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Venture Capital and Digital Business
with Osborne Clarke
German Tax and Law 101
for founders
Christian Musfeldt
July 10, 2013, Wooga Amphitheater,
Berlin
osborneclarke.de
Osborne Clarke Germany
Locations
Private & Confidential
• Cologne • Hamburg • Munich
Staff
Practice Groups
• 199 employees altogehter
• Including 113 lawyers and tax consultants
• Including 37 partners
• Capital Markets / Banking
• Commercial / Competition
• Corporate
• Employment
• IP
• IT
• Property
• Public Procurement / Public Commercial
• Tax
Osborne Clarke Köln
Osborne Clarke Hamburg
Osborne Clarke München
Sector focus
• Digital Business
• Energy & Utilities
• Financial Services
• Life Sciences & Healthcare
• Real Estate & Infrastructure
• Transport & Automotive
osborneclarke.de
Osborne Clarke international
Locations
Private & Confidential
• Barcelona
• Brescia
• Bristol
• Brussels
• Cologne
• Hamburg
• London
• Madrid
• Milan
• Munich
• Padua
• Palo Alto (Silicon Valley)
• Reading (Thames Valley)
• Rome
Staff
• More than 1.000 employees altogether
• More than 600 lawyers and tax consultants
• Including 169 partners
Furthermore we offer you a global 'Best Friends' Network. For you this
means:
• A strong network across the globe, particularly in North America, EMEA & Asia
Pacific
• Short communication channels
• One single contact person, who coordinates the commitment of our international
partners
Osborne Clarke
Germany
Osborne Clarke UK
Osborne Clarke Spain
Osborne Clarke Italy
Osborne Clarke
Belgium
osborneclarke.de
To understand you and your business!
Since many year our lawyers and tax advisors
focus on advising clients in certain industries.
That is why we understand and speak your
language.
Why we focus on industries?
Private & Confidential
Life
Sciences &
Healthcare
Financial
Services
Transport
&
Automotive
Real
Estate &
Infra-
structure
Energy &
Utilities
Digital
Business
Sector
Focus
Osborne
Clarke
osborneclarke.de
Venture Capital
Our expertise in Germany
Financing Round – RUNA
Capital
Financing Round – Union
Square Ventures, Index
Ventures (USD 12 m)
Financing Round – Index
Ventures, Allen X Co., T-
Venture, Jerry Yang (USD 38
m)
Financing Round -
SevenVentures
Financing Round – Tenaya
Capital, Gates Ventures
Financing of Ondango GmbHFinancing of Wooga GmbH
(USD 24 m)
Investment in SumUp
osborneclarke.de
Digital Business
osborneclarke.deosborneclarke.de
7
Awards
Private & Confidential
osborneclarke.de
Formation
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
Private & Confidential
9
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
"Don’t do this alone!"
Private & Confidential
10
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
• I shall share my idea and inspire others
• Ideally I find a co-founder along the way
Private & Confidential
11
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
• I shall share my idea and inspire others
• Ideally I find a co-founder along the way
"I am allowed to form a company?"
Private & Confidential
12
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
• I shall share my idea and inspire others
• Ideally I find a co-founder along the way
"I am allowed to form a company?"
• Check previous and current contracts of employment: notice period,
concentration of business, non-compete.
• Think: Could your line of business require governmental approval?
Private & Confidential
13
osborneclarke.de
From ideation to formation
• I have got an idea
• I shall share my idea and inspire others
• Ideally I find a co-founder along the way
"I am allowed to form a company?"
• Check previous and current contracts of employment: notice period,
concentration of business, non-compete.
• Think: Could your line of business require governmental approval?
Private & Confidential
14
Beware of
market places!
Gesetz über die
Beaufsichtigung
von Zahlungs-
diensten
osborneclarke.de
Got to make a choice
"Why form a company?"
Private & Confidential
15
osborneclarke.de
Got to make a choice
"Why form a company?"
• Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP)
• It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise
• Restrict personal liability
Private & Confidential
16
osborneclarke.de
Got to make a choice
"Why form a company?"
• Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP)
• It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise
• Restrict personal liability
• … by forming UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or GmbH – nothing else gets VC
funding
Private & Confidential
17
osborneclarke.de
Got to make a choice
"Why form a company?"
• Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP)
• It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise
• Restrict personal liability
• … by forming UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or GmbH – nothing else gets VC
funding
Private & Confidential
18
If you will spend more
than EUR 12,500 shortly,
go for a GmbH.
osborneclarke.de
To dos – formation
• Thinking about taxes: form two companies, a holding company and an
operative company
• Notary, Gewerbeamt, bank, Handelsregister, bank
• Ideally the process starts by talking to a lawyer. NO MUST THOUGH.
Legislature has provided Musterprotokoll for fast, cheap and easy formation.
However, there is no vesting and there are no VC terms.
Private & Confidential
19
osborneclarke.de
Venture Capital Terms
osborneclarke.de
Investors' objectives
• Binding the management
• Protect intellectual property
• Protect investment
Private & Confidential
21
osborneclarke.de
And how to achieve them
• Guarantees
• Veto rights
• Lock-up – fight it!
• Vesting – 2 to 4 years, good and bad leaver vesting
• Drag-along – not in early stage rounds
• Liquidation preference – 1x, non-participating
Private & Confidential
22
osborneclarke.de
Last words
• The money will only last for X months => "natural" limit to deal terms
• No VC investor can manage a start-up or can sell it without management
• Agree on budget and get freedom to act within that budget
• Be transparent. Build trust.
• Don't take money from people you don't trust. Take the money at face value.
Do investor due diligence on other promises.
