In May 2019, the Government Commission had already adopted a new version of the German Corporate Governance Codex (hereinafter “Codex 2019”). However, the Codex 2019 has not yet entered into force because the Government Commission initially wanted to wait for the ARUG II (Act Implementing the Second Shareholders’ Rights Directive [Gesetz zur Umsetzung der zweiten Aktionärsrechterichtlinie]) to enter into force. The Federal Parliament [Bundestag] and the Federal Council [Bundesrat] have now passed the ARUG II on 14th/19th November 2019. The act is expected to enter into force in January 2020, therefore the Codex 2019 is expected to enter into force soon. The set of rules with recommendations for the management of stock exchange-listed German companies has been fundamentally revised and contains a completely new structure and system. An overview of the most important innovations and changes.
https://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.png00Ester Hahnhttps://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.pngEster Hahn2019-12-19 09:30:002019-12-19 12:25:56GERMAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODEX 2019 – AN OVERVIEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES
The tax recognition of losses from shareholder loans has significantly changed over the past few years. While the Federal Court of Finance [Bundesfinanzhof – BFH] initially assumed that such losses could be partially deducted as subsequent acquisition costs if certain conditions were met, it allowed full deduction from capital income in 2017 with two judgments. The legislator now wants to change this. However, it is good for the taxpayer that the BFH has given consent to some legal structurings surrounding shareholder loans.
Our last newsletter (edition 2019|Q3) had already addressed two Supreme Court decisions concerning the employment of an externally hired managing director of a limited liability company [Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – GmbH]. This article supplements the thematic complex, because in its ruling of 20 August 2019 (case no. II ZR 121/16), the Federal Court of Justice [Bundesgerichtshof – BGH] decided what consequences would arise if an employment contract with a managing director of a GmbH was not effectively concluded.
https://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.png00Ester Hahnhttps://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.pngEster Hahn2019-12-19 09:10:002019-12-19 12:40:41BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DEFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP APPLICABLE TO AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OF A MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A GMBH
Securing the preservation of the company, maintaining family peace and protecting the economic hedging of all family members – in order to achieve these goals, an entrepreneur should deal with succession plans at an early stage and should not rely on the statutory provisions on succession. When drafting the articles of association and then also when drafting the testamentary disposition, there are various structuring possibilities, some of which are explained below.
https://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.png00Ester Hahnhttps://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.pngEster Hahn2019-09-30 10:00:592019-09-30 16:36:15USEFUL REGULATIONS IN AN ENTREPRENEUR’S LAST WILL
Shares in corporations, except shares in non-member States, are granted tax concessions for inheritance and gift tax purposes if the testator or the donor directly held more than 25 % of the nominal capital of a company. The threshold of 25 % also applies to the question of whether so-called administrative assets are involved. Pool agreements make it possible to achieve the required quota. The German Federal Fiscal Court [BFH] clarified what needs to be considered in this respect.
https://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.png00Ester Hahnhttps://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.pngEster Hahn2019-09-30 09:50:582019-09-30 10:23:17POOL AGREEMENTS – HOW TO OVERCOME THE INHERITANCE TAX HURDLE OF 25 %!
On 20 March 2019, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection submitted a draft bill on ARUG II, the legislative act implementing the Second EU Shareholders’ Rights Directive. Compared to the initial draft bill published last autumn, some considerable changes have been incorporated.
https://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.png00Ester Hahnhttps://honert.de/wp-content/uploads/honert_logo_270px.pngEster Hahn2019-09-30 09:40:042019-09-30 15:43:47FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADOPTS DRAFT BILL ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SECOND EU SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS DIRECTIVE (ARUG II)
GERMAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODEX 2019 – AN OVERVIEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES
/in 2019 Q4/by Ester HahnIn May 2019, the Government Commission had already adopted a new version of the German Corporate Governance Codex (hereinafter “Codex 2019”). However, the Codex 2019 has not yet entered into force because the Government Commission initially wanted to wait for the ARUG II (Act Implementing the Second Shareholders’ Rights Directive [Gesetz zur Umsetzung der zweiten Aktionärsrechterichtlinie]) to enter into force. The Federal Parliament [Bundestag] and the Federal Council [Bundesrat] have now passed the ARUG II on 14th/19th November 2019. The act is expected to enter into force in January 2020, therefore the Codex 2019 is expected to enter into force soon. The set of rules with recommendations for the management of stock exchange-listed German companies has been fundamentally revised and contains a completely new structure and system. An overview of the most important innovations and changes.
LOSS OF SHAREHOLDER LOANS – TAX-RELEVANT OR NOT?
/in 2019 Q4, 2019 Q4/by Ester HahnThe tax recognition of losses from shareholder loans has significantly changed over the past few years. While the Federal Court of Finance [Bundesfinanzhof – BFH] initially assumed that such losses could be partially deducted as subsequent acquisition costs if certain conditions were met, it allowed full deduction from capital income in 2017 with two judgments. The legislator now wants to change this. However, it is good for the taxpayer that the BFH has given consent to some legal structurings surrounding shareholder loans.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DEFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP APPLICABLE TO AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OF A MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A GMBH
/in 2019 Q4, 2019 Q4/by Ester HahnOur last newsletter (edition 2019|Q3) had already addressed two Supreme Court decisions concerning the employment of an externally hired managing director of a limited liability company [Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – GmbH]. This article supplements the thematic complex, because in its ruling of 20 August 2019 (case no. II ZR 121/16), the Federal Court of Justice [Bundesgerichtshof – BGH] decided what consequences would arise if an employment contract with a managing director of a GmbH was not effectively concluded.
USEFUL REGULATIONS IN AN ENTREPRENEUR’S LAST WILL
/in 2019 Q3/by Ester HahnSecuring the preservation of the company, maintaining family peace and protecting the economic hedging of all family members – in order to achieve these goals, an entrepreneur should deal with succession plans at an early stage and should not rely on the statutory provisions on succession. When drafting the articles of association and then also when drafting the testamentary disposition, there are various structuring possibilities, some of which are explained below.
POOL AGREEMENTS – HOW TO OVERCOME THE INHERITANCE TAX HURDLE OF 25 %!
/in 2019 Q3/by Ester HahnShares in corporations, except shares in non-member States, are granted tax concessions for inheritance and gift tax purposes if the testator or the donor directly held more than 25 % of the nominal capital of a company. The threshold of 25 % also applies to the question of whether so-called administrative assets are involved. Pool agreements make it possible to achieve the required quota. The German Federal Fiscal Court [BFH] clarified what needs to be considered in this respect.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ADOPTS DRAFT BILL ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SECOND EU SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS DIRECTIVE (ARUG II)
/in 2019 Q3/by Ester HahnOn 20 March 2019, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection submitted a draft bill on ARUG II, the legislative act implementing the Second EU Shareholders’ Rights Directive. Compared to the initial draft bill published last autumn, some considerable changes have been incorporated.