Godo kaisha

A gōdō kaisha (合同会社), abbreviated GK, is a type of business organization in Japan modeled after the American limited liability company (LLC). It is a corporation with full limited liability for all investors, but has a simplified internal structure like that of a partnership.

Background

Godo kaisha were established by the Companies Act of 2005 as a replacement for yugen kaisha (YK), a similar business structure intended for small businesses. The new law became effective on May 1, 2006, at which point GKs could be created and YKs could no longer be incorporated. Existing YKs incorporated before May 1, 2006 continue to operate as yugen kaisha under the yugen kaisha law but have the option to convert to kabushiki kaisha (KK).

Basic structure

A GK is formed by nihongo|articles of incorporation|定款|teikan signed between its investors, called nihongo|members|社員|shain. Each member may provide a capital contribution in the form of money or property. Credit and promises to perform services are not valid consideration for an ownership interest in a GK.

Following ratification of the agreement, the GK's articles of incorporation and corporate seal must be registered with the nihongo|Legal Affairs Bureau|法務局|hōmukyoku. Once the bureau processes the registration, the company may open a bank account, seal contracts, and engage in other activities as a legal entity.

The members may, either in the agreement or pursuant to the agreement, choose a nihongo|manager|執行社員|shikkō shain from among their ranks. This manager can be either an individual or a corporation; however, corporate managers must appoint a nihongo|functional manager|業務執行社員|gyōmu shikkō shain to perform the actual management duties.

The legal duties of GK managers are very similar to the legal duties of KK directors. GK members may sue managers in the same way that KK shareholders may sue directors on the company's behalf.

A GK may be converted to a KK with the unanimous consent of all of its members.

Distinguishing characteristics

The following distinguish godo kaisha from kabushiki kaisha:

* All members must consent to amendment of the articles of incorporation, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise. (In a KK, only a supermajority of shareholders is required.)
* All members must consent to any transfer of ownership, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise. (In a KK, the transfer of shares is unlimited by default.)
* All members are representatives of the company by default, unless managers have been appointed. (In a KK, only the representative directors represent the company.)
* Major business decisions (such as large asset sales or winding up of the company) may be made informally. (In a KK, resolutions of shareholder and board meetings are often required for such decisions).
* Members may invest any type of asset in exchange for their interest. (In a KK, non-cash contributions require an appraisal supervised by a court.)
* Because KKs have traditionally required a larger capital and procedural investment, GKs do not have the same level of prestige.

Taxation

GKs are taxed as corporations under Japanese law: the company's profits are taxed at corporate tax rates, and dividends are taxed at individual tax rates.

In late 2005, following the passage of the Companies Act, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry pressed the Ministry of Finance to treat GKs as "pass-through entities" in which only company profits would be taxed. However, the Ministry of Finance refused to allow such treatment. As a result, many new companies are expected to use the more prestigious KK business form rather than the GK business form, especially given the looser regulation of KKs under the new law. The only limited liability business which receives pass-through tax treatment in Japan is the limited liability partnership.

Under United States tax law, godo kaisha are not classified as corporations, and are therefore subject to "check the box" regulations: a single-member GK may be treated as an extension of its member and a multi-member GK may follow the tax rules for partnerships.

External links

* [http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/ Japan External Trade Organization, "Setting Up a Business in Japan"]
* [http://www.ron.gr.jp/law/law/kaisha3.htm Company Law provisions regarding godo kaisha] (Japanese)
* [http://itpro.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/SMBIT/20051213/226161/ New Company Law and Godo Kaisha] (Japanese)