Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture for Germany

Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture Template for Germany

A comprehensive legal agreement governed by German law that establishes and regulates the relationship between shareholders in a joint venture company. The document outlines the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of all parties involved, including corporate governance structures, capital contributions, profit sharing, transfer restrictions, and exit mechanisms. It complies with German corporate law requirements, particularly the GmbH-Gesetz or Aktiengesetz depending on the company form, while incorporating international best practices for joint venture operations. The agreement serves as the foundational document for the joint venture's operation and management.

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download a Standard Template

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
Access for free
OR

Alternatively: Run an advanced review of an existing
Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture

Let Genie AI's market-leading legal AI identify missing terms, unusual language, compliance issues and more - in just seconds.
Upload your Doc

What is a Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture?

The Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture is a crucial document used when two or more parties wish to establish and operate a joint venture company in Germany. It serves as the primary contract governing the relationship between shareholders, detailing their rights, obligations, and the overall framework for the joint venture's operation. This document is essential for any joint venture structure in Germany, whether between domestic partners or involving international participants. It must comply with German corporate law, including the German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbH-Gesetz) or Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz), while also addressing practical business considerations such as management control, profit sharing, and exit strategies. The agreement typically includes detailed provisions on corporate governance, capital contributions, transfer restrictions, deadlock resolution, and termination rights, making it a comprehensive framework for the joint venture's entire lifecycle.

What sections should be included in a Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture?

1. Parties: Identification of all shareholders/parties entering into the agreement

2. Background: Context of the joint venture formation and parties' intentions

3. Definitions and Interpretation: Definitions of key terms and interpretation rules

4. Formation and Structure of the Joint Venture: Details of JV company formation, initial shareholding, and corporate structure

5. Capital Contributions: Initial and future capital contributions, financing obligations

6. Corporate Governance: Management structure, supervisory board, voting rights, reserved matters

7. Shareholders' Rights and Obligations: Key rights and obligations including voting, information rights, and non-compete provisions

8. Transfer of Shares: Rules regarding share transfers, including right of first refusal, tag-along and drag-along rights

9. Business Plan and Dividend Policy: Agreement on business planning process and profit distribution

10. Deadlock Resolution: Mechanisms for resolving deadlock situations

11. Termination: Grounds for termination and consequences

12. Exit Provisions: Exit mechanisms including put/call options, IPO provisions

13. Confidentiality: Confidentiality obligations and permitted disclosures

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction: Choice of German law and jurisdiction provisions

15. General Provisions: Standard boilerplate clauses including notices, amendments, severability

What sections are optional to include in a Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture?

1. Intellectual Property Rights: Required when JV involves significant IP contributions or development

2. Related Party Transactions: Needed when shareholders expect to have ongoing business relationships with the JV

3. Employee Matters: Important when JV involves transfer or secondment of employees

4. Competition Restrictions: Detailed non-compete provisions when parties operate in similar markets

5. Regulatory Compliance: Specific compliance obligations for regulated industries

6. Tax Matters: Special tax arrangements or considerations

7. Foreign Investment Provisions: Required when involving non-EU shareholders

8. Environmental Compliance: Necessary for ventures in industries with environmental impact

9. Force Majeure: Detailed force majeure provisions for high-risk operations

What schedules should be included in a Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture?

1. Articles of Association: Constitutional document of the JV company

2. Initial Business Plan: Detailed business plan for first 3-5 years

3. Capital Structure: Detailed breakdown of shareholding and capital contributions

4. Reserved Matters: List of decisions requiring special majority or unanimous approval

5. Key Performance Indicators: Agreed metrics for measuring JV performance

6. Form of Deed of Adherence: Template for new shareholders joining the agreement

7. Intellectual Property Schedule: Details of IP contributions and ownership

8. Service Level Agreements: Terms for services provided by shareholders to JV

9. Management Structure: Detailed organizational structure and reporting lines

10. Anti-Corruption Policy: Compliance procedures and policies

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

Germany

Publisher

Genie AI

Cost

Free to use
Relevant legal definitions
Clauses
Relevant Industries

Manufacturing

Technology

Automotive

Chemical Industry

Renewable Energy

Pharmaceuticals

Industrial Equipment

Software Development

Telecommunications

Infrastructure

Real Estate

Financial Services

Healthcare

Consumer Goods

Transport and Logistics

Relevant Teams

Legal

Corporate Development

Mergers & Acquisitions

Finance

Strategy

Executive Management

Board of Directors

Company Secretariat

Corporate Governance

Business Development

Risk Management

Compliance

International Operations

Relevant Roles

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Legal Officer

General Counsel

Corporate Development Director

Head of Mergers & Acquisitions

Chief Financial Officer

Investment Director

Business Development Manager

Corporate Secretary

Senior Legal Counsel

Managing Director

Board Member

Chief Strategy Officer

Head of Corporate Development

Joint Venture Manager

Industries
German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB): Fundamental law governing civil and contract law principles, including general rules on formation of contracts, legal capacity, and obligations
German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbH-Gesetz): Governs the formation and operation of GmbH companies, including shareholder rights, transfer of shares, and corporate governance
German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz - AktG): Regulates public limited companies (AG), relevant if the joint venture is structured as an AG, covering shareholder rights and corporate governance
German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch - HGB): Contains provisions on commercial transactions, business names, commercial registers, and accounting requirements
German Competition Act (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen - GWB): Regulates competition law aspects of joint ventures, including merger control and anti-competitive practices
Foreign Trade and Payments Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz - AWG): Governs foreign investments in German companies, including notification and approval requirements
EU Merger Control Regulation (EUMR): Applies to joint ventures with EU dimension, requiring potential merger clearance from the European Commission
German Corporate Governance Code (Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex): Provides recommendations for good corporate governance, relevant for larger joint ventures
German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz - UmwG): Relevant for corporate restructuring, mergers, and changes in corporate form of the joint venture
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Venture Capital Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing a venture capital partnership (KG), defining partner relationships, investments, and fund operations.

