Closed joint-stock company
A joint-stock company is a business entity in which shares of the company's stock can be bought and sold by shareholders. Each shareholder owns company stock in proportion, evidenced by their shares (certificates of ownership). Shareholders are able to transfer their shares to others without any effects on the continued existence of the company. In modern-day corporate law, the existence of a joint-stock company is often synonymous with incorporation (possession of legal personality separate from shareholders) and limited liability (shareholders are liable for the company's debts only to the value of the money they have invested in the company). Therefore, joint-stock companies are commonly known as corporations or limited companies. A joint-stock company is an artificial person; it has a legal existence separate from the persons composing it. It can sue and can be sued in its own name. It is created by law, established for commercial purposes, and comprises a large number of members. The shares of each member can be purchased, sold, and transferred without the consent of other members. Its capital is divided into transferable shares, suitable for large undertakings .
A joint-stock company is a business owned by its investors, with each investor owning a share of the company based on the amount that they've invested. It is a predecessor to the modern-day corporation and other types of registered companies in the U.S.
Joint-stock companies were created to finance endeavors that were too expensive for an individual or even a government to fund. The owners of a joint-stock company expected to share in its profits [Investopedia].
What is a joint-stock Company? Investopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/jointstockcompany.asp