(1) A co-operative may
require its members to lend money, with or without security, to the
co-operative, in accordance with a proposal approved by special resolution of
the co-operative passed by a special postal ballot.
(2) The proposal
cannot require a loan to be for a term of more than 7 years or another term
prescribed by the regulations.
(3) The proposal must
—
(a) be
accompanied by a disclosure statement, approved by the Registrar, that
explains the purpose for which the money raised by the co-operative under the
proposal is to be used, and includes any other information that the Registrar
directs; and
(b) show
the total amount of the loan to be raised by the co-operative and the basis on
which the money required to be lent by each member is to be calculated; and
(c) be
accompanied by a statement informing the member that the member may inform the
board by notice on or before the date specified in the statement, being a date
before the passing of the special resolution by a special postal ballot, that
the member resigns on the passing of the special resolution.
(4) If the proposal
allows, the board of the co-operative may, under the terms of the proposal,
deduct the money required to be lent by a member to the co-operative from
money payable from the co-operative to the member for his or her dealings with
the co-operative.
(5) A proposal to
deduct money referred to in subsection (4) must, in addition to meeting the
requirements of subsection (3), show —
(a) the
basis on which the money is to be deducted; and
(b) the
time and way of making the deductions.
(6) When approved the
proposal is binding on —
(a) all
members of the co-operative at the date of passing of the special resolution,
other than a member who has given a notice of resignation in accordance with
subsection (3)(c); and
(b) all
persons who become members of the co-operative after that date and before the
total amount of the loan to be raised under the proposal has been raised.
(7) Sections 16
(except subsection (3)) and 29 apply to the approval of a disclosure statement
under this section with any necessary changes and in particular as if a
reference in section 16 to a formation meeting were a reference to the special
resolution.
[Section 255 amended: No. 7 of 2016 s. 91.]