Moderselskap

Moderselskap, or parent company, is a company that controls one or more subsidiaries, forming a corporate group (konsern). Control is typically obtained through ownership of more than half of the voting shares or through other arrangements that allow the parent to appoint the majority of the subsidiary’s board or otherwise direct its strategic decisions. The parent and subsidiaries are separate legal entities; liabilities and obligations usually stay with the individual entities, though the moderselskap exercises ultimate decision-making authority over the group.

In financial reporting, the moderselskap prepares consolidated accounts that present the group as a single economic entity. This involves combining the parent’s and subsidiaries’ financial statements, and eliminating transactions between group members. Consolidated reporting provides a view of the group’s overall performance and financial position and is governed by standards such as IFRS or national GAAP.

Purpose and functions of a moderselskap include coordinating strategy, capital allocation, and governance for the entire group. It may provide centralized services (finance, information technology, human resources) and arrange financing that benefits the whole group, leveraging scale and bargaining power across subsidiaries.

Legal and regulatory aspects vary by jurisdiction but generally require disclosure of ownership structures and filing of annual reports for corporate groups. In some systems there are additional governance and reporting obligations for parent companies. The use of a moderselskap can improve strategic coherence and financing options, but may also introduce regulatory scrutiny and complexity, particularly in cross-border structures or aggressive tax planning.

Typology: some moderselskaper are pure holding companies with no operating activities, while others are mixed or operating parent companies that oversee one or more active subsidiaries. The term is common in Nordic countries, with dotterselskap meaning subsidiary and konsern meaning the group.