osakekirjojen

Osakekirjojen refers to physical share certificates that historically evidenced ownership of shares in a Finnish osakeyhtiö (limited liability company). They were commonly used as the primary proof of ownership before electronic book-entry systems became standard. A typical osakekirja lists the issuing company’s name and registration details, the certificate number, the class and number of shares represented, the nominal value if any, the name of the holder, the issue date, and signatures of directors or authorized persons (often with the company seal).

Transfer and custody traditionally involved endorsing or delivering the certificate to a new owner, with the company updating its share ledger to reflect the transfer. In practice, some certificates indicated whether shares were registered or bearer, and transfer procedures varied by issuer. In many cases, the right to dividend payments and voting remained tied to the holder shown on the certificate and the corresponding ledger entry.

Since the late 20th century, Finland has moved toward dematerialization, and most shares are now held in a book-entry system (osake- and arvo-osuustilit). Transfers are performed by electronic entries rather than by exchanging physical certificates. Physical osakekirjoja may still exist for historical reasons or private arrangements, but new issuances are rare. If a certificate is lost, replacement procedures depend on the issuer and applicable securities law; ownership rights persist in the electronic records even without a physical certificate.