Appendix D - Foreign Entity Appendix

This table lists common foreign designations, and their abbreviations, used by various foreign countries to identify legal commercial entities. The appendix also includes a description of the foreign designation and, in some cases, the equivalent United States entity. See TMEP §803.03(i) for further information.

Abbr.

Country

Description

A. en P.

 

Mexico

 

Asociación en Participación. Joint venture.

 

AB

 

Sweden

 

Aktiebolag. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A.C.

 

Mexico

 

Asociación Civil. Civil Association of a non-commercial nature.

 

ACE

 

Portugal

 

Agrupamento Complementar de Empresas. Association of businesses.

 

AD

 

Bulgaria

 

Aktsionerno Druzhestvo. Limited Liability Company.

 

AE

 

Greece

 

Anonymos Etairia. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

AG

 

Austria

 

Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

AG

 

Germany

 

Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

AG

 

Switzerland

 

Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

AL

 

Norway

 

Andelslag. Cooperative society.

 

AmbA

 

Denmark

 

Andelsselskab. Limited Liability Cooperative.

 

ANS

 

Norway

 

Ansvarlig selskap. Trading partnership.

 

Anstalt

 

Liechtenstein

 

Anstalt. Establishment having attributes of a trust and a corporation.

 

Apb

 

Sweden

 

Publikt Aktiebolag. Public Stock Corporation.

 

ApS

 

Denmark

 

Anpartsselskab. Private Limited Company.

 

ApS & Co. K/S

 

Denmark

 

Similar to a general partnership, but the entity with unlimited liability is a company (ApS) instead of an individual.

 

AS

 

Norway

 

Aksjeselskap. Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A/S

 

Denmark

 

Aktieselskap. Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A.S.

 

Czech Republic

 

Akciova Spolecnost. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A.S.

 

Estonia

 

Aktsiaselts. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A.S.

 

Slovakia

 

Akciova Spolecnost. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

A.S.

 

Turkey

 

Anonim Sirketi. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

ASA

 

Norway

 

Allmennaksjeselskap. Public stock corporation.

 

Association/ Associazione

 

Switzerland/France/Italy

 

Association.

 

AVV

 

Aruba

 

Aruba Vrijgestelde Vennootschap. Aruba Exempt Company.

 

BM or B.M.

 

Israel

 

Be'eravon Mugbal. Limited Company.

 

BK or CC

 

South Africa

 

Beslote Korporasie. Close Corporation.

 

Bt

 

Hungary

 

Betiti társaság. Limited Liability Partnership.

 

B.V.

 

Belgium

 

Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

 

B.V.

 

Netherlands

 

Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

 

B.V.

 

Netherlands Antilles

 

Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

 

BVBA

 

Belgium

 

Besloten Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid. Flemish language equivalent of the SPRL -- means that the company is a private limited company.

 

CA

 

Ecuador

 

Compania Anonima. Public Limited Company.

 

c.c.c.

 

Wales

 

Cwmni Cyfyngedig Cyhoeddus. Public Limited Company, Welsh language equivalent to PLC.

 

Co.

 

Commonwealth countries

 

Company. Acceptable to identify entities that are equivalent or analogous to United States corporations or associations.

 

C.V.

 

Netherlands

 

Commanditaire Vennootschap. Limited Partnership.

 

CVA

 

Belgium

 

Commanditaire Vennootschap op Aandelen. Limited partnership, with shares. Flemish language equivalent to the French language SCA.

 

CVoA

 

Netherlands

 

Commanditaire Vennootschap op Andelen. Limited Partnership, with shares.

 

Cyf.

 

Wales

 

Cyfyngedig. Private Limited Company, Welsh language equivalent to Ltd.

 

DA

 

Norway

 

Selskap med delt ansar. Limited Partnership.

 

d.d.

 

Croatia

 

Dionicko Drustvo. Joint stock company.

 

d.d.

 

Slovenia

 

Delniska Druzba. Stock company

 

DI

 

Italy/Switzerland

 

Ditta individuale. Sole Proprietorship.

 

d.n.o.

 

Slovenia

 

Druzba z neomejeno odgovornostjo. Partnership, all partners have unlimited liability.

 

d.o.o.

 

Croatia

 

Drustvo s Ogranicenom Odgovornoscu. Limited Liability Company.

 

d.o.o.

 

Slovenia

 

Druzba z Omejeno Odgovornostjo. Limited Liability Company.

 

EE

 

Greece

 

Eterrorrythmos. Limited liability partnership.

