In the article the author examines the legal regulation of the derivative action in Germany and the inquisitorial procedure in the Netherlands. Germany borrowed the design of the derivative action for protection of corporate rights from common law. A distinguishing feature of German derivative action is the requirement to own a certain number of shares. Unlike the German legislator legislator of the Netherlands did not go the way of borrowing derivative action and developed an independent legislative model of corporate rights protection. In the article the author compares the subject of protection, the entities, the features of the legal regulation of the German derivative action and the inquisitorial procedure. The author concludes that the more effective is the legislative model of the inquisitorial procedure. 

Keywords: derivative action; inquisitorial procedure; civil procedure; arbitration procedure. 

References 

  Joffe V., QC, Drake D., Richardson G., Lightman D. Minority Shareholders: Law, Practice, and Procedure. Oxford University Press, 2011, p. 32–35. 

  Puchniak D.W., Nakahigashi M. Japan’s Love for Derivative Actions: Irrational Behavior and Non-Economic Motives as Rational Explanations for Shareholder Litigation. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 2012, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 4–82 (available at: http:// www.vanderbilt.edu/jotl/manage/wp-content/uploads/Puchniak-CR-11.pdf). 

   Malyshev P. Kosvennye iski aktsionerov v sudebnoi praktike SShA [Derivative Actions of Shareholders in the Jurisprudence of the United States]. Rossiiskii yuridicheskii zhurnal = Russian juridical journal, 1996, no. 1, p. 95–104. (In Russian) 

   Gelter M. Why Do Shareholder Derivative Suits Remain Rare in Continental Europe? Brooklyn Journal of International Law, 2012, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 854–857, 871–872, 889– 890 (available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract_id=2000814). 

   Puchniak D.W., Baum H., Ewing-Chow M. (eds.). The Derivative Action in Asia: A Comparative and Functional Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 73, 86–87, 

   Abolonin G.O. Massovye iski [Mass Actions]. Moscow, 2011. (In Russian) Wooldridge F., Davies L. Derivative Claims under UK Company Law and Some Related Provisions of German Law. Amicus Curiae, 2012, issue 90, p. 8 (available at: http://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/5180/1/1679-2148-1-SM.pdf). 

   Boyle A.J. Minority Shareholders, Remedies. Cambridge University Press, 2004, p. 49. 

   Schmolke K.U. Die Aktionärsklage nach § 148 AktG – Anreizwirkungen de lege lata und Reformanregungen de lege ferenda. Zeitschrift für Unternehmensund Gesellschaftsrecht, 2011, Bd. 40, Heft 4, S. 398. 

   Baums Th. Personal Liabilities of Company Directors in German Law (http:// www. jura.uni-frankfurt.de/43029388/paper35.pdf). 

   Snijders H.J. in: Hondius E., Chorus M.J., Gerver P.-H. (eds.). Introduction to Dutch Law. 4th ed. Kluwer Law International, 2006, p. 241.      Hooijdonk M. van, Eijsvoogel P. Litigation in the Netherlands: Civil Procedure, Arbitration and Administrative Litigation. Kluwer Law International, 2009, pp. 59–60, 62. 

   Willems M.A.L.M., Koetsier P.J.B. Reinforcement of Minority Shareholders, Position in the Right of Inquiry. Negligence and Damages Committee Newsletter, 2005, June, pp. 21–22 (available at: http://www.kvdl.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Peter-Koetsier- Reinforcement-of-Minority-Shareholders-Position-in-the-Right-of-Inquire1.pdf). 

   Vries P.P. de. Exit Rights of Minority Shareholders in a Private Limited Company. Kluwer, 2010, pp. 211–212. 

   Schuit S.R. in Schuit S.R. (ed.).  Corporate Law and Practice of the Netherlands: Legal, Work Councils and Taxation. 2nd ed. Kluwer Law International, 2002, pp. 193, 196 (available at: http://stevenschuit.com/docs/corporate_law_and_practice_of_the_ netherlands.pdf). 

   Tuijtel M.M. The Dutch Inquiry Proceedings: A Unique Instrument for Minority Protection from a Comparative Law Perspective. European Company Law, 2005, vol. 2, issue 3, pp. 90–91, 98. 

   Timmerman L., Doorman A. Rights of Minority Shareholders in the Netherlands: A Report Written for the XVIth World Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law (https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/files/3038170/minorityshh. pdf), pp. 57, 60, 62, 66–68. 

   Vermeulen E.P.M., Zetzsche D.A. The Use and Abuse of Investor Suits: An Inquiry into the Dark Side of Shareholder Activism (TILEC Disscussion Paper No. 2010-001) (http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract_id=1428901), pp. 24–26. 

Information about the author 

    Vasilyeva T.A. (Krasnoyarsk) – Master’s Student of the Law Institute of the Siberian Federal University (660075, Krasnoyarsk, Maerchaka st., 6, room 3-09A; e-mail: civil. [email protected]).