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Joint Ventures

BC

This publication guides practitioners through structuring, management, and termination of joint ventures in British Columbia.

2 Matter Plans

Overview

The commentary addresses the main aspects of joint ventures, including funding, liabilities, taxation, management, dispute resolution, and exit strategies. 

The Reference materials folder includes guidance on electronic signing and remote witnessing, and the Getting the matter underway folder contains essential compliance and client engagement documents. The comprehensive Retainer Instructions ensure that all necessary information is gathered from the client at the outset of the matter.

The Business structures and the comparative table guide provides a comparison of the pros and cons of different business structures.

Precedents in this publication include:

  • Library of agreements:
    • Joint venture agreement;
    • Incorporated joint venture agreement;
    • Joint venture agreement for a property development project;
    • Project management agreement;
  • Shareholders Agreement for Incorporated Joint Venture;
  • Deed of release.
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2 Matter Plans Included

  • Item icon ALERTS - Nil
  • Item icon Full Commentary - Joint Ventures (BC)
  • Folder icon Reference materials
    • Item icon AI Prompts
    • Item icon Electronic Signing and Remote Witnessing
    • Item icon Business Structures and the Comparative Table (BC)
    • Item icon Further information
  • Item icon Overview
    A joint venture is a commercial relationship between two or more entities for a particular undertaking or endeavour to realize a mutual commercial gain. They may be formed for a fixed, or continuous period or a specific purpose.

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  • Folder icon A. Getting the matter underway
    • Item icon File cover sheet - Joint ventures
    • Item icon To do list - Joint ventures
    • Item icon First steps
    • Item icon Client details, verification, and source of funds
    • Item icon Retainer instructions - Joint ventures
    • Item icon Conflict of interest check
    • Item icon Initial letter to client enclosing retainer agreement, due diligence checklist, and steps involved
    • Item icon Due diligence checklist - Joint ventures
    • Item icon Enclosure - Steps to establish a joint venture
    • Item icon Retainer agreement - British Columbia
    • Item icon Scope of work - Joint ventures
    • Item icon Time and costs estimates
    • Folder icon If required - Costs disclosure update and a non-engagement letter
      • Item icon Letter to client updating costs disclosure
      • Item icon Non-engagement letter
    • Folder icon General deeds, agreements, execution clauses, and statutory declarations
      • Item icon Deeds and Agreements
      • Folder icon Deeds
        • Item icon Confidentiality deed
        • Item icon Deed for general use
        • Item icon Deed of assignment of agreement
        • Item icon Deed of gift
        • Item icon Deed of guarantee
        • Item icon Deed of release
        • Item icon General deed of indemnity
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for deeds
          • Item icon Amendment clause
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs clause
          • Item icon Counterparts clause
          • Item icon Dispute resolution clause
          • Item icon Events beyond control clause
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction clause
          • Item icon Interpretation clause
          • Item icon No assignment clause
          • Item icon Notices clause
          • Item icon Severance clause
          • Item icon Waiver clause
          • Item icon Whole agreement clause
      • Folder icon Agreements
        • Item icon Agreement for general use
        • Item icon Heads of agreement
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Formal
        • Item icon Non-disclosure agreement - Informal
        • Folder icon Library of standard clauses for agreements
          • Item icon Amendment clause
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for defined information - One party
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - All parties
          • Item icon Confidentiality clause for terms of agreement - One party
          • Item icon Costs clause
          • Item icon Counterparts clause
          • Item icon Dispute resolution clause
          • Item icon Events beyond control clause
          • Item icon Governing law and jurisdiction clause
          • Item icon Interpretation clause
          • Item icon No assignment clause
          • Item icon Notices clause
          • Item icon Severance clause
          • Item icon Waiver clause
          • Item icon Whole agreement clause
      • Folder icon Execution clauses
        • Item icon Execution clauses - Agreements and contracts
        • Item icon Execution clauses - Deeds
      • Folder icon Statutory declaration
        • Item icon Statutory declaration
      • Item icon Standard annexure note for documents
  • Folder icon B. Establishing a joint venture
    • Item icon Joint venture structures
    • Item icon Advantages of joint ventures
      Contractual joint ventures The advantages of contractual joint ventures are:

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    • Item icon Disadvantages of joint ventures
      Contractual joint ventures

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    • Item icon Powers, rights, and responsibilities of joint venturers
      Venturers in a contractual joint venture have the freedom to determine the control and management of the joint venture. The joint venture agreement sets out how the joint venture is controlled and managed. A corporate joint venture’s control is vested in the board of directors and regulated by ...