 

EEG

 

Austria

 

Eingetragene Erwerbsgesellschaft. Professional Partnership.

 

EIRL

 

Peru

 

Empresa Individual de Responsabilidad Limitada. Personal business with limited liability.

 

EG

 

Switzerland

 

Einfache Gesellschaft. Simple Partnership.

 

ELP

 

Bahamas

 

Exempted Limited Partnership. Has one or more limited partners, and one general partner, which must be a resident of the Bahamas or a company incorporated in the Bahamas.

 

EOOD

 

Bulgaria

 

Ednolichno Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost. Limited liability company.

 

EPE

 

Greece

 

Etairia periorismenis efthinis. Limited liability company.

 

EURL

 

France

 

Entreprise Unipersonnelle à Responsabilité Limitée. Incorporated sole proprietorship with limited liability.

 

e.V.

 

Germany

 

Eingetragener Verein. Non-profit society/association.

 

Einzelfirma

 

Germany/Switzerland

 

Einzelfirma. Sole Proprietorship.

 

Fondation/ Fondazione

 

Switzerland/France/Italy

 

Foundation. Foundation having some attributes of a corporation.

 

GbR

 

Germany

 

Gesellschaft burgerlichen Rechts. Partnership without a legal name.

 

GCV

 

Belgium

 

Gewone Commanditaire Vennootschap. Limited Partnership. Flemish language equivalent to the French language SCS.

 

G.K.

 

Japan

 

Godo kaisha or Godokaisha. A variant of the American limited liability company.

 

Gen

 

Switzerland

 

Genossenschaft. Cooperative Society.

 

GesBR

 

Austria

 

Bürgerlich rechtliche Erwerbsgesellschaft. Joint venture.

 

GesmbH

 

Austria

 

Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company. This abbreviation is only used in Austria (not Germany or Switzerland).

 

GIE

 

France

 

Groupement d'intéret économique. Economic Grouping of Interest. Two or more persons or entities form an alliance with the goal of facilitating or developing economic activity of the members.

 

GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

Limited partnership in which, typically, the sole general partner is a limited liability company.

 

GmbH

 

Austria

 

Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

 

GmbH

 

Germany

 

Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

 

GmbH

 

Switzerland

 

Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

 

GMK

 

Japan

 

Gomei Kaisha. Similar to an American general partnership.

 

GSK

 

Japan

 

Goshi Kaisha or Goshikaisha. Similar to an American limited partnership.

 

HB

 

Sweden

 

Handelsbolag. Trading Partnership.

 

hf

 

Iceland

 

Hlutafelag. Limited liability company.

 

I/S

 

Denmark

 

Interessentskab. General partnership.

 

j.t.d.

 

Croatia

 

Javno Trgovacko Drustvo. Unlimited liability company.

 

KA/S

 

Denmark

 

Kommanditaktieselskab. Limited partnership with share capital.

 

KAG

 

Switzerland

 

Kommandit-Aktiengesellschaft. Limited partnership with shares.

 

Kb

 

Sweden

 

Kommanditbolag. Limited partnership.

 

KD

 

Bulgaria

 

Komanditno Drushestwo. Partnership.

 

k.d.

 

Croatia

 

Komanditno Drustvo. Limited Partnership.

 

k.d.

 

Slovenia

 

Komanditna Druzba. Limited Partnership

 

KDA

 

Bulgaria

 

Komanditno drushestwo s akzii. Partnership with shares.

 

k.d.d.

 

Slovenia

 

Komanditna delniska druzba. Limited Partnership with shares.

 

KEG

 

Austria

 

Kommanditerwerbsgesellschaft. Limited Registered Partnership.

 

Kft

 

Hungary

 

Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság. Limited liability company.

 

KG

 

Austria

 

Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

 

KG

 

Germany

 

Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

 

KG

 

Switzerland

 

Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

 

KGaA

 

Germany

 

Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien. A limited partnership with shares.

 

K.K.

 

Japan

 

Kabushiki Kaisha. Joint Stock Company.

 

Kkt

 

Hungary

 

Közkereseti Társaság. General Partnership.

 

KolG

 

Switzerland

 

Kollektivgesellschaft. General Partnership.

 

Kol. SrK

 

Turkey

 

Kollektiv Sirket. Unlimited liability partnership.

 

Kom. SrK

 

Turkey

 

Komandit Sirket. Limited liability partnership.

 

k.s.

 

Czech Republic

 

Komanditni Spolecnost. Limited partnership.

 

K/S

 

Denmark

 

Kommanditselskab. Limited partnership.

