All enterprises need capital to start, grow and develop, and co-operatives are no exception. But how can co-operatives ensure that raising capital does not undermine their specific nature?

Where can reliable sources for co-operative capital be found? These are some of the questions that the Alliance’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Co-operative Capital have been examining, This session will present the results of the Commission’s research on the capital structure of co-operatives, as well as the Thought Leadership Paper on Co-operative Capital. The Paper explores reconciling co-operative values, principles and democracy with raising capital in timely and cost-effective ways in the globalized financial market.

Speakers Include:

• Kathy BARDSWICK
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Cooperators, Canada & Chair of the Alliance’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Co-operative Capital

• TAN Suee Chieh
Group Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Enterprise Cooperative Limited, Singapore & Member of the Alliance’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Co-operative Capital

• Monique LEROUX
Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Desjardins Group, Canada

• Bruno DUNKEL
Member of the Executive Committee and Corporate Secretary, COOPEST, Belgium