Doubters Investment Club Partnership Agreement

 

NOTE: The electronic links in this on-line version of the DIC Partnership Agreement do not appear in the original legal document; they are included here for ease of navigation.

 

Preamble     1:Form     2:Name     3:Term     4:Purpose     5:Meetings & Quorum     6:Contributions     7:Value     8:Capital Accounts     9:Management     10:Proxies     11:Books of Account     12:Annual Accounting     13:Bank Account     14:Broker Account     15:No Compensation     16:New Partners     17:Withdrawal     18:Removal     19:Voluntary Withdrawal     20:Continuation of Partnership     21:Officers     22:Auditing Committee     23:Amendments     24:Forbidden Acts     25:Mediation     Signatures

 

This Partnership Agreement was originally made in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, on September 7, 1995 and was first amended on July 11, 1998.  On July 14, 2001, the partners whose names appear below again amended the Agreement and reaffirmed their intent to be bound by its terms.

 

1.  FORM OF PARTNERSHIP.  This Partnership is a General Partnership under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.     Return to Top

 

2.  NAME OF PARTNERSHIP.  The name of the Partnership is:  Doubters Investment Club. Return to Top

 

3.  TERM.  The Partnership was initially formed on September 7, 1995.  The Partnership may be terminated by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the partners during the September Regular Meeting of any year.  Assets must be liquidated and disbursed on or before December 31st of the year the partners vote to terminate the Partnership. Return to Top

 

4.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Partnership is to invest the assets of the Partnership solely in stocks, bonds, and securities for the education and benefit of the Partners. Return to Top

 

5.  MEETINGS AND QUORUM.  Regular Meetings shall be held on the second Saturday of each month.  During a Regular Meeting the Partnership may call a Special Meeting to be held at any other time.   A majority of the partners constitute a quorum for the conduct of Partnership business.  Proxies held by partners in attendance at a meeting shall be counted toward the quorum. Return to Top

 

6.  CONTRIBUTIONS.  Each partner shall make a monthly contribution to the Partnership of no less than $50.  The monthly contribution shall be made by automatic bank draft.  The amount of the minimum monthly contribution may be amended only during the January Regular Meeting. Return to Top

 

7.  VALUE OF THE PARTNERSHIP.  The Value of the Partnership is the value of the assets and property of the Partnership, less the value of the debts and liabilities of the Partnership.  The Value of the Partnership shall be calculated on the Valuation Date each month.  The Valuation Date shall be the date of the Broker’s monthly statement. Return to Top

 

8.  CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.   A Capital Account shall be maintained in the name of each partner using a system of Valuation Units.  The balance in each partner's Capital Account shall be adjusted to reflect cash contributions to the Partnership.  Any increase or decrease in the Value of the Partnership shall be reflected in each partner's Capital Account in proportion to the number of Valuation Units in each partner's Capital Account on the previous Valuation Date. Return to Top

 

9.  MANAGEMENT.  Each partner shall participate in the management and conduct of the affairs of the Partnership on an equal basis.  Unless otherwise required in this Partnership Agreement, decisions shall be made by the affirmative vote of a majority of the partners. Return to Top

 

10.  PROXIES.  Proxy voting shall be allowed.  A partner who is not attending a meeting may give a proxy to another partner who is attending the meeting.  The proxy may be given verbally or in writing and shall remain effective until the conclusion of the Regular Meeting or Special Meeting immediately following the assignment of the proxy.  The vote of any partner holding one or more proxies shall be counted as the vote of the partner and the vote of the partners for whom proxies are held. Return to Top

 

11.  BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.  Books of account of the transactions of the Partnership shall be kept and shall be available and open to inspection by any partner. Return to Top

 

12.  ANNUAL ACCOUNTING.  A full and complete report on the financial condition of the Partnership shall be made to the partners during the February Regular Meeting each year. Return to Top

 

13.  BANK ACCOUNT.  The Partnership may select a bank for the purpose of opening a Partnership bank account.  Funds deposited in such bank account shall be withdrawn by checks signed by the Financial Partner and any other appointed partner. Return to Top

 

