Introducing Baltic Stewards

Steward ownership has a long history in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Each of those countries has organisations that explain it, publish templates, connect companies with advisers and investors, and talk to policymakers. Until now, the Baltics had none.

Baltic Stewards is an Estonian foundation (sihtasutus) set up to fill that gap. We want every founder, owner, investor, adviser and policymaker in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to be able to understand steward ownership and use it — in their own language, under their own law.

What we will do first

1. Publish the reference guides. Starting with what steward ownership is and how it works under Estonian law and tax. Every legal page will carry the date and the name of its last legal review.
2. Run a free monthly info call for anyone curious. Get the invitations
3. Draft Estonian model clauses with practising lawyers, and publish them openly.
4. Start a register of Baltic steward-owned companies — with sources, and honestly empty until we can verify the first ones.
5. Help the first companies through the transition, especially owners planning their succession.

What we don’t know yet

We are new, and some questions don’t have settled answers in Estonia yet: the best way to construct a golden share in an OÜ, how the tax authority treats certain transition steps, and what the Estonian word for steward ownership should be. We will say so where that is the case, and publish what we learn.

How you can help

If you own a company that already works this way, tell us. If you are a lawyer, notary or tax adviser, help us write the Estonian standard. And if you are simply curious, join an info call.