Äriühingud

Äriühingud, meaning business associations or companies in Estonian, are legal entities established for conducting commercial activities. Their primary purpose is to generate profit for their owners or shareholders. In Estonia, several types of äriühingud are recognized by law, each with distinct characteristics regarding liability, ownership, and management.

The most common forms of äriühingud are osaühing (OÜ) and aktsiaselts (AS). An osaühing is a private limited company where the liability of the shareholders is limited to the amount of their capital contribution. This form is popular for small and medium-sized enterprises due to its relative simplicity in establishment and management. An aktsiaselts is a public limited company, similar to a corporation, where capital is divided into shares. AS-d are typically larger companies, often publicly traded, and the liability of shareholders is also limited to their shareholding.

Other forms include täisühing (TG) and usaldusühing (UG). A täisühing is a general partnership where all partners are jointly and severally liable for the company's obligations with all their personal assets. A usaldusühing is a limited partnership with at least one general partner (täisosanik) fully liable and at least one limited partner (usaldusosanik) liable only up to the amount of their contribution.

The establishment of an äriühing involves registration in the Estonian Commercial Register, which grants the entity legal personality. This means the company can own assets, enter into contracts, sue, and be sued in its own name. äriühingud are subject to various legal regulations, including accounting standards, tax laws, and corporate governance rules, ensuring transparency and accountability in their operations.