Bearer Shares

A bearer share or bearer stock is a certificate of ownership in a publicly traded company which is not registered under its holder’s name in the company’s share register.

Instead, ownership of bearer shares is recorded by the brokers through which bearer shares are purchased and by custodian banks which administrate bearer shares.

Dividends paid out by companies on payable dates is distributed to bearer share holders through custodian banks or brokers, which also provide shareholders with proof of ownership of shares for tax purposes and to enable them to attend annual general meetings (AGMs).

Issuing bearer shares relieves companies of the administrative burden of tracking every transaction in share ownership and allows for greater liquidity in capital markets. However, it also poses a disadvantage to companies because it makes them more vulnerable to hostile takeovers.

More on this topic:
Registered shares explained
Direct share purchase plan explained
Shareholder perks: Swiss AGM freebies compared
Interactive Swiss stock broker comparison

Special offers for Moneyland users

Moneyland Special Offers

Swiss Bank

Bank WIR Bankpaket Top

  • Free account & card

  • No exchange fees for foreign payments (interbank exchange rates)

  • 24 ATM withdrawals worldwide per year free of charge

Swiss Broker

Saxo Bank Special Offer

  • Special offer: Reimbursement of brokerage fees up to CHF 200 for 90 days

  • Licensed Swiss bank (FINMA)

  • Free expert research and trading signals

Swiss Trading Platform

Cornèrtrader Special Offer

  • Special offer: particularly favorable conditions for Moneyland users

  • No custody account fees for shares

  • Swiss online bank with FINMA license

Swiss digital bank

Alpian

  • CHF 100 welcome bonus

  • Favorable foreign exchange rates

  • Multi-currency account with Visa card (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP) 

Funds

Allianz Fund Investments

  • Special offer with CHF 200 welcome bonus

  • No prior knowledge necessary: Advice from experts

  • One of the 10 largest asset managers worldwide

Special offers for Moneyland users

Moneyland Special Offers

Swiss Bank

Bank WIR Bankpaket Top

  • Free account & card

  • No exchange fees for foreign payments (interbank exchange rates)

  • 24 ATM withdrawals worldwide per year free of charge

Swiss Broker

Saxo Bank Special Offer

  • Special offer: Reimbursement of brokerage fees up to CHF 200 for 90 days

  • Licensed Swiss bank (FINMA)

  • Free expert research and trading signals

Swiss Trading Platform

Cornèrtrader Special Offer

  • Special offer: particularly favorable conditions for Moneyland users

  • No custody account fees for shares

  • Swiss online bank with FINMA license

Swiss digital bank

Alpian

  • CHF 100 welcome bonus

  • Favorable foreign exchange rates

  • Multi-currency account with Visa card (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP) 

Funds

Allianz Fund Investments

  • Special offer with CHF 200 welcome bonus

  • No prior knowledge necessary: Advice from experts

  • One of the 10 largest asset managers worldwide

Deal of the Day
×
Swiss Bank

Bank WIR Bankpaket Top

Free account & card

Editor Daniel Dreier
Daniel Dreier is editor and personal finance expert at moneyland.ch.