Current commercial register extract
You can request your current commercial register excerpt of Germany securely, quickly and conveniently online here.
Questions and answers
Here we answer all your questions about the current extract from the commercial register. What is a current extract from the commercial register? Why do you need a current extract from the commercial register? Can I apply for this online or only by post?
What is a current extract from the commercial register?
A current extract from the commercial register is an official document that contains current and verified information about a company or enterprise entered in the commercial register. The commercial register is a public register that contains information on commercial companies, registered traders and other companies. The commercial register extract provides an overview of the most important information about a specific company stored in the commercial register.
The exact details contained in a commercial register extract may vary depending on the laws and regulations of the country in question. As a rule, however, such an extract contains the following information:
1. company name and registered office: the official name of the company and the place where it has its legal registered office.
2. legal form: the legal structure of the company, e.g. GmbH (limited liability company), AG (public limited company), KG (limited partnership), etc.
3. purpose of the company: a description of the business activities or the purpose of the company.
4. authorized representatives: Information about the persons who are authorized to represent the company externally, such as the managing director or board of directors.
5. partners or shareholders: details of the partners or shareholders of the company, particularly in the case of partnerships or public limited companies.
6. share capital or share capital: the amount of the company’s registered share capital or share capital.
7. commercial register number: A unique identification number assigned to the company in the commercial register.
8. date of registration: The date on which the company was entered in the commercial register.
A current extract from the commercial register is important for various business and legal purposes, such as the conclusion of contracts, financial transactions, business partnerships or inquiries from authorities. Companies can also use it internally for documentation and verification purposes. In many countries, the extract from the commercial register is publicly accessible in order to ensure transparency and traceability in business matters.
What do you need a current extract from the commercial register for?
A current extract from the commercial register is required in various business and legal situations in order to obtain up-to-date and verified information about a company or enterprise entered in the commercial register. Here are some common applications:
1. business transactions: When negotiating and concluding contracts, business partners want to ensure that the information about the company in question is up-to-date and correct. A current extract from the commercial register serves as proof of the current existence and legal legitimacy of the company.
2. financial transactions: Banks and financial institutions may request a current extract from the commercial register when processing loan applications or other financial transactions in order to verify the creditworthiness and legitimacy of the company.
3. business partnerships: Companies wishing to enter into business partnerships or set up joint ventures can request a current extract from the commercial register to verify the reliability and legal status of the potential partner.
4. official inquiries: For official matters, license applications or other legal inquiries, a current extract from the commercial register may be required to prove compliance with legal requirements.
5. investments: Investors or lenders may request a current extract from the commercial register in order to obtain information on the structure and financial situation of a company before making investment decisions.
6. due diligence: As part of due diligence checks, whether in the run-up to mergers and acquisitions or other business transactions, a current extract from the commercial register is often requested in order to assess the history and current situation of a company.
7. legal matters: In legal disputes or court proceedings, a current extract from the commercial register can be used as evidence to document the legal position and status of a company.
Overall, an up-to-date extract from the commercial register serves to promote transparency and trust in business and legal matters. It enables stakeholders to obtain accurate and verified information about a company at the time of the request.
What is the difference between a current, chronological and historical extract from the commercial register?
The terms “current commercial register excerpt”, “chronological commercial register excerpt” and “historical commercial register excerpt” refer to different types of commercial register excerpts that provide different information about a company at different points in time. Here are the basic differences:
1. current extract from the commercial register:
Time: Contains current information about a company at the time of the request.
Content: Provides an overview of the company’s current and up-to-date data, including the latest extract from the commercial register available at the time of the request.
Purpose: Often used for current business transactions, contract drafting and other current business or legal requirements.
2. chronological extract from the commercial register:
Timeline: Provides information about various points in the company’s history, organized in chronological order.
Contents: Contains a history of commercial register extracts documenting the development of the company over time. Each entry in the chronological excerpt corresponds to a specific point in time.
Purpose: Used to track the development, changes and milestones of a company over time, for example in research or due diligence.
3. historical extract from the commercial register:
Point in time: Provides information about past periods or specific points in time in the past.
Content: Provides insights into the commercial register data of a company at specific historical points in time. Can document changes in structure, management or ownership.
Purpose: Often used in legal contexts, historical research or for tracing company histories.
In practice, the availability and nature of these extracts may vary depending on the laws and regulations of each country. The exact differences between the extracts may also depend on how the commercial registers are organized in a particular country and what types of information they publish.