find out more

Simple Collaboration Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for business collaboration between two or more parties, defining scope, responsibilities, and mutual obligations.

find out more

Reseller Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing the terms for a reseller to market and distribute a supplier's products.

find out more

Profit Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing partnership terms and profit-sharing arrangements between multiple parties.

find out more

Non Binding Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed framework document outlining intended partnership arrangements without creating binding legal obligations.

find out more

Mou Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed preliminary agreement outlining partnership terms and intentions between parties, serving as a framework for future collaboration.

find out more

Limited Liability Limited Partnership Agreement

German Limited Liability Limited Partnership Agreement (KGaA) establishing a hybrid business structure combining partnership and corporate elements under German law.

find out more

Letter Of Intent Partnership Agreement

A preliminary agreement under German law outlining parties' intentions to form a partnership, establishing framework for negotiations and future collaboration.

find out more

Letter Of Intent Business Cooperation

A preliminary document outlining intended business cooperation terms under German law, combining non-binding intentions with specific binding provisions where required.

find out more

Letter For Partnership Agreement

A formal letter outlining partnership terms and conditions between parties under German law, serving as a preliminary agreement document.

find out more

Legal Partnership Contract

A German law-governed agreement establishing a partnership between multiple parties, defining rights, obligations, and operational framework under BGB and HGB regulations.

find out more

Equity Partner Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for equity partnership, including rights, obligations, and governance structure.

find out more

Domestic Partnership Letter

A formal declaration document for establishing a registered domestic partnership under German law, filed with the Civil Registry Office (Standesamt).

find out more

Start Up Business Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing partnership terms and structure between startup founders, including equity, management, and operational framework.

find out more

Short Term Partnership Agreement

German law-compliant Short Term Partnership Agreement for temporary business collaborations, including essential legal and operational provisions.

find out more

Simple Partnership Contract

A German law partnership agreement (GbR) establishing a collaborative venture between partners, governed by the German Civil Code.

find out more

Contract For LLC Partnership

A comprehensive legal agreement establishing and governing a German limited liability company (GmbH) partnership under German corporate law.

find out more

Reseller Agreement For Software Products

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for software resale and distribution rights between a software provider and reseller.

find out more

Business Alliance Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for strategic business collaboration between multiple parties.

find out more

Distributorship Contract

A German law-governed agreement establishing the terms and conditions for the distribution of products between a supplier and distributor.

find out more

Limited Liability Partnership Contract

A German law agreement establishing a GmbH & Co. KG structure, combining a limited liability company as general partner with a limited partnership.

find out more

Authorized Reseller Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms for authorized product resale, including territorial rights, obligations, and compliance requirements.

find out more

Software Distributor Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for software distribution rights, including licensing, territorial rights, and commercial conditions.

find out more

Social Media Partnership Agreement

German law-compliant agreement establishing terms for social media partnerships, including content creation, management, and compliance requirements.

find out more

Domestic Partnership Declaration

A legal document under German law establishing a civil partnership between two individuals, outlining their mutual rights and obligations.

find out more

Amended And Restated Limited Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement that updates and restates the terms of an existing limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft), establishing revised rights and obligations between general and limited partners.

find out more

Venture Partner Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing the relationship between a venture capital firm and a Venture Partner, including roles, responsibilities, and compensation terms.

find out more

Term Sheet For Partnership Agreement

A preliminary document under German law outlining key terms and conditions for establishing a business partnership, serving as the foundation for a final partnership agreement.

find out more

Technology Partnership Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for technology partnership collaboration between parties, including IP rights, data protection, and technical specifications.

find out more

Startup Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing partnership terms and governance structure between startup founders and stakeholders.

find out more

Software Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing partnership terms for software development, distribution, or implementation between technology companies.

find out more

Software Partner Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing partnership terms between software providers and business partners, covering licensing, operations, and compliance requirements.

find out more

Shareholders Agreement Joint Venture

German law-governed agreement establishing shareholders' rights and obligations in a joint venture company, including governance, ownership, and exit provisions.

find out more

Service Partner Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing a business relationship between a company and service partner, defining service delivery terms and mutual obligations.

find out more

Revenue Share Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for revenue sharing partnerships, including calculation methods, distribution mechanisms, and party obligations.

find out more

Sales Cooperation Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for cooperative sales activities between business partners, including commission structures and mutual obligations.

find out more

Profit Sharing Agreement In Business Partnership

A German law-governed agreement establishing profit sharing arrangements between business partners, compliant with German partnership laws and commercial regulations.

find out more

Product Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for product-related partnerships between businesses, aligned with German commercial regulations.

find out more

Preliminary Partnership Agreement

A German law-governed preliminary agreement that establishes the framework and initial terms for forming a partnership between parties, serving as a stepping stone to a final partnership agreement.

find out more

Preferred Partner Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing a preferred partnership between businesses, outlining special status, rights, and obligations.

find out more
See more related templates

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

2 Docs LeftAccess Now