 

KS

 

Norway

 

Kommandittselskap. Limited partnership.

 

Kv

 

Hungary

 

Közös vállalat. Joint Venture.

 

Ky

 

Finland

 

Kommandiittiyhtiö. Limited Partnership.

 

Lda

 

Portugal

 

Sociedade por Quotas Limitada. Similar to an American Limited Liability Company.

 

LDC

 

Bahamas

 

Limited Duration Company. A company, but it has a life of 30 years or less.

 

Ltd.

 

Commonwealth countries; China

 

Limited Company. Indicates that a company is incorporated and that the owners have limited liability

 

Ltda

 

Brazil

 

Sociedade por Quotas de Responsabilidade Limitada. Similar to a limited liability company.

 

NV

 

Netherlands

 

Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

NV

 

Belgium

 

Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

NV

 

Netherlands Antilles

 

Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

NV

 

Suriname

 

Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

OE

 

Greece

 

Omorrythmos. Partnership.

 

OEG

 

Austria

 

Offene Erwerbsgesellschaft. Open Trading Partnership, General Registered Partnership or General Professional Partnership.

 

OHG

 

Austria

 

Offene Handelsgesellschaft. Partnership.

 

OHG

 

Germany

 

Offene Handelsgesellschaft. Partnership.

 

OOD

 

Bulgaria

 

Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost. Limited Liability Company.

 

OAO

 

Russian Federation

 

Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo. Joint Stock Company.

 

OOO

 

Russian Federation

 

Obschestvo s ogranichennoy otveststvennostyu. Limited Liability Company.

 

 

Estonia

 

Osaühing. Private limited liability company.

 

Oy

 

Finland

 

Osakeyhtiö. Private limited company.

 

Oyj

 

Finland

 

Julkinen osakeyhtiö. Public limited company.

 

P/L or Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia

 

Proprietary Limited Company.

 

PC Ltd

 

Australia

 

Public Company Limited by Shares.

 

PLC

 

UK & Ireland

 

Public Limited Company.

 

PMA

 

Indonesia

 

Penanaman Modal Asing. Foreign joint venture company.

 

PMDN

 

Indonesia

 

Penanaman Modal Dalam Negeri. Domestic Capital investment company.

 

PrC

 

Ireland

 

Private Company limited by shares.

 

Prp. Ltd.

 

Botswana

 

Private company limited by shares.

 

PT

 

Indonesia

 

Perseroan Terbuka. Limited company.

 

PT Tbk

 

Indonesia

 

Perseroan Terbatas, Terbuka. Stock corporation.

 

Pty.

 

Australia

 

Proprietary Company.

 

RI

 

Switzerland

 

Raison individuelle. Sole Proprietorship.

 

RAS

 

Estonia

 

Riiklik Aktsiaselts. State (owned) Joint Stock company.

 

Rt

 

Hungary

 

Részvénytársaság. Stock Company.

 

S. de R.L.

 

Mexico

 

Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada. Limited Liability Company.

 

S. en C.

 

Colombia & Peru

 

Sociedad en Comandita. Limited Partnership.

 

S. en N.C.

 

Mexico

 

Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo. General Partnership.

 

S/A

 

Brazil

 

Sociedade Anônima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Argentina

 

Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Belgium

 

Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

France/Switzerland

 

Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Ivory Coast

 

Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Luxembourg

 

Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Mexico

 

Sociedad Anónima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Morocco

 

Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Poland

 

Spółka Akcyjna. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Portugal

 

Sociedad Anónima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Romania

 

Societate pe actiuni. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SA

 

Spain

 

Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

S.A.

 

Brazil

 

Sociedade por Ações. Privately-held company.

 

SA de CV

 

Mexico

 

Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, with variable capital

 

SAFI

 

Uruguay

 

Sociedad Anonima Financiera de Inversion. Offshore company.

 

Sagl

 

Switzerland

 

Società a garanzia limitata. Limited Liability Company.

 

S.A.I.C.A.

 

Venezuela

 

Sociedad Anónima Inscrita de Capital Abierto. Open Capital Company .

 

SApA

 

Italy/Switzerland

 

Societa in Accomandita per Azioni. Limited partnership with shares.

 

Sarl

 

France & Others

 

Société à responsabilité limitée. Limited Liability Company. Used in France and other French speaking countries.

 

Sarl

 

Luxembourg

 

Société à Responsabilité Limitée. Limited Liability Company.

 

SAS

 

France

 

Société par Actions Simplifiée. Simplified Stock Corporation which has the legal status of a corporation. Note, however, that "societe par action" by itself is not an official French entity designation.

