This note looks at the legal nature of shares and debt securities and how to take security over them. It discusses bearer shares and debt securities, registered shares and debt securities and shares and debt securities held in a clearing system.

For a note identifying Practical Law materials that give guidance on some key issues that need to be considered when taking, perfecting, enforcing or releasing security over shares, see Practice note, Security over shares: overview.

For a global guide to finance that includes information on taking security over shares and debt securities in various jurisdictions, see Finance Global Guide.