stiftelsesdokument

Stiftelsesdokument, or founding document, is a formal instrument used to establish a company or similar legal entity under Nordic business law. It serves as the essential instrument that creates the legal personality and, together with other formation documents, is submitted to the relevant government register to obtain recognition.

In many jurisdictions, the stiftelsesdokument contains: the name of the entity and its registered office; the company form (for example a limited liability company); the purpose or object clause; the duration if limited; the share capital and the number and value of shares; a list of the founders and their capital contributions; the initial governance arrangements, such as the initial board members and executives; and provisions related to transfer of shares or other basic governance rules. It is usually signed by the founders and dated; in some cases, notarization or legalization is required.

Process: drafting the document, possibly in conjunction with the articles of association or vedtekter; adoption at a founding meeting; filing with the national company register (for example Brønnøysund in Norway) along with any required supporting documents. Upon registration, the entity gains legal personality and can perform acts in its own name.

Relation to other documents: the stiftelsesdokument is often complemented by vedtekter and the stiftelsesprotokoll (founding meeting minutes). The exact content and formal requirements vary by jurisdiction, and the term itself may be used mainly in Norwegian contexts; different countries may use articles of association or charter.