1. How do I apply for associate membership of Professional Investors Group?
2. Is there risk involved in associate membership of Professional Investors Group?
3. Can associate members be provided with information relating to recent transactions?
4. What benefit and opportunities may motivate one to become an associate member and are they guaranteed?
5. What is the cost involved in associate membership of Professional Investors Group?
6. Does associate membership of Professional Investors Group involve part-ownership or shareholding in the network?
7. How is associate membership fees utilized?
8. May Professional Investors Group membership be ceded, assigned, bequeathed, made over, disposed, transferred, traded or sold?
9. Do associate members have direct access to the membership network?
10. What are the responsibilities of associate members and why?
11. What can I expect in return for my associate membership fee?
12. Does associate membership represent an investment?

General Disclaimer

Kindly note that all membership benefits and opportunities available and/or provided to associate members are strictly subject to availability as well as the rules, regulations, policies, principles, procedures and the Professional Investors Group Constitution. In addition to the aforesaid, associate membership participation is subject to the laws, by-laws and regulations of the applicable associate member’s country of citizenship or residence and/or where an associate member may choose to conduct business.

1. How do I apply for associate membership of Professional Investors Group?

The management of Professional Investors Group regrets to announce that at present no new membership can be issued as the total authorized 250 000 memberships in the group have been allocated and reserved.

Kindly contact us for further information concerning future availability of exclusive membership in Professional Investors Group.

Professional individuals who identify themselves with the corporate practices and values of the Paulsmeier Inc. Group’s corporate network association, Professional Investors Group, are invited to apply for exclusive associate membership.

Professional Investors Group was established in 1981 in response to the need of entrepreneurs and businesses to gain access to venture capital funding, viable projects, corporate expertise and exposure to new business opportunities.

Best described as corporate auction houses, the Group’s corporate network association’s success is ascribed to their simple yet effective philosophy: The pooling of resources of like-minded individuals who adhere to core principles not only accelerates the creation of individual wealth, but also accelerates all members’ professional, intellectual and business growth.

Associate members include visionary business leaders, entrepreneurs, corporates, corporate intellectuals, venture capitalists and investment bankers.

Our unique philosophy and its results are as follows:

• All associate members are professionals in their own right – this ensures integrity and specialized expertise within the Group.
• All projects are provided by associate members – this limits the risk associated with the unknown and speeds up the decision-making process.
• All professional services to approved projects are provided by associate members – this ensures absolute commitment and dedication and retains wealth within the member base.
• All financing or capital projects are by the Group and/or associate members – this controls financing costs and increases profitability.
• All activities, project management and support services are coordinated and provided for by the Group – this locks in efficiencies.

Membership application procedure

Professional Investors Group membership is subject to the Membership Criteria, addressed in its Constitution.

For an applicant to become an associate member, he should:

• Familiarize himself with the Professional Investors Group Constitution and the information contained on this web site.
• Complete the Professional Investors Group Membership Application Form.
• Confirm acceptance of the content of the Professional Investors Group Constitution by printing it, initialing every page, signing and dating the final page.
  Please note: Each page must be initialed, and the last page signed, by at least one witness.
• Attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae/Company Profile.
• Send the abovementioned documentation by registered post to the postal address of the Paulsmeier Inc. Group.
• Await assessment and acceptance.
• Pay the membership fee.
• Upon receipt of the membership fee, the associate member’s details will be entered in the Member Register.
• The associate member will be provided with a welcome letter, Membership Certificate and an information package.
• Become an active participant in the Paulsmeier Inc. Group’s corporate network association.

NB: As addressed in detail in the Professional Investors Group Constitution, all the abovementioned documentation must be sent in its original form by registered post to:

Membership Evaluation Panel
Professional Investors Group
P O Box 60222
Table View
7439
Cape Town
South Africa

(No faxes or e-mails will be accepted.)

Should any of the information or contact details on the associate member’s original Professional Investors Group Membership Application Form change, he should inform the Group, in writing at the office of the Paulsmeier Inc. Group as soon as possible.

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2. Is there risk involved in associate membership of Professional Investors?

The lack of associate members’ participation in the activities of the corporate network association carries the risk that there will be no individual financial, intellectual or business growth.

