bhd

Bhd is the common abbreviation for Berhad, the Malay term for a public limited company. In Malaysia and parts of Southeast Asia, Berhad denotes a corporate form whose shares may be offered to the public and whose liability is limited to the amount unpaid on shares. The designation is typically shown in a company’s registered name, often shortened to Bhd, with the English equivalent commonly rendered as Public Limited Company or PLC.

The private counterpart is Sdn Bhd (Sendirian Berhad), used by private companies that do not offer shares to the public and are subject to lighter disclosure requirements. Berhad status generally implies greater regulatory oversight, access to public capital markets, and more stringent governance and reporting obligations, including annual accounts and audits, particularly for those listed on Bursa Malaysia or other exchanges.

In everyday branding, many Malaysian enterprises display Berhad or the abbreviation Bhd, signaling their public- or quasi-public nature. The use of Bhd does not by itself guarantee stock exchange listing, but it indicates a statutory framework that governs public companies. The international equivalent varies by jurisdiction; for example, PLC in the United Kingdom or Public Co. in other markets.