Dictionary

class of shares

a category of shares in which each share has the same voting rights, value, and characteristics The company introduced a new class of shares with a higher level of voting power.

Phrase Bank

  • Preferred stock is a class of shares different from common stock.
  • A brief summary of the rights of each class of shares should be given.
  • The class of shares subscribed by management has a much higher value than the classes of shares subscribed by the institutions.
  • The register must state the number and class of shares held by each member.

Additional Notes

  • Owners of companies that have been privately owned and go public often create class A and B share structures with different voting rights in order to maintain control and/or to make the company a more difficult target for a takeover.