COOPERATIVE POWERS
193.301(1)(1) Generally. In addition to other powers, a cooperative may perform every act necessary or proper to the conduct of the cooperative’s business or the accomplishment of the purposes of the cooperative. A cooperative has all rights, powers, and privileges granted to entities organized under ch. 185, except those that are inconsistent with an express provision of this chapter. 193.301(2)(2) Dealing in products. A cooperative may buy, sell, or deal in its own products or the products of any other person and may negotiate the sales price of any product the cooperative sells. 193.301(3)(3) Contracts with members. A cooperative may enter into or become a party to a contract for the cooperative or for the cooperative’s individual members or patrons or between the cooperative and its members. 193.301(4)(4) Acts concerning real and personal property. 193.301(4)(a)(a) A cooperative may acquire and hold, lease, mortgage, encumber, sell, exchange and convey real and personal property as the business of the cooperative may require. 193.301(4)(b)(b) A cooperative may act as trustee or in any fiduciary capacity for any purpose not inconsistent with the purposes of the cooperative, subject to any applicable requirements of s. 223.105. 193.301(6)(6) Debt instruments, borrowing, security, and investing. A cooperative may do any of the following: 193.301(6)(a)(a) Issue bonds, debentures, or other evidence of indebtedness. 193.301(6)(b)(b) Borrow money to finance the business of the cooperative. 193.301(6)(c)(c) Secure any of its obligations by mortgage of, creation of a security interest in, or other encumbrance or assignment of all or any of its property, franchises, or income. 193.301(6)(d)(d) Form special purpose business entities to secure assets of the cooperative. 193.301(6)(f)(f) Acquire, hold, and dispose of evidences of indebtedness of any business entity. 193.301(7)(7) Advances to patrons. A cooperative may make advances to the cooperative’s members or patrons on products delivered by the members or patrons to the cooperative. 193.301(8)(8) Donations. A cooperative may accept donations of money and donations of real or personal property from its members. 193.301(9)(9) Lending to and borrowing from members. A cooperative may loan money to its members with security that it considers sufficient, whether or not any property taken as security is of the kind dealt in by the cooperative, and may borrow money from its members. 193.301(10)(a)(a) A cooperative may pay pensions, retirement benefits, and compensation for past services to or for the benefit of the cooperative. 193.301(10)(b)(b) A cooperative may establish and carry out employee benefit plans and provisions for the benefit of any or all of its and its affiliates, officers, managers, directors, governors, employees, and agents. In the case of an affiliate that is a cooperative, a cooperative may establish and carry out provisions for the benefit of the affiliate’s members who provide services to the cooperative, and the families, dependents, and beneficiaries of any of them. A cooperative may indemnify a fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or provisions established under this paragraph and purchase insurance for or on behalf of such a fiduciary. 193.301(11)(11) Insurance. A cooperative may purchase for its benefit life insurance and other insurance with respect to the services of any of its members, managers, directors, employees, and agents, and may purchase insurance on the life of a member for the purpose of facilitating the cooperative’s acquisition of any of the member’s membership interests in the cooperative at the death of the member. 193.301(12)(a)(a) A cooperative may acquire, hold, or dispose of ownership interests in another business entity and, if a cooperative acquires ownership interests under this paragraph, assume all rights, interests, privileges, responsibilities, and obligations arising out of the ownership interests. A cooperative that holds an ownership interest in another business entity may, by direction of the board, elect or appoint an individual to represent the cooperative at a meeting of the business entity. The representative may represent the cooperative at such a meeting and may cast any vote the cooperative is entitled to cast at the meeting. 193.301(12)(c)(c) A cooperative may acquire ownership interests in or organize an entity to which any of the following apply: 193.301(12)(c)2.2. The entity is organized for the purpose of forming a district, state, or national marketing, sales, or service agency. 193.301(12)(c)3.3. The entity is organized for the purpose of acquiring marketing facilities at terminal or other markets in this state or other states.