What are shares of stock and how are they utilized?
What is par value?
"Par value" is a dollar value allotted to shares of stock which is the least amount for which each share is able to be sold. There is no minimum or maximum value that needs to be assigned. Shares can also have "no par value," and this means that the Board of Directors will give a value to the stock under which the shares are not able to be issued. There is no bare minimum amount of shares that need to be authorized in the articles of incorporation. One or more shares can be authorized. Nonetheless, the company is not able to sell more shares than it is allowed to issue and it must be given consideration in exchange for its shares. A business corporation needs to sell shares of stock so they are able to make the most of the corporation, that is to say, supply the corporation with its own capital, apart from the funds of its owners. This separation makes available part of the support for protecting the shareholders from personal liability for the debts and responsibilities towards the company. Shares of stock sold by the corporation correspond to balanced ownership interests that are held by shareholders in the company. State law indicates that shares of stock in the company need to be issued under the direction of the board of directors. But, given that the corporation is set up to gain the shareholders, the shareholders set, or put a limit on the quantity of shares the directors are permitted or allowed to issue. In view of the fact that the directors are not permitted to issue shares devoid of approval from the shareholders, the amount of authorized shares is the same to the amount of total shares.
