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Partnership

In Germany, a partnership is a form of association created by a partnership agreement under which the partners undertake to promote the achievement of a common purpose in the manner agreed in the contract. The principal types of partnerships are the civil-law partnership (GbR), the general commercial partnership (OHG), the limited partnership (KG), and the professional partnership (PartG).

The GbR is the general partnership form under civil law. It is created by partnership agreement for the pursuit of a common purpose.

The OHG is a partnership under commercial law. Its purpose is the operation of a commercial business under a joint business name, and none of the partners has limited liability toward the partnership’s creditors. The OHG can acquire rights and incur liabilities.

The KG is also a partnership under commercial law. Its purpose is the operation of a commercial business under a joint business name. Its defining feature is that it includes two different partner roles: general partners with unlimited liability and limited partners. The general partners have unlimited liability, while the liability of the limited partners is restricted to a specified contribution amount. A KG therefore includes at least one general partner and at least one limited partner.

The PartG is a special form of partnership for members of the independent professions. In this form, members of the independent professions join together to practise their professions. It does not carry on a commercial business, and only natural persons may be partners.

Key differences between the main partnership forms

  • GbR: general partnership under civil law for a common purpose
  • OHG: commercial partnership without limitation of liability for the partners
  • KG: commercial partnership with general partners with unlimited liability and limited partners
  • PartG: partnership for the independent professions, not a commercial business entity

In North Data Power Search, legal forms can be used as filters to limit search results to specific types of organizations, such as stock corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, cooperatives, associations, or foundations. The available filters depend on the selected country and include both widely used legal forms and country-specific legal forms covered by North Data.