14.  BROKER ACCOUNT.  None of the partners of this Partnership may be a broker.  The Partnership shall select a Broker and execute an agreement with the Broker for the purchase or sale of stocks, bonds, and securities; and for the handling of a Partnership cash account.  The Financial Partner shall perform the administrative functions of giving orders to the Broker for the purchase or sale of stocks, bonds and securities; and for any other action approved by a vote of the partners.  The Partnership may authorize a partner other than the Financial Partner to act under this Section on a case-by-case basis.  Any action taken pursuant to such authority must be promptly reported to the Financial Partner. Return to Top

 

15.  NO COMPENSATION.  No partner shall be compensated for services rendered to the Partnership except for reimbursement of authorized expenses. Return to Top

 

16.  NEW PARTNERS.  The Partnership may vote to accept one or more new partners at any Regular Meeting.  Each partner shall make an Initial Contribution to the Partnership.    A new partner’s Initial Contribution shall be 1% of the value of the Partnership on the most recent Valuation Date or $300.00 whichever is greater. A new partner’s participation in the Partnership officially begins when the new partner’s Initial Contribution has been received by the Partnership.  Each new partner shall be given a copy of this Partnership Agreement.  Active participation in the Partnership by the new partner signifies acceptance of and agreement with the terms and conditions of this Partnership Agreement.  A new Partnership Agreement need not be executed when a new partner is accepted into membership. Return to Top

 

 

17.  WITHDRAWAL BY DEATH, INCAPACITY, OR OTHER EXTRAORDINARY REASON.  The death or legal incapacity of a partner results in the automatic withdrawal of the partner.  A partner's inability to actively participate in the Partnership for other extraordinary reasons as approved by the partnership also results in the withdrawal of the partner.  The Withdrawal Date under this section shall be the date of the Regular Meeting at which the Senior Partner informs the Partnership that a written and signed notice of the partner's death or legal incapacity has been received, OR the date of the Regular Meeting at which the Partnership votes to allow the withdrawal for extraordinary reasons.

 

The partner or partner's estate shall be entitled to receive payment based on the value of the partner's Capital Account.  The amount of the payment shall be calculated as follows:

 

The number of Valuation Units in the partner's capital account on the Withdrawal Date shall be multiplied by the value of each Valuation Unit on the most recent Valuation Date preceding the Withdrawal Date.  This product shall be reduced by the full amount of any expenses incurred to liquidate assets to satisfy the withdrawal payment obligation.  This difference may be yet further reduced by the pro-rated amount of any additional administrative expenses incurred by the Partnership that have not yet accrued to the partners.

 

This withdrawal payment must be made no later than 60 days after the Withdrawal Date and must be satisfied in the manner determined by a vote of the Partnership. Return to Top

 

18.  REMOVAL FOR CAUSE.  The Partnership may, by two-thirds vote of the partners, remove a partner for cause, including but not limited to delinquency in monthly contributions, failure to abide by the partnership agreement, or inactivity.  The Withdrawal Date under this section shall be the date of the Regular Meeting at which the Partnership votes to remove the partner.

 

The removed partner shall be entitled to receive payment based on the value of the partner's Capital Account.  The amount of the payment shall be calculated as follows:

 

The number of Valuation Units in the partner's Capital Account on the Withdrawal Date shall be multiplied by the value of each Valuation Unit on the most recent Valuation Date. This product shall be reduced by 15%.  This difference shall be further reduced by the full amount of any expenses incurred to liquidate assets to satisfy the withdrawal payment obligation.  This difference may be yet further reduced by the pro-rated amount of any additional administrative expenses incurred by the Partnership that have not yet accrued to the partners.

 

This withdrawal payment must be made no later than 60 days after the Withdrawal Date and must be satisfied in the manner determined by a vote of the Partnership. Return to Top

 

 

19.  VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL.  A partner may ask to withdraw from the Partnership by submitting a written and signed withdrawal request to the Senior Partner.  The Withdrawal Date under this section shall be the date of the Regular Meeting at which the Senior Partner informs the Partnership that a written and signed withdrawal request has been received.

