2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 13: CORPORATIONS › Part 2: CORPORATIONS WITHOUT CAPITAL › Chapter 85: COOPERATIVES › Subchapter 2: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND BARGAINING › Article 2: ORGANIZATION AND POWERS › 13 §1828. Powers

§1828. Powers
1.  Capacity to act.
An association formed under this subchapter, or an association which might be formed under this subchapter and which existed at the time this Act took effect, shall have the capacity to act possessed by natural persons, but such association shall have authority to perform only such acts as are necessary or proper to accomplish the purposes as set forth in its articles and which are not repugnant to law.
2.  Authority.
Without limiting or enlarging the grant of authority contained in subsection 1, it is specifically provided that every such association shall have authority:
A. To act as agent, broker or attorney in fact for its members and other patrons, and for any subsidiary or affiliated association, and otherwise to assist or join with associations engaged in any one or more of the activities authorized by its articles, and to hold title for its members and other patrons and for subsidiary and affiliated associations to property handled or managed by the association on their behalf;
B. To make contracts, and to exercise by its board or duly authorized officers or agents, all such incidental powers as may be necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of the purposes of the association and not inconsistent with law or its articles, and that may be conducive to or expedient for the interest or benefit of the association;
C. To make loans or advances to members or producer-patrons against products delivered or to be delivered to the association, or to the members of an association which is itself a member or subsidiary thereof; to purchase, otherwise acquire, indorse, discount or sell any evidence of debt, obligation or security, but it shall not engage in banking;
D. To establish and accumulate reserves;
E. To own and hold membership in or shares of the capital stock of other associations and corporations and the bonds or other obligations thereof, engaged in any related activity; or, in producing, warehousing or marketing or purchasing any of the products handled by the association; or, in financing its activities, and while the owner thereof, to exercise all the rights of ownership, including the right to vote thereon;
F. To acquire, hold, sell, dispose of, pledge or mortgage any property which its purposes may require, subject to any limitation prescribed by law or its articles;
G. To borrow money and to give its notes, bonds or other obligations therefor and secure the payment thereof by mortgage or pledge;
H. To deal in products of, and handle machinery, equipment, supplies and perform services for nonmembers to an amount not greater in annual value than such as are dealt in, handled or performed for or on behalf of its members, but the value of the annual purchases made for persons who are neither members nor producers shall not exceed 15% of the value of all its purchases;
I. To have a corporate seal and to alter the same at pleasure;
J. To continue as a corporation for the time limited in its articles, and if no time limit is specified, then perpetually;
K. To sue and be sued in its corporate name;
L. To conduct business in this State and elsewhere as may be permitted by law; and
M. To dissolve and settle its affairs.