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Transformation Act
(Umwandlungsgesetz – UmwG)

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Übersetzung und laufende Aktualisierung durch Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen von Schöning

Translation provided and regularly updated by Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen von Schöning

Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 17 des Gesetzes vom 23. Oktober 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 323)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/umwg_1995/BJNR321010994.html.

Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 17 of the Act of 23 October 2024 (Federal Law Gazette 2024 I no. 323)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/umwg_1995/BJNR321010994.html.

Zur Nutzung dieser Übersetzung lesen Sie bitte den Hinweis unter "Translations".

For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations".

           
Book 1
Eligibility for transformation
Section 1Types of transformation; statutory restrictions
Book 2
Merger
Part 1
General provisions
Division 1
Eligibility for a merger
Section 2Types of mergers
Section 3Legal entities eligible for merger
Division 2
Merger by absorption
Section 4Merger agreement
Section 5Substance of the merger agreement
Section 6Form of the merger agreement
Section 7Termination of the merger agreement
Section 8Merger report
Section 9Audit of the merger
Section 10Appointment of the merger auditors
Section 11Position and responsibilities of the merger auditors
Section 12Audit report
Section 13Resolutions adopted as to the merger agreement
Section 14Time limit for bringing actions against the merger resolution; actions that are not an available remedy against the merger resolution
Section 15Improvement of the exchange ratio
Section 16Application for entry of the merger in the register
Section 17Annexes to the application for entry in the register
Section 18Firm name or name of the acquiring legal entity
Section 19Entry in the register of the merger and notice by publication of same
Section 20Effects of the entry in the register
Section 21Effect on contracts imposing reciprocal obligations
Section 22Protection of creditors
Section 23Protection of holders of special privileges
Section 24Valuation procedures used by the acquiring legal entity
Section 25Obligation of the administrative bodies of the legal entities being acquired to provide compensation for damages
Section 26Assertion of the claim to compensation of damages
Section 27Obligation of the administrative bodies of the acquiring legal entity to provide compensation of damages
Section 28Ineffectiveness of the merger resolution adopted by a legal entity being acquired
Section 29Offer of compensation in the merger agreement
Section 30Substance of the claim to cash settlement and review of the cash settlement
Section 31Acceptance of the offer
Section 32Actions that are not an available remedy against the merger resolution
Section 33Disposal in other ways
Section 34Court review of the compensation
Section 35Designation of unknown stockholders; suspension of voting right
Section 35aReconciliation of interests; transfer of a business
Division 3
Merger by new formation
Section 36Applicable provisions
Section 37Substance of the merger agreement
Section 38Application for entry in the register of the merger and of the new legal entity
Part 2
Special provisions
Division 1
Merger involving partnerships
Subdivision 1
Merger involving civil law partnerships
Section 39Ineligibility for merger
Section 39aMerger report
Section 39bInformation provided to the shareholders
Section 39cResolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 39dObjection against the resolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 39eAudit of the merger
Section 39fLimitation in time of the liability of general partners
Subdivision 2
Merger involving commercial partnerships
Section 40Substance of the merger agreement
Section 41Objection against the resolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 42Provisions to be applied accordingly
Section 43(repealed)
Section 44(repealed)
Section 45(repealed)
Subdivision 3
Merger involving professional partnerships
Section 45aEligibility for a merger
Section 45bSubstance of the merger agreement
Section 45cMerger report and information provided to the partners
Section 45dResolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 45eApplicable provisions
Division 2
Merger involving limited liability companies
Subdivision 1
Merger by absorption
Section 46Substance of the merger agreement
Section 47Information provided to the shareholders
Section 48Audit of the merger
Section 49Preparations for the meeting of shareholders
Section 50Resolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 51Requirements of consent in special circumstances
Section 52Application for entry in the register of the merger
Section 53Entry in the register in the event of an increase of the nominal capital
Section 54Merger without an increase of capital
Section 55Merger with an increase of capital
Subdivision 2
Merger by new formation
Section 56Applicable provisions
Section 57Substance of the articles of association
Section 58Report on company formation on the basis of contributions in kind
Section 59Merger resolutions
Division 3
Merger involving stock corporations
