Société Anonyme (S.A.)

Bonjour, bienvenue dans la société anonyme!

Société Anonyme (S.A.) is French (dir). It’s the French way of saying a public limited company (PLC). What’s a PLC? It’s a limited liability company (LLC) that has shares up for grabs for the public, and with limited liability.

So...a publicly traded or unincorporated company, if you’re American. If you’re British, a public limited company. Oh, you’re German? Then it’s an Aktiengesellschaft.

A société Anonyme, limited liability, public limited co., or Aktiengesellschaft means the company is legally a person, but with limited liability. Which means the company can do all the things people do...enter contracts, buy property, or buy ice cream...well, maybe not the ice cream. They can also be held liable for crimes...but the “limited liability” does separate the person’s personal liability from the company’s actions.

If you were a one-man show running your own LLC and your company got in trouble, you’ll be happy you’re not a sole proprietor. Your personal belongings are safe from your company’s naughty doings. Naughty in the British sense, not American. Au revoir.