Sec. 1139.
(1) Unless the articles or bylaws provide that the member capital is not redeemable, upon termination of a membership issued on a member capital basis, a cooperative shall redeem the member's member capital by paying to the member in cash or other property (i) the lesser of the member's member capital or the member's pro rata share of the total member capital of the cooperative determined according to the ratio each member's member capital bears to total member capital, unless a different proration is provided in the articles; or (ii) such other amount as may be provided in the articles or bylaws. Payment shall be made within 5 years from the date of termination, unless the articles or bylaws provide for a different period for payment.
(2) Unless the articles or bylaws provide that member capital is not redeemable, a cooperative may adopt and implement any plan to partially redeem member capital.
(3) A cooperative shall not redeem member capital or any portion thereof under either of the following conditions:
(a) When the cooperative is insolvent or when the redemption would render the cooperative insolvent.
(b) Unless after redemption there remains outstanding 1 or more classes of members possessing among them, collectively, voting rights.
(4) The articles or bylaws may provide that if a member fails to patronize a cooperative to an extent and within a specific period of time, the membership shall be terminated.
(5) A person entitled to payment for redemption of member capital shall be given reasonable notice of the redemption, which notice may be by mail to the last known address of the person. If the person fails to respond to the notice and claim the payment within 5 years from the date of notice, that person shall have no further rights in the member capital and the member capital may be added to the general funds of the cooperative.
(6) In the case of a nonprofit power corporation as described in section 261(4), any refunds of patronage capital, deposits, and fees of members not claimed within 5 years after reasonable notice has been given to the member's last known address shall remain the property of the corporation. If any such refund is not claimed by the member within the 5-year period, the member shall have no claim to the refund.
(7) The articles or bylaws may provide that if within any time specified in the bylaws or articles any nonmember patron who has subscribed for membership has not paid in or accumulated the full member capital required for membership or has failed to comply with the provisions of the bylaws, if any, concerning admission to membership, any amounts allocated from net savings and credited to the member capital of the nonmember patron may be added to the general funds of the cooperative and thereafter the nonmember patron shall have no further rights therein.
History: Add. 1984, Act 209, Eff. Nov. 1, 1985
Last modified: October 10, 2016