Äriregistrite

Aäriregistrite are official public registers that store information about legally registered businesses and related entities. They are maintained by a government authority and form the backbone of corporate transparency and legal certainty in a jurisdiction. In many countries, the Äriregister provides the central record of companies, partnerships and other legal entities, as well as certain business activities conducted through branches or independent entities.

The data typically included in äriregistrite covers:

- the entity’s official name and registration number (registrikood)

- legal form (for example, private limited company, public limited company)

- registered office and address for service

- core activities and relevant activity codes

- capital structure, ownership, and control information

- management and representation (board or management, authorized signatories)

- changes in status, such as name changes, mergers, or dissolution

- filing of annual accounts or financial statements where required

- information on beneficial owners or ultimate beneficial owners where applicable

- status notes, including liquidation or suspension

Access and use:

- Registers are designed to be searchable by the public; many jurisdictions offer online portals to verify a company’s status and basic details.

- Data accessibility varies: some information is freely available, while more detailed or sensitive data may require authorization or be subject to privacy protections.

Legal framework and impact:

- The registers operate under national company and commercial laws, with rules on what must be registered, how data is updated, and how corrections are handled.

- They support legal transactions, regulatory supervision, enforcement, and due diligence by lenders, investors, and authorities.

History and scope:

- Most forms of business registers originated in the late 20th century and have been increasingly digitized, expanding online access and data quality. Äriregistrite typically cover corporations, partnerships, and, in some jurisdictions, sole proprietorships and branches.