Privacy Statement


Name and Contact Details of the Data Controller and the Company Data Protection Officer

This data protection information applies to the data processing by:
Responsible: GHM GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Auf dem Brand 3, D-50996 Cologne,
Phone +49 221-789 580 10, fax +49 221-789 580 20 or info[at]ghm-partners.de.

The company data protection officer of GHM GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft can be contacted at the above address, at Dr. Peter Happe, or at info[at]ghm-partners.de.


2. Collection and Storage of Personal Data as well as Type and Purpose of Their Use

a) When visiting the website

When you call up our website www.ghm-partners.de, information is automatically sent to the server of our website by the browser used on your end device. This information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file.

The following information is recorded without your intervention and stored until it is automatically deleted:

  • IP address of the requesting computer,
  • Date and time of access,
  • Name and URL of the retrieved file,
  • Website from which the access takes place (referrer URL),
  • the browser used and, if applicable, the operating system of your computer and the name of your access provider.

The above-mentioned data will be processed by us for the following purposes:

  • To ensure a smooth connection of the website,
  • Ensuring a comfortable use of our website,
  • Evaluation of system security and stability and
  • for further administrative purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 Par. 1 S. 1 letter f DSGVO. Our legitimate interest follows from the above listed purposes for data collection. Under no circumstances do we use the collected data for the purpose of drawing conclusions about your person.

Furthermore, we use cookies and analysis services when you visit our website. You will find more detailed explanations on this under points 4 and 5 of this data protection declaration.

b) When registering for our newsletter

If you have expressly consented in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a DSGVO, we will use your e-mail address to send you our newsletter on a regular basis. To receive the newsletter, it is sufficient to provide an e-mail address.

It is possible to unsubscribe at any time, for example via a link at the end of each newsletter. Alternatively, you can send your unsubscription request at any time by e-mail to info[at]ghm-partners.de.

c) When using our contact form

If you have any questions of any kind, we offer you the opportunity to contact us using a form provided on the website. It is necessary to provide a valid e-mail address so that we know who the request comes from and can answer it. Further information can be provided voluntarily.

The data processing for the purpose of contacting us is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a DSGVO on the basis of your voluntarily given consent.

The personal data collected by us for the use of the contact form will be automatically deleted after the completion of your request.


3. Passing on of Data

Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.

We only pass on your personal data to third parties if:

  • you have given your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a DSGVO
  • the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 letter f DSGVO is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in not disclosing your data,
  • in the event that there is a legal obligation to pass on the data pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c DSGVO, and
  • this is legally permissible and, in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. b DSGVO, necessary for the processing of contractual relationships with you.


4. Cookies

We use cookies on our site. These are small files that are automatically created by your browser and stored on your end device (laptop, tablet, smartphone or similar) when you visit our site. Cookies do not cause any damage to your end device, do not contain viruses, trojans or other malware.

Information is stored in the cookie that is related to the specific terminal device used. This does not mean, however, that we obtain direct knowledge of your identity.

The use of cookies serves on the one hand to make the use of our offer more pleasant for you. For example, we use so-called session cookies to recognize that you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted when you leave our site.

In addition, we also use temporary cookies to optimize user-friendliness, which are stored on your end device for a certain defined period of time. If you visit our site again to use our services, we will automatically recognize that you have already been with us and what entries and settings you have made so that you do not have to enter them again.

The data processed by cookies are required for the purposes mentioned above to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Art. 6 Par. 1 S. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

Most browsers automatically accept cookies. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or so that a message always appears before a new cookie is created. However, completely deactivating cookies may mean that you cannot use all the functions of our website.


5. Analysis-Tools

a) Tracking Tools

The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f DSGVO. With the tracking measures we use, we want to ensure a needs-based design and the ongoing optimization of our website. On the other hand, we use the tracking measures to record the use of our website statistically and evaluate it for the purpose of optimizing our offer for you. These interests are to be regarded as justified in the sense of the above-mentioned regulation.

