{"id":6364,"date":"2025-06-12T16:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T16:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rfblegal.co.uk\/?post_type=insight&p=6364"},"modified":"2025-07-08T10:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T10:04:56","slug":"was-mit-den-aktien-geschieht-wenn-ein-aktionar-stirbt","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/rfblegal.co.uk\/de\/einblicke\/was-mit-den-aktien-geschieht-wenn-ein-aktionar-stirbt\/","title":{"rendered":"Was geschieht mit den Anteilen, wenn ein Anteilseigner stirbt?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The difficult task of managing what happens when a shareholder passes away, including the management of the deceased\u2019s shares and estate, is often overlooked by company members (shareholders<\/a>). Perhaps this is because of its morbid nature, or that it is just not a priority amongst all the other day-to-day needs of the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a shareholder dies and if there is a valid wird<\/a>, the shares of the deceased<\/a> person are dealt with by the executors of their estate. If there is no valid will, the administrators under the Intestacy rules will deal with the shares. Executors and administrators are referred to as \u2018personal representatives\u2019 (\u2018PRs\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The subsequent handling<\/a> of the shares then depends on the terms outlined in a shareholders\u2019 agreement<\/a> (if there is one), the company\u2019s articles of association, and the ages of the beneficiaries who inherit the shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vereinbarung der Aktion\u00e4re<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first reference point in determining the next steps, is if a shareholders\u2019 agreement exists which relates to the shares in question. If there is an agreement, it may include rules about<\/a> what happens to those shares in the event of a shareholder\u2019s death, including rights of first refusal<\/a> for existing shareholders. Shareholders may have included provisions to prevent family members from becoming shareholders in a business<\/a> they know nothing about or to stop the sale of a deceased shareholder\u2019s shares to third parties, thus protecting the interests of the surviving shareholders. The shareholders\u2019 agreement may include rights (known as \u2018pre-emption rights\u2019) that entitle the remaining\/existing shareholders to purchase the deceased shareholder\u2019s shares before anyone else. There may also be an option agreement triggered on death, which allows the beneficiaries to buy out the remaining shareholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, a well drafted shareholders\u2019 agreement that includes specific provisions can be the difference between a smooth transition<\/a> of shares and a whole host of rings to jump through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satzung (\u2018Artikel\u2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Die Satzung des Unternehmens muss gleichzeitig mit einer eventuell bestehenden Aktion\u00e4rsvereinbarung gepr\u00fcft werden. In der Satzung werden die Regeln und Vorschriften f\u00fcr die Angelegenheiten eines Unternehmens festgelegt, einschlie\u00dflich der Rechte und Pflichten der Aktion\u00e4re sowie der Verfahren f\u00fcr Versammlungen und Aktien\u00fcbertragungen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Model Articles (a standard<\/a> template of articles which provides a default<\/a> set of rules for the company) are often used in many English incorporated companies. It is also not uncommon for a company to have bespoke articles that have special clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRs m\u00fcssen daher jede Satzung auf Bestimmungen zu Aktien \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen. In der Satzung sowie in einer etwaigen Aktion\u00e4rsvereinbarung wird das Verfahren f\u00fcr den Umgang mit solchen Aktien festgelegt. Wenn der Gesellschaftervertrag und die Satzung einander widersprechen, m\u00fcssen die PR pr\u00fcfen, welche der beiden Bestimmungen Vorrang hat (h\u00e4ufig ist es der Gesellschaftervertrag). Wenn der Gesellschaftervertrag nicht regelt, was mit den Anteilen im Todesfall geschieht, bestimmt die Satzung, was dann zu tun ist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is clear from the above that close attention should be paid<\/a> to specific provisions when drafting articles or a shareholders\u2019 agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alter der Beg\u00fcnstigten<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PRs should consider the ages of the beneficiaries to whom the shares are going to. If the beneficiaries are under 18 years of age, then there are a couple of options regarding the transfer process as to where the shares will be held such as in a trust<\/a> or by the beneficiaries\u2019 guardians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dauerhafte Gesch\u00e4ftsvollmacht (\u2018LPA\u2019)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A business LPA<\/a> is a document which can set out who is able to make business decisions<\/a> regarding your business dealings on your behalf if you are unable to make such decisions yourself if you were to lose capacity<\/a>. If you wish, a business LPA can also be used if you are overseas and you cannot be physically present, or if there is a medical condition making it preferable for someone else on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business LPAs k\u00f6nnen f\u00fcr eine ganze Reihe von Unternehmen verwendet werden, z. B. f\u00fcr Einzelunternehmer, Einzelunternehmen und sogar Personengesellschaften.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, a business LPA can be a helpful planning<\/a> tool to ensure that your business does not suffer in the event you become incapacitated. If you lose capacity and do not have a valid LPA, it would then be down to somebody to apply to the Court of Protection<\/a> to manage your affairs on your behalf. It is likely that this application would be made by a family member who may not be the best person to make decisions about your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wie wir helfen k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thinking about the death of a shareholder is a morbid topic but not one that should be avoided. It is critical that the legal documents<\/a> mentioned in this article, work for you in the way that you intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bei RFB sind unsere erfahrenen Firmenwerbung<\/a> team<\/a> along with our Privatkundenteam<\/a> arbeiten zusammen, um sicherzustellen, dass Sie die erforderliche fachliche Beratung f\u00fcr die ben\u00f6tigten Dokumente erhalten. Wenn Sie eine Aktion\u00e4rsvereinbarung, einen ma\u00dfgeschneiderten Gesellschaftsvertrag oder eine Unternehmens-LPA ben\u00f6tigen, wir sind hier, um zu helfen.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can also advise you on the terms of an existing shareholders\u2019 agreement or articles to help ensure that the appropriate provisions regarding a shareholders\u2019 death\/incapacity, are dealt with in the right<\/a> manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

F\u00fcr weitere Informationen wenden Sie sich bitte an Sam Glascow unter s.glascow@rfblegal.co.uk oder 020 3961 3116.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":6375,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6364","insight","type-insight","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporate"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t