Here is a little overview of the Business Legal forms and their meaning from the countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Ever wanted to know what AB, AS, ASA or OY mean?

Denmark

Aktieselskab (A/S)
All limited liability companies are registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency.

Share capital: DKK 500,000 (minimum requirement)

Annual accounts are publicly available. The accounts are to be filed with the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency no later than 6 months after the fiscal year has ended. Information about the size of the turnover is not required in the annual accounts if the company meets at least two of the below demands:

1. The turnover < DKK 150,000,000
2. Total balance sheet sum < DKK 75,000,000
3. Number of employees < 250

Approx. 35,168 limited liability companies are registered in Denmark.

Anpartsselskab (ApS)
All private limited companies are registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency.

Share capital: DKK 125,000 (minimum requirement)

Annual accounts are publicly available. The accounts are to be filed with the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency no later than 6 months after the fiscal year has ended. Information about the size of the turnover is not required in the annual accounts if the company meets at least two of the below demands:

1. The turnover < DKK 150,000,000
2. Total balance sheet sum < DKK 75,000,000
3. Number of employees < 250

Approx. 75,970 private limited companies are registered in Denmark.

Enkeltmandsvirksomhed
Sole proprietorships are not required to register, and no annual accounts are to be made publicly available. Approx. 280,000 sole proprietorships exist in Denmark, and is hereby the most used legal form in Denmark.

Intressentskab (I/S)
General partnerships have to be registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency, if all the partners are companies with limited liability. Of the approx. 28,000 general partnerships in Denmark only approx. 450 are registered. The registered general partnerships are to file their annual accounts (with the exception of companies covered by ÅRL§2e,f). Information about the size of the turnover is not required in the annual accounts if the company meets at least two of the below demands:

1. Turnover < DKK 150,000,000
2. Total balance sheet sum < DKK 75,000,000
3. Number of employees < 250

The annual accounts have to be filed with the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency no later than 6 months after the fiscal year has ended.

Non-registered general partnerships are not to file annual accounts.

Kommanditselskab (K/S)
Limited partnerships have to be registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency, if all the general partners and limited partners are companies with limited liability. There are 1,534 registered limited partnerships in Denmark. The registered limited partnership are to file their annual accounts (with the exception of companies covered by ÅRL§2e,f). ). Information about the size of the turnover is not required in the annual accounts if the company meets at least two of the below demands (ÅRL§64c.stk.4) :

1. Turnover < DKK 150,000,000
2. Total balance sheet sum < DKK 75,000,000
3. Number of employees < 250

The annual accounts have to be filed with the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency no later than 6 months after the fiscal year has ended.

Andelsselskab Med Begrænset Ansvar (AMBA)
All cooperative societies with limited liability have to be registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency.

The societies have to file their annual accounts if they exceed at least two of the following demands:

1. Turnover < DKK 10,000,000
2. Total balance sheet sum < DKK 4,000,000
3. Number of employees < 10

The annual accounts have to be filed with the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency no later than 6 months after the fiscal year has ended.

Of the approx. 4,500 co-operative societies in Denmark 834 are registered in the register of the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency.