Austria

Miribung, Georg; Reiner, Elisabeth

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-30129-2_9

Georg Miribung⁴ &
Elisabeth Reiner⁵

1164 Accesses
4 Citations

Abstract

The Austrian cooperative movement began in the nineteenth century. Around the year 1850, the first so-called “Aushilfskasse” (a preliminary version of a cooperative bank) was founded; furthermore, first consumption cooperatives emerged. The first building cooperative dates back to 1869. Before the Austrian Cooperatives Act [GenG] was passed in the year 1873, cooperatives were founded under the Association Act of 1852 (Vereinspatent). The formation of cooperative associations was an important step on the way toward a law on cooperatives. GenG was written on the basis of the German Cooperative Act by Schulze-Delitzsch.

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Notes

1.
For an introduction cf. Tomanek P, in Dellinger (2005), pp. 1–13.; cf. also Nowotny (2008), point 5/30–37. For more information about the history of the development of cooperatives in Austria see also e.g. Ruppe (1970).
2.
The ideas of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen (1818–1888) as well as Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch (1808–1883) have strongly influenced the development of modern Austrian cooperative systems. Raiffeisen is now the brand of a huge cooperative banking sector. For a instructive overview of the development of the Austrian cooperative sector cf. Tomanek, op. cit.
3.
In Austria one can find all laws in the so called Rechtsinformationssystem (Austrian Legal Information System, RIS). See www.ris.bka.gv.at. Unfortunately only a few laws are available in an official English translation.
4.
No authentic translation of GenG available. The Austrian Raiffeisen Association has published both GenG and GenRevG in English. They are available under: http://www.raiffeisenverband.at/public.php.
5.
There are also cooperatives governed by public law, e.g. “Wasserrechtsgenossenschaften” (Sec. 73–86. WasserrechtsG 1959). They have to be differed from cooperatives governed by private law.
6.
Published in the Austrian Imperial Law Gazette (Reichsgesetzblatt), RGBl 70/1873.
7.
GenRAeG 2006; Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 104/2006.
8.
URAeG 2008; Published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) BGBl I Nr. 70/2008.
9.
See Dellinger M, in Dellinger (2005), p. 30–31.
10.
Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 532/1993.
11.
Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 139/1979.
12.
Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 127/1997.
13.
Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 223/1980.
14.
Published in Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl Nr. 105/1918.
15.
See sec. 1 par. 1 GenG: “Dieses Gesetz gilt für Personenvereinigungen mit Rechtspersönlichkeit von nicht geschlossener Mitgliederzahl, die im wesentlichen der Förderung des Erwerbes oder der Wirtschaft ihrer Mitglieder dienen (Genossenschaften), wie für Kredit-, Einkauf-, Verkaufs-, Konsum-, Verwertungs-, Nutzungs,- Bau-, Wohnungs- und Siedlungsgenossenschaften.” www.ris.bka.gv.at.
16.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 20.
17.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 21.
18.
See footnote 8.
19.
See Hofinger and Zawischa (2008), p. 3.
20.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 18.
21.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 18.
22.
See Lang and Roessl (2011), p. 706.
23.
For more information about the members of the Austrian Cooperative Association (Oesterreichische Genossenschaftsverband, OeGV) see http://www.oegv.info/m101/volksbank/m101_1oegv/de/modul/mitglieder/suche.jsp?locincl=/m101_1oegv.
24.
The Stubai Cooperative for example, founded in Tyrol in 1897, shows that a very old and traditional cooperative is able to act as an international player. That also shows the potential of the legal form of cooperatives in a globalized world. For more information about Stubai see Reiner (2012).
25.
Federal Law on Mortgage Banks, published in the Austrian Imperial Law Gazette (Reichsgesetzblatt), RGBl. p. 375/1899.
26.
Equity Funds Act, published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl. I Nr. 111/1982.
27.
Federal Law on Insurance Supervision, published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl. I Nr. 569/1978.
28.
Federal Law on Retirement Funds, published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl. I Nr. 281/1990.
29.
See Nowotny (2008), point 5/11.
30.
