式の計数の増加。会社法183条1項)。たとえば、1株を2株に、また2株を3株とする。会社の純資産額をそのままにして発行済株式数だけを増加させるのであるから、1株あたりの純資産額を減少させ、株価を引き下げ、株式の市場性を高める効果がある。分割によって端数が生じない限り、既存株式の実質的地位に変更を生じないので、取締役会設置会社では取締役会決議によって決定できる(同法183条2項)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

無償交付

準備金の資本組入れまたは額面超過額の資本組入れ分につき、取締役会の決議により、その組入れ額の全部または一部を引当てに新株を発行し、これを株主に無償で交付すること。1990年(平成2)の商法改正で無償交付に関する条文が削除され、株式配当とともに「株式の分割」に一本化された。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

新株引受権

2005年(平成17)の会社法制定以前に用いられていた概念であり、その意味するところは商法改正の流れとともに微妙に変遷していた。従来は、新株発行の場合に優先的に株式を引き受けるという受動的な権利を意味していた。永続を予定せず、あくまでも増資期間中だけ機能する短命の権利を意味していた。しかし、1981年(昭和56)商法改正により新株引受権付社債(ワラント付社債、ワラント債)が導入された際に、このワラント部分にも新株引受権という概念があてられてしまったために、権利者がイニシアティブをもつオプション性のある権利であり、長期保有を予定しているものまで同概念に取り込まれてしまった。このような概念の混乱を受け、2001年の商法改正では、オプション性のある権利を独立させ、新株予約権と称した。2005年制定の会社法では、法律上は新株引受権概念が廃止され、「株式の割当てを受ける権利」という概念(会社法202条)が用いられている。新株の割当てを受ける権利は、株主に対してその持株比率に応じて与えられるとき(株主割当て。同法202条1項・2項)と、第三者に対して与えられるとき(第三者割当て)とがある。株主に株式の割当てを受ける権利を与えると、株主としては、新株を引き受ければ、新株発行による利益配当率の低下があっても、それを新株による利益で填補(てんぽ)できるし、また、株主総会における議決権の比率を保持でき、会社支配の面で勢力の変動を回避できるというメリットがある。しかし、他方、機動的な資金調達を図るためには、株主に株式の割当てを受ける権利を与えないで公募するほうが有利であるうえ、株式の時価に相応した発行価額で発行しうるため、会社はより多くの発行対価を収めうるという利点もある。そのため、株主に株式の割当てを受ける権利があるのを原則とすべきか否かについては立法論上の問題にかかわることであった。この点、会社法は、非公開会社でも株主に当然には株式の割当てを受ける権利を与えないが、公開会社では取締役会決議により、非公開会社では株主総会の特別決議により株主割当てをすることができる(同法202条3項4号、309条2項5号)とした。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式に対する配当

株式に対する利益分配額を配当という。投資家が株式に投資するおもな目的の一つは、配当の形で行われる株式に対する企業利益の分配分の受け取りである。株式配当は、広義では、現金配当を含む株式に対する配当のすべてをさすこともあるが、商法上、株式配当は、現金のかわりに、その会社の株式で行う配当だけをさす。株式配当は、株主総会の決議により、配当可能利益を資本に組み入れて新株を発行し、それを株主に交付することにより行われる。1990年(平成2)の商法改正で株式配当に関する条文は削除され、株式の分割として規定された。2005年の会社法制定後においても同様である。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の質入れ・消却・併合

〔1〕株式の質入れ 株式は財産的価値があるから、担保権の対象となる。株式の担保の方法として、会社法では質権設定の方法を定め(会社法146条1項)、慣習法では譲渡担保の方法が利用されている。株式の質入れの方法としては二つ存在する。(1)質権設定の合意と株券の交付によって効力が生じ、その第三者対抗要件として株券の継続占有を要する略式質(同法146条2項、147条2項・3項)がある。この質権者には物上代位が認められる(同法151条)。(2)略式質の要件を満たしたうえで、会社が質権設定者の承諾を得て質権者の氏名・住所および質権の目的である株式を株主名簿に記載・記録する登録質(同法148条)がある。この質権者には一定の行為について物上代位が認められる(同法151条)。すなわち、一定の場合、登録質権者は会社から直接的に金銭等を受け取ることができる。なお、株券不発行会社では、株式の質権者の氏名・住所を株主名簿に記載・記録しなければ、質権を会社その他の第三者に対抗することができず(同法147条1項)、略式質を利用できない。

