selskaberne

Selskaberne is the definite plural form of the Danish noun selskab, meaning a company, a business entity, or a society/association. In Danish, selskaberne can refer to the concrete entities themselves or to companies and associations in general. In legal and business writing the term is used to designate the corporate bodies involved in a transaction or governed by specific rules. The Danish corporate landscape principally includes aktieselskab (A/S, joint-stock company) and anpartsselskab (ApS, private limited company), which are the most common forms described in law and contract. Other historical and contemporary forms include interessentskab (I/S) and, at times, other forms used for specific purposes. The plural definite form is often used in clauses that name the parties to an agreement, for example, "Selskaberne forpligter sig til..." or "Selskaberne skal" indicating obligations or duties of the entities.

Selskaberne is also used more broadly to refer to organizations of people united for a common purpose, such as trade associations, professional societies, and social clubs. The term is common in everyday Danish language as well as in official documents. The distinction between "selskab" (an entity) and "forening" (an association) depends on legal status and activities.

Translations: In English, selskaberne is most often rendered as "the companies" or "the societies," depending on context.