Iowa Code
Chapter 501A - COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS ACT
Section 501A.601 - Powers.

501A.601 Powers.
1. Generally.
a. In addition to other powers, a cooperative as an agent or otherwise may do any of the following:
(1) Perform every act necessary or proper to the conduct of the cooperative’s business or the accomplishment of the purposes of the cooperative.
(2) Enjoy other rights, powers, or privileges granted by the laws of this state to other cooperatives, except those that are inconsistent with the express provisions of this chapter.
(3) Have the powers provided in section 501A.501 and in this section.
b. This section does not give a cooperative the power or authority to exercise the powers of a credit union under chapter 533 or a bank under chapter 524.
2. Dealing in products. A cooperative may buy, sell, or deal in its own commodities or products or those of another person, including but not limited to those of its members, patrons, or nonmembers; or commodities or products of another cooperative organized under this chapter or another cooperative association organized under other law including a traditional cooperative, or members or patrons of such cooperatives or cooperative associations. A cooperative may negotiate the price at which its commodities or products may be sold.
3. Contracts. A cooperative may enter into or become a party to a contract or agreement for the cooperative or for the cooperative’s members or patrons or between the cooperative and its members or patrons.
4. Holding and transactions of real and personal property.
a. A cooperative may purchase and hold, lease, mortgage, encumber, sell, exchange, and convey as a legal entity real, personal, and intellectual property, including real estate, buildings, personal property, patents, and copyrights as the business of the cooperative may require, including but not limited to the sale or other disposition of assets required by the business of the cooperative as determined by the board.
b. A cooperative may take, receive, and hold real or personal property, including the principal and interest of money or other negotiable instruments and rights in a contract, in trust for any purpose not inconsistent with the purposes of the cooperative in its articles or bylaws. The cooperative may exercise fiduciary powers in relation to taking, receiving, and holding the real or personal property. However, a cooperative’s fiduciary powers do not include trust powers or trust services exercised for its members as provided in section 633.63 or chapter 524.
5. Buildings. A cooperative may erect buildings or other structures or facilities on the cooperative’s owned or leased property or on a right-of-way legally acquired by the cooperative.
6. Debt instruments.
a. A cooperative may issue bonds, debentures, or other evidence of indebtedness, except as provided in subsection 1, paragraph “b”. The cooperative shall not issue bonds, debentures, or other evidence of indebtedness to a nonaccredited member, unless prior to issuance the cooperative provides the member with a written disclosure statement which includes a conspicuous notice that moneys are not insured or guaranteed by an agency or instrumentality of the United States government, and that the investment may lose value.
b. A cooperative may borrow money, may secure any of its obligations by mortgage of or creation of a security interest in or other encumbrances or assignment of all or any of its property, franchises, or income, and may issue guarantees for any legal purpose.
c. A cooperative may form special purpose business entities to secure assets of the cooperative.
7. Advances to patrons. A cooperative may make advances to its members or patrons on products delivered by the members or patrons to the cooperative.
8. Deposits. A cooperative may accept donations or deposits of money or real or personal property from other cooperatives or associations from which the cooperative is constituted.
9. Borrowing, investment, and payment terms. A cooperative may borrow money from its members, or cooperatives or associations from which the cooperative is constituted, with security that the cooperative considers sufficient. A cooperative may invest or reinvest its moneys. A cooperative may extend payment terms to its customers not exceeding six months from the date of the sale of the cooperative’s goods or services. An extension of payment terms by the cooperative shall not be secured by real property. A cooperative may exercise rights as a lien creditor or judgment creditor to collect any past due or delinquent account which is owed to the cooperative.
10. Pensions and benefits. A cooperative may pay pensions, retirement allowances, and compensation for past services to and for the benefit of, and establish, maintain, continue, and carry out, wholly or partially at the expense of the cooperative, employee or incentive benefit plans, trusts, and provisions to or for the benefit of any or all of its and its related organizations’ officers, managers, directors, governors, employees, and agents, and in the case of a related organization that is a cooperative, members who provide services to the cooperative, and any of their families, dependents, and beneficiaries. A cooperative may indemnify and purchase and maintain insurance for and on behalf of a fiduciary of any of these employee benefit and incentive plans, trusts, and provisions.
11. Insurance.
a. A cooperative may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the cooperative and in which the cooperative has an insurable interest. The cooperative may also purchase and maintain insurance on the life of a member for the purpose of acquiring at the death of the member any or all membership interests in the cooperative owned by the member.
b. A cooperative or a foreign cooperative shall not sell, solicit, or negotiate in this state any line of insurance to members or nonmembers.
12. Ownership interests in other entities.
a. A cooperative may purchase, acquire, hold, or dispose of the ownership interests of another business entity or organize business entities whether organized under the laws of this state or another state or the United States and assume all rights, interests, privileges, responsibilities, and obligations arising out of the ownership interests, including a business entity organized as any of the following:
(1) As a federation of associations.
(2) For the purpose of forming a district, state, or national marketing sales or service agency.
(3) For the purpose of acquiring marketing facilities at terminal or other markets in this state or other states.
b. A cooperative may purchase, own, and hold ownership interests, including stock and other equity interests, memberships, interests in nonstock capital, and evidences of indebtedness of any domestic business entity or foreign business entity.
13. Fiduciary powers. A cooperative may exercise any and all fiduciary powers in relations with members, cooperatives, or business entities from which the cooperative is constituted. However, these fiduciary powers do not include trust powers or trust services for its members as provided in section 633.63 or chapter 524.
2005 Acts, ch 135, §32; 2006 Acts, ch 1010, §129; 2012 Acts, ch 1017, §98

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