Limited libility patnership

Limited libility patnership

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  Limited Liability Partnership BY: ASHUTOSH NIKITA GAURAV HITENDAR AKBAR PRAVEEN
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  overview • Limited Liability Partnership - meaning • Origin and Development • LLP Act 2008 – a brief overview • Certain Issues • Tax Treatment of LLPs • A Comparative Analysis • Conclusion
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  Limited liability partnership-meaning •A Limited Liability Partnership firm (“LLP”) is a form of business organisation with each partner’s liability limited to the contribution made by that partner in relation to the LLP, except in case of fraud, malpractice, wrongs, etc., in which case liability that can attach to the relevant partner may be unlimited liability.
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  Origin and development Sincethe middle of the 19th century, there has been a continuing pressure to relax the provisions surrounding the limited company form and to introduce a new corporate structure for small and medium sized business organisations. • 1980-1990: Major accountancy firms organised in the form of partnerships with unlimited liability, wanting to limit the liability of an individual partner to acts specifically related to that partner, launched a campaign for the creation of the LLP vehicle in the UK. • 1989: The UK Companies Act, 1989 was amended to allow accountancy firms to work as limited liability companies. The joint and several liabilities of general partners, however, remained. Accordingly, in such an event if a wrong was done by a partner, the general partner
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  Origin and development UnitedStates of America • 1990-2000: In the 1990s, the accountancy firms in the UK again campaigned to secure proportional liability in Partnership firms. This finally led to the passing of the Limited Liability Partnership Act, in the year 2000. • Texas (1991): The Texas LLP statute was enacted in response to the liability that had been imposed on partners of firms by government agencies in relation to massive savings and loan failures in the 1980’s. Another reason for the introduction of LLPs was the increasing number of malpractice suits that were being filed against larger general partnerships. The statute protected partners from personal liability for claims related to a co-partner’s negligence, omission, in competency, errors or malfeasance.
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  Indian legislative history India1957: Suggestion to introduce LLP legislation rejected by 7th Law Commission on Partnership Act, 1932. The suggestion was made by the iron, steel and hardware merchants chamber at that time. The ground for seeking the creation of such business organisation was that the Companies Act had become cumbersome for private companies, with directors and shareholder interests protection clauses, company secretary being compulsory, etc. It was rejected inter alia on the basis that the whole purpose of the recent Companies Act amendment would fail if this proposal was accepted. 1997: Abid Hussain Committee on Small Scale Industries recommended introduction of LLPs in India
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  Contd… 2003: Naresh ChandraCommittee Report (Regulation of Private Companies and Partnerships) highlighted the grave need to introduce LLPs in India – suggested application of LLPs to service industry. It is pertinent to note that the intent was not to extend to all forms of trade as the form of the private company existed for all forms of trade. The recommendation was that LLPs should be permitted in phase 1 only for professional firms, such as chartered accountants, architects, lawyers, doctors, cost accountants, etc. 2005: JJ Irani Expert Committee on Company Law recommended introduction of LLPs - suggested that small enterprises should be included in the scope of LLPs and there should be a separate LLP Act. They viewed that this could provide flexibility to small enterprises to form joint ventures and enter into agreements that enable them to access technology. December 7, 2006: 2006 LLP Bill approved by Union Cabinet December 15, 2006: 2006 LLP Bill introduced in Parliament
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  2007: 2006 LLPBill referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) headed by Mr. Ananth Kumar for examination November 27, 2007: PSC submitted its report to the Parliament recommending changes and suggestions in relation to the 2006 LLP Bill May 1, 2008: Union Cabinet gave its approval to introduction of a new bill (2008 LLP Bill) replacing the 2006 LLP Bill October 21, 2008: LLP Bill 2008 introduced in Parliament October 24, 2008: LLP Bill 2008 passed by the Rajya Sabha December 13 2008: LLP Bill 2008 passed by the Lok Sabha January 7, 2009: President’s assent given to the LLP Bill 2008 January 9, 2009: LLP Act 2008 published in the official gazette (YET TO BE NOTIFIED FOR IT TO COME INTO FORCE)
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  LLP Act 2008 •An LLP is a body corporate. • Apart from individuals, even body corporates may be partners. • Minimum two partners and two Designated Partners who must be individuals, but no limit on the maximum number of partners. Designated Partners are liable for compliance. If any compliance is not carried out, they will be liable for all penalties. • LLP may carry on any lawful business, trade, profession, service or occupation. Unlike the Naresh Chandra Committee Report, the flexibility has been provided for LLPs to be incorporated in such manner as they deem fit. • Inter se relationship, rights and duties between partners is governed by LLP Agreement (which would also require to be registered). In the absence of agreement principles set out in schedule 1 apply (general principles of equality, in terms of sharing of profits and losses, etc). • The Name of the LLP must end with either the words ‘Limited Liability Partnership’ or the acronym ‘LLP’.
