Aktiengesellschaft (AG) is the German term for a public limited company or joint-stock company. In English-speaking countries, it's most closely equivalent to a corporation or public limited company (PLC). The term translates literally to "stock company" or "share company." An Aktiengesellschaft is a business structure where ownership is divided into transferable shares, and shareholders have limited liability—meaning they are only financially responsible up to their investment amount. This corporate form is common throughout German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and is typically used for larger, more established businesses. The AG designation appears after a company's name, similar to how "Inc." or "Ltd." appears in English company names. Companies structured as AGs are subject to specific regulatory requirements, including having a supervisory board and management board, maintaining minimum capital reserves, and publishing financial statements. Many well-known international companies operating in German-speaking regions use the AG structure, such as Siemens AG and SAP AG. The AG framework provides a formal, regulated structure that signals credibility and transparency to investors and business partners.