The respective data processing purposes and data categories can be taken from the corresponding tracking tools.

i) Google Analytics

For the purpose of designing our pages to meet your needs and continuously optimizing them, we use Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc. (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/) (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter "Google"). In this context, pseudonymized user profiles are created and cookies (see section 4) are used. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website such as

  • Browser type/version,
  • operating system used,
  • Referrer URL (the previously visited page),
  • Host name of the accessing computer (IP address),
  • Time of the server inquiry, are transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on the website activities and to provide further services connected with the use of the website and the Internet for the purposes of market research and the design of these Internet pages in line with requirements. This information may also be transferred to third parties if required by law or if third parties process this data on our behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other data from Google. The IP addresses are made anonymous, so that an assignment is not possible (IP masking).

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.

You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de).

As an alternative to the browser add-on, especially for browsers on mobile devices, you can also prevent the collection by Google Analytics by clicking on this link. An opt-out cookie is set to prevent the future collection of your data when you visit this website. The opt-out cookie is only valid in this browser and only for our website and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will need to set the opt-out cookie again.

You can find further information on data protection in connection with Google Analytics in the Google Analytics Help (https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de).

ii) Google Adwords Conversion Tracking

In order to record the use of our website statistically and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimizing our website for you, we also use Google Conversion Tracking. Google Adwords sets a cookie (see point 4) on your computer, if you have reached our website via a Google display.

These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of the Adwords client's website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the client can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page.

Every Adwords customer receives a different cookie. Cookies can therefore not be tracked through the websites of Adwords clients. The information collected through the conversion cookie is used to compile conversion statistics for Adwords clients who have opted for conversion tracking. The Adwords customers learn the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive information that personally identifies users.

If you do not wish to participate in the tracking process, you may refuse to accept cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, such as turning off automatic cookie submission. You can also disable cookies for conversion tracking by setting your browser to block cookies from the domain "www.googleadservices.com". Google's privacy policy for conversion tracking can be found here (https://services.google.com/sitestats/de.html).


6. Social Media Plug-ins

We use social plug-ins of the social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on our website on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f DSGVO in order to make our association better known. The advertising purpose behind this is to be regarded as a legitimate interest within the meaning of the DSGVO. The responsibility for the data protection compliant operation is to be guaranteed by their respective providers. The integration of these plug-ins by us takes place by means of the so-called two-click method in order to protect visitors to our website in the best possible way.

a) Facebook

On our website, social media plugins from Facebook are used to make their use more personal. For this we use the "LIKE" or "SHARE" button. This is an offer from Facebook.

If you call up a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection with the Facebook servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted by Facebook directly to your browser, which integrates it into the website.

Through the integration of the plugin, Facebook receives the information that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Facebook account or are not currently logged in to Facebook. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted by your browser directly to a Facebook server in the USA and stored there.

If you are logged in to Facebook, Facebook can directly assign your visit to our website to your Facebook account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the "LIKE" or "SHARE" button, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a Facebook server and stored there. The information is also published on Facebook and displayed to your Facebook friends.

Facebook may use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research and the design of Facebook pages to meet your needs. For this purpose, Facebook creates usage, interest and relationship profiles, e.g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on Facebook, to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website and to provide other services associated with the use of Facebook.

If you do not want Facebook to assign the data collected via our website to your Facebook account, you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website.

For the purpose and scope of data collection and the further processing and use of data by Facebook, as well as your rights in this regard and setting options for protecting your privacy, please refer to Facebook's data protection information (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/).

b) Instagram

Our site also uses social plug-ins ("Plug-ins") from Instagram, which is operated by Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA ("Instagram").

The plugins are marked with an Instagram logo, for example in the form of an "Instagram Camera".

When you access a page on our website that contains such a plug-in, your browser will establish a direct connection to Instagram's servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted by Instagram directly to your browser and integrated into the page. This integration informs Instagram that your browser has called up the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have an Instagram profile or are not logged in to Instagram.

