Firmateckning

Firmateckning is the legal authority granted to a person or persons to sign on behalf of a company, thereby binding the company in contracts and other legal acts. In Swedish corporate practice, firmateckning is typically defined in the company’s articles of association (bolagsordning) or by a board resolution. The right to sign can be exercised in several forms, such as ensam firmateckning (one signer authorized to sign alone) or firmateckning i förening (signing jointly with another person, often prescribed by the board or by the company’s articles).

Who can have firmateckning varies by company. Common signatories include the chair of the board, other board members, the managing director (VD), or other employees to whom the board has delegated firmateckningsrätt. The articles or a specific decision outline who holds firmateckning and in what configurations. A company may appoint multiple signatories and specify whether they must sign together or whether a single signatory can bind the company.

The practical effect is that a signer acts as the company’s representative in civil and commercial matters, so contracts, banking arrangements, and other commitments entered into in the firm’s name bind the company. For larger or more consequential transactions, additional approvals or internal controls may apply.

Registration and record-keeping: changes in firmateckning are usually documented in the company’s governance documents and, when necessary, reported to the public register (Bolagsverket) or reflected in company filings. Exact requirements may depend on the company type and jurisdiction.

Relation to related concepts: firmateckning differs from general powers of attorney (fullmakt) and from prokura in other legal traditions. Provisions for firmateckning are set by the company and its governing documents, and may be adjusted by board decisions or updates to the bolagsordning.