Company Act in Norway

What is the role of the Company Act in Norway?

The main regulations from the registers of Brønnøysund Register Centre, The Register of Business Enterprises and The Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities are stipulated under the Norwegian Companies Act. The Business Enterprise Registration Act is based on the updated Act of 15 June 2001, no. 59 and Act of 19 December 2003, no. 120.

The Register of Business Enterprise has a global character and all the businesses set up in Norway have to register with this institution. The types of entities that must be enrolled with this institution are presented below and our team of consultants in company formation in Norway can assist on the procedures available for each business form: 

• • businesses set up as limited liability companies and public limited liability companies; 
• • partnerships, foundations with commercial profile, associations and organizations undertaking commercial activities;
• • sole proprietorships with more than five employees and which sell purchased goods;
• • governmental corporations, health companies, municipal and county management companies and foreign enterprises. 

Required information for company registration in Norway

The Company Act in Norway also indicates what information must be submitted during the registration. If the information is not clear or it is inaccurate, then the company will not be registered. The entity has the possibility to resubmit the valid documents within a specific time frame. After the correct information is submitted, the registration takes place right away and can be completed via Internet on Brønnøysund Register Centre's website.

The information is available for public view except for the national identity numbers. The Trade and Industry Ministry must take the decision on the availability of the information and the fees that have to be paid for it. Our team of specialists in company registration in Norway can assist with advice regarding this issue.

The Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities regulations are applied to the following entities that must register: sole proprietorship (with commercial activity and more than five employees), legal entities, the state, local authorities, county management. Our company registration experts in Norway are ready to assist you step by step during the company formation procedure.

A number of details must be submitted in order to receive an organization number: the company name, the address, the type of company, the purpose, the time of incorporation and a contact person. If available, the following details must also be provided: unlimited liability partner’s names, the name of the managers, the name of the auditors and accountants, their respective signatures, the name and empowerment of the deputy, the number of workers, the name of the Norwegian representative of the branch, the contribution of the limited liability shareholders, information regarding the branches or the parent company.

The entities cannot be registered in other registers before the organization number is not issued. Also, the information from the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities may be used by other registers in order to fulfill its duties. The information, except for the national identity number and the D-number is public.

What are the procedures for opening a limited liability company in Norway?

The public limited liability companies are regulated by the Norwegian Public Limited Liability Companies Act, based on the Companies Act of 1976 and the Securities Trading Act of 1997. A public limited liability is a company with limited liability of the shareholders on the company’s debts, according to the law. It must have a minimum share capital of minimum NOK 30,000.

Another request is to register all the public limited liability companies at The Register of Business Enterprises. The registration must include the articles of association and the memorandum of association and must occur within 3 months after the signing of the constitutive documents. The Norwegian Companies Act also regulates the merger and liquidation procedures of these types of companies.

Legislation for Norwegian private/public limited liability companies

If you are searching for a professional team of company formation agents in Norway who will help you register a company in the country, feel free to contact us. Furthermore, for company formation services in other countries, please contact our partners from Japan, Hong-Kong or Singapore.