Aktiebolag

Aktiebolag is the Swedish term for a corporation, i.e. a company that has stocks. When used in company names it is abbreviated AB in Sweden and Ab in Finland.

The Finnish language equivalent is osakeyhtiö, or Oy. The German and Norwegian equivalents would be Aktiengesellschaft (AG) and Aksjeselskap (AS), respectively, which is literally a translation of the Swedish term (or vice versa); the British would be Limited company (Ltd.); the Americans call it corporation (Inc.).

Companies that are on the Swedish stock markets provide public stock, and their legal name is AB (publ) in Sweden (although the term "publ." is never used in common trading). This to differentiate them from companies that do not offer public stock. Even small companies, such as one-man companies, can be structured as stock companies. In Finland, is a company listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

The abbreviation has been so common that it is commonly seen within company names. SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan AB) is one well known example. Others are Abloy (AB Lås OY) and Peab etc.