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. A corporation is a legal entity (distinct from a natural person) that often has similar rights in law to those of a Civil law systems may refer to corporations as moral persons; they may also go by the name AS (anonymous society) or something similar, depending on language (see below). ... See stock (disambiguation) for other meanings of the term stock A stock, also referred to as a share, is commonly a share of ownership in a corporation. ...

The German equivalent would be Aktiengesellschaft (AG), 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.). The German term Aktiengesellschaft (abbreviated AG) means a corporation which is limited by shares, , owned by shareholders. ... The initials plc after a UK or Irish company name indicate that it is a public limited company, a type of limited company whose shares may be offered for sale to the public. ... A corporation is a legal entity (distinct from a natural person) that often has similar rights in law to those of a Civil law systems may refer to corporations as moral persons; they may also go by the name AS (anonymous society) or something similar, depending on language (see below). ...

Companies that are on the Swedish and Finnish stock markets provide public stock, and their legal name is AB (publ) in Sweden (although the term "publ." is never used in common trading) and Apb in Finland. This to differate them with the companies that do not provide public stock. Even small companies, such as one-man companies, can namely be stock companies. The stock market is the market for the trading of company stock, both those securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately. ...

The abbreviation has been so common that it is commonly seen within company names. SAAB is one well known example. Other are Framfab, Abloy etc. SAAB is an aircraft and automobile concern based in Sweden, founded 1937 in Linköping. ...