39-581: Kienzle Uhren GmbH are Germany's oldest watchmakers. The company was founded by Johannes Schlenker in 1822 in Schwenningen , Germany. Since 2002, the company's headquarters have been in Hamburg , Germany. In 1883, Jakob Kienzle married into the Schlenker family, and became a partner in the company. The company was renamed to Schlenker & Kienzle from 1883 until 1922, when it became a stockholder corporation under
78-625: A concert hall in the HafenCity quarter. Between 2007 and 2009, von Beust was one of 32 members of the Second Commission on the modernization of the federal state , which had been established to reform the division of powers between federal and state authorities in Germany. Third term In the Hamburg elections of 24 February 2008 , the CDU gained 42.6 percent of the vote. Thus, the CDU continued to be
117-591: A "flat in an infamous hustler district" and "certain things happened that let one infer the occurrence of love acts" between von Beust and Roger Kusch, who von Beust had appointed minister (in German city-states "senator") of justice. Von Beust in turn stated that Schill threatened to make his alleged liaison with Kusch public under the premise that von Beust intermingled public and private affairs. He said he had no sexual relationship with Kusch, that they merely knew each other for 25 years and were good friends, and that von Beust
156-574: A later interview, von Beust's father confirmed that his son is indeed homosexual. Von Beust himself considers his sexual orientation a private matter; when asked directly he usually ironically refers the interviewer to his father. He has been in a relationship with his partner Lukas Förster since 2009 when the high school student completed an internship at the town hall. In 2013, the 56-year-old ex-mayor married his 22-year-old partner. Second term The Hamburg elections of 29 February 2004 , ended with an unprecedented landslide victory for Ole von Beust and
195-564: A managing director will not invalidate a contract with a third party, but the GmbH may hold the managing director in question liable for damages. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein have different national requirements as follows: The concept of a company with limited liability existed in the United Kingdom before it did in German-speaking countries. In 1892, the laws governing
234-665: A member of the Hamburg city-state's parliament. In 1983 he successfully completed his studies and became an independent lawyer. He has been a member of the ruling council of the Hamburg Land CDU since 1992, and of the national ruling council of the CDU party since 1998. First term On 31 October 2001, Ole von Beust became First Mayor of Hamburg. When Hamburg experienced an exodus of jobs after major corporations including cigarette-maker Reemtsma , travel and shipping company Hapag-Lloyd , haircare products-maker Hans Schwarzkopf and
273-518: A member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In 1973, after finishing high school, he worked for CDU parliamentary group in the Hamburg Parliament ("Hamburgische Bürgerschaft"), a position he held until he started to study law in 1975 at the University of Hamburg . From 1977 until 1983 he was Hamburg president of the youth organisation of his party. Since 1978 von Beust has been
312-533: Is a type of legal entity in German-speaking countries. It is equivalent to a société à responsabilité limitée (Sàrl) in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and to a Società a Garanzia Limitata (Sagl) in the Italian-speaking part. It is an entity broadly equivalent to the private limited company in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries, and the limited liability company (LLC) in
351-472: The SoFFin fund, which had been set up by the federal government in 2008 to stabilize the financial markets, said it could not help out HSH Nordbank until it got rid of all its bad debts. Ahead of the 2009 national elections , von Beust was tipped as potential Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development in the cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel ; in the negotiations on a coalition agreement with
390-560: The Unternehmensregister . In 2008, a derived form called Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt) (English: "entrepreneurial company (limited liability)"), or in short UG (haftungsbeschränkt) , was introduced. It requires a minimum founding capital of €1 and was introduced to assist company founders in setting up a new company. Also, the UG must enlarge its capital by at least 25% of its annual net profit (with some adjustments), until
429-596: The Vereins and Westbank AG were acquired by companies outside of Hamburg, von Beust had the city's investment arm, the Hamburger Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsverwaltung, join forces with retailer Tchibo for the acquisition of cosmetics maker Beiersdorf in 2003. This put American multinational Procter & Gamble out of the bidding and preserved Beiersdorf as a publicly traded, stand-alone company in Hamburg. As host of Hamburg's annual St. Matthew's Day banquet for
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#1732855435658468-459: The Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe . In 1956, the "Volksautomatik" was introduced to the market. Energy is provided by a rotor that winds in both directions, and instead of steel pins, the lever is fitted with ruby pins. In the 1960s, Kienzle produced dashboard clocks for Mercedes-Benz , Rolls-Royce and Bentley : both Series 1 Silver Shadow , and Bentley T models were fitted with Kienzle clocks. In
507-401: The 1960s and 1970s, Kienzle became a market leader in Germany. In 1972, the first solar watch, "Heliomat", was produced as well as the first quartz movements. In the following years, Kienzle was the first company to present a quartz travel alarm clock. In 1986, Kienzle developed the first solar watch with light conditions and a polycrystalline solar element. In the early 1990s, Kienzle developed