 

The withdrawing partner shall be entitled to receive payment based on the value of the partner's Capital Account.  The amount of the payment shall be calculated as follows:

 

The number of Valuation Units in the partner's Capital Account on the Withdrawal Date shall be multiplied by the value of each Valuation Unit on the next Valuation Date immediately following the Withdrawal Date. This product shall be reduced by 10% during the first year of a partner’s participation in the Partnership; by 5% during the second, third, fourth and fifth year of a partner’s participation in the Partnership; and shall not be reduced following the fifth anniversary of a partner’s participation in the Partnership.  This difference shall be further reduced by the full amount of any expenses incurred to liquidate assets to satisfy the withdrawal payment obligation.  This difference may be yet further reduced by the pro-rated amount of any additional administrative expenses incurred by the Partnership that have not yet accrued to the partners.

 

This withdrawal payment must be made no later than 90 days after the next Valuation Date immediately following the Withdrawal Date and must be satisfied in the manner determined by vote of the Partnership. Return to Top

 

20.  CONTINUATION OF PARTNERSHIP FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL.  The partnership shall continue following the withdrawal or removal of any partner; a new partnership agreement need not be executed when a partner is withdrawn from membership for any reason. Return to Top

 

21.  OFFICERS.  The Senior Partner, Junior Partner, Recording Partner, and Financial Partner shall be elected annually during the Regular January Meeting.  The newly elected officers assume the duties of their respective offices at the February Regular Meeting.   Officers may succeed themselves in office. Return to Top

 

A.    The Senior Partner shall preside at meetings; appoint a parliamentarian and committees as may be necessary; report the receipt of withdrawal requests to the Partnership; and oversee Partnership activities.

 

B.    The Junior Partner shall assume the duties of the Senior Partner when the Senior Partner is absent or temporarily unable to carry out Senior Partner duties.  The Junior Partner shall also be responsible for the education program of the Partnership.

 

C.    The Recording Partner shall make and keep a record of all matters discussed and actions taken at all Meetings of the Partnership.

 

D.    The Financial Partner shall place buy and sell orders on instruction from the membership; collect and disburse funds; and maintain a set of books covering the Partnership’s financial operations, assets, and obligations.  The Financial Partner shall also prepare the Annual Accounting and prepare proper tax forms.

 

22.  AUDITING COMMITTEE. During the December Regular Meeting, the Senior Partner shall appoint an Auditing Committee to inspect the partnership records.  The Auditing Committee shall be composed of two partners who are not officers.  The Financial Partner shall cooperate with the Auditing Committee by providing full access to all Partnership records, and by complying with all other reasonable requests of the Auditing Committee.  The Auditing Committee shall complete its work and make a full report to the Partnership at the time of the Annual Accounting or as soon thereafter as possible. Return to Top

 

23.  AMENDMENTS:  With the exception of this section, this Partnership Agreement may be amended at any Regular Meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the partners.  This Section may be amended at any Regular Meeting by the affirmative vote of all the partners but only after having been debated at the prior Regular Meeting. Return to Top

 

24.  FORBIDDEN ACTS. 

  1. No partner shall have the right or authority to bind or obligate the Partnership to any extent whatsoever with regard to any matter outside the scope of the Partnership business.
  2. No partner shall assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage, or sell all or part of an individual partner’s interest in the Partnership except as specifically provided for in this Partnership Agreement.
  3. No partner shall use the Partnership name, credit, or property for other than Partnership purposes.
  4. No partner shall do any act detrimental to the best interest of the Partnership or which would make it impossible to carry on the business or affairs of the Partnership. Return to Top

 

25.  MEDIATION.  All disputes between one or more partners and the Partnership must be submitted to mediation before any other civil legal action is taken.  The parties must fully participate in the mediation in good faith, with integrity, and with a sincere intention to resolve the dispute.  Each party to the mediation must pay its own costs.  Partners whose interests are not adverse are considered one Party for the purposes of this Mediation. Return to Top

 

APPROVED by unanimous vote of the partners and AGREED, July 14, 2001.           

 

<SIGNATURES>      Return to Top

 

 

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