This section controls when an association may issue membership or stock certificates, how stock may be used as security, voting limits, transfer restrictions, and when the association may repurchase its own common stock.
§133. Stock; membership certificates; when issued; voting; liability; limitations on transfer and ownership When a member of an association established without capital stock has paid his membership fee in full, he shall receive a certificate of membership. No association shall issue certificate of stock to a member until it has been fully paid for. The promissory note of the members may be accepted by the association as full or partial payment. The association shall hold the stock as security for the payment of the note, but such retention as security shall not affect the member's right to vote. Except for debts lawfully contracted between him and the association, no member shall be liable for the debts of the association to an amount exceeding the sum remaining unpaid on his membership fee or his subscription to the capital stock, including any unpaid balance on any promissory note given in payment thereof. No stockholder of a co-operative association shall own more than one-tenth of the common stock of the association; and an association, in its by-laws, may limit the amount of common stock which one member may own to any amount less than one-tenth of the common stock. No member or stockholder shall be entitled to more than one vote. Any association organized with stock under this Part may issue preferred stock, with or without right to vote. Preferred stock may be redeemable or retirable by the association on such terms and conditions as may be provided by the articles of association and printed on the face of the certificates. The by-laws shall prohibit the transfer of the common stock of the association to persons not engaged in the production of the agricultural products handled by the association, and the restrictions shall be printed upon every certificate of stock subject thereto. The association may at any time, except when the debts of the association exceed fifty per cent of the assets thereof, purchase its common stock at book value as conclusively determined by the board of directors and pay for it in cash within thirty days thereafter.