{"id":3137,"date":"2017-12-18T16:15:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T14:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honert.de\/?p=3137\/"},"modified":"2018-04-05T15:16:11","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T13:16:11","slug":"resignation-of-the-managing-director-of-a-one-person-limited-liability-company-ein-mann-gmbh-risk-of-invalidity-due-to-abuse-of-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/resignation-of-the-managing-director-of-a-one-person-limited-liability-company-ein-mann-gmbh-risk-of-invalidity-due-to-abuse-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"RESIGNATION OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A \u201cONE PERSON LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY\u201d (\u201cEIN-MANN-GMBH\u201d): RISK OF INVALIDITY DUE TO ABUSE OF LAW"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-6d8e29337fdd87ef7327b46eb1b48c39\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-6d8e29337fdd87ef7327b46eb1b48c39{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/honert.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/3629.jpg);\nbackground-position:0% 0%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-6d8e29337fdd87ef7327b46eb1b48c39 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  hide_on_print avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-40 av-height-40  container_wrap sidebar_right'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='40' data-av_min_height_opt='40'><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3137'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3137'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-9ddf9166c9480916d22c544ac07f639b\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-9ddf9166c9480916d22c544ac07f639b{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-9ddf9166c9480916d22c544ac07f639b .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-9ddf9166c9480916d22c544ac07f639b .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-9ddf9166c9480916d22c544ac07f639b av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-3  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'>18. December 2017\n<\/div><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >RESIGNATION OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A <span class='special_amp'>\u201c<\/span>ONE PERSON LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY<span class='special_amp'>\u201d<\/span> (<span class='special_amp'>\u201c<\/span>EIN-MANN-GMBH<span class='special_amp'>\u201d<\/span>): RISK OF INVALIDITY DUE TO ABUSE OF LAW<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_two_third  el_before_av_two_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Basically, the managing director of a limited liability company can quit his position as managing director at any time and without notice period by simple notification. However, such resignation from his position is subject to certain restrictions. In particular, if the resigning managing director is the sole shareholder and managing director of the limited liability company and this limited liability company is facing a difficult economic situation, one has to tread carefully. In such a case there is a risk that a resignation from the managing position can be considered as an abuse of law and therefore will be treated as void, as recently decided by the Higher Regional Court of Bamberg (OLG Bamberg).<\/strong><!--more--><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_two_third-9497bbf8bff73ea4c6992cc17fa9ec36 av_two_third  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_two_third  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>I. Resignation of the managing director of a limited liability company (<em>GmbH<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>The managing director of a limited liability company may have many reasons to resign from his position. But what must be considered for such resignation from the managing director position to be legally effective and valid?<br \/>\nUnlike the revocation of an appointment as managing director, the resignation of a managing director of a limited liability company is not provided for in statutory law. There are some insecurities concerning some of the requirements of such a resignation. Regarding the consequences of a resignation, one must also make a distinction between the admissibility of the resignation towards the limited liability company and the (external) legal effectiveness of such resignation. This article addresses the (external) legal effectiveness only and in which circumstances such (external) legal effectiveness may be assumed.<br \/>\nIt is agreed that the resignation of the managing director is generally possible at any given time. Furthermore, the resignation does not have to be provided in any particular form and may even be given verbally. According to consistent case-law by the Supreme Federal Court (<em>BGH<\/em>), there even does not have to exist a good cause for the immediate resignation and the resignation does not have to be based upon such a good cause.<\/p>\n<h2>II. Resignation of the sole managing director: Ineffectiveness due to abuse of law?<\/h2>\n<p>TThe portrayed principle of the legally effective resignation at any time, however, is not absolute. A common limitation arises especially for a \u201cone person limited liability company \u201c; here, according to case law of the higher regional courts, a resignation may be considered as legally ineffective and void when the resignation may be seen as an abuse of law.<br \/>\nA resignation may in particular be seen as an abuse of law if the resigning person<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>is the sole managing director of the limited liability company,<\/li>\n<li>is also the sole shareholder of the limited liability company, and<\/li>\n<li>does not appoint a new managing director simultaneously to his resignation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Generally, the resigning managing director is not responsible for appointing a successor as the responsibility for this lies with the general meeting of the shareholders. However, where the sole managing director is the sole shareholder, the situation is slightly different, as the limited liability company will become actively and passively incapacitated until a new managing director is appointed; this could result in an incalculable lack of clarity in view of the legal representation of the limited liability company.