Centros Ltd v Erhvervs- og Selskabsstyrelsen (1999) C-212/97 is a European company law case, concerning the right of freedom of establishment.
The Danish authority, Erhvervs- og Selskabsstyrelsen, refused on the basis that the company was attempting to circumvent the Danish requirement for companies to pay up a minimum of share capital.
The Danish registry justified its enforcement of the rule as a way to protect creditors and prevent fraudulent insolvency.
Centros Ltd argued that it had the right to be recognised in Denmark under the provisions of freedom of establishment in the EC Treaty, articles 52, 56 and 58.
The European Court of Justice held that the Danish authorities' refusal to recognise the company was contrary to articles 52, 56 and 58, and that its rules on minimum capital were not justified by the aim of protecting creditors by anticipating the risks of fraudulent bankruptcy due to the insolvency of companies having inadequate initial capitalisation.