Magánvállalat

Magánvállalat is a term used to describe a privately owned business enterprise, as opposed to a state-owned or publicly traded company. In Hungary, a magánvállalat can take several legal forms that are owned by private individuals or private legal entities and are not generally listed on a public stock exchange.

The most common legal forms for magánvállalatok are the limited liability company (korlátolt felelősségű társaság, Kft.), the general partnership (betéti társaság, Bt.), and the private limited by shares company (zártkörben lévő részvénytársaság, Zrt.). These forms emphasize private ownership and control by founders, families, or private investors, rather than public shareholding. A magánvállalat typically has more discretion in governance and decision-making compared to publicly traded companies, with ownership and control often concentrated in a smaller group.

Financing for magánvállalatok relies on private capital, reinvested profits, bank lending, and, in some cases, private equity or venture funding. Because ownership is not widely distributed through public markets, liquidity for owners may be more limited, and exit options often involve sale to other investors, management buyouts, or private transfers rather than quick stock market trades. Annual reporting and disclosure requirements are generally less stringent for private companies than for publicly traded ones, though they must comply with applicable corporate, accounting, and tax laws.

In the economy, magánvállalatok constitute the private sector, contributing to employment, innovation, and competition. They operate across sectors and vary in size, from small family businesses to larger, privately held enterprises. The main distinction from publicly traded companies is ownership structure and the absence of mandatory public share trading and disclosure.