The form originated in the United Kingdom, and now exists under the company law of the Australia, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Gambia, and Ireland, and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia.
In the UK, a company limited by guarantee can distribute its profits to its members, if allowed by its articles of association.
Examples elsewhere include Cricket Australia and the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong.
[6] In the UK, some quasi-governmental organisations are incorporated as companies limited by guarantee, a government department or minister having ultimate control.
The Big Four accountancy firms (Deloitte,[8] Ernst & Young,[9] KPMG,[10] and PriceWaterhouseCoopers[11]) are each organized using this structure.