CG50203 - Definitions: share: different classes

Companies may issue different classes of share, for example, voting and non-voting ordinary shares, preference shares and deferred shares. The difference between the classes will usually be expressed in terms of differences in the three principal rights attaching to the shares. For example, a typical preference share will have

• preferential rights to a fixed dividend only
• restricted rights to vote at company meetings
• preferential rights over ordinary shareholders to a distribution of the company's assets in a solvent winding-up.