The share company (Aktiengesellschaft, AG) is mostly not permitted as well.
31.
Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (GesbR).
32.
Offene Gesellschaft (OG), Kommanditgesellschaft (KG).
33.
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH).
34.
See sec. 1a RAO: “Die Ausübung der Rechtsanwaltschaft ist auch in der Rechtsform der Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts, in der Rechtsform der offenen Gesellschaft oder der Kommanditgesellschaft (Rechtsanwalts-Partnerschaft) und der Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung zulässig […]”.
35.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 21.
36.
See Nowotny (2008), point 5/12.
37.
See Astl H, Pfalz H, Steinböck G, in Dellinger (2005), pp. 148–149. Nowotny (2008), point 5/14.
38.
For instance, an agricultural cooperative may buy agricultural products from non-members in case of bad harvest. Moreover, a consumer cooperative may sell its products to non-members to increase turnover and hence, be enabled to negotiate better purchase prices. See Dellinger (2005), p. 29.
39.
See Dellinger, op. cit., pp. 29–30.
40.
See Astl et al, op. cit., pp. 97–100.
41.
See Astl et al, op. cit., pp. 98–99.
42.
See Federal Law on Registered Associations, published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt), BGBl I Nr. 66/2002.
43.
See Astl et al, op. cit., p. 99.
44.
See Roessl and Reiner (2010), p. 332.
45.
See Astl et al, op. cit., pp. 117–118.
46.
A different arrangement by the statutes is possible, see sec. 83 GenG; Nowotny (2008), point 5/110.
47.
See Astl et al, op. cit., pp. 118–120.
48.
See Astl et al, op. cit., p. 118.
49.
See Dellinger (2006), p. 570; See sec. 5a par.1 GenG.
50.
See sec. 2 GenG. According to sec. 5 par. 1 n. 12 GenG the statute has to indicate which form is applied.
51.
See sec. 2 par. 2 GenG. According to sec. 53 par. 2 GenG, new members are liable for all obligations incurred before their admission.
52.
See sec. 53 par. 1. GenG and sec. 1 par. 1 GenKonkV.
53.
The claim against a member due to its obligation to make an additional capital contribution lapses after three years. See sec. 55 par. 1 GenG.
54.
See sec. 1 GenKonkV.
55.
See sec. 2 par. 2 GenG.
56.
Sec. 2 par. 3 GenG refers to the collective procurement of food and other goods for private households (in wholesale) and its sales.
57.
Minimum value of the share is one euro. See sec. 2 par. 3 GenG.
58.
Chapter II GenG contains special provisions for cooperatives with unlimited liability.
59.
Chapter III GenG contains special provisions for cooperatives with limited liability.
60.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 92.
61.
See Art. 3 par. 2 Statute for a European Cooperative Society http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:207:0001:0024:EN:PDF, 25.06.2012.
62.
The mentioned exceptions regard credit-cooperatives and construction-, residential- and establishing co-operatives. Sec. 6 par. 1 WGG requests a minimum amount of shares and a minimum number of members.
63.
A corresponding legal provision was abolished in 2001. See Dellinger (2005), p. 95.
64.
See sec. 76 GenG.
65.
See Dellinger, op. cit., p. 95. For specific information about management audit see Wurzer (2011).
66.
See Dellinger, in Dellinger (2005), p. 25.
67.
See sec. 5 par. 1 n. 6 GenG.
68.
See sec. 27 par. 1 GenG.
69.
See Astl et al, op. cit., p. 135.
70.
See Astl et al, op. cit., p. 136.
71.
As described in sec. 3, member promotion is a main characteristic of a cooperative. See Dellinger Markus, in Dellinger (2005), p. 26.
72.
In fact, the obligation as contained in sec. 229 of the Austrian Commercial Code (Unternehmensgesetzbuch, UGB) is only applicable to companies. According to sec. 23 par. 6 of the Austrian Federal Law on Banking (BWG), credit cooperatives are obliged to build up risk reserves, though.
73.
See sec. 83 par. 1 GenG.
74.
See Dellinger, op. cit., pp. 431–432.
75.
See Mader (2013) p. 103.
76.
See sec. 55 par. 3 and sec. 79 par. 2 GenG.
77.
See sec. 5a par. 2 n. 2 GenG. This rule was introduced in 2006 by the Austrian legislative authority in order to solve the problem of the accounting treatment of the cooperative share capital. In fact, Dellinger outlines that according to the International Accounting Standards (IAS), in principle member shares have to be considered as liabilities and not as equity. This is due to the fact that IAS 32 defines the possibility to unilaterally quit membership as a criterion of liability rather than of equity. However, if the cooperative has an unconditional right to refuse redemption of the members’ shares, these shares have to be considered as equity and not as liabilities. See Dellinger (2006), p. 570.
