Extract from the Czech Commercial Register, certified, apostilled

Decoding Czech company extracts, how to read it

Certified extracts for Czech legal entities are avaliable only in the Czech language. This is currently the case and naturally complicates reading and understanding in many instances.

The information structure in extracts may differ significantly depending on the type of legal entity and individual characteristics, but the main points will be explained below. If you have difficulties reading the document:

• Use our company verification service directly on our website (we prepare link for you, coming soon). The system provides information about Czech legal entities in English, which will make reading more convenient;
• You can reach out to us using our contact information. We could help clarify any points for you, free of charge. We just ask that you send your questions via text message or email.

Now, let's proceed to the information. Most excerpts for Czech companies contain the following information blocks.

Current extract or complete history of changes

There are two types of extracts from the Czech Commercial Register: a simple current extract (information at the present moment) and a complete extract (with full history of changes). The document header will indicate which type it is. If the header simply states "Výpis", it's an excerpt of current data only. If it states "Úplný výpis", it's a complete excerpt with the history of all changes in the legal entity.

Also, further down in the extract form, you'll see which type it is. In a complete excerpt, there is usually data that was previously valid but is no longer current (for example, previous names or previous legal addresses, former directors and founders). Such data is marked with the word "vymazáno" (deleted) with the date indicated and is usually underlined in the document.

Basic Information about the legal entity

This is the topmost block of extract, containing general information about the legal entity, specifically:

• "Datum vzniku a zápisu" - date of the legal entity's incorporation and registration in the Trade Register
• "Spisová značka" - file number and name of a Trade Court maintaining the company's documents
• "Obchodní firma" - official legal name
• "Sídlo" - legal address
• "Identifikační číslo" - identification (registration) number
• "Právní forma" - legal form
• "Předmět podnikání" - types of activities listed in the company's articles of incorporation

Management bodies (directors), administration, liquidators

In this section, in the vast majority of cases, you will find information about the legal entity's directors and their details. They are marked as "jednatel". This block specifies the actual legal entity directors and their data (name, date of birth ("dat. nar."), as well as the date of appointment to the position "Den vzniku funkce"). Directors often have indicated how they can represent the legal entity ("Způsob jednání"), most commonly either jointly or separately.

Other governing bodies of the legal entity may also be specified, but they are truly rare. Just in case, we'll note:

• "Likvidátor" - liquidator, the person handling legal entity liquidation, a clear sign that the legal entity is in liquidation
• "Prokura" - management body with limited powers
• "Představenstvo" - management body typically characteristic of Czech joint-stock companies
• "Správní rada" - administrative-management body of legal entities
• "Dozorčí rada" - supervisory body

It's difficult to briefly explain the difference between them in a few words – such management bodies usually occur in certain specific types of legal entities, for example, in joint-stock companies.

Founders, legal entity shareholders

The next block usually specifies the actual owners of the legal entity, who actually own shares in it. Most commonly, you'll encounter the type "Společník" (which we can probably translate as founder/partner), for whom the following will be indicated:

• Name and surname
• dat. nar." - date of birth
• "Vklad" - quantity of authorized capital if legal entity belongs to shareholder
• "Splaceno" - part or quantity of authorized capital which was really payed off by shareholder
• "Obchodní podíl" - part of authorized capital which shareholder own in legal entity, often in percents

Other, additional information

Usually, we have here any additional information about legal entity, like total amount of authorized capital ("Základní kapitál"). Also here you can find individual characteristics of company, agreements of shareholders. In some cases, here you can find an information of Commercial Courts decisions regarding to this legal entity.