<br \/>\nAlthough the passive representation of a leaderless limited liability company has been provided for with the introduction of the Act to Modernize the law on limited liability companies and anti-abuse provisions (<em>MoMiG<\/em>) through sec. 35 para 1 sentence 2 Limited Liability Companies Act (<em>GmbHG<\/em>), the higher court case law has so far maintained the portrayed principles.<br \/>\nOpening an insolvency proceeding regarding the assets of the limited liability company does not constitute a specific situation and does not exceptionally authorize the resignation of the sole shareholder and managing director without naming a successor. An insolvency proceeding rather represents a particularly difficult economic situation for a limited liability company and thus it is expected from the shareholder and managing director that he does not shirk his responsibility. However, if he does in fact avoid his responsibility, this can be viewed as an improper resignation or laying down responsibility at an inopportune moment which can result in an invalidity of his resignation.<\/p>\n<h2>III. No abuse of law with a third-party managing director; decision of the Higher Regional Court of Bamberg<\/h2>\n<p>Once again, the Higher Regional Court of Bamberg [decision dated 17.07.2017 \u2013 5 W 51\/17, ZIP 2017, 1467, (1467)] recently explicitly pointed out that it considers the resignation of a sole managing director during an economically difficult situation as an abuse of law and thus as legally void but only if the sole managing director is also the sole shareholder of the limited liability company; however, this does not apply if the resigning managing director is a third-party managing director (not being the sole shareholder).<br \/>\nIn this particular case decided by the Higher Regional Court, a sole managing director of a limited liability company who did not hold a direct or indirect equity interest in the company resigned after the limited liability company had filed for insolvency. He was not able to name a successor for his position as managing director. The Higher Regional Court generally outlined how the voluntarily assumed responsibility for the limited liability company and additional obligations particularly during difficult economic situations are tied to the position as managing director, as well as that in such cases, where the managing director and the decision-making body of the limited liability company are the same person, higher demands are to be laid down.<br \/>\nUnlike the previous instance, however, the Higher Regional Court did not consider it an abuse of law, as it was a third-party manager resigning. If the sole managing director is not a shareholder of the limited liability company, the shareholders are presented with the option of appointing a new managing director. Due to this, the Higher Regional Court does not consider it a necessity to compare cases of the sole managing director and shareholder of a \u201cone person limited liability company\u201c with cases where third-party managing directors are concerned, and to which the same principles do not apply.<\/p>\n<h2>IV. Conclusions for practical application<\/h2>\n<p>While the sole manager and shareholder of a \u201cone person limited liability company\u201c must appoint a successor when resigning from his position, this is not required from a third-party managing director. The risk of an invalidity of the resignation, however, must be examined on a case-by-case basis, as an abuse of law cannot be ruled out, it is always depending on the economic situation. It must be taken into account that the (third-party) managing director can be held liable for compensation towards the limited liability company even though the resignation is legally valid vis-\u00e0-vis third parties.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_third-9deae2ff43582e0bccfb02cb654e15bd\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_third-9deae2ff43582e0bccfb02cb654e15bd{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:7px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_third-9deae2ff43582e0bccfb02cb654e15bd av_one_third  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  sy-only-desktop hide_on_print flex_column_div  column-top-margin'     ><p><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-9  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><section id=\"categories-3\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_categories\"><h3 class=\"widgettitle\">Newsletter 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\">\n\n\t\t<a class=\"dkpdf-button\" href=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3137?pdf=3137\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"dkpdf-button-icon\"><i class=\"fa fa-file-pdf-o\"><\/i><\/span> Download (PDF)<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_2'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3137'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Basically, the managing director of a limited liability company can quit his position as managing director at any time and without notice period by simple notification. However, such resignation from his position is subject to certain restrictions. In particular, if the resigning managing director is the sole shareholder and managing director of the limited liability [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2017-q4-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3137"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3311,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3137\/revisions\/3311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/honert.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}