By resolution of 29 March 2017 the Federal Constitutional Court [Bundesverfassungsgericht – BVerfG] decided that the proportionate forfeiture of tax losses pursuant to section 8c para. 1 sentence 1 German Corporation Tax Act [Körperschaftsteuergesetz – KStG] old version is unconstitutional and called on the legislator to pass new regulations by 31 December 2018 which should eliminate the infringement of the constitution retroactively as of 1 January 2008. The legislator implemented this by removing without replacement the regulations on proportionate forfeiture of tax losses retroactively as of 1 January 2008 by passing the “Law for the Avoidance of Sales Tax Losses when Trading Goods on the Internet and for the Amendment of Further Law Regulations” ([Gesetz zur Vermeidung von Umsatzsteuerausfällen beim Handel mit Waren im Internet und zur Änderung weiterer steuerlicher Vorschriften – UStAVermG], also known under its original name “Annual Tax Act 2018”).

In its judgment of 19 February 2019 (file no. 9 AZR 541/15) the Federal Labor Court [Bundesarbeitsgericht – BAG] ruled that an employee’s entitlement to paid annual leave shall as a rule only expire at the end of a calender year if the employer did not previously instruct the employer about the concrete leave entitlement and time limits and if the employee did not take the leave voluntarily nonetheless. With this judgment, the BAG implemented the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice which means that the expiration regulation under section 7 para. 3 Federal Holiday Benefits Act in its current form no longer applies.

In its decision of 20 July 2018, the Fourth Senate of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court [OLG] ruled as follows: D&O insurance does not cover payments made by a managing director after the company has reached insolvency maturity and for which he is held liable under section 64 German Law on Limited Liability Companies [GmbHG]. The following article shows the consequences of this judgement.

If a GmbH [limited liability company] share is to be redeemed against the will of the person concerned, it is necessary to set an important course already in statutes but also while drawing up a redemption resolution. The BGH [Federal Court of Justice] has found in its decision of 26 June 2018 the nullity of a redemption resolution of 26 June 2000 – the findings made are of considerable importance for the consulting practice beyond the individual case.

Following the extension of the scope of the review of foreign investments in Germany in July 2017, the German Federal Cabinet [Bundeskabinett] has resolved on another tightening of the scope of investment reviews on December 19, 2018. In addition, an EU-wide legislative procedure in this field is about to be finalized.