“两合结构”商事组织的源与流

The Origin and Branches of the Dual-structure Commercial Organization

"两合结构"的萌芽,可以追溯至欧洲中世纪的commenda契约。法国最先确立了"两合结构"的商事组织,在立法上规定了两合公司和股份两合公司。"两合结构"商事组织形式不仅在大陆法系国家诸如德国、日本等延续下来,而且美国、英国等也抛开原来的普通法传统而予以移植,当然表现为不同的过程和结果。"两合结构"商事组织具有旺盛生命力的原因是其中的有限责任制度,而有限责任的基础是有限责任股东或有限合伙人的消极地位。

The dual-structure commercial organization can be traced back to European medieval cominenda contract. France was the first country in the world which established the dual-structure commercial organization and legislated for societe en commendite and societe en commendite par actions. The kind of commercial organization was inherited in civil law countries such as Germany, Japan, etc. and also in common law countries such as USA, UK, etc. in different ways. Due to its limited liability system, the dual-structure commercial organization is bursting with vitality, and the system is based on the passive status of its limited liability shareholders or partners.