Companies Act 2014 section 67

Numbering of shares

Section 67 sets out the rules for when shares in a company must be distinguished by individual numbers and the circumstances in which numbering is not required.

• Every share in a company must normally be distinguished by its own unique number.
• Numbering is not required where all issued shares, or all issued shares of a particular class, are fully paid up and rank equally for all purposes, provided they continue to do so.
• Where new shares are issued on terms that they will rank equally with existing shares within 12 months, neither the new nor the existing shares need distinguishing numbers, so long as all are fully paid up and rank equally.
• Where unnumbered new shares are issued under the 12-month pari passu rule, their share certificates must be appropriately worded or marked to identify them.