In general, which of the following statements is correct with respect to a limited partnership?
Answer(s): A
Choice "a" is correct. A limited partner has rights similar to those of a corporate shareholder; he must be allowed to review financial and tax information of the limited partnership. Choice "b" is incorrect. A limited partnership must have one or more general partners, whose liability is unlimited.Choice "c" is incorrect. One may be both a general and a limited partner simultaneously. Such a person has all of the rights and liabilities of both a limited partner and a general partner. Choice "d" is incorrect. A limited partner has no management authority, rather he is a passive investor, like a corporate shareholder.
Answer(s): B
Choice "b" is correct. While the general rule is that a limited partner has no liability on partnership debts except to the extent of his agreed-upon contribution, the limited partner will lose this limited liability if he takes part in control of the business, which generally means a limited partner may not manage the business on a day-to-day basis as a general partner could. Choice "a" is incorrect. Limited partners are not personally liable for partnership debts; their liability generally is limited to their contributions.Choice "c" is incorrect. Death or incapacity of a general partner will cause a dissolution, but the same is not true of a limited partner.Choice "d" is incorrect. A limited partner is more like a shareholder in a corporation than like a general partner. Limited partners are not agents of their partnerships and have no authority to bind their partnership on contracts.
White, Grey, and Fox formed a limited partnership. White is the general partner and Grey and Fox are the limited partners. Each agreed to contribute $200,000. Grey and Fox each contributed $200,000 in cash while White contributed $150,000 in cash and $50,000 worth of services already rendered. After two years, the partnership is insolvent. The fair market value of the assets of the partnership is $150,000 and the liabilities total $275,000. The partners have made no withdrawals. If Fox is insolvent and White and Grey each has a net worth in excess of $300,000, what is White's maximum potential liability in the event of a dissolution of the partnership?
Answer(s): C
Rule: The liability of a limited partner for partnership debts is limited to the extent of the capital, which he has contributed or has agreed to contribute. A general partner, however, is liable for all partnership debts and liabilities.Choice "c" is correct. In this case, both Grey and Fox are limited partners and, thus, their respective maximum liability for partnership debts may not exceed their contributions ($200,000 each). Because White is a general partner, however, he will be personally liable for the excess of any debt remaining after assets have been applied upon a dissolution. Therefore, White will be liable for $125,000 (the difference between the fair market value of assets ($150,000) and partnership liabilities ($275,000) at dissolution).Choices "a", "b", and "d" are incorrect, per the above rule.
Harry, Betty, and Jim decide to form a hair salon business. Betty and Jim agree to equally manage the business and have agreed to accept full personal liability for obligations of the business. Harry contributes money to help them get started. Harry does not want any personal liability but does want access to the books and records and to share in the profits. They have all agreed that unanimous consent is needed to transfer their ownership interests. Assume any necessary filings have been made.What type of business entity best reflects the terms of their agreement? The three have formed:
Choice "a" is correct. A limited partnership best reflects the terms of the parties' agreement. A limited partnership has one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. The general partners are personally liable for partnership obligations and run the business (such as Betty and Jim agreed). A limited partner does not have personal liability for partnership obligations and does not take part in management; however, limited partners have a right to inspect partnership books and records relevant to their interest. Thus, a limited partnership has the attributes that Harry agreed to. Finally, all partners must unanimously consent to a transfer of an ownership interest in a limited partnership, as the parties agreed here. Thus, a limited partnership best reflects the agreement of the parties.Choice "b" is incorrect. Members of a limited liability company are not personally liable for the company's debt. (They may agree otherwise, but this is not a general attribute of a limited liability company.) Because the facts say Betty and Jim each agreed to have full personal liability, a limited liability company does not best reflect the parties' agreement. Choice "c" is incorrect. All partners are personally liable for all obligations of a general partnership. Because the facts say Harry did not accept personal liability, the agreement does not reflect a general partnership.Choice "d" is incorrect. Corporate shareholders generally are not liable for the corporation's obligations. (They may agree otherwise, but this is not a basic attribute of a corporation.) As the facts say Betty and Jim share full personal liability, the agreement does not reflect a corporation.
White, Grey, and Fox formed a limited partnership. White is the general partner and Grey and Fox are the limited partners. Each agreed to contribute $200,000. Grey and Fox each contributed $200,000 in cash while White contributed $150,000 in cash and $50,000 worth of services already rendered. After two years, the partnership is insolvent. The fair market value of the assets of the partnership is $150,000 and the liabilities total $275,000. The partners have made no withdrawals. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of limited partnership, which of the following is correct if Fox assigns her interest in the partnership to Barr and only White consents to Barr's admission as a limited partner?
Choice "a" is correct. In the absence of an agreement between all partners, the assignment of a partner's interest does not make the assignee a substitute partner; it merely transfers the assignor's rights to distributions to the assignee.Choice "b" is incorrect. Absent an agreement among the partners otherwise, an assignment of an interest in a partnership is merely an assignment of the assignor's rights to receive distributions from the partnership and does not give the assignee any right to inspect the partnership's books. Choice "c" is incorrect. Absent an agreement among the partners otherwise, an assignment of an interest in a partnership is merely an assignment of the assignor's rights to receive distributions from the partnership; it does not make the assignee a new partner. Since there is no change in who is a partner, there is no dissolution.Choice "d" is incorrect. All partners must agree to make someone a partner, not just the general partner.
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