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There are various types of corporations throughout the world.
Some of the designations used to signify corporation status that one may (in some states) adopt only with state sanction include, sorted by country:
Argentina
- S.A. ("Sociedad Anónima", Spanish: "anonymous society" = Stock Corporation)
Australia
- Proprietary limited (small to medium sized companies) (Pty Ltd)
- Limited (publicly listed corporation with shareholders and limited liability)
- Incorporated (associations only; restricted to non-profit associations) (Inc)
- No liability company (restricted to mining companies) (NL)
Austria
- AG (Aktiengesellschaft - German: "stock corporation")
- GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - German: "Company with limited liability")
Belgium
Dutch names
- N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap)
- B.V.B.A (Besloten Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid)
- C.V.B.A. (Coöperatieve Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid)
- C.V.O.A. (Coöperatieve Vennootschap met Onbeperkte Aansprakelijkheid)
- C.V.A. (Commanditaire Vennootschap op Aandelen)
- G.C.A. (Gewone Commanditaire Vennootschap)
- V.O.F. (Vennootschap Onder Firma)
- S.A. (Societé Anonyme)
- S.P.R.L. (Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée)
- S.C.R.L. (Société Coopérative à Responsabilité Limitée)
- S.C.R.I. (Société Coopérative à Responsabilité Illimitée)
- S.C.A. (Société en Commandite par Actions)
- S.C.S. (Société en Commandite Simple)
- S.N.C. (Société en Nom Collectif)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- d.n.o., društvo s neograničenom solidarnom odgovornošću - "company with unlimited solidary responsibility"
- k.d., komanditno društvo - "limited partnership"
- d.o.o., društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću - "company with limited liability" (equivalent of GmbH)
- d.d., dioničko društvo - "stock company" (equivalent of AG)
- d.j.l., društvo jednog lica - "single-person company"
Brazil
Usual
- Ltda. ("Limitada", Portuguese: "limited" = Limited liability company)
- S.A. ("Sociedade Anônima", Portuguese: "anonymous society" = Stock Corporation)
Non-usual
- Sociedade em Nome Coletivo.
- Sociedade em Comandita Simples.
- Sociedade em Comandita por Ações.
Bulgaria
ET /ET - едноличен търговец/ - type of public company, which is owned by one person. The owner is responisble with all his assets and properties, even those which are not part of the firm assets. OOD /ООД - дружество с ограничена отговорност/ - analog of limited company /Ltd., GmBH, Srl./ АD /АД - акционерно дружество/ - public limited company /plc, SpA, AG/
Chile
- Srl (Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada, Spanish: "Society with limited liability")
People's Republic of China
Mainland China
- 股份有限公司 (Stock limited company)
- 有限公司 (Limited company)
''See below for Hong Kong.
Colombia
- Comandita por acciones
- Ltda. ("Limitada", Spanish: "limited" = Limited stock corporation)
- S.A. ("Sociedad Anónima", Spanish: "anonymous society" = Stock Corporation)
- Unipersonal
Croatia
- javno trgovačko društvo - Croatian for "public company"
- komanditno društvo - Croatian for "limited partnership"
- d.d., dioničko društvo - Croatian for "stock company" (equivalent of AG)
- d.o.o., društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću - Croatian for "company with limited liability" (equivalent of GmbH)
Czech Republic
- (spol.) s.r.o. (společnost s ručením omezeným) - Czech: "company with limited liability"
- a.s. (akciová společnost) - Czech: "stock company"
Denmark
- A/S (Aktieselskab) (in Danish, "Aktieselskab" = "stock corporation"), a company with limited liability, can be private as well as public
- ApS (Anpartsselskab)Private Limited Company
- K/S (Kommanditselskab)Limited Partnership
- I/S (Interessent Selskab)
Finland
Finnish names
- T:mi (toiminimi), Yksityinen elinkeinonharjoittaja, private entrepreneur, use is optional
- Ay (avoin yhtiö), partnership, not all partnerships are identified as such
- Ky (kommandiittiyhtiö), limited partnership, commandite company
- Oy (osakeyhtiö) Finnish: "stock corporation", Ltd.
- Oyj (julkinen osakeyhtiö) Finnish: "public stock corporation", Plc.