〔2〕株式の消却 会社がその存続中に特定の株式を絶対的に消滅させること。会社法では、株式の消却は、保有自己株式を消却する制度に統一している(同法178条)。

〔3〕株式の併合 数個の株式をあわせて従来よりも少数の株式とすること(同法180条1項)。たとえば、10株を1株に、3株を2株にする。株主の利益に重大な利害を及ぼすので、株主総会の特別決議(同法180条2項、309条2項4号)と株主・質権登録者への通知または公告を要する(同法181条)。減資、合併準備などのために使われる。また、株式の併合を行うことによって端数が生じると金銭処理されてしまう(同法234条)ので、少数派株主の排除に使われてしまう危険性もある。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の譲渡

株式会社では原則的に、株式を自由に譲渡することができる(会社法127条)。株主にとっては、会社の解散や剰余金分配の機会を除くと、投下資本回収の方法として株式譲渡の自由が保障される意義は大きい。しかし、法律の規定による制限として次の場合がある。

〔1〕定款による譲渡制限(譲渡制限株式) 会社法は、すべての株式または一部の種類の株式の譲渡による取得について、会社の承認を要する旨を定款で定めることができる(同法107条1項1号、108条1項4号)。株主の個性を重視したいという会社の要望にこたえるためである。承認の決定は取締役会設置会社では取締役会決議、取締役会非設置会社では株主総会決議によるが、定款で別段の定めをすることも認められる(同法139条1項)。

〔2〕法律による譲渡制限 (1)権利株譲渡の制限 会社成立前または新株発行前における株式引受人の地位を権利株という。権利株の譲渡は、譲渡当事者間では有効であるが、会社に対して効力を生じない(同法35条、50条2項、63条2項、208条4項)。株主名簿の作成ないし株券発行に関する会社の事務処理上の便宜のためである。

(2)株券発行前の株式譲渡制限 株券発行前の株式譲渡は、譲渡当事者間では有効であるが、会社に対しては効力を生じない(同法128条2項)。株券発行に関する会社の事務処理上の便宜のためである。ただし、会社が株券の発行を不当に遅滞している場合には、株主の意思表示のみによる株式譲渡が、会社に対する関係においても有効であることが判例で認められている。

(3)親会社株式の取得制限 親子会社関係がある場合(同法2条3号・4号)、子会社による親会社株式の取得は原則として禁止される(同法135条1項)。子会社による親会社株式取得は資本充実の点から問題があり、また、子会社に対する親会社の支配力を用いて、親会社株式について株価操作等を行わせ、または親会社の経営者の支配的地位の固定化を図るなどの弊害が生じるおそれがあるからである。ただし、会社分割、合併または他の会社の事業の全部の譲受けなどによるときは、例外的に親会社株式取得が認められる(同法135条2項)。また、三角合併を行うために子会社によって親会社株式を取得することも認められる(同法800条1項)。なお、例外的に取得が許容された親会社株式は、相当な時期に処分しなければならない(同法135条3項、800条2項、802条2項)。

(4)特別法による株式譲渡制限 独占禁止法により、私的独占または不当な取引制限をもたらすおそれのある株式の取得および保有が制限される(独占禁止法9条~11条、14条)。

(5)自己株式の取得 会社が自己の発行した株式を自由に取得することを認めてしまうと、資本維持(出資金の払戻し)、株主平等(対価不均衡等)、会社支配の公正(現経営陣の支配権拡充)、株式取引の公正の観点(内部者取引・相場操縦の危険)から問題がある。そこで、会社法では一定の場合に限って、会社がその自己株式を取得することを認めている(会社法155条)。

〔3〕契約による譲渡制限 契約によって株式譲渡が制限される場合がある。たとえば、閉鎖会社の従業員持株制度のもとで、従業員が退職時に持株を取得価格と同一価格で、取締役会の指定する者や従業員持株会などの特定の者に売り渡す旨を会社と契約することがある。判例では、このような契約を有効としている。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

端数の処理

会社が株式を発行し、株式の併合、分割等を行う場合、1株に満たない端数が生じることがある。たとえば、2株を1株に併合する場合には、1株は0.5株になってしまう。1981年(昭和56)の商法改正において、このような端数を端株(はかぶ)として扱い、端株原簿に記載し、自益権の一部を与えていた。2005年(平成17)制定の会社法においては、株式に端数が生じたときには、相当額の金銭を支払うことによって処理することとした(会社法234条)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

単位株制度・単元株制度

1981年(昭和56)の商法改正では、株式の一定数をまとめて純資産5万円の株式を一単位とし、単位株には株式に認められているすべての権利を認めるが、単位未満の株式には自益権だけを認め共益権は認めないこととする制度である、単位株制度が導入されていた。2001年(平成13)の商法改正において、一単位5万円という純資産額規制を廃止し、共益権を与える規準となる株式数を会社に自由に決定させる制度を導入した。これを単元株制度と称している。

