Author Archives: isn

I’ve not been keeping my eye on this ball very closely and now need to do some updating. The Co-op Group plans to redeem £200 million of its Eurobonds next month as, it seems, part of the run up to the new … Continue reading

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Next month, the Co-op Bank and Co-op Group will announce details of the rescue plan announced back in June 2013 . Essentially the idea is to increase the Bank’s capital by extra Co-op Group investment in bank shares and a “haircut” … Continue reading

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I have just sent HM Treasury this extra response to detailed questions they raised about applying the administration procedure to IPS’s. The main issues concerned credit unions and other societies (if any) operating as deposit takers. I argue that only shareholder depositors … Continue reading

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Hot off the press….a new Draft Statutory Instrument to implement the changes proposed in “Growth Through Co-operation” on IPS insolvency procedures. I’ve not had time to go through it yet. Any takers? Responses to ipsconsultation@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk by 20th September 2013 © Ian Snaith … Continue reading

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My detailed personal submission on the HMT Consultation “Growth Through Co-operation” went in today. It’s  about WSC holding limits, insolvency procedures for IPS’s and credit unions, inspections and investigations for societies, access to the register of members and electronic information filing. I … Continue reading

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Co-operatives UK have issued a brief indication of their response to the HM Treasury Consultation Document “Growth Through Co-operation” that came out on 26th July and their fuller response to the technical questions is available to download there as well. … Continue reading

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More detail is  now out to add to the July 2013 HMT Consultn IPS 07-09.13 document on Changes to IPS Law. The plan, you will recall, is to increase the limit on withdrawable share capital,  apply insolvency rescue procedures to societies, … Continue reading

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IPS Reform in Ireland – Comment if you Know More

Chris Gordon was referred to me by the Legal team at Co-operatives UK with this query: Hi Ian Hey Ian I was put in contact with you by Cooperatives UK Legal team to have a quick chat. It’s about Irish … Continue reading

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Rory Ridley Duff writes: “In my role as Course Leader for the MSc Co-operative and Social Enterprise Management at Sheffield Hallam University, I’m pleased to support – and participate in the delivery of – a new educational initiative organised by … Continue reading

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Here is the recently issued July 2013 HMT Consultn IPS 07-09.13 document on Changes to IPS Law as a PDF. Annoyingly it seems to be available only in html form on the website. This is part of the Consolidation process but deals … Continue reading

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On Monday afternoon Lord Naseby introduced a private members’ bill in the House of Lords which will, if passed, be very helpful to co-ops, friendly societies and mutual insurers. It removes some of the technical legal obstacles that limit their use of shares to raise capital. … Continue reading

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In a resolution of  2nd July 2013, the European Parliament has acknowledged the role co-ops can play in overcoming the economic crisis. For anyone arguing for better treatment for co-ops at either national or EU level, this is a helpful … Continue reading

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Here is a recording of the Co-op Fortnight Law Lecture and Discussion in mp3 form for you to download if you have an hour to spare or trouble sleeping…..If you look at the slides while listening, it may make more … Continue reading

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As promised to those who attended on Wednesday night and for the benefit of those who were unable to be there, you can view the slides here. You can also download the slides from the lecture HERE by following the link … Continue reading

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This is the planned outline for my lecture on 3rd July: “Ian will be outlining current legal issues around the co-operative and community benefit society structure. He will deal with recent developments in co-operative and community benefit society law and … Continue reading

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This morning, the Co-op Bank announced its plan to deal with the problems acquired with the Britannia Building Society and how it intends to meet the Basel III requirements for increased capital for banks. The plan has been agreed by … Continue reading

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Andrew Bibby has published an interesting and thoughtful analysis in the Guardian of the issues currently faced by the Co-op Bank in the wider context of the problems faced by many co-ops in raising capital. He outlines the interesting recommendations of … Continue reading

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I’m honoured to be talking about recent and imminent legal developments and Co-ops at the Ian Pyper Memorial Lecture (kindly sponsored by DWF LLP for the UK Society for Co-operative Studies) at 7.00pm on 3rd July at Holyoake House, home of Co-operatives … Continue reading

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Understanding What’s Happened to the Co-op Bank……

As a simple lawyer I write on this with trepidation. But my passion for the Co-op Movement means I want to get my head round this. Why did Moody’s downgrade of the Co-op Bank’s credit rating last Thursday? What are … Continue reading

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Protect the “Co-operative” Name – contact BIS by 22.05.13

It is vital that everyone supports Co-operatives UK’s campaign on the Government’s proposal to remove the current protection for the use of the word “Co-operative” in the name of a company, LLP, sole trader, limited partnership, or unregistered general partnership. Do … Continue reading

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Co-operative Commission Website Hacked and Destroyed

On trying to research the 2000 Co-operative Commission today, I discovered that its website has been wrecked. I have put its report up on my website (click coop-advantage) and it is also on the Co-operatives UK Website. It would be good if … Continue reading

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Full 1995 Proposal for UK Co-operatives Act Now Available

UKCC Legal Working Group 1995 Proposal for a Co-operatives Act for the UK: Part I: UKCC Co-op Law Proposal pp1-25 & Part II: UKCC Co-op Law Proposal pp26-53 After the Thatcher Government abolished the UK’s national Co-operative Development Agency in … Continue reading

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Co-op Bank Thinks Better of Project Verde

In what is probably a very wise decision the Co-op Group board decided yesterday to pull out of the plan to buy 632 Branches from Lloyds TSB. Maybe organic growth, while unexciting, is healthier and the demand for capital, while still … Continue reading

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A New Social EntrepreneurshipTeaching Tool……

For those involved in higher education or otherwise interested, this US project on teaching social entrepreneurship may be useful. Here’s the email about it: Do Good Well 04.13 and here’s an overview of the project: Overview of Do Good Well . This looks interesting … Continue reading

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International Co-operative Alliance UK and Blueprint

This link gives an up to date account of the relationship between the ICA’s Blueprint Plan on legislation and this year’s UK developments. Essentially, we have the consolidation which it is hoped will become law by late 2013 (see My … Continue reading

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