Further to the above, there is no material risk involved in being an associate member. However, prior to entering into any contractual agreement, business contract and/or corporate dealings of whatsoever nature, associate members should at all times take the necessary care and caution, as well as seek independent financial and legal advice. Associate members are made aware of the aforementioned, and are referred to Professional Investors Group’s Constitution.

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3. Can associate members be provided with information relating to recent transactions?

Information regarding the Group’s collective achievements (mergers and acquisitions, consultancy contracts and venture capital finance transactions) is contained in the “Achievement” section of this web site. Requests for information about recent transactions are handled with care as the Group is bound by the Constitution of its corporate network association as much as associate members. The Constitution entrench confidentiality of associate member information. Where the Group is granted permission to release such information, it will do so upon submission of a suitably motivated request in writing.

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4. What benefit and opportunities may motivate one to become an associate member, and are they guaranteed?

The only benefit the Group’s corporate network association holds for associate members is indirect access (use value) into the global intellectual infrastructure of the Group, allowing them to utilize the following potential opportunities, available through the facilitation and negotiation of the Group:

• Access to venture capital or project funding.
• Access to institutional funding or investments.
• Funding opportunities available to venture capitalists and investment angels.
• Access to merger and acquisition funding and professional expertise.
• Access to import and export finance and/or payment guarantees.
• Exposure to new global business, project opportunities and speculation transactions for development or trading purposes.
• Exposure to new markets for products and/or services.
• Access to global partnership and consortium opportunities.
• Access to entrepreneurial and/or business support.
• Access to global corporate information.
• Exclusive formal association with global business executives, corporate intellectuals and visionary entrepreneurs.
• Access to global corporate and professional consulting opportunities.

All opportunities made available and/or provided to associate members are strictly subject to availability as well as the rules, regulations, policies, principles, procedures and the Professional Investors Group Constitution. In addition to the aforesaid, associate membership participation is subject to the laws and regulations of the applicable associate member’s country of citizenship or residence and/or where an associate member may choose to conduct business.

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5. What is the cost involved in associate membership of Professional Investors Group?

A (one) membership of Professional Investors Group can be obtained for the once-off amount of US$11 400 or any such amount as the management of Professional Investors Group may, from time to time, determine. Membership fees may increase by a resolution of management.

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6. Does associate membership of Professional Investors Group involve part-ownership or shareholding in the network?

No. Here it is important to distinguish between ownership and use value. Paulsmeier Inc. Group has ownership of Professional Investors Group’s intellectual capital – contained in its corporate structure, its customer and client base, and its associate member base. Paulsmeier Inc. Group has made the use value of Professional Investors Group’s intellectual capital available through associate membership, for the benefit of its associate members.

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7. How is associate membership fees utilized?

Associate membership fees and revenue income derived through associate member services are apportioned and allocated in terms of the Paulsmeier Inc. Group’s corporate guidelines and contractual responsibilities.

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8. May Professional Investors Group membership be ceded, assigned, bequeathed, made over, disposed, transferred, traded or sold?

A Professional Investors Group associate member’s membership represents one of the two hundred and fifty thousand allotted memberships in Professional Investors Group. A person will receive a membership number upon his/her/its successful application, which will be entered into the Member Register.

Professional Investors Group associate membership is exclusive, singular and personal, and any associate member shall be entitled to cede, assign, bequeath, make over, dispose or otherwise transfer any of all his/her/its rights, interest or obligation in terms of his/her/its membership or the Constitution, subject to the stipulation contained in the applicable clause, which is paraphrased here as follows:

• Management’s approval of the person who received the transfer.
• The person must qualify as an associate member of Professional Investors Group.
• The person agrees to the conditions of membership and the Constitution of Professional Investors Group.
• An associate member may only sell or transfer his/her/its membership after holding it for a period of not less than five years.
• In the consequence of death, management will transfer membership to any person entitled to it by operation of law under the conditions set out in this clause.
• Any associate member, in consequence of incompetence or bankruptcy, can transfer membership to any person under the conditions set out in this clause.

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9. Do associate members have direct access to the membership network?

No. In our formal corporate network association’s structures, interactions between associate members are facilitated and managed by, and through, the Group. This ensures:

• Successful completion of projects into sustainable business entities.
• Protection of associate members’ personal and corporate interests.
• Protection of the Group’s integrity and sustainability.