546-523: The CDU, with the party achieving an overall majority in the city-state's parliament. The CDU gained 47.2 percent of the vote, a full 21-point increase from the previous election in September 2001. This was the first time since 1993 the city-state has had only a single ruling party. Under von Beust's leadership, the Hamburg state government made the decision to commence construction of the Elbphilharmonie ,
585-550: The FDP, however, the position went to Dirk Niebel . In 2010, von Beust became the first German state leader to indicate that his state was in principle willing to provide humanitarian solutions for former Guantanamo inmates approved for release; Hamburg later accepted one released detainee. On 18 July 2010, von Beust announced his resignation, to take effect on 25 August. Leaving office alongside von Beust were Karin von Welck , Hamburg's State Minister for Culture, and Volkmar Schoen of
624-584: The GmbH were adopted in Germany, and in Austria in 1906. During the 19th century, a legal entity with liability limited to the contributed capital was regarded as something dangerous. Hence, German law has many restrictions unknown to common law systems. Because there is no central company registry in Germany but rather several hundred connected to regional courts, administration of the law can vary somewhat between German states . Since 2007, there has been an internet-based central company register for Germany, called
663-525: The Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecuted People. During a strike of ground crew at Frankfurt Airport in February 2012, von Beust was appointed as arbitrator by airport operator Fraport for negotiations with trade union GdF. The union accepted his proposed settlement plan; Fraport, however, rejected the deal. In addition, von Beust has been holding various paid and unpaid positions, including
702-621: The Second World War Kienzle continued production with established articles and new products like a parking meter equipped with the latest technology. During World War II , the company augmented the employed work force with slave labour from Poland and other conquered areas. The factory produced and supplied a range of timing instruments and watches for the German and Axis armed forces. These included chronograph 8-day cockpit clocks for Messerschmitt and Heinkel aircraft as well as wrist and pocket watches for general purchase, and for
741-501: The United States. The name of the GmbH form emphasizes that the owners ( Gesellschafter , also known as members) of the entity are not personally liable for the company's debts. GmbHs are considered legal persons under German, Swiss and Austrian law. Other variations include mbH (used when the term Gesellschaft is part of the company name itself), and gGmbH ( gemeinnützige GmbH) for non-profit companies. The GmbH has become
780-427: The articles of association. Many of those documents have to be filed with the company registry, where they are checked by special judges or other judicial officers. This can be a tiresome and time-consuming process, as in most cases the transactions are legally valid only when filed with the registry. The founding process is expensive. Normally the foundation of a new GmbH costs about €1000 to €3000. The GmbH law outlines
819-441: The city's civic and business leaders, von Beust invited several high-ranking guests of honour to the city, including Queen Silvia of Sweden (2003), King Abdullah II of Jordan (2005), Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (2006), President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania (2008). On 19 August 2003, von Beust dismissed his vice-mayor, Ronald Schill , causing a scandal. Von Beust had earlier dismissed Walter Wellinghausen, senator of
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#1732855435658858-419: The company is run only by the managing directors ( Geschäftsführer ) who have the unrestricted proxy for the company. The members acting collectively may restrict the powers of the managing directors by giving them binding orders. In most cases, the articles of the association list the business activities for which the directors obtain prior consent from the members. Under German law, a violation of these duties by
897-517: The company was producing 162,000 watches and alarm clocks per year. In 1902, Kienzle launched the time stamp clock on the market and the first clocks for automobiles. The "Strapazier-Armbanduhr" was presented in 1931, and 25 million were sold. At the end of the 1930s, Kienzle started the manufacture of two table clocks in the upper price segment: the Zodiac Clock and the World Time Clock. After
936-461: The current headquarters, a merchant's house in Hamburg-Harvestehude. In the future Kienzle, plans to extend to a medium-sized lifestyle brand. Kienzle Optik is the first expansion segment to be launched on the market. However, watches and clocks will remain the core area of the brand. Kienzle regularly sponsors different projects, but increasingly focuses on sport. In 1992, Katja Seizinger
975-474: The end of the fiscal year in which they were accrued, but are allowed to build capital reserves totaling 10 percent of annual donations or 33 percent of dividends received. Ole von Beust Ole von Beust (born 13 April 1955) is a former German politician who was First Mayor of Hamburg from 31 October 2001 to 25 August 2010, serving as President of the Bundesrat from 1 November 2007 on for one year. He
1014-440: The following: In late 2015, von Beust was named co-chairman (alongside Jürgen Trittin and Matthias Platzeck ) of a government-appointed commission tasked with recommending by early 2016 how to safeguard the funding of fulfilling Germany's exit from nuclear energy . By April 2016, the commission agreed to ask the power firms to pay €23.3 billion ($ 26.4 billion) into a state fund to cover the costs of nuclear waste storage. For
1053-480: The founding stages", with the meaning of "registration pending"); and finally the fully registered GmbH. Only the registration of the company in the Commercial Register ( Handelsregister ) provides the GmbH with its full legal status. The founding act and the articles of association have to be notarized , as do a number of business transactions, such as transfer of shares, issuing of stock, and amendments to