This information (including your IP address) is transmitted by your browser directly to an Instagram server in the USA and stored there. If you are logged in to Instagram, Instagram can immediately attribute your visit to our website to your Instagram account. When you interact with the plug-ins, for example by clicking the "Instagram" button, this information is also transmitted directly to an Instagram server and stored there.

The information is also published to your Instagram account and displayed to your contacts.

If you do not want Instagram to associate the information collected through our website directly with your Instagram account, you must log out of Instagram before visiting our website.

Please refer to Instagram's Privacy Policy (https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388) for more information.


7. Rights of Data Subjects

You have the right:

  • to request information about your personal data processed by us according to art. 15 DSGVO. In particular, you may request information on the purposes of processing, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the existence of a right of rectification, cancellation, restriction of processing or opposition, the existence of a right of appeal, the origin of your data, if not collected by us, as well as the existence of automated decision making including profiling and, if applicable, meaningful information on the details of the same;
  • in accordance with Art. 16 DSGVO, to immediately demand the correction of incorrect or incomplete personal data stored by us;
  • pursuant to Art. 17 DSGVO to demand the deletion of your personal data stored with us, unless processing is necessary to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information, to fulfil a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or to assert, exercise or defend legal claims;
  • pursuant to Art. 18 DSGVO, to demand the restriction of the processing of your personal data, insofar as the accuracy of the data is disputed by you, the processing is unlawful, but you refuse to delete it and we no longer require the data, but you require it for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims or you have lodged an objection to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 DSGVO;
  • in accordance with Art. 20 DSGVO, to receive your personal data that you have provided us with in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request that it be transferred to another responsible party;
  • in accordance with Art. 7 para. 3 DSGVO, to revoke your consent to us at any time. As a result, we may no longer continue data processing based on this consent for the future and
  • complain to a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 DSGVO. As a rule, you can turn to the supervisory authority of your usual place of residence or work or to the supervisory authority of our association's headquarters.

8. Right of Objection

If your personal data are processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 letter f DSGVO, you have the right to object, pursuant to Art. 21 DSGVO, to the processing of your personal data if there are reasons for doing so that arise from your particular situation or if the objection is directed against direct marketing. In the latter case, you have a general right of objection, which will be implemented by us without specifying a special situation.

If you would like to make use of your right of revocation or objection, an e-mail to info[at]ghm-partners.de is sufficient.


9. Data Security

We use the common SSL (Secure Socket Layer) procedure within the website visit in connection with the highest encryption level supported by your browser. Usually this is a 256 bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we use 128-bit v3 technology instead. You can tell whether an individual page of our website is being transmitted in encrypted form by the closed display of the key or lock symbol in the lower status bar of your browser.

We also use appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction or unauthorized access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.


10. Topicality and Amendment of this Data Protection Declaration

Diese Datenschutzerklärung ist aktuell gültig und hat den Stand Mai 2018. Durch die Weiterentwicklung unserer Website und Angebote darüber oder aufgrund geänderter gesetzlicher beziehungsweise behördlicher Vorgaben kann es notwendig werden, diese Datenschutzerklärung zu ändern.

This data protection declaration is currently valid and has the status of May 2018. Due to the further development of our website and offers above or due to changed legal or official requirements, it may become necessary to change this data protection declaration.

You can access and print out the current data protection declaration at any time on the website at www.ghm-partners.de/privacy_statement_en.html.

Auf dem Brand 3 | Montgelasstraße 2
D-50996 Köln | D-81679 München
Germany
T +49(0)221 789 580 10 | +49(0)89 660 62 82 30
F +49(0)221 789 580 20 | +49(0)89 660 62 82 12
info[at]ghm-partners.de
www.ghm-partners.de
No Legal or Tax Advise
The information and presentation given on this internet site do not represent a legal advise or tax advise. Our legal and tax references are to be discussed with a lawyer and tax advisor and examined by them. Please note that the legal and tax consequences depend on the personal facts and circumstances of the respective person or group of persons and are subject to constant change.