A corporation (AG) is an arrangement under private law of a society as form of business organization, with which the corporate assets (capital stock/share capital) are divided in shares. The corporation is an internationally important, in many countries the completely outweighing form of business organization.

Nature of the corporation

The corporation is a combination under private law, which has usually the enterprise of an enterprise to the article. In relation to other forms of business organization the corporation stands out by the following characteristics:

• It is body, thus on membership which is based, but as combination an independently legally responsible legal unit.
• It is finance company, thus supported by a certain capital stock in the way that the adhesion of the members is limited to this capital, thus the shareholders.
• The capital stock is as a rule in computationally equal large portions, the shares, divided.

The shares are embodied in many cases by share letters. To nature it belongs to the corporation in principle that the shares are transferable by their owner. Depending upon arrangement of the society there can be however restrictions here. On the other hand it does not belong to the necessary features of a corporation that the shares at a stock exchange are acted. In most countries are only a small part of the corporations quoted.

The shareholders usually notice their mitgliedschaftlichen rights in shareholder meetings by practice of their right to vote. The business of the society is led however by separate organs, whereby the details are different depending upon country.

The corporation in different countries

While the concept of the corporation is as form of business organization internationally in its fundamentals alike, the concrete arrangement of the society is quite very differently regulated in the different countries by national laws.

To the details of the corporations in the German-language countries see the following country-specific articles:

• Germany: Corporation (Germany)
• Austria: Corporation (Austria)
• Switzerland: Corporation (Switzerland)

To forms of the corporation in other countries see the following articles:

• Brazil: Sociedade (S/A)
• Finland: (Oyj and Oy)
• France: anonymous one (S.A.)
• Great Britain: Limited company (PLC and Ltd.)
• Italy: by Azioni (S.p.A.)
• The Netherlands: Naamloze Vennootschap (N.V.)
• Norway: Aksjeselskap (AS or A/S) and Allmennaksjeselskap (ASP)
• Poland: Akcyjna (S.A.)
• Portugal: Sociedade (S.A.)
• Russia: (OAO), ()
• Sweden: Aktiebolag (OFF)
• Spain: Sociedad (S.A.)
• Czech republic: spolecnost (AS)
• Turkey: Anonim Sirket
• Hungary: (blank)

European corporation/societas europaea

In the course of large harmonization efforts on Europeanlegal basis a new company form was created, the European corporation (lat. societas europaea, "SE").

History

Was invented the principle of the portion division in the Steiermark Austria, in the ore dismantling and - processing had become too expensive, in order to finance they from a hand. Thus 1415 in Leoben and soon generally speaking German linguistic area cooperatives were created, which financed themselves by portions, Kuxe mentioned. These Kuxe were spent to buyers, acted aristocracy and monasteries and rose and fell in their value.

The first as modern corporation organized enterprise was the 1602 created Netherlands east India company (Vereenigde Oostindi Compagnie; shortened: V.O.C and/or VOC or company (Compagnie)).

See also

• Limited company (GmbH)
• Limited partnership (kg)
• Open commercial company (OHG)
• Cooperative insurance company on mutuality (VVaG)
• Limited partnership on shares (KGaA)

Articles in category "Corporation"

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