perustamiskirjan

Perustamiskirja is the founding document used in Finland when establishing a corporate entity, most commonly a limited liability company (osakeyhtiö). It functions as part of the set of documents that define the company's basic shape at the moment of creation and outlines essential information about the company and its founders.

The document typically states the company’s name, registered office, business purpose, and the initial share capital. It also identifies the number and class of shares issued, the amount contributed by each founder, and the distribution of ownership. In addition, the perustamiskirja may specify details about the initial management and board arrangements, the founders’ names and addresses, and the proposed commencement date. It is usually signed by the founders and may require notarization or other formal authentication, depending on the circumstances and applicable law.

Relation to other documents is an important aspect: the perustamiskirja is commonly used together with the yhtiöjärjestys (the articles of association) and, in some cases, other founding agreements. Together these documents establish the company’s legal personality and governance framework. The specific requirements for what must be included in the perustamiskirja are laid out in Finnish corporate law, such as the Companies Act, and the documents are submitted to the Trade Register for registration.

In practice, the concept remains part of Finnish corporate tradition, although filing and verification processes have increasingly moved toward electronic systems. The perustamiskirja thus serves as a foundational record of a company’s origins and ownership structure.