Shareholder/Partner

“Gesellschafter” is the German legal term for a person who holds an interest in a corporation or partnership. The exact English translation depends on the legal form: In a GmbH or UG (limited liability), a shareholder holds one or more shares and typically exercises their membership rights through the shareholders’ meeting; in partnerships such as an OHG or KG, a Gesellschafter is a partner.

In the case of a GmbH, the term is the formal legal designation. The GmbH Act (GmbHG) explicitly refers to the legal relationships between the company and its shareholders, the list of shareholders, the rights of the shareholders, and the shareholders’ meeting. This suggests that the term should be translated in this context as “shareholder” or, more precisely, as “member/shareholder of a GmbH.”

In a stock corporation (AG), the legal term is generally “shareholder,” not “partner.” In an AG, the rights of shareholders are exercised by the shareholders at the general meeting.

In the case of partnerships, “Gesellschafter” is best rendered as “partner.” In a general partnership (OHG), the shareholders are the partners of the partnership. In a limited partnership (KG), the law distinguishes between general partners and limited partners; both have an interest in the partnership, although the limited partners are listed separately in the commercial register.

North Data presents shareholder information in a transparent way. In the Ownership & Flags add-on, shareholders and ownership structures are displayed in a tabular format, making them easy to understand and review.