 

SAS

 

Italy

 

Societá in Accomandita Semplice. Limited Partnership.

 

SC

 

France/Switzerland

 

Société en commandite. Partnership with limited and general partners.

 

SC

 

France

 

Société civile. Partnership with full liability.

 

SC

 

Poland

 

Spólka prawa cywilnego. Partnership with all partners having unlimited liability.

 

SC

 

Italy/Switzerland

 

Societa cooperativa. Cooperative society. This type of entity may be incorporated with either limited or unlimited liability.

 

SCOP

 

France/Switzerland

 

Société Coopérative. Cooperative society. This type of entity may be incorporated with either limited or unlimited liability.

 

S.C.

 

Spain

 

Sociedad en Commandita. General Partnership.

 

SCA

 

France/Belgium/ Switzerland

 

Société en commandite par actions. Limited partnership with share capital, occupies a position between a limited partnership and a corporation.

 

SCA

 

Romania

 

Societate in còmandita pe actiuni. Limited liability partnership with shares.

 

SCP

 

Brazil

 

Sociedade em Conta de Participacão. Partnership where there is one partner assumed responsible for running the business.

 

SCS

 

Belgium & France

 

Société en Commandite Simple. A special partnership very similar to an American limited partnership

 

S.C.S.

 

Brazil

 

Sociedade em Comandita Simples. Limited Partnership.

 

SCS

 

Mexico

 

Sociedad en Comandita Simple. Limited Partnership.

 

SCS

 

Romania

 

Societate in comandita simpla. Limited liability partnership.

 

Sdn Bhd

 

Malaysia

 

Sendirian Berhad. Limited Liability Company.

 

SE

 

European Union

 

Societas Europae. European Company. A Public Limited Company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

SENC

 

Luxembourg

 

Société en Nom Collectif. General Partnership.

 

SGPS

 

Portugal

 

Sociedade gestora de participações socialis. Holding Enterprise.

 

SK

 

Poland

 

Spólka komandytowa. Limited liability partnership.

 

SL

 

Spain

 

Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada. Limited liability company, may be identified as a joint stock company with limited liability.

 

SLNE

 

Spain

 

Sociedad Limitada Nueva Empresa. Limited Liability New Business, a modified Limited Liability Company.

 

SNC

 

France/Switzerland

 

Société en nom collectif. General Partnership.

 

SNC

 

Italy/Switzerland

 

Società in Nome Collettivo. General Partnership.

 

SNC

 

Romania

 

Societate in Nume Colectiv. General Partnership.

 

SNC

 

Spain

 

Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo. General Partnership.

 

SOPARFI

 

Luxembourg

 

Société de Participation Financière. Holding company.

 

SP

 

France

 

Société en participation. Undisclosed partnership.

 

SpA

 

Italy

 

Società per Azioni. Limited share company, or joint-stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

 

spol s.r.o.

 

Czech Republic

 

Spolecnost S Rucenim Omezenym. Limited Liability Company.

 

SPRL

 

Belgium

 

Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée. French language equivalent to a private limited liability company.

 

SRC

 

Spain

 

Sociedad Regular Colectiva. A regular collective company, similar to a partnership.

 

Sp. z.o.o.

 

Poland

 

Spólka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia. Limited liability company, privately-held.

 

Srl

 

Chile

 

Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada. Limited Liability company.

 

Srl

 

Italy

 

Società a Responsabilità Limitata. Limited liability (joint stock) company.

 

Srl

 

Romania

 

Societate cu Raspundere Limitata. Limited-liability company, privately-held.

 

SS

 

Italy/Switzerland

 

Società Semplice. Simple Partnership.

 

SS

 

Switzerland

 

Société Simple. Simple Partnership

 

Stiftung

 

Germany/Switzerland

 

Stiftung. Foundation having some attributes of a corporation.

 

Stiftung

 

Liechtenstein

 

Stiftung. Trust.

 

td

 

Slovenia

 

Tiha druzba. Sole proprietorship.

 

TLS

 

Turkey

 

Türk Limited Şirketi. Private Limited Liability Company.

 

Verein

 

Switzerland

 

Verein. Association.

 

VOF

 

Netherlands

 

Vennootschap onder firma. General partnership.

 

v.o.s.

 

Czech Rep

 

Verejna Obchodni Spolecnost. General partnership.

 

YK

 

Japan

 

Yugen Kaisha. Limited company, similar to an American closely held corporation. Abolished in 2006 and replaced with the Godo Kaisha.