Hi Linda, I understand from the presentation at RIPE 78 that you want to make sure resources get allocated to "real/existing" holders, you want to limit fraud and make sure you limit your "risk".

From the website you mentioned: https://www.frankfurt-main.ihk.de/english/business/legal_forms/kg/index.html

I don´t see why a "GmbH & Co. KG" would not be able to fulfill your requirements: The KG does not possess its own legal personality distinct from the partners themselves. Nevertheless, it is similar to a legal entity in that it can sue and be sued before a court of law. It can acquire rights and enter into liabilities, acquire possession and other in rem rights to real estates. Each personally liable partner has the authorisation to manage and to represent alone. The limited partners have no representation power to the outside. The "GmbH" part is not trading, it is not earning money it is not having assets and it will be a bad choice if you want to sue it or recover anything. (Except the 25.000 EUR share capital that is most likely absorbed by the KG debts should the KG ever file bancrupcy before you have a chance to claim your debt). You won´t even have the chance to claim any of your debts against the insolvency chart as the assets are in the KG and not the GmbH. Thanks Michael Mit freundlichen Grüßen Michael Böhme [signature_1499500069] [signature_1570171899] KOMPETENZ VERBINDET. WEBDISCOUNT GmbH & Co. KG Robert-Bosch-Straße 20 48153 Münster, Deutschland Fon +49 251 263930-0<tel:+492512639300> Fax +49 251 263930-49 www.webdiscount.net<http://www.webdiscount.net> Sitz der Kommanditgesellschaft: Münster Amtsgericht Münster HRA 8897 USt.ID: DE 815 197 935 Persönlich haftende Gesellschafterin: WEBDISCOUNT Verwaltungs GmbH Sitz der GmbH: Münster Amtsgericht Münster HRB 12721 Geschäftsführer: Michael Böhme Von: ncc-services-wg <ncc-services-wg-bounces@ripe.net> Im Auftrag von Linda Slaakweg Gesendet: Mittwoch, 7. August 2019 14:30 An: ncc-services-wg@ripe.net Betreff: Re: [ncc-services-wg] Issue with membership/registering resources with a german GmbH & Co. KG Dear colleagues, We provided some clarification on this topic on the Members Discuss mailing list back in February: https://www.ripe.net/ripe/mail/archives/members-discuss/2019-February/003273... We also presented on this at RIPE 78: https://ripe78.ripe.net/presentations/109-109-Due-diligence_RIPE-78-updatedv... Essentially, we can only accept an agreement that has been signed by a natural or legal person (meaning that the entity has separate legal personality). While partnerships may be able to enter into agreements in some jurisdictions, liability is not as clearly defined here as in the case of legal persons. It's important to consider that there are many unique legal structures in our service region and our ability to respond to specific cases needs to be balanced against the need to treat all members the same. When it comes to the German "Kommanditsgesellschaft" or "KG" (limited partnership), we follow the information provided to us by the German Handelsregister. For example, the website of the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce states: "The KG does not possess its own legal personality distinct from the partners themselves." https://www.frankfurt-main.ihk.de/english/business/legal_forms/kg/index.html As the Legal Team at the RIPE NCC, we follow the relevant case law that is developing around this issue. We will also review any information members wish to send us which may help to clarify certain legal specifics regarding their organisation. Kind regards, Linda Slaakweg Legal Counsel RIPE NCC

Linda, [...]

When it comes to the German "Kommanditsgesellschaft" or "KG" (limited partnership), we follow the information provided to us by the German Handelsregister. For example, the website of the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce states: "The KG does not possess its own legal personality distinct from the partners themselves." https://www.frankfurt-main.ihk.de/english/business/legal_forms/kg/index.html

As the Legal Team at the RIPE NCC, we follow the relevant case law that is developing around this issue. We will also review any information members wish to send us which may help to clarify certain legal specifics regarding their organisation.

fair enough. I also appreciate your efforts to protect against fraudulent registrations and 'phony' set-ups. Nevertheless I doubt that your 'view from afar', e.g. the Netherlands, can offer better protection against this risk than a national Chamber of Commerce. As an aside, I am still curious, what you perceive as a substantial risk to the NCC, leading to the decision to refuse a contract with a properly registered - by a national authority - entity in the EU. Please take into account that IANAL, but with my background in a few decades in Internet Administration in the RIPE Region and beyond, I may have accumulated some information (no, I am not talking legal expertise here. :-) ) Wilfried

Kind regards,

Linda Slaakweg Legal Counsel RIPE NCC