1092-470: The general minimum of €25,000 is reached (at which point the company may change its name to the more prestigious GmbH ). In this case, the word haftungsbeschränkt must not be abbreviated. A gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (gGmbH) is a special form of a limited liability company with a charitable purpose. Traditional foundations and gGmbHs in Germany do not have minimum annual giving requirements. They are required to spend any profits by
1131-483: The interior and Schill's most important official, without consulting Schill beforehand. This was due to public allegations of misconduct on Wellinghausen's part. In a private conversation, Schill then demanded that von Beust take back the dismissal, allegedly using personal threats. Von Beust then decided to dismiss Schill as well. In the (preassigned) press conference Schill held minutes after he had heard of his own dismissal, he spoke vaguely of "homosexual relationships",
1170-426: The minimum content of the articles of association, but it is quite common to have a wide range of additional rules in the articles. Under German law, the GmbH must have a minimum founding capital of €25,000 (§ 5 I GmbHG), of which €12,500 has to be raised before registering in the commercial register (§ 7 II GmbHG). A supervisory board ( Aufsichtsrat ) is required if the company has more than 500 employees; otherwise,
1209-576: The most common corporation form in Germany because the AG ( Aktiengesellschaft ), the other major company form corresponding to a stock corporation, was much more complicated to form and operate until recently. A GmbH is formed in three stages: the founding association, which is regarded as a private partnership with full liability of the founding partners/members; the founded company (often styled as "GmbH i.G.", with "i.G." standing for in Gründung – literally "in
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1248-413: The most water-resistant watch in the world which was resistant up to 12,000 metres. They also developed the world's first radio-controlled atomic alarm clock with an analogue alarm setting. In 1996, a new radio-controlled movement was developed: the smallest dual-motor, radio-controlled movement with the fastest setting system. This movement corrects to the right time within five minutes. In 1997, Kienzle
1287-514: The name Kienzle Uhrenfabrik, A.G. (Kienzle Clock Factories, A.G.). When the company introduced the "American System" of production in 1894, standardized individual components, and perforated plates, the cost of alarm clocks and wall clocks was significantly reduced. In 1897, Jakob Kienzle became the sole owner, and the name of the company was eventually changed to Kienzle. In the following years branches in Milan, Paris, and London were established. In 1899,
1326-542: The senate chancellery. Shortly after, voters in Hamburg toppled von Beust's proposed education reforms in the city-state's first binding referendum. The vote assured the preservation of Hamburg's four-year primary schools, rather than extending primary education to six years, which the ruling coalition of Christian Democrats and Greens had proposed. Upon leaving active politics, von Beust opened his own law firm and joined consultancy Roland Berger as advisor. In 2012, he succeeded Klaus von Dohnányi as Executive Director of
1365-532: The strongest party in Hamburg. However, since the CDU lost its absolute majority, it formed a coalition government with the Greens . At the time, the two party's cooperation was widely seen as a test for a possible coalition at the national level. In February 2009, von Beust and Minister President Peter Harry Carstensen of Schleswig-Holstein agreed on a €13 billion bailout of state-owned shipping financier HSH Nordbank . The two states were forced to intervene after
1404-593: Was Kusch's landlord. "This is all – absolutely all", according to von Beust. His unprepared statement to the press quickly earned Schill a homophobic reputation. A popular radio-station broadcast a song calling him "Mega-Proll" (mega redneck) and gay and lesbian associations protested vocally. Schill however later affirmed von Beust's version of the story, except for the accusations of blackmail , saying that he warned von Beust to stay clear of nepotism , and that this had nothing to do with von Beust's sexual orientation. He stated "I have nothing against homosexuals ". In
1443-635: Was succeeded as mayor by Christoph Ahlhaus . Born in Hamburg as Carl-Friedrich Arp Freiherr von Beust , he is the son of Achim Helge Freiherr von Beust and Hanna, née Wolff, who was considered half Jewish in Nazi Germany . The von Beust family is an old noble family from the Altmark , which appears in 1228 for the first time. Through his father he is a descendant of Saxon and Austrian statesman Count Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust . He had his nickname Ole registered as his first name. In 1971 von Beust became
1482-990: Was supported in the Olympic Games . Kienzle sponsored the SG Flensburg-Handewitt . From the 2009/2010 season, Kienzle is an official partner of the Hamburg sports club and will support the Bundesliga -watch in the arena. Kienzle supports the Hamburg Leuchtfeuer Hospiz which is under the patronage of former Hamburg mayor Ole von Beust . GmbH Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung ( German: [ɡəˈzɛlʃaft mɪt bəˌʃʁɛŋktɐ ˈhaftʊŋ] ), literally 'company with limited liability' (abbreviated as GmbH [ɡeːʔɛmbeːˈhaː] in Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein , and as Ges.m.b.H. in Austria ),
1521-525: Was taken over by the Highway Holdings Group. But only five years later in 2002, Kienzle returned to Germany with the establishment of Kienzle AG. The company employs over 450 workers in its new factory. Since that time, the headquarters is located in Hamburg. The company purchased worldwide brand and distribution rights and began with the development and fabrication of three new watch collections in different price segments. In 2008, Kienzle moved into
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