French term (edited): ACTIONS GREV�ES D'UN GAGE

Simple as that.

For your phrase in particular:

"the shares... will pledged in favour of the company"
or, to be more explicit:
"the shares... will pledged as collateral in favour of the company"

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Note added at 2 hrs 27 mins (2005-05-15 20:07:38 GMT)
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aïe aïe aïe

Sorry but I mistyped there (missed the word \"be\"):

\"the shares... will be pledged in favour of the company\"
or, to be more explicit:
\"the shares... will be pledged as collateral in favour of the company\"



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Note added at 2 hrs 43 mins (2005-05-15 20:23:53 GMT)
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I should add that \"pledge\" is, in most cases, the correct equivalent for \"gage\". It is most commonly used for shares and cash.

The other term which is basically a synonym (though, legally, it is actually broader than \"gage\") is \"nantissement\" which is therefore, in most cases, also \"pledge\".

In common speech, however, \"gage\" is the broader of the two terms...

You will not come across it (in French law anyway) with reference to any other form of collateral - a \"mortgage\" is a \"hypothèque\", a \"personal guarantee\" is a \"caution\", etc.
The same should apply for any other French-speaking country using the Napoleonic Civil Code, but I can\'t guarantee that...

HTH