My company is in the process of buying out a German group.

To do that, we needed to set up a new holding company which would own the target group's shares.

Without exception, ALL our advisors/lawyers (both in Germany and out) recommended that we just pay the services of an "offshore provider" to buy an existing shell company with an already established and registered proxy director, instead of going through the creation process of a GmbH. "It's the most complicated process in the EU, and a PITA for all individuals involved.", they said.

We followed their advice.