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  Agency: Every partneris an agent of the LLP and not of the other partners Unauthorised Acts: An LLP is not bound by unauthorized acts of any partner in dealing with a third person provided such third person (a) is aware that the acts are unauthorised; or (b) does not know or believe that the partner is a partner of the LLP Wrongful Acts or Omissions: An LLP is liable for wrongful acts or omissions of partners in the course of business of the LLP or with its authority – The partner(s) committing such act or omission will be personally liable – Other partners not to be liable for such wrongful act or omission • An obligation of the limited liability partnership is solely the obligation of the limited liability partnership • The liabilities of the limited liability partnership shall be met out of the property of the limited liability partnership. Accordingly, unlike the Texas first law, even liability for debt is limited.
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  Foreign LLPs: TheAct states that the Central Government may make Rules for establishment of place of business for foreign LLPs in India and conduct of business by such foreign LLPs. Provisions relating to setting up foreign LLP establishments in India are contained in the Rules framed in this regard Compromise, arrangement and reconstruction: The Act provides for compromise and arrangement between the LLP and its creditors/partners. The Act also provides for reconstruction of LLPs. The Relevant provisions are contained in Chapter XII of the Act (Sections 60 – 65) Defunct LLP: The Registrar has the power to strike off the name of an LLP from the register if the LLP is not carrying any business or operation in accordance with the Act and the Rules. An application can also be made in this regard in Form 24 to the Registrar. (Section 75 and Rule 37 of the Rules)
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  Right to shareprofits transferable • Right of a partner to share profits is transferable (either wholly or in part) • Transfer does not imply that the transferor/assignor has ceased to be a partner • Transferee/ assignee not entitled to participate in the management of the LLP • Transferee/assignee not entitled to any information relating to transactions of LLP
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  Statements of Accountsand Solvency: An LLP must prepare a ‘Statement of Accounts’ and ‘Solvency Statement’ within a period of 6 months from the end of the financial year to which the statement or solvency relates - The statements must be filed with the Registrar Annual Return: Every LLP must file in Form 11 an annual return with the Registrar within 60 days of the end of the financial year – the annual return should be accompanied by a certificate from a company secretary confirming the veracity of the particulars/statements contained in such annual return Partnership Firm: An existing partnership firm may be converted into an LLP. The partners of the LLP, on conversion, must comprise all the partners of the original partnership firm and no one else. Private Company: A private limited company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 can convert itself into an LLP. A company may apply for conversion provided all the shareholders of the Company and no one else shall be partners of the LLP Unlisted Public Company: An unlisted Public Company registered under the Companies Act, can convert itself into an LLP. A company may apply for conversion provided all the shareholders of the Company and no one else shall be partners of the LLP. A listed Public Ltd. Company cannot convert into an LLP
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  Certain issues • Forconversion of an unlimited liability partnership concern to a limited liability partnership concern, there are no provisions requiring the consent of the lenders. Lenders may have a position on the re-organisation, but that is irrelevant. • A partner may lend money and transact other business with the limited liability partnership and has the same rights and obligations with respect to the loan or other transactions as a person who is not a partner.
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  Contd.... • Section 71– The provisions of this Act would be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of any other law for the time being in force. • For instance, the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, provides uses in a number of places the term “firm”, which would usually refer to a firm under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932. The said Act also prohibits companies from practising as chartered accountants. • For instance, for lawyers, under the Advocates Act, only Advocates can appear before courts. As a firm is not a person in the eyes of law, a partnership firm is permitted. For instance, even today, a lawyer cannot be part of a company and a cannot be the lawyer appointed for a client.
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  Contd.... • Section 27(4)of the Act states that the liabilities of a limited liability partnership shall be met out of the property of the limited liability partnership. • One issue that arises is whether this would preclude in any manner, lenders and contracting parties from obtaining personal and corporate guarantees from the partners as a precondition to providing any loans. • The arguments against this is that the principles of a guarantee arise from contract law and this would not preclude the application of such principles. • The argument in favour of treating such guarantees as void is that this is a special law that mandates that the liability is to be met out of the property of a limited liability partnership. • Perhaps the absence of the words “exclusively” or “only” would be a determinant in the event any litigation happens around this point.