Private & Confidential
23
osborneclarke.de
Thanks
• Christian Musfeldt
• + 49 151 2300 82 75
• christian.musfeldt@osborneclarke.com
• www.christianmusfeldt.com
Private & Confidential
24

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German Tax Law 101 Founders Venture Capital Digital Business

  • 1. Venture Capital and Digital Business with Osborne Clarke German Tax and Law 101 for founders Christian Musfeldt July 10, 2013, Wooga Amphitheater, Berlin
  • 2. osborneclarke.de Osborne Clarke Germany Locations Private & Confidential • Cologne • Hamburg • Munich Staff Practice Groups • 199 employees altogehter • Including 113 lawyers and tax consultants • Including 37 partners • Capital Markets / Banking • Commercial / Competition • Corporate • Employment • IP • IT • Property • Public Procurement / Public Commercial • Tax Osborne Clarke Köln Osborne Clarke Hamburg Osborne Clarke München Sector focus • Digital Business • Energy & Utilities • Financial Services • Life Sciences & Healthcare • Real Estate & Infrastructure • Transport & Automotive
  • 3. osborneclarke.de Osborne Clarke international Locations Private & Confidential • Barcelona • Brescia • Bristol • Brussels • Cologne • Hamburg • London • Madrid • Milan • Munich • Padua • Palo Alto (Silicon Valley) • Reading (Thames Valley) • Rome Staff • More than 1.000 employees altogether • More than 600 lawyers and tax consultants • Including 169 partners Furthermore we offer you a global 'Best Friends' Network. For you this means: • A strong network across the globe, particularly in North America, EMEA & Asia Pacific • Short communication channels • One single contact person, who coordinates the commitment of our international partners Osborne Clarke Germany Osborne Clarke UK Osborne Clarke Spain Osborne Clarke Italy Osborne Clarke Belgium
  • 4. osborneclarke.de To understand you and your business! Since many year our lawyers and tax advisors focus on advising clients in certain industries. That is why we understand and speak your language. Why we focus on industries? Private & Confidential Life Sciences & Healthcare Financial Services Transport & Automotive Real Estate & Infra- structure Energy & Utilities Digital Business Sector Focus Osborne Clarke
  • 5. osborneclarke.de Venture Capital Our expertise in Germany Financing Round – RUNA Capital Financing Round – Union Square Ventures, Index Ventures (USD 12 m) Financing Round – Index Ventures, Allen X Co., T- Venture, Jerry Yang (USD 38 m) Financing Round - SevenVentures Financing Round – Tenaya Capital, Gates Ventures Financing of Ondango GmbHFinancing of Wooga GmbH (USD 24 m) Investment in SumUp
  • 9. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea Private & Confidential 9
  • 10. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea "Don’t do this alone!" Private & Confidential 10
  • 11. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea • I shall share my idea and inspire others • Ideally I find a co-founder along the way Private & Confidential 11
  • 12. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea • I shall share my idea and inspire others • Ideally I find a co-founder along the way "I am allowed to form a company?" Private & Confidential 12
  • 13. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea • I shall share my idea and inspire others • Ideally I find a co-founder along the way "I am allowed to form a company?" • Check previous and current contracts of employment: notice period, concentration of business, non-compete. • Think: Could your line of business require governmental approval? Private & Confidential 13
  • 14. osborneclarke.de From ideation to formation • I have got an idea • I shall share my idea and inspire others • Ideally I find a co-founder along the way "I am allowed to form a company?" • Check previous and current contracts of employment: notice period, concentration of business, non-compete. • Think: Could your line of business require governmental approval? Private & Confidential 14 Beware of market places! Gesetz über die Beaufsichtigung von Zahlungs- diensten
  • 15. osborneclarke.de Got to make a choice "Why form a company?" Private & Confidential 15
  • 16. osborneclarke.de Got to make a choice "Why form a company?" • Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP) • It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise • Restrict personal liability Private & Confidential 16
  • 17. osborneclarke.de Got to make a choice "Why form a company?" • Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP) • It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise • Restrict personal liability • … by forming UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or GmbH – nothing else gets VC funding Private & Confidential 17
  • 18. osborneclarke.de Got to make a choice "Why form a company?" • Do it early for greater transparency regarding rights situation (in particular IP) • It is difficult to transfer assets late taxewise • Restrict personal liability • … by forming UG (haftungsbeschränkt) or GmbH – nothing else gets VC funding Private & Confidential 18 If you will spend more than EUR 12,500 shortly, go for a GmbH.
  • 19. osborneclarke.de To dos – formation • Thinking about taxes: form two companies, a holding company and an operative company • Notary, Gewerbeamt, bank, Handelsregister, bank • Ideally the process starts by talking to a lawyer. NO MUST THOUGH. Legislature has provided Musterprotokoll for fast, cheap and easy formation. However, there is no vesting and there are no VC terms. Private & Confidential 19
  • 21. osborneclarke.de Investors' objectives • Binding the management • Protect intellectual property • Protect investment Private & Confidential 21
  • 22. osborneclarke.de And how to achieve them • Guarantees • Veto rights • Lock-up – fight it! • Vesting – 2 to 4 years, good and bad leaver vesting • Drag-along – not in early stage rounds • Liquidation preference – 1x, non-participating Private & Confidential 22
  • 23. osborneclarke.de Last words • The money will only last for X months => "natural" limit to deal terms • No VC investor can manage a start-up or can sell it without management • Agree on budget and get freedom to act within that budget • Be transparent. Build trust. • Don't take money from people you don't trust. Take the money at face value. Do investor due diligence on other promises. Private & Confidential 23
  • 24. osborneclarke.de Thanks • Christian Musfeldt • + 49 151 2300 82 75 • christian.musfeldt@osborneclarke.com • www.christianmusfeldt.com Private & Confidential 24