Yes. The shareholder register of a simple joint-stock company is public: the central securities depository publishes the data, except shareholders' personal identification numbers and dates of birth, on its website, and anyone may request an extract in writing. Who owns a j. s. a. and how many shares they hold is therefore no secret. This needs to be considered when setting up an ESOP or bringing in an investor.
In an s. r. o., the members are visible in the Commercial Register, while a conventional joint-stock company’s shareholder list is not public. A simple joint-stock company is a third model: anyone can see its ownership structure. Anyone considering a j. s. a. for a startup or employee shares should know this before choosing the legal form.
The depository maintains and publishes the shareholder register
Shares in a simple joint-stock company may only be book-entry registered shares (Section 220i(1) of the Commercial Code). Instead of a shareholder list, the company arranges for a shareholder register to be maintained, which replaces the list (Section 220j). It is maintained by the central securities depository that maintains the issuer’s register. The Securities Act is clear about its public nature:
The data entered in the shareholder register (‘registered data’) shall be published, except for a shareholder’s personal identification number and date of birth.
— Section 107d(1) of Act No. 566/2001 Coll. (unofficial English translation)
Publication takes place on the central securities depository’s website (Section 107d(3)). For each shareholder, the register contains their name or business name, residential address or registered office, and details of the number, type and nominal value of their shares, including the date of acquisition (Section 107d(2)).
How to obtain an extract
The central securities depository must, on a written request from a legal entity or individual, issue a current extract from the shareholder register or confirmation that a particular entry is absent (Section 107d(5)). It also issues a full extract recording every change since the issuer was registered (Section 107d(6)). An extract for the public contains only published data; the company itself, and a shareholder in respect of their own entries, receive an extract including non-public data (Section 107d(7)). Under CDCP practice, requests use form E19. An extract may be prepared as at the current date or a past date and is provided electronically to the public. We rely on the version of the form and procedure from before 17 August 2026. Check that they remain current before filing.
What this means for shareholders and investors
Unlike a conventional joint-stock company, whose shareholder list is not public, ownership of a j. s. a. can be established from a public source. We discuss the difference in who maintains the shareholder list. Registered rights under shareholder agreements are also public: the depository similarly publishes data from the register of rights to join in a share transfer (Section 107g(2)). For employee schemes, this means that employees’ interests in the company will be visible, and an investor can check the structure before due diligence. What the j. s. a. form offers as a whole is summarised in what is a simple joint-stock company.
How we can help
We handle shareholder agreements and their registration with the depository through registered rights in a j. s. a., incorporation through forming a j. s. a., and employee schemes through ESOPs and employee equity. If the public nature of the register is a concern, we can discuss the alternatives before you incorporate.
This answer provides general information on the law as at 29 August 2026. It does not constitute legal services or replace an assessment of an individual case. The details of your situation may differ. Book a consultation to discuss them.