Swedish names
- F:ma (firma) or Enskild näringsidkare, private entrepreneur, use is optional
- Öppet bolag, partnership, not all partnerships are identified as such
- Kb (kommanditbolag), limited partnership
- Ab (aktiebolag), limited company
- Abp (publikt aktiebolag), public limited company
- Anl., Andelslag, also andels~
- Ideell förening, a non profit
- Stiftelse, foundation
- EEIG (europeisk ekonomisk intressegruppering), European Economic Interest Grouping
France
- EURL (Entreprise unipersonnelle à responsabilité limitée)
- SA (Société anonyme) - French : "stock corporation"
- SARL (Société à responsabilité limitée) - French: "Company with limited liability")
- SAS (Société par actions simplifiée)
- SASU (Société par actions simplifiée unipersonnelle)
- SCOP (Société coopérative)
- SNC (Société en nom collectif)
- Rarely used schemes
- Investment funds
- FCP (Fonds commun de placement) (unincorporated investment fund)
- SICAF (Société d'investissement à capital fixe) (incorporated investment fund)
- SICAV (Société d'investissement à capital variable) (incorporated investment fund)
Germany
- AG (Aktiengesellschaft - German: "stock corporation")
- GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - German: "Company with limited liability")
- KGaA (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
Hong Kong
- Corp. (Corporation)
- Ltd. (Limited)
- Co. Ltd. (Company Limited)
Hungary
- Rt. (részvénytársaság - Hungarian: "stock corporation", Hungarian equivalent of AG)
- Kft. (korlátolt felelősségű társaság - Hungarian: "company with limited liability", Hungarian equivalent of GmbH)
- Kv. (közös vállalat - Hungarian: "joint venture")
- Bt. (betéti társaság - Hungarian: "limited partnership")
- Kkt. (közkereseti társaság - Hungarian: "general partnership")
Jogi személyiség nélküli gazdasági társaság a közkereseti társaság (kkt.) és a betéti társaság (bt.). Jogi személyiségű gazdasági társaság a korlátolt felelősségű társaság (kft.) és a részvénytársaság (rt.).
Jogi személyiséggel rendelkező kooperációs társaságok: az egyesülésr, emellett a törvény megállapítja az elismert vállalatcsoport alapításának és működésének szabályait is.
Indonesia
- P.T. Tbk. (Perseroan Terbatas, Terbuka - Stock Limited Company)
- P.T. (Perseroan Terbatas - Limited Company)
Iran
(a) Limited liability company (Sherkat ba Masouliyat Mahdoud)
(b) General partnership (Sherkat Tazamoni)
(c) Limited partnership (Sherkat Mokhtalet Gheyr Sahami)
(d) Mixed joint stock partnership (Sherkat Mokhtalet Sahami)
(e) Proportional liability partnership (Sherkat Nesbi)
(f) Production and consumption cooperative (Sherkat Ta’avoni va Masraf)
Republic of Ireland
''See below.
Italy
- Società semplice
- S.r.l ("società a responsabilità limitata") - Italian: "Company with limited liability"
- S.a.s ("Società in accomandita semplice")
- S.n.c. ("Società in nome collettivo")
- S.p. A. ("Società per Azioni") - Italian: "Shares-based Society"
- S.a.p.a ("società in accomandita per azioni")
Japan
- 株式会社 (kabushiki-kaisha or kabushiki-gaisha, "K.K.," alternatively translated "Co., Ltd.") larger, publicly traded corporation
- 有限会社 (yūgen-kaisha or yūgen-gaisha, "Y.K.") smaller close corporation
- 相互会社 (sōgo-kaisha or sōgo-gaisha) mutual insurer
- 学校法人 (gakkō-hōjin) school corporation
- 国立大学法人 (kokuritsu-daigaku-hōjin) national university corporation
- 宗教法人 (shūkyō-hōjin) religion corporation
Korea
- 주식회사 or 株式會社 (jusik hoesa, stock firm)
Luxembourg
- S.A.R.L. (Société Anonyme é Responsabilité Limité) - "private limited liability company"
- S.A. (Societé Anonyme) - "public limited liability company"
Mexico
- S.A. de C.V. (Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) - equivalent to a corporation
- S. de R.L. de C.V. (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada de Capital Variable) - equivalent to a limited liability company
Netherlands
- B.V. (Besloten Vennootschap - Dutch: "private company")
- N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap - Dutch: "nameless company", similar in meaning to the Spanish corporate terminology "S.A.")
- C.V. (Commanditaire Vennootschap)
- V.O.F. (Vennootschap Onder Firma)
- Eenmanszaak
- Maatschap
New Zealand
- Incorporation (notably in New Zealand)
Norway
- AS (in Norwegian, "aksjeselskap" = "stock corporation"), a company with limited liability.
- ASA (in Norwegian, "allmennaksjeselskap" = "public stock corporation"), a publicly held company with limited liablity
- ANS (in Norwegian, "ansvarlig selskap" = "liable company"), a general partnership
- KS (in Norwegian, "komandittselskap"), a limited partnership
Philippines
- Corp. (Corporation)
- Inc. (Incorporated)
- Co. (Company) - can be used for general partnerships
- Ltd. (Limited) - for limited partnerships
- Ltd. Co. (Limited Company) - for limited partnerships
Older forms (now rarely used)
- SA (Sociedad Anónima) - formed under the Spanish Rule
- Cía (short for Compañía) - for partnerships and other forms of business during the Spanish Rule
Poland
- S.A. (spółka akcyjna) - joint stock company
- Sp. z o.o. (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) - limited liability company
Romania
- SRL (Societate cu Răspundere Limitată) - Limited Liability Company
- SA (Societate pe Acţiuni) - Stock Company (not Anonymous Company)
- RA (Regie Autonomă) - A state-owned company with some degree of independence of the management
Russian
- OOO (Общество с ограниченной ответственностью, ООО) - Russian "Company with a limited liability"
- ZAO (Закрытое акционерное общество, ЗАО) - Russian "Closed joint-stock company"
- OAO (Открытое акционерное общество, ОАО) - Russian "Public joint-stock company"
- ANO (Автономная некоммерческая организация, АНО) - Russian "Autonomous non-profit organization"
- GP or GUP (Государственное унитарное предприятие, ГП or ГУП) - Russian "State enterprise" or "Unitary state enterprise"
Singapore
- Limited liability partnership (LLP) - owners have the flexibility of operating as a partnership whilst giving them limited liability. It can:
- sue and be sued
- acquire and hold property
- have a common seal
- Company (Pte Ltd/Ltd)
- private company limited by shares
- private company - a locally incorporated company where the number of shareholders is limited to 50.
