Organisationsmängel in der Praxis – Ausgewählte Aspekte zu Art. 731b OR aus Sicht des Handelsregisters und der Rechtsprechung [Defects in the Organization of Companies According to Article 731b of the Swiss Code of Obligations – Advice from the Commercial Registrar and Relevant Case Law]

German Abstract: Zahlreiche Gerichts- und Verwaltungsverfahren werden Woche fur Woche eingeleitet, um Organisationsmangel von Gesellschaften nach Art. 731b OR und Art. 154 HRegV zu beheben. Wenn dies nicht gelingt, erfolgt letztlich die Konkurseroffnung. Dieser Aufsatz zeigt einen Uberblick uber Problemstellungen, die in der Praxis oft anzutreffen sind und welche die Gesellschaften vermeiden sollten. Des Weiteren ist darauf hinzuweisen, dass Glaubiger oder Gesellschafter, die anstelle des Handelsregisteramts ein Organisationsmangelverfahren einleiten, mit Prozesskostenrisiken konfrontiert werden. Erwahnenswert ist zudem der Entwurf zur Modernisierung des Handelsregisterrechts: Das fehlende oder geloschte Domizil einer Gesellschaft wird de lege lata in einem registerrechtlichen Verwaltungsverfahren behoben; de lege ferenda soll dies mit dem Gerichtsverfahren nach Art. 731b OR gelost werden und auf alle im Handelsregister eingetragenen Rechtseinheiten Anwendung finden.English Abstract: Week after week, many lawsuits are being filed due to defects in the organization of companies. If a company does not have the required corporate body (for example, a board of directors or a mandatory auditor) or if the composition of one of these corporate bodies does not comply with the law, Article 731b of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO) and Article 154 of the Ordinance of the Commercial Register (OCR) require that the commercial registrar requests the court to take the required measures if these companies do not remedy their organizational defects. The court may then allow the company a period of time within which to re-establish the lawful condition, appoint the required corporate body or administrator, or dissolve the company and adjudicate its liquidation according to the Bankruptcy Code. This article provides an outline of fact patterns, which are very common in legal practice. Using this overview, companies may find guidance on how to prevent proceedings according to Article 731b CO and Article 154 OCR. Moreover, this article highlights that creditors and shareholders face the risk of paying the legal fees and court fees involved even in the event of a successful court proceeding. Such cost risk is unusual in light of the existing fee-shifting regime in Swiss Civil Procedure Law. In addition, it is noteworthy that the Draft Law on the “Modernization of the Commercial Register Law” will introduce certain improvements in this area. In particular, if a company is unable to establish domicile, under current law, an administrative proceeding under the control of the commercial registrar is used. De lege ferenda, a formal legal proceeding in court shall be used. It is expected that this will improve due process and result in better outcomes.