Meaning
Statutory authority mandates the issuance of corporate shares only upon receipt of consideration having a value not less than the par value of the stock. Under dgcl section 152, the board of directors determines the amount of such consideration through a formal resolution. Cash, tangible or intangible property, or any benefit to the corporation qualifies as valid payment for this issuance.
Directors hold the power to value these non-cash assets, and their judgment stays conclusive in the absence of actual fraud in the transaction.
Valuation Procedure
Corporate boards execute their assessment of non-cash consideration by recording the findings in the minutes of their meeting. This requirement forces a documented link between the assets received and the number of shares granted to the acquirer. Every valuation process relies on the good faith of the directors who weigh the worth of services performed or property transferred against the aggregate par value of the equity.
Parties involved in the transaction rely on this determination to establish the legality of the capital structure.
Capital Integrity
Proper adherence to this provision prevents the dilution of existing equity interests through the unauthorized issuance of watered stock. When companies issue shares for inadequate consideration, the corporation carries a liability to provide the difference between the actual payment and the par value. Shareholders or creditors occasionally invoke this liability to restore the capital base of the firm.
Courts review the board decision exclusively to detect intentional deception or gross disparity that suggests a lack of good faith in the valuation process.
Transaction Finality
Future challenges to the adequacy of consideration rarely succeed once the board resolution is adopted and the shares are issued. Once the directors fulfill their obligation to define the value of the consideration, the law treats the stock as fully paid and non-assessable. Reliance on this standard allows for predictable equity accounting in commercial transactions and cross-border mergers.
Finality remains the primary effect of the board determination under these statutory guidelines.