Subdivision 1
Merger by absorption
Section 60Audit of the merger; appointment of the merger auditors
Section 61Publication of the merger agreement
Section 62Group mergers
Section 63Preparations for the general meeting
Section 64Conduct of the general meeting
Section 65Resolution by the general meeting
Section 66Entry in the register in the event of an increase of the capital stock
Section 67Application of the rules concerning post-formation agreements
Section 68Merger without an increase of capital
Section 69Merger with capital increase
Section 70Assertion of a claim to compensation of damages
Section 71Appointment of a trustee
Section 72Exchange of stock
Section 72aAllotment of additional shares of stock
Section 72bIncrease of the capital for purposes of allotting additional shares of stock
Subdivision 2
Merger by new formation
Section 73Applicable provisions
Section 74Substance of the by-laws
Section 75Formation report and audit of the formation
Section 76Merger resolutions
Section 77(repealed)
Division 4
Merger involving public partly limited partnerships
Section 78Applicable provisions
Division 5
Merger involving registered cooperative societies
Subdivision 1
Merger by absorption
Section 79Eligibility for a merger
Section 80Substance of the merger agreement in the case of absorption by a cooperative society
Section 81Expert report of the confederation responsible for auditing cooperative societies
Section 82Preparations for the general assembly
Section 83Conduct of the general assembly
Section 84Resolution adopted by the general assembly
Section 85Improvement of the exchange ratio
Section 86Annexes to the application for entry in the register
Section 87Exchange of shares
Section 88Amounts of the members’ capital contributions where share capital companies or associations having legal capacity are absorbed
Section 89Entry in the list of members of the cooperative society’s members; notification
Section 90Rejection of shares or memberships by individual holders of shares
Section 91Formal requirements and deadlines applying to the rejection
Section 92Entry of the rejection in the list of members
Section 93Distribution of assets
Section 94Disbursement of the credit balance resulting from the distribution of assets
Section 95Continuance of the obligation to provide additional funding
Subdivision 2
Merger by new formation
Section 96Applicable provisions
Section 97Obligations of the representative bodies of the legal entity being acquired
Section 98Merger resolutions
Division 6
Merger involving associations having legal capacity
Section 99Eligibility for a merger
Section 100Audit of the merger
Section 101Preparations for the meeting of members
Section 102Conduct of the meeting of members
Section 103Resolution adopted by the meeting of members
Section 104Notice by publication of the merger
Section 104aIneligibility for cash settlement in certain cases
Division 7
Merger of confederations responsible for auditing cooperative societies
Section 105Eligibility for a merger
Section 106Preparations for the meeting of members, conduct of same, and adoption of resolutions by same
Section 107Obligations of the management boards
Section 108Resignation by members of the confederation being acquired
Division 8
Merger of mutual insurance companies
Subdivision 1
Eligibility for a merger
Section 109Legal entities eligible for merger
Subdivision 2
Merger by absorption
Section 110Substance of the merger agreement
Section 111Notice by publication of the merger agreement
Section 112Preparations for the assembly of the most senior representative committee, conduct of same, and adoption of resolutions by same
Section 113No court review
Subdivision 3
Merger by new formation
Section 114Applicable provisions
Section 115Appointment of the representative bodies of the mutual insurance companies
Section 116Resolutions adopted by the most senior representative committees
Section 117Inception of the new mutual insurance company; notice by publication
Subdivision 4
Merger of smaller mutual insurance companies
Section 118Applicable provisions
Section 119Notice by publication of the merger
Division 9
Merger of share capital companies with the assets of a sole shareholder
Section 120Eligibility for a merger
Section 121Applicable provisions
Section 122Entry in the Commercial Register
Book 3
Division
Part 1
General provisions
Division 1
Eligibility for division
Section 123Types of divisions
Section 124Legal entities eligible for division
Section 125Applicable provisions
Division 2
Division for purposes of absorption
Section 126Substance of the division and takeover agreement
Section 127Division report
Section 128Consent to the division in special circumstances
Section 129Application for entry in the register of the division
Section 130Entry in the register of the division
Section 131Effects of the entry in the register
Section 132Laws protecting against dismissal
Section 132aRetention of co-determination rights
Section 133Protection of creditors and of holders of special rights
Section 134Protection of creditors in special cases
Division 3
Division for purposes of new formation
Section 135Applicable provisions
Section 136Draft terms of the division
Section 137Application for entry in the register and entry in same of the new legal entities and of the division
Part 2
Special provisions
Division 1
