Scic The community-interest Co-operatives in France Pierre-François VAQUIE Manager of National Federation of Cuma Member of inter-networks SCIC

Frame of the presentation 1.General presentation of the SCIC 2.Two examples of SCIC 3.The support of the SCIC development - by the cooperatives’ federations - by public policies

> To get legal status for companies serving the community facilitate link between economical development and social activities > To concretize the co-operation in “multi-stakeholders” break the wall between sectors of activity, facilitate collaboration between community stakeholders Why having created SCIC in France ? 3

Italie (since 1991) Belgium (1995) Portugal (1996) Quebec (1997) Japan (health sector) (1947) UK (2005) Valencia and Euskadi Catalonia Scandinavia Some similar types of cooperatives around the world 4

> Company LTD (or private limited liability company) or Plc (public limitate company) registered > Cooperative Democratic governance ("1 member = 1 vote") Allocation of surplus : mainly to reserves that can’t be shared out (57,5 % minimum) > Community interest Multistakeholder – community dynamic – desinterested management > Compulsory multistakeholder Workers + Beneficiaries + Others Why are Scic distinctive? 5

A scic must gather > At least one employee of the cooperative > At least one of the usual users and people who, in any case, benefit from the co-operative activities > At least one representative of any person or entity, of private or public law, which intends to contribute directly, by his work or a by a contribution of any kind (economical or other) to the development of the co-operative. Local public authorities can be involved > As an associate : local authorities can take 20% max of the capital > As for any other company : subsidies, buildings or human resources made available, participation to a public procurement offer, public service delegation, convention,… Multistakeholder reflects community interest 6

Scic trade, but also share equally and reinvest their profit 7 SURPLUS’ ALLOCATION RULES : > 57,5 % min. of the profit allocated to reserves that can’t be shared > No dividend given to members > Limited return on paid-out capital > No possibility to incorporate part of the reserves to the capital > When an associates leaves the cooperative at the end of his period of involvement, the Scic pays back his shares at their nominal value > In case of dissolution, the reserves must be transferred to another cooperative

A growing number of community-interest- cooperatives in France  Around 300 Scic in France  13,6 workers in average per Scic  Turn-over : € in average 8

Scic are rooted in a territory… 9 Environment Agriculture and Food Consultancy – development of companies, territories Culture Community services Habitat Health, social Shops, lodging, restaurant Computer services Other activities

… with many stakeholders 10

Paris + Mayenne SCIC Haute-Mayenne wood-energy

4 colleges (subgroups) in General Assembly 1 orientation committee 1 manager Activities and functioning of the Scic Haute Mayenne Wood-Energy 1/ Purchasing of wood 2/ Storage of the planks 3/ Sale to its consumers 5 categories : - Wood suppliers - Workers - Users - Local authorities - Technical associates Governance Membership

SCIC ALTER CONSO Paris + Lyon

One General Assembly 1 Board of directors 3 joint-managers Activities and functioning of the Scic Alter Conso 1/ Purchasing of agricultural products (vegetables, fruits, wine,…) 2/ Packing in crates and selling 4 categories : - Workers (8) - Farmers (40) - Consumers (700) - Associations Governance Membership

Scic are efficient organizations to : - Develop sustainable projects - Encourage community-based projects with support of local authorities - Associate different kind of stakeholders (producers, consumers,…)

SCOP’s Unions (employees’ cooperatives) The support of the Scic development : a network of cooperative federations 16 Cuma’s federations (Machinery farm cooperatives) « INTER-NETWORKS SCIC » SCIC

Some current changes for the Scic’ legal framework : New law on Social Economy in progress  No more ceiling to the participation of local authorities into the capital of the Scic  Extension of the “employee” category to producers (possibility to develop Scic without any employee) Support of the SCIC development : Public policies – the legal frame