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  Contd.. • Under section34, statement of accounts are to be prepared within a period of six months from the end of the financial year. As per the draft concept rules, the filing needs to be made within a period of one month thereafter. • Under section 35 of the Act, annual returns need to be filed within a period of sixty days of closure of the financial year!! • Section 34 and 35 which deal with filing of documents, state that in the event the documents are not filed then there is a liability for payment of fine. On the other hand section 69 provides that if a document is not filed then within a grace period of 300 days, it may be filed along with additional fee of one hundred rupees for every day of such delay in addition to any fee as is payable for filing of such document or return. The section also provides that even after three hundred days it may be filed, without prejudice to any other action or liability under the Act.
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  • Questions arise,whether like a traditional partnership, there could be paid partners, who do not have a share in profit or have a fixed share of profit, without being liable for losses. Could one also have a zero share partner • In this regard, it is pertinent to note the provisions of section 23(1) which provides that the mutual rights and duties of the partners of a limited liability partnership, and the mutual rights and duties of a limited liability partnership and its partners, shall be governed by the limited liability partnership agreement between the partners, or between the limited liability partnership and its partners. • Accordingly, so long as it could be contractually provided, there should be no restriction to having such partners. It is pertinent to note that the provisions of equality come into play under Schedule 1 of the Act only in the absence of any such agreement/provision. Accordingly, contractually it could be provided that certain partners may have zero share, fixed shares, receive only remuneration or commission, etc. The law by adding section 23(1) has provided for tremendous flexibility recognising that by contract, parties may govern their inter se rights and obligations.
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  Tax treatment ofLLPs • The LLP Act is silent on the issue of taxation of LLPs. In the absence of any specific provision, individuals/entities proposing to form/convert into LLPs will face uncertainty until the next Finance Bill clarifies the position. The tax treatment is more your specialisation and this is only a prima facie analysis. • Pass Through Mechanism: The Naresh Chandra committee suggested that LLPs be conferred ‘pass through status’. LLPs will not be taxed at all and the tax burden shall be borne entirely by the partners of the LLP. Pertinently, LLPs in UK enjoy similar ‘pass through status’. In USA, a flexible system exists • Current Regime: Pending clarification, under the current tax regime, an LLP would not qualify under the definition of firm or company. In the circumstances for the purposes of income tax, it may be treated as an association of persons and taxed accordingly. In this interim period it may perhaps not be advisable to recommend the setting up of any LLP to a client, until clarity emerges on the potential of a pass through status. • Conversion and Taxation: Pending specific exemption from taxation at the time of conversion, authorities may seek to tax conversion as a capital gain. Clarity is required on this front too. The provisions of sections 47(xiii) and (xiv) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 specifically provide that transfers from sole proprietorships to companies or partnerships to companies, in case of certain conversions, would not be treated as transfers. However this does not specifically deal with partnerships into LLPs or companies into LLPs. Questions would also arise on what is the consideration that is paid, as on conversion, usually no consideration would be paid?? In other words, where is the gain?
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  Comparative analysis Limited liability partnership General partnership  Liability of Partners limited to  Liability of partners unlimited contribution  Partners jointly and severally liable  Partners not jointly liable for  A general partnership is not acts of other partners an entity legally separate  LLP is a separate legal entity. from its members  Registration of partnership is  Incorporation of LLP is not mandatory mandatory  General partnership not  LLP required to make financial required to make financial disclosures disclosures
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  Contd...  An LLPcan have more  A general partnership than 20 partners. cannot have more than  Filling of accounts, 20 partners. statements of solvency  Filling of and annual return are accounts, statement of mandatory. solvency and annual return are not required.
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  Limited Liability Partnership Incorporated Company  Incorporation procedure  Incorporation procedure more relatively simple and expeditious. complex than LLP  Flexible management structure-  Management structure usually partners are entitled to complex –Shareholders do not participate in management. ordinarily participate in day to  Flexible capital structure. day management  No provision relating to redressal  Capital structure less flexible in case of oppression and than LLP mismanagement  Elaborate provision relating to  Limited statutory compliance as redressal in case of oppression compared to companies and mismanagement  Complex statutory compliance requirements
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  conclusion Thehybrid structure of an LLP, which combines the organisational flexibility of general partnership and the limited liability benefits of an incorporated company is innovative, appealing and is likely to attract small and medium size entrepreneurs, service providers and professionals into setting up LLPs in India. The structure is also likely to improve the efficiency of Indian enterprises and facilitate an increased participation of the Indian service industry in the global market. Even the issues that arise are not irresolvable. The LLP Act is, no doubt, a step in the positive direction.