Virtual Shareholder Meetings Act (Virtuelle Gesellschafterversammlungen-Gesetz – VirtGesG): Creation of a permanent legal basis for virtual and hybrid meetings

With the Virtual Shareholder Meetings Act (VirtGesG) passed by the National Council on 7 July 2023, the option of holding shareholders’ meetings without the physical presence of participants, which had been introduced on a temporary basis in times of the pandemic, has now been implemented in the law on a permanent basis. Therefore, virtual and/or […]

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Corporate Law Amendment Act 2023 (GesRÄG 2023, Gesellschaftsrechts-Änderungsgesetz 2023): Introduction of Flexible Company and reduction of minimum share capital to EUR 10,000 for Limited Liability Companies

Start-upn 26 May 2023, along with the Austrian Start-ups Promotion Act (Start-up-Förderungsgesetz), the draft GesRÄG 2023 was published, which aims to create considerable incentives and relief for start-ups and the incorporation of companies in general. In particular, the new company form called Flexible Company (FlexCo) will be introduced and investments in such a company will […]

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New extension of deadline for shareholder meetings and financial statements

On 19 May 2022, the Austrian Parliament resolved to again extend the deadlines for the preparation, adoption, and disclosure of financial statements, as well as for the holding of annual general meetings. We provide an overview of the current changes below: Preparation and disclosure of financial statements Hitherto, the following rule applied: If the preparation […]

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New: Mandatory electronic delivery of documents for businesses in Austria since 1 January 2020

Since 1 January 2019, businesses in Austria have been able to participate in a scheme for electronic delivery of official documents. Since 1 January 2020, all businesses (with limited exceptions) are now required to participate.[1] The background to this requirement is Section 1 of the Austrian E-Government Act (E-GovG), which entered into force on 1 January 2020. Under the […]

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Additional extension of due dates for annual financial statements

On 4 April 2020, the 4th Austrian COVID-19 Act was passed, which amends the COVID-19 Company Law Act (COVID-19-GesG) of 22 March 2020 and introduces additional simplifications for businesses in terms of compliance with their legal obligations. The following due dates and exceptions now apply under Austrian company law: This article represents the information available to us […]

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New Register for Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBO Register)

The UBO Register Act (WiEReG), announced on 15 September 2017, imposes a registration obligation on Austrian corporate entities and other legal entities regarding their ultimate beneficial owners. As of 15 January 2018, all direct or indirect owners holding more than 25 % of the share capital have to be disclosed in the new register maintained by […]

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