However, informal networks’ members are given access to contact details of fellow members. The network management does not get involved, neither does it facilitate between members nor does it add any expertise or value to the needs of its members. This leads to unsuccessful completion of any projects due to:

• Lack of trust between members.
• Lack of experience.
• Incompatible personalities.
• Unrealistic demands.
• Inevitable collapse of the network structure.

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10. What are the responsibilities of associate members and why?

Our corporate network association can best be described as corporate auction houses where its associate members exchange corporate expertise and resources amongst each other. 

Our corporate network association requires efficiency, sustainability and effectiveness in order to be successful. The responsibility thereof is equally shared between Professional Investors Group and its associate members.

• Efficiency

The responsibility of providing the necessary intellectual infrastructure that ensures the efficiency of the corporate network association is that of Professional Investors Group.

• Sustainability and effectiveness

The responsibility to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the corporate network association is that of the associate members. Every associate member has the obligation to assist in the organic growth of the corporate network association by introducing individuals, and business opportunities or projects that will add value to the collective.

Thus, associate members have the privilege of being able to choose associate members and projects they want to be associated with.

Associate members generally view their membership very seriously concerning membership referrals and project submissions for development and/or funding purposes. This is evident in our rapid expansion.

The following potential opportunities associated with membership, available through the facilitation and negotiation by the Group, are:

• Access to venture capital or project funding.
• Access to institutional funding or investments.
• Funding opportunities available to venture capitalists and investment angels.
• Access to merger and acquisition funding and professional expertise.
• Access to import and export finance and/or payment guarantees.
• Exposure to new global business, project opportunities and speculation transactions for development or trading purposes.
• Exposure to new markets for products and/or services.
• Access to global partnership and consortium opportunities.
• Access to entrepreneurial and/or business support.
• Access to global corporate information.
• Exclusive formal association with global business executives, corporate intellectuals and visionary entrepreneurs.
• Access to global corporate and professional consulting opportunities.

All opportunities made available and/or provided to associate members are strictly subject to availability as well as the rules, regulations, policies, principles, procedures and the Professional Investors Group Constitution. In addition to the aforesaid, associate membership participation is subject to the laws and regulations of the applicable associate member’s country of citizenship or residence and/or where an associate member may choose to conduct business.

Professional Investors Group’s minimum requirement is:

• One quantifiable and accepted project per annum must be presented to the Group for development and/or funding purposes. This helps secure associate members’ participation, which ultimately accelerates the individual’s financial, intellectual and business growth.

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11. What can I expect in return for my associate membership fee?

Associate members are provided with indirect access (use value) into the global intellectual infrastructure of the Group. Associate members initially do not have direct access to other associate members. All transactions of whatsoever nature between associate members are facilitated and negotiated by the Paulsmeier Inc. Group to ensure:

• Successful completion of projects into sustainable business entities.
• Protection of associate members’ personal and corporate interests.
• The Group’s integrity and sustainability is protected.

Associate members have indirect access (use value) into the global intellectual infrastructure of the Group, allowing them to utilize the following potential opportunities, available through the facilitation and negotiation of the Group:

• Access to venture capital or project funding.
• Access to institutional funding or investments.
• Funding opportunities available to venture capitalists and investment angels.
• Access to merger and acquisition funding and professional expertise.
• Access to import and export finance and/or payment guarantees.
• Exposure to new global business, project opportunities and speculation transactions for development or trading purposes.
• Exposure to new markets for products and/or services.
• Access to global partnership and consortium opportunities.
• Access to entrepreneurial and/or business support.
• Access to global corporate information.
• Exclusive formal association with global business executives, corporate intellectuals and visionary entrepreneurs.
• Access to global corporate and professional consulting opportunities.

All opportunities made available and/or provided to associate members are strictly subject to availability as well as the rules, regulations, policies, principles, procedures and the Professional Investors Group Constitution. In addition to the aforesaid, associate membership participation is subject to the laws and regulations of the applicable associate member’s country of citizenship or residence and/or where an associate member may choose to conduct business.

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12. Does associate membership represent an investment?

No. Membership fees do not represent an investment in Professional Investors Group and/or the Paulsmeier Inc. Group of whatsoever nature. Membership fees provide associate members use value to the intellectual capital (networking ability) in the corporate network association only.

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