👔Business 2: Partnerships Flashcards
(52 cards)
What is a partnership?
Relationship which exists when:
* 2 or more people
* Carry on a business in common
* With a view of profit
What should be considered for ‘business in common’?
(NOT conclusive)
1. Do the individuals all take part in decision- making?
2. Whose names are on the title deeds of any property?
3. How are profits/losses shared?
What is the default contract (partnership agreement) for a partnership?
Partnership Act 1890 provides default contract
UNLESS other terms agreed (can be oral agreement or by conduct)
What parts of the Partnership Act 1890 CANT be overridden by agreement?
- When a partnership comes into existence
- relationships between partners and 3rd parties
What are the suggested provisions for a partnership agreement?
Name
Place & nature of business
Commencement & duration
Work input
Roles
Decision making
Financial input
Shares in income, capital profits, losses
Drawings (income profits partners receive) and salaries
Ownership of assets/property
Expulsion
Dissolution
Goodwill
Distribution of proceeds of sale of business
Restraint of trade
Dispute resolution
What must a partnership name NOT be?
- Inc. limited, ltd LLP PLC
- Be offensive
- Be same as existing trademark
- Contain a ‘sensitive’ word/expression or suggest connection with gov/la without permission
When does a partnership commence?
when def in s1 PA 1890 satisfied (=may come into existence when planning started)
In the absence of contrary agreement, what are the rules about amount of time spent working in a partnership/time off?
- No obligation to work full-time BUT can be implied through conduct/course of dealings.
- No automatic right to time off due to ill-health or injury
5
Common clauses re. work input in a PA?
- Partner must devote whole of their time and attention to the business
- Advisable to state that partners must not engage in any other business
- No -compete clauses (is also implied under PA 1890)
- Holiday, sickness, maternity, paternity (no provisions in PA)
- Roles-Scope of duties/responsibilities and restrictions
How are decisions made in a partnership unless otherwise stated?
Majority needed for all decisions
EXCEPT unanimity needed for:
1. Changing the nature of the business
2. Introducing new partner
3. Changing the terms of PA (s 19 PA 1890, and also the general contractual principle that contracts can only be varied with the consent of all the parties).
How are income, capital losses profits and losses shared in a partnership unless otherwise stated?
- INCOME: Equal regardless of hours worked unless agreed otherwise
- CAPITAL: Equal regardless of initial contrib BUT can be inferred/established from a course of conduct that the partners entitled to capital differently
What is the difference between capital profits and income profits?
- Capital profits-one off gains
- Income profits-recurring
What property will be ‘partnership property’
Property bought with partnership money and used for the purposes and in the course of the partnership business
Rules on expelling a partner
*PA, s25-No majority of partners may expel another unless partners have expressly agreed to this
* May inc clause saying partner can be expelled if conducted themselves in certain way
How can a partnership be dissolved under PA, (7 ways) and which ones can/cant be dissaplied?
- Partner retired
- On expiry of fixed term (can be disapplied)
- Death/bankruptcy of partner (can be disapplied)
- Notice
- Partners give notice of dissolution to a partner who has granted a charge over their share of the partnership prop, for a debt owed by them alone (can be disapplied)
- Something happens which makes it unlawful for firm business to be carried on (cant be disapplied)
- Court order
5
When can the court order that a partnership be dissolved?
- Partner becomes permanently incapable of performing their part of PA
- A partner’s conduct is prejudicial to the business
- A partner wilfully or persistently breaches PA
- The partnership can only be carried on at a loss
- Court thinks its just and equitable to order that the partnership be dissolved
What is the effect of dissolution?
- Unless otherwise agreed, partnership must end and all assets sold
- Outgoing partner can insist business sold
- If not provided for, outgoing partner entitled to interest rate of 5% per Anum on value of partnership until share received
What 3 provisions are good to add into a PA re. dissolution?
- Provide for partial dissolution so remaining partners continue in partnership if one leaves
- Whether other partners must buy outgoing partners share/ in instalments.
- Indemnity in favour of outgoing partner if liabilities taken into acc when share valued
What is goodwill?
Business reputation and value of clients and conduct
2y profit often taken as value of goodwill
Under PA 1890 how are the sale proceeds applied on sale of the business?
- Creditors paid in full, from priv assets if there’s shortfall
- Partners who’ve lent money must be repaid outstanding amount inc interest.
- Return of partners capital contributions
- Surplus shared between partners in accordance with terms of agreement/profit sharing ratio
What is a restraint of trade clause and is it implied by PA?
Clause seeking to restrict outgoing partners in business dealings once left
Not implied by PA
When are restraint of trade clauses enforceable?
Only enforceable if protects legit business interest
3
What do restraint of trade clauses include?
- Non compete clauses-prevent competing with partnership business
- Non solicitation clauses-no soliciting clients
- Non dealing clauses-no contracts with clients, former clients, employees
What are partners responsibilities to each other?
Common law: Duty of the upmost fairness and good faith
PA 1890:
1. Share profits (and losses) equally
2. Bear a share of any loss in accordance with PA
3. Indemnify fellow partners who’ve borne more than their share of liability/expense
4. Be completely open re relevant partnership info
5. Account to firm for priv profits earned (from transaction concerning partnership) without others consent
6. Don’t compete with firm (ie. Carry on any business of same nature as/competing with that firm) (if they do, must account for and pay all profits made)