After any change in the shareholders of a German company, such as a GmbH, the managing directors must promptly submit an updated shareholder list to the German Commercial Register.
The shareholder list must include the first and last name, date of birth and place of residence of each shareholder. It must also show the nominal value of each shareholder’s shares and their respective interest in the company’s share capital.
If a notary was involved in the change, the notary generally prepares and submits the updated shareholder list to the Commercial Register. As changes to the ownership of GmbH shares usually require the involvement of a notary, the updated list is often filed by the notary.
The legal requirement to keep the shareholder information in the register up to date helps protect creditors and minority shareholders. The publicly available shareholder lists also make it possible to see how the ownership structure of a company and the distribution of its shares have changed over time.
For legal purposes in relation to the company, the person named in the shareholder list filed with the Commercial Register is generally treated as the holder of the relevant shares. This is particularly important when a change of shareholders has already been agreed but has not yet been recorded due to formal or technical delays. The shareholder list therefore helps a prospective buyer check whether the seller is shown as the current holder of the GmbH shares.
You can apply for a current shareholder list, including a certified copy or a copy with an apostille, using this service page.
Current shareholder list for a German company Order documents