Übernahme

Übernahme is a German noun formed from übernehmen “to take over.” It denotes the act of taking control, responsibility, or possession of something by another party. The term is used in several contexts, most prominently in business and corporate law, but also in personal or administrative language.

In business, Übernahme refers to the acquisition of one company by another, typically through the purchase of a controlling stake in the target’s voting rights. Common forms include stock acquisitions, asset purchases, and mergers. A takeover can be friendly, with management support, or hostile, when the target’s management opposes the bid. The partner company may launch a formal Übernahmeangebot (takeover offer) to the shareholders. In Germany, public takeovers of listed companies are regulated by the Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz (WpÜG), which sets thresholds and disclosure obligations and governs matters such as mandatory vs voluntary offers and post-offer protections.

Beyond corporate contexts, Übernahme can refer to the adoption of a child or to the assumption of duties or costs, for example “die Übernahme der Kosten” (assumption of costs) or “eine neue Aufgabe übernehmen” (to take on a new task). Etymology: from über- “over” + nehmen “to take.” The term exists in other German-speaking contexts and often translates into English as “takeover” or “assumption,” depending on the context.