The Register of Company Accounts is the most important data
source for persons wishing to obtain information on the financial
state of affairs for Norwegian business and industry. Pursuant
to the Act relating to Company Accounts, all limited companies
and public limited companies, savings banks, mutual insurance
companies and petroleum enterprises are obliged to submit
their annual accounts, including the auditor's report, to
the Register of Company Accounts.
Annual accounts must be submitted to the Register of Company
Accounts within one month after being adopted by the annual
general meeting, at the latest by 1 August. If the annual
accounts are submitted too late, the company will have to
pay a default fine. If the annual accounts have not been submitted
within six months after the deadline has expired, the Bankruptcy
Court may enforce dissolution of the company.
The Act relating to Company Accounts determines the requirements
for the content of the annual accounts and report. Checking
the content is the responsibility of the board. The Register
of Company Accounts shall only check that all the necessary
documentation has been attached, and that the annual accounts
have been adopted by the company's annual general meeting.
The Register of Company Accounts stores the annual accounts
and reports for ten years and makes them available beyond
this period. Accounts information is a matter of public interest
and must be in the public domain. Annual accounts and reports
may be ordered from the Brønnøysund Register
Centre or may be downloaded using the automatic self-service
Brønnøysund telefax.
The most active users of the Register of Company Accounts
are business journalists. The register is also an important
aid for financial institutions and others wishing to obtain
information about a potential contract partner. The Register
of Company Accounts provides essential source material for
business and industry policy analyses undertaken by researchers
and students.
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