Business Formation Terms: “A”

An Abu Dhabi international financial centre and free zone with its own English-common-law courts and regulator (FSRA), used for fund management, fintech, and holding structures.

The German public limited company by shares, used by listed corporations and large private groups that need freely transferable equity.

A joint stock company under the laws of countries including Estonia, Norway, Czechia, and Denmark, used for larger companies and listed entities.

The audited or unaudited financial statements that UK and many Commonwealth companies must prepare each year, file with Companies House, and (where required) send to shareholders and HMRC.

The yearly statutory filing in which a company confirms its registered information (officers, shareholders, address, share capital) to the company registry.

The Turkish joint stock company, used for regulated sectors, capital markets activity, and groups planning to issue freely transferable shares.

The body of laws, regulations, and procedures designed to detect and prevent the conversion of illicit funds into ostensibly legitimate assets.

A standardized international certification under the 1961 Hague Convention that authenticates a public document for use in another member country without further legalization.

The international standard requiring related-party transactions to be priced as if they occurred between independent, unrelated parties.

The internal constitutional document of a UK or Commonwealth-style company, governing share rights, board powers, meetings, and decision-making.

The founding charter document filed with a US state to legally create a corporation, setting out its name, purpose, registered agent, and authorized share structure.

The state filing that creates a Limited Liability Company (LLC), naming the entity, its registered agent, and its members or managers.

A company in which an investor holds significant influence, typically through 20-50% of voting rights, without controlling it.