Division involving limited liability companies
Section 138Report on company formation on the basis of contributions in kind
Section 139Reduction of the nominal capital
Section 140Application for entry in the register of the partial division or the division by separation
Division 2
Division involving stock corporations and public partly limited partnerships
Section 141Ineligibility for a division
Section 142Division with capital increase; division report
Section 142aObligations under section 72a
Section 143Division for purposes of new formation while maintaining the ratio of ownership interests
Section 144Formation report and audit of the formation
Section 145Reduction of the capital stock
Section 146Application for entry in the register of the partial division or the division by separation
Division 3
Division involving registered cooperative societies
Section 147Eligibility for a division
Section 148Application for entry in the register of the partial division or the division by separation
Division 4
Division involving associations having legal personality
Section 149Eligibility for a division
Division 5
Division with the involvement of confederations responsible for auditing cooperative societies
Section 150Eligibility for a division
Division 6
Division involving mutual insurance companies
Section 151Eligibility for a division
Division 7
Division by separation out of the assets of a sole trader
Subdivision 1
Eligibility for a division by separation
Section 152Acquiring legal entities or new legal entities
Subdivision 2
Division by separation for purposes of absorption
Section 153Division report by separation
Section 154Entry in the register of the division by separation
Section 155Effects of the division by separation
Section 156Liability of the sole trader
Section 157Limitation in time of the liability for transferred liabilities
Subdivision 3
Division by separation for purposes of new formation
Section 158Applicable provisions
Section 159Report on company formation on the basis of contributions in kind, formation report, and audit of the formation
Section 160Application for entry in the register and entry in the register
Division 8
Division by separation out of the assets of foundations having legal personality
Section 161Eligibility for a division by separation
Section 162Division report by separation
Section 163Resolution on the agreement
Section 164Approval of the division by separation
Section 165Report on company formation on the basis of contributions in kind and formation report
Section 166Liability of the foundation
Section 167Limitation in time of the liability for transferred liabilities
Division 9
Division by separation out of the assets of local government bodies or networks of local government bodies
Section 168Eligibility for a division by separation
Section 169Division report by separation; resolution as to a division by separation
Section 170Report on company formation on the basis of contributions in kind; formation report
Section 171Effectiveness of the division by separation
Section 172Liability of the authority or the network
Section 173Limitation in time of the liability for transferred liabilities
Book 4
Asset transfer
Part 1
Eligibility for an asset transfer
Section 174Types of asset transfer
Section 175Legal entities involved
Part 2
Transfer of the assets, or parts of the assets, of a share capital company to public bodies
Division 1
Full transfer
Section 176Application of the rules governing mergers
Division 2
Partial transfer
Section 177Application of the rules governing divisions
Part 3
Asset transfers among insurers
Division 1
Transfer of the assets of a stock corporation to mutual insurance companies or to public-law insurers
Subdivision 1
Full transfer
Section 178Application of the rules governing mergers
Subdivision 2
Partial transfer
Section 179Application of the rules governing divisions
Division 2
Transfer of the assets of a mutual insurance company to stock corporations or public-law insurers
Subdivision 1
Full transfer
Section 180Application of the rules governing mergers
Section 181Provision of compensation
Section 182Information provided to the members
Section 183Appointment of a trustee
Subdivision 2
Partial transfer
Section 184Application of the rules governing divisions
Division 3
Transfer of the assets of a smaller mutual insurance company to a stock corporation or to a public-law insurer
Section 185Eligibility for an asset transfer
Section 186Applicable provisions
Section 187Notice by publication of the asset transfer
Division 4
Transfer of the assets of a public-law insurer to stock corporations or mutual insurance companies
Subdivision 1
Full transfer
Section 188Application of the rules governing mergers
Subdivision 2
Partial transfer
Section 189Application of the rules governing divisions
Book 5
Change of the legal form
Part 1
General provisions
Section 190General scope of application
Section 191Eligible legal entities
Section 192Report on the change of legal form
Section 193Resolution on change of legal form
Section 194Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 195Time limit for bringing actions against the resolution on change of legal form; actions that are not an available remedy against the resolution on change of legal form
Section 196Improvement of the ownership interest held
Section 197Applicable company formation rules
