Osakeyhtiömuotoinen

Osakeyhtiömuotoinen translates from Finnish to English as "limited liability company form" or simply "limited company." It refers to a legal structure for businesses in Finland where the liability of the owners, the shareholders, is limited to the amount of capital they have invested in the company. This is a fundamental characteristic of a limited liability company, distinguishing it from sole proprietorships or partnerships where owners' personal assets may be at risk.

In Finland, the most common forms of osakeyhtiömuotoinen are the osakeyhtiö (Oy), which is a private limited company, and the julkinen osakeyhtiö (JulkI), which is a public limited company. The former is generally for smaller or medium-sized businesses, while the latter is suitable for larger enterprises intending to offer shares to the public. The establishment and operation of an osakeyhtiömuotoinen are governed by the Finnish Companies Act (Osakeyhtiölaki). Key aspects include the requirement for a registered share capital, a board of directors, and the preparation of annual financial statements. This legal framework provides a clear structure for ownership, management, and accountability.