Germany: Corporate/Commercial Law

The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into potential gun-jumping violations by XXXLutz and Porta regarding XXXLutz's proposed acquisition of Porta, an Austria-Germany furniture retail transaction announced in January 2025. The investigation examines whether the parties may have implemented the merger before obtaining required regulatory approval, despite the transaction having an EU dimension requiring Commission notification.

Dr. Martin Heuber has taken the helm as Managing Partner of Mayer Brown in Germany, succeeding Guido Zeppenfeld in this leadership role. What strategic priorities is this banking and finance expert setting in the current market climate, and how are debt funds performing under his guidance?

The European Commission has published its review of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), addressing widespread concerns about the regime's disproportionate compliance burden on M&A deals and procurement procedures. While the EC maintains the instrument is "fit for purpose," stakeholders and independent studies reveal significant administrative challenges, with only 1% of notified M&A deals warranting in-depth review and proposed reforms falling short of the fundamental redesign many had requested.

Germany's transition period for Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) has ended, and BaFin has issued detailed supervisory guidance outlining prohibited circumvention structures and expectations for PFOF-free business models. The regulator applies an economic substance test that looks beyond mere form, requiring firms to justify fees in vertically integrated groups and trace orders through intermediary chains back to retail clients.

Sustainability criteria have evolved from voluntary commitments to critical factors in corporate financing. Companies seeking refinancing during crisis must now not only address operational and financial challenges but also credibly demonstrate ESG transformation, navigating potential deal-breakers, restructuring concept requirements, and greenwashing liability risks.

Der Europäische Gerichtshof hat entschieden, dass Sollzinssätze bei Verbraucherkrediten nur auf den tatsächlich bereitgestellten Kreditbetrag angewendet werden dürfen – nicht auf mitfinanzierte Kreditkosten wie Versicherungsprämien oder Gebühren. Diese Klarstellung hat weitreichende Folgen für Kreditgeber in der gesamten EU, die ihre Produktgestaltung, Preislogik und Kundenunterlagen entsprechend anpassen müssen. Besonders betroffen sind Banken und Anbieter von

Germany's foreign direct investment (FDI) regime has been expanded considerably in recent years, mirroring a global trend towards increased scrutiny of cross-border investments, and particularly...

On April 9, 2025, the German Christian Democrats (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) finalized a coalition agreement after the snap elections in February.

Germanys Supreme Tax Court (BHF) recently published two decisions dealing with the income tax treatment of Management Equity Plans (MEP), in which the court confirmed its established case law.

Sustainability criteria have evolved from voluntary commitments to critical factors in corporate financing. Companies seeking refinancing during crisis must now not only address operational and financial challenges but also credibly demonstrate ESG transformation, navigating potential deal-breakers, restructuring concept requirements, and greenwashing liability risks.

Der Bundesgerichtshof hat sich mit der Reichweite der gesellschafterlichen Treuepflicht bei Prozessfinanzierungsvereinbarungen zwischen einer GmbH und einem nahestehenden Gesellschafter befasst. Zugleich wurden grundlegende Anforderungen an die ordnungsgemäße Einberufung von Gesellschafterversammlungen und die Grenzen der Vertretungsmacht nach § 37 Abs. 2 GmbHG bei gesellschafterbeherrschten Vertragspartnern geklärt.

Der Bundesgerichtshof hat entschieden, dass bei der Ermittlung des Schwellenwerts von 500 Arbeitnehmern nach dem Drittelbeteiligungsgesetz keine wechselseitige Zurechnung von Arbeitnehmern eines Gemeinschaftsbetriebs erfolgt. Maßgeblich ist allein die Anzahl der Arbeitnehmer der Aktiengesellschaft selbst. Diese Entscheidung klärt eine bislang umstrittene Rechtsfrage im Bereich der unternehmerischen Mitbestimmung und schafft Rechtssicherheit für Konzernstrukturen.