Section 198Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 199Annexes to the application for entry in the register
Section 200Firm name or name of the legal entity
Section 201Notice by publication of the change of legal form
Section 202Effects of the entry in the register
Section 203Term of office the members of the supervisory board
Section 204Protection of the creditors and of the holders of special rights
Section 205Obligation to provide compensation for damages of the administrative bodies of the legal entity changing its legal form
Section 206Assertion of the claim to compensation of damages
Section 207Offer of cash settlement
Section 208Substance of the claim to cash settlement and review of the cash settlement
Section 209Acceptance of the offer
Section 210Actions that are not an available remedy against the resolution on change of legal form
Section 211Disposal in other ways
Section 212Court review of the compensation
Section 213Unknown stockholders
Part 2
Special provisions
Division 1
Change of the legal form of partnerships
Subdivision 1
Change of the legal form of civil law partnerships and commercial partnerships
Section 214Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 215Report on the change of legal form
Section 216Information provided to the shareholders
Section 217Resolution adopted by the meeting of shareholders
Section 218Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 219Legal status as a founder
Section 220Capital protection
Section 221Accession of general partners
Section 222Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 223Annexes to the application for entry in the register
Section 224Continuance and limitation in time of personal liability
Section 225Review of the offer of compensation
Subdivision 2
Change of the legal form of professional partnerships
Section 225aEligibility for a change of legal form
Section 225bReport on the change of legal form and information provided to the partners
Section 225cApplicable provisions
Division 2
Change of the legal form by share capital companies
Subdivision 1
General provisions
Section 226Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 227Provisions having no application
Subdivision 2
Change of the legal form by partnerships
Section 228Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 229(repealed)
Section 230Preparations for the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 231Notice of the offer of compensation
Section 232Conduct of the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 233Resolution adopted by the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 234Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 235Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 236Effects of the change of legal form
Section 237Continuance and limitation in time of personal liability
Subdivision 3
Change of the legal form to that of a share capital company having a different legal form
Section 238Preparations for the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 239Conduct of the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 240Resolution adopted by the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 241Consents required for the change of legal form by a limited liability company
Section 242Consent required for the change of legal form by a stock corporation or by a public partly limited partnership
Section 243Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 244Record of the resolution on change of legal form; articles of association
Section 245Legal status as a founder; capital protection
Section 246Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 247Effects of the change of legal form
Section 248Exchange of the shares
Section 248aAllocation of additional shares
Section 249Protection of creditors
Section 250Provisions having no application
Subdivision 4
Change of the legal form to that of a registered cooperative society
Section 251Preparations for and conduct of the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 252Resolution adopted by the assembly of the holders of shares
Section 253Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 254Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 255Effects of the change of legal form
Section 256Amounts of the members’ capital contributions; notification of members
Section 257Protection of creditors
Division 3
Change of the legal form of registered cooperative societies
Section 258Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 259Expert report of the confederation responsible for auditing cooperative societies
Section 260Preparations for the general assembly
Section 261Conduct of the general assembly
Section 262Resolution adopted by the general assembly
Section 263Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 264Capital protection
Section 265Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 266Effects of the change of legal form
Section 267Notification of the holders of shares
Section 268Instructions to stockholders; disposal of stock
Section 269Resolutions adopted by the general meeting; authorised capital
Section 270Offer of compensation
Section 271Continuance of the obligation to provide additional funding
Division 4
Change of legal form by associations having legal personality
Subdivision 1
General provisions
Section 272Eligibility for a change of legal form
Subdivision 2