 しかし、単元株制度と端株制度が並存していたことから、2005年制定の会社法では、端数処理方法を法定して(会社法234条)端株制度を廃止し、単元株制度単独の体制へ移行した。単元株制度は会社が定款により株式の一定数をまとめたものを一単元とし、株主の議決権は一単元に1個とする制度である(会社法188条1項、308条1項但書)。単元未満株式の株主は議決権の存在を前提とする権利を除いては、株主としての他の権利をすべて有するのが原則であるが、定款で全部または一部を行使することができないと定めることができる(同法189条2項)。会社は定款で単元未満株式の株券を発行しない旨を定めることができる(同法189条3項)。株主は単元未満株式について会社に買取請求権を有する(同法192条)。単元株式数(同法2条20号)の増加には株主総会での定款変更決議を要するのが原則であるが(同法466条、309条2項11号)、株式分割と同時の一定の場合の単元株式数の増加には総会決議は不要となる(同法191条。変更の場合、同法195条)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株券保管振替制度

株券等の有価証券の発行と流通方法を合理化・近代化するために、証券会社、金融会社等の参加者が保管振替機関に口座を設け、所有株券を預託したうえで、売買取引などに伴う株券の受け渡しを実際に行うことなく、保管振替機関の口座上の振替で行う制度。「株券等の保管及び振替に関する法律」(昭和59年法律第30号)に基づいて実施され、配当金の支払い、新株式の割当て、議決権の行使などがこの制度を通じて処理されることになり、1991年(平成3)10月から、証券保管振替機構がその業務を行った。この株券保管振替制度は、株券の不動化によってペーパーレス化を図るものであった。しかし、2004年、商法改正による株券不発行制度を受け、株券の無券化による高度なペーパーレス化を図るべく、「社債、株式等の振替に関する法律(社債株式振替法)」(平成13年法律第75号)が公布され、株式を含めた総合的な振替制度への移行が予定された。社債株式振替法は、2009年1月に施行され、これに伴い、従来の株券保管振替制度は廃止され、新しい振替制度に移行することになった。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式と社債の接近

株式と社債はともに会社の資金調達の手段であり、法律的・経済的に違いはあるが、いずれも細分化された均等額として、零細な大衆資金を吸収する技術的な特色を有している。

 株式は自己資本を、社債は他人資本を調達する手段であり、また、法律上、株式は株主である地位であり、株主が会社の構成員であるのに対して、社債は会社に対する債権であり、社債権者は会社に対する債権者であるという点において両者は異なる。

 前記の相違点を踏まえると、株主と社債権者の地位とは、以下のような点において具体的な相違がある。

(1)株主は会社に配当可能利益が生じない限り剰余金配当を受けることができない(会社法453条、461条)が、社債権者は会社の利益の有無にかかわらず約定された利息の支払いを請求できる(同法676条3項)。

(2)株主に対する出資の払戻しは原則として許されない(ただし、自己株式取得がある)が、社債権者は社債の償還期限が到来すれば、元本の償還を受ける。

(3)株主には会社経営に参加する権利(共益権)があり、議決権(同法308条1項、325条)や各種監督是正権を有するが、社債権者にはそのような参加する権利がない。

(4)株主の会社に対する経済的な請求権は債権者に対して劣後し、債権者への利息支払いをなした後で剰余金配当を受け、会社解散の場合には債権者に対する全債務を弁済した後に残余財産の分配を受ける(同法502条本文)が、社債権者の会社に対する経済的な請求権は通常の債権者と同一順位で弁済を受ける。

 株式と社債には前記のような相違があるものの、近時は、社債的性質をもつ株式、株式的性質をもつ社債などが認められており、両者の接近状況にある。たとえば、非参加的累積的優先株式(同法108条1項1号)は、利益が多くても受け取れるのは優先配当分のみで普通株式の配当には参加できず(非参加的)、ある年度に優先配当がなされなくても次年度に優先権が繰り越される(累積的)ものであり、株主にとっては一定額の経済的利益を得られることが確保され、その性質は社債に近づく。また、新株予約権付社債とは新株予約権を付した社債である(同法2条22号)が、後に新株予約権が行使されると株式が発行され、新株予約権付社債権者は株主となる(なお、社債は償還されるときもあれば、されないときもある)。

[戸田修三・福原紀彦]

株式の国際化

株式の国際化という表題の下で論ずべき点は二つある。一つは国際的に活動する企業が自国外においても資金調達を行えるようにする手法であり、もう一つは外国企業による他国企業の支配権の取得である。

〔1〕自国外における資金調達 (1)外国株の上場 企業が他国の取引所において上場し、外国の投資家を直接募る方法がある。たとえば、東京証券取引所は1973年(昭和48)以来、外国株式が上場している。当初は外国株市場が存在したが、2005年(平成17)に同市場を廃止した後は、東証一部とマザーズ(Mothers)に指定している。外国株が日本の取引所に上場することによって、円建てで購入することができる。