- exempt private company
- has not more than 20 shareholders, and none of the shareholders is a corporation.
- wholly owned by the government and which the finance minister declares to be an exempt private company.
- public company
- public company limited by shares - a locally incorporated company where the number of shareholders can be more than 50, and may raise capital by offering shares to the public.
- public company limited by guarantee - carries out non-profit making activities that have some basis of national or public interest. The finance minister may approve the registration of the company without the addition of the word “Limited” or “Berhad” to its name.
- private company limited by shares
South Africa
Close Corporation (Afrikaans: Beslote Korporasie)
- Minimum number of members: 1
- Maximum number of members: 10
- All members must be natural persons
- Name must end on CC or BK
- Registration number and member names must appear on all correspondence
- Registration number end on /23
Private Company (Afrikaans: Privaat Maatskappy)
- Minimum number of directors: 1
- Minimum number of shareholders: 1
- Maximum number of shareholders: 50
- Could be sole director and shole shareholder
- Name must end on (Pty) Ltd
- Registration number and director names must appear on all correspondence
- Registration number end on /07
Public Company (Afrikaans: Publieke Maatskappy)
- Minimum number of directors: 2
- Minimum number of shareholders: 7 (unless it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of another company)
- Maximum number of shareholders: Unlimited
- Name must end on LTD
- Registration number end on /06
Section 21 Company:
- Non profit organisation
- Registration number end on /21
Partnership:
- Minimum number of partners: 2
- Maximum number of partners: 20
Sole Proprietor:
- Not a separate legal entity
Spain
- S.A. ("Sociedad Anónima", Spanish: "anonymous society" = Stock Corporation)
- S.A.p. A.
Sweden
- AB - Aktiebolag (Stock corporation)
- AB (publ) - Publikt aktiebolag (Public stock corporation)
- HB - Handelsbolag (Partnership)
- KB - Kommanditbolag (Limited partnership)
- Enskild firma (Sole proprietorship)
- Ek. för. - Ekonomisk förening (Economical association)
- Home owners association (Bostadsrättsförening)
- Home renters association (Hyresrättsförening)
- Co-operative (Kooperativ)
Switzerland
- AG (Aktiengesellschaft - German: "stock corporation")
- GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung - German: "Company with limited liability")
Ukraine
- TOV (Товариство з обмеженою відповідальністю, ТОВ) - Ukrainian "Limited liability company"
- ZAT (Закрите акцiонерне товариство, ЗАТ) - Ukrainian "Private joint-stock company"
- VAT (Вiдкрите акцiонерне товариство, ВАТ) - Ukrainian "Public joint-stock company"
United Kingdom and Ireland
- Private limited company.
- Company Limited by Guarantee.
- Public limited company (plc or PLC) (Irish language: cuideachta phoiblé theoranta, cpt)
With the exception of public limited companies (which must use the style "plc", "PLC", or in Ireland, "cpt"), limited companies in the UK and Ireland must always use the suffix "Limited", shortened to Ltd. Irish companies may use the suffix "Teoranta" or "Teo" instead, but this is mainly limited to Gaeltacht companies.
United States
- Company (Co.)
- Corporation (Corp.)
- Incorporated (Inc.) (which has meanings that vary widely from one state to another)
- Limited (Ltd.) (not all states use this term)
- Limited Liability Company/Corporation (LLC) (legally distinct from Corp., Inc. or Ltd. and the whole name or abbreviation of LLC must be used in the company name)
- Limited Company (LC or Ltd. Co.) (same as LLC, but this term is not used in all states)
- No Liability (NL) (not all states use this term)
- Unlimited (not all states use this term)
In the United States, the individual states incorporate most businesses, and some special types are incorporated by the federal government including national banks, federal savings banks, and federal credit unions. Additionally, many governmental units are specially formed public corporations and some private organizations have received a charter from Congress. Each state has varying requirements for forming a company and also determining what designations can and can not be used. For example, Texas allows the terms Corporation (Corp.), Incorporated (Inc.), Limited (Ltd.), Limited Company (LC), Limited Liability Company (LLC) but the terms No Liability (NL) and Unlimited are not used to designate a corporation.
Although each state has its own laws regarding corporations, for federal tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service recognizes only two types of for-profit corporation: S corporations and C corporations.
Uruguay
- SAFI (Sociedad Anónima Financiera de Inversión)
- S.A. (Sociedad Anónima)
- SRL (Sociedad Responsabilidad Limitada)
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"Types of corporations"