Change of legal form to that of a share capital company
Section 273Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 274Preparations for and conduct of the meeting of members
Section 275Resolution adopted by the meeting of members
Section 276Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 277Capital protection
Section 278Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 279(repealed)
Section 280Effects of the change of legal form
Section 281Notification of the holders of shares, disposal of shares of stock, resolutions adopted by the general meeting
Section 282Offer of compensation
Subdivision 3
Change of the legal form to that of a registered cooperative society
Section 283Preparations for and conduct of the meeting of members
Section 284Resolution adopted by the meeting of members
Section 285Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 286Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 287(repealed)
Section 288Effects of the change of legal form
Section 289Amounts of capital contributions; notification of the members
Section 290Offer of compensation
Division 5
Change of the legal form of mutual insurance companies
Section 291Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 292Preparations for and conduct of the assembly of the most senior representative committee
Section 293Resolution adopted by the most senior representative committee
Section 294Substance of the resolution on change of legal form
Section 295Capital protection
Section 296Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 297(repealed)
Section 298Effects of the change of legal form
Section 299Notification of the stockholders, disposal of shares of stock, resolutions adopted by the general meeting
Section 300Offer of compensation
Division 6
Change of the legal form of corporations under public law and public-law institutions
Section 301Eligibility for a change of legal form
Section 302Applicable provisions
Section 303Capital protection; consents required
Section 304Effectiveness of the change of legal form
Book 6
Cross-border transformation
Part 1
Cross-border merger
Section 305Cross-border merger
Section 306Companies eligible for merger
Section 307Draft terms of merger
Section 308Publication of the draft terms of merger
Section 309Report on the merger
Section 310Accessibility of the merger report
Section 311Audit of the merger
Section 312Consent by the holders of shares
Section 313Cash settlement
Section 314Protection afforded to the creditors of the company being acquired
Section 315Entry in the register of the cross-border merger
Section 316Merger certificate
Section 317Information of the court maintaining the register
Section 318Entry of the cross-border merger with Germany being the country of destination
Section 319Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union
Part 2
Cross-border division
Section 320Cross-border division
Section 321Companies eligible for division
Section 322Draft terms of the division
Section 323Publication of the draft terms of the divisions
Section 324Division report
Section 325Audit of the division
Section 326Consent by the holders of shares
Section 327Cash settlement
Section 328Protection afforded to the creditors of the company being acquired
Section 329Application for entry in the register; division certificate
Section 330Entry in the register of the cross-border division with another country being the country of destination
Section 331Entry in the register of the new company
Section 332Division for purposes of absorption
Part 2
Cross-border change of legal form
Section 333Cross-border change of legal form
Section 334Companies eligible for a cross-border change of legal form
Section 335Draft terms of the change of legal form
Section 336Publication of the draft terms of the change of legal form
Section 337Report on the change of legal form
Section 338Audit of the change of legal form
Section 339Consent by the holders of shares
Section 340Cash settlement
Section 341Protection afforded to creditors
Section 342Application for entry in the register of the change of legal form
Section 343Certificate as to the change of legal form
Section 344Information of the court maintaining the register
Section 345Entry in the register of the cross-border change of legal form with Germany being the country of destination
Book 7
Penal provisions and coercive fines
Section 346False representations of facts
Section 347Violation of reporting obligations
Section 348Incorrect information
Section 349Violation of the obligation to maintain confidentiality
Section 350Coercive penalty payments
Book 8
Transitional provisions and final provisions
Section 351Transformation of pre-existing legal persons
Section 352Transformations already initiated. Changeover to the single currency
Section 353Release from liability for pre-existing obligations
Section 354Transitional provision on the Act Transposing into National Law the Directive on the Exercise of Certain Rights of Shareholders in Listed Companies, on the Third Act Amending the Transformation Act and on the Act to Strengthen Financial Market Integrity (Finanzmarktintegritätsstärkungsgesetz)
Section 355Transitional provision on the Act Transposing into National Law the Directive on Conversions and Amending Further Acts (Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Umwandlungsrichtlinie und zur Änderung weiterer Gesetze)