Abstract
A major issue for many co-operative enterprises is the ability to raise capital to fund growth. Considerable attention has been given to facilitating access to non-member capital sources and managing and accommodating such financing. This paper examines the merits of a new financial instrument known as the Co-operative Capital Unit (CCU), introduced in Australia to increase the co-operative sector’s flexibility in raising capital. Using a Delphi Panel approach the likely attractiveness of alternative CCU structures in terms of ownership rights, profit distribution, market facilitation and governance options were examined. We conclude that a CCU is likely to be of most value as an equity (rather than debt) instrument and propose CCU taxonomy depending on co-op ownership rights. We further propose an equity capital structure for a newly funded co-op to illustrate how CCUs could best be used to address some of the generic challenges facing co-ops.
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