(2)預託証券Depositary Receipt(DR) 外国企業の現物株にかわって売買される代替証券のことをいう。(1)で述べたような、現物株を外国の証券市場で直接売買するのは、各国の取引の慣習や制度の相違から、多くの支障をきたすおそれがある。そこで、現物株は発行国の銀行が保管しておいて、それと見返りに外国の受託機関である銀行がDRを発行し流通させる方式がとられる。アメリカ市場で売買されるアメリカ預託証券American Depositary Receipts(ADR)、ヨーロッパで売買されるグローバル預託証券Global Depositary Receipts(GDR)などがある。日本の証券に関するADRは、1961年(昭和36)にソニーが第1号として発行され、現在ではソニー、日本電信電話、日立製作所、トヨタ自動車をはじめ約150銘柄が流通している。なお、2007年(平成19)施行の改正信託法により導入された受益証券信託によって、日本預託証券Japanese Depositary Receipts(JDR)を導入する器ができあがった。

〔2〕外国企業による支配権取得 外国企業が日本企業の支配権を取得し、経営に介入してくる手法としてはいくつか存在する。

(1)市場買付 金融商品取引市場において株式を買い集め、支配権を取得する手段である。なお、株式の5%を超えて保有するようになると大量保有報告書の提出義務が生じる(金融商品取引法27条の23第1項)。

(2)公開買付 市場外で大量に株式を買い付ける際には、とかく不透明な取引になりやすい。そこで、発行会社・他の株主に対して情報提供をする趣旨から、(a)60日間に多数の者から市場外で株券等を買い付け、その結果、株券等の所有割合が5%を超える場合(同法27条の2第1項1号)、(b)60日間に少数の者から株式を買い付け、所有割合が3分の1を超える場合(同法27条の2第1項2号)、(c)ある者による公開買付期間中に、株券等所有割合がすでに3分の1を超える他の者が対象会社株式を取得する場合(同法27条の2第1項5号)には、公開買付手続を踏む必要がある。公開買付を行う場合には、公開買付開始公告を行い、同時に内閣総理大臣に公開買付届出書を提出する義務を負うなど、通常の買付けよりも厳格な情報開示が要求される。

〔3〕三角合併 三角合併とは、ある会社Aの子会社Bが他社Cを吸収合併する際に、存続会社Bが消滅会社Cの株主に、存続会社B自身の株式ではなく、自己の親会社Aの株式を対価として交付する方法での合併をいう。この方法により、外国会社は日本に設立した子会社を使い、内国会社を吸収合併することができる。そもそも、外国会社にとっては、時価総額がきわめて高い自社株式を対価として、時価総額が相対的に低い日本会社をじかに吸収合併できれば容易である。しかし、会社法の伝統的解釈によると、外国会社は日本会社をじかに吸収合併できず、仮に合併したとしても、登記を受け付けない。よって、直接的な吸収合併によらずに日本会社を自己の支配下に収める制度が要求されてきた。三角合併の導入の一端には、このような背景も存在する。

[福原紀彦]

『鴻常夫・河本一郎・竹内昭夫他著『株式』(1982・有斐閣)』『渡邊顯・西村賢著『会社役員これだけは知っておきたい新会社法3 株式制度の要点』(2005・商事法務)』『中嶋克久・野口真人・棟田裕幸著『種類株式・新株予約権の活用法と会計・税務』(2006・中央経済社)』『新日本監査法人編『会社法実践ガイド2 株式・新株予約権・組織再編』(2006・中央経済社)』『三宅茂久著『資本・株式の会計・税務』(2006・中央経済社)』『橋本正明著、アーティス編『株式の基礎知識』6訂版(2006・ビジネス教育出版社)』『あずさ監査法人著『株式実務ハンドブック』新版(2007・清文社)』『あずさ監査法人著『種類株式ガイドブック――完全活用と会計・税務』(2007・清文社)』『日本経済新聞社編・刊『株式用語辞典』第9版(日経文庫)』

[参照項目] | アメリカ預託証券 | 会社法 | 合併 | 株券 | 株式会社 | 株式公開買付制度 | 株式時価発行 | 株式市場 | 株式配当 | 株主 | 株主権 | 株主総会 | 株主代表訴訟 | 議決権 | 議決権制限株式 | 記名株式 | 減資 | 権利株 | 三角合併 | 自己株式 | 自社株買い | 資本の自由化 | 社債 | 証券取引所 | 少数株主権 | 新株 | 新株引受権付社債 | 新株予約権 | 増資 | 第三者割当増資 | 大量保有報告書 | 単位株制度 | 単元株制度 | 転換株式 | 登録質 | 端株 | 無額面株式 | 無議決権株式 | 無記名株式 | 利益配当

出典 小学館 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について 情報 | 凡例

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