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    • Item icon Liability
      The liability of the venturers will depend on the business form of the joint venture. For a contractual joint venture, the agreement will determine the parties’ liabilities, and may address the extent to which parties are entitled to indemnity or contribution from other parties. Also, an agreement ...

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    • Item icon Taxation considerations
      A joint venture’s taxation depends on its form. Corporate joint ventures are taxed as corporations, and joint venture partnerships are taxed as partnerships. Contractual joint ventures are not separate taxpayers. Gains and losses are taxed in the hands of the joint venturers, who make their own tax ...

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    • Item icon Preliminary considerations when establishing a contractual joint venture
      A contractual joint venture is established by the venturers executing a joint venture agreement. It must ensure a joint venture is established and not a partnership. Considerations include:

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    • Item icon The joint venture agreement
      The joint venture agreement regulates the relationship between venturers. The following issues are covered in the joint venture agreement precedent:

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    • Item icon Joint venture agreement
    • Item icon Incorporated joint venture agreement
    • Item icon Joint ventures for property development
      By Lawyers publish several joint venture agreements which include all the necessary clauses dealing with the completion of the development in accordance with attached plans and specifications and the vesting of ownership of each venturer’s interest in the development. For example, a property owner ...

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    • Item icon Joint venture agreement for a property development project
    • Item icon Joint venture agreement for a townhouse development project
    • Item icon Project management agreement
    • Item icon Letter to client enclosing draft agreement
    • Item icon Letter to co-venturer's lawyer enclosing draft agreement
  • Folder icon C. Dispute resolution
    • Item icon Dispute resolution
      Common sources of joint venture disputes include:

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    • Item icon Litigation
      If dispute resolution fails, the parties to the joint venture can proceed to litigation. Such litigation is inevitably lengthy, expensive, and carries some risks, including the risk of being found to be a partnership for contractual joint ventures.

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    • Item icon Fiduciary duties
      Fiduciary duties are imposed in relationships where trust and confidence are essential. They require parties to act in good faith and with loyalty. In joint venture partnerships, fiduciary duties apply, with the Partnership Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 348 imposing obligations on each partner. These ...

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    • Item icon Deed of release
  • Folder icon D. Exiting or ending joint ventures
    • Item icon Termination
      A joint venture will end on the completion of a fixed-term or on notice from a party. However, if only one party remains, the joint venture will automatically terminate, and its affairs must be wound up.

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    • Item icon Withdrawal
      A joint venturer may wish to withdraw from the venture to avoid future financial obligations. The ability to withdraw depends on the terms of the joint venture agreement, the venture’s structure, and the nature of its undertaking.

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    • Item icon Letter to co-venturer with notice of intention to terminate or withdraw and right of offer
    • Item icon Selling and assignment
      The joint venture agreement should provide how to assign an interest to a third party. Pre-emptive rights for the remaining participants commonly restrict this right.

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    • Item icon Asset sale agreement
    • Item icon Deed of assumption
    • Item icon Letter to co-venturer with notice of intention to sell interest and right of first refusal
  • Folder icon E. Finalizing the matter
    • Item icon Finalizing the matter
      It can be useful to foster these professional relationships. Business clients often require ongoing legal advice and support. By establishing a strong working relationship with them, lawyers can develop a loyal client base. Working with such clients can also expose the firm to a wide range of ...

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    • Item icon Letter to client finalizing the matter
    • Item icon Invoice recital - Joint ventures
    • Item icon Closing the file
    • Item icon File closing checklist
  • Item icon Comments and suggestions for By Lawyers

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