78.
See sec. 48 par. 1 n. 3 GenG. Moreover consider in this context sec. 81 GenG, vesting period upon dissolution, regarding cooperatives with limited liability.
79.
See Nowotny (2008), point 5/127.
80.
Due to its legal form a cooperative has, in this regard, to be considered a company. See sec. 2 UGB.
81.
Sec. 22 GenG is referring to the conditions as contained in sec. 221 par. UGB.
82.
One has to consider the last 12 months before the balance sheet date.
83.
See sec. 15 GenG.
84.
In other cases, a supervisory board can be appointed on a voluntary basis. This must be determined by the statutes. See sec. 24 par. 3 GenG.
85.
See sect. 28 GenG.
86.
See sec. 27 par. 1 GenG.
87.
See sec. 27a GenG. For the constitution of a quorum in the general meeting, see sec. 31 and 32 GenG.
88.
Sec. 33 refers to the conversion of the type of liability, the reduction of liability or of cooperative shares.
89.
According to sec. 5 par. 1 n. 5 GenG, every member has to receive at least one share whose nominal value has to be determined by statutes. Shares do not necessarily have to be paid up in the form of cash contribution. In fact, according to the dominant doctrine, also non-cash contributions seem possible. Moreover, it is in fact acknowledged that members can sign more than one share, which ultimately may have an impact on the voting rights. In this case, it is necessary to adopt a specific statute regulation. See Astl et al, op. cit., pp. 130–131.
90.
See Siebenbäck, in Dellinger (2005), p. 265.
91.
Sec. 5 n. 9 GenG provides that the statute has to include the conditions of voting rights of the members and the formalities on how they are exercised.
92.
See Astl et al, op. cit., p. 141.
93.
See sec. 27 par. 3 GenG.
94.
See Nowotny (2008), point 5/101.
95.
See sec. 18 par. 1 GenG.
96.
See sec. 17 par. 1 GenG.
97.
See Strommer M, in Dellinger (2005), p. 184. These provisions do not apply to credit cooperatives though. In this case, a managing director represents the cooperative and conduct its business. See sec. 2 n. 1b BWG.
98.
See Strommer Manfred, in Dellinger (2005), p. 170.
99.
See sec. 15 par. 2 GenG.
100.
See sec. 15 par. 1 GenG.
101.
See Strommer op. cit., p. 171.
102.
Introduced by the URAeG 2008.
103.
See sec. 15 par. 1 GenG.
104.
See sec. 15 par. 2 GenG.
105.
See sec. 15 par. 3 GenG.
106.
See sec. 19 GenG.
107.
See sec. 22 par. 1 and par. 2 GenG. Further provisions have to be observed in case a supervisory board is obligatory. See i.e. sec. 22 par. 2 and par. 3 GenG.
108.
The statute can provide for a higher number. See sec. 24 par. 1 GenG.
109.
See sec. 24 par. 1 GenG. For specific provisions regarding contains internal rules of the supervisory board one may consider sec. 24c GenG.
110.
See sec. 24e par. 1 and par. 2 GenG.
111.
See sec. 24e par. 3 GenG.
112.
See sec. 24e par. 4 GenG.
113.
See sec. 3 par. 1 n. 3 and sec. 12 GenG. Once the cooperative is registered, its statute has to be published in advance. See sec. 6 GenG.
114.
This includes a specific liability regime. See sec. 8 GenG. Also see Astl et al, op. cit., p. 99.
115.
See sec. 24 GenRevG. It refers to a recognized Auditing Association in whose local and objective scope the cooperative wants to get established.
116.
See sec. 25 GenRevG.
117.
In case the management board has not been elected yet, the personal situations of the members have to be taken into account.
118.
It is clarified that a dependent employment relationship between the auditor and the cooperative is not acceptable and hence, the law refers to an external auditor. See Perkounigg A, Herbolzheimer E, Laner H, in Dellinger (2005), p. 477.
119.
Under certain conditions, auditing has to be conducted on an annual basis. See sec. 1 GenRevG.
120.
See sec. 2 par. 1 and par. 2 GenRevG.
121.
GenG does not include any specific rules or regulations on conversions. The Law on the Merger of Cooperatives (Genossenschaftsverschmelzungsgesetz, GenVG) stipulates that only the merger of co-operatives of the same liability is possible. In this case, all members have a special right of termination. See sec. 1 GenVG and sec. 9 GenVG.
122.
Austrian Commercial Code, published in the Austrian Imperial Law Gazette (Reichsgesetzblatt), RGBl p. 219/1897.
123.
If the donee is a natural person who keeps the cooperative share in its private property, the income tax is offset by the discount of the corporation tax.
124.
See Roessl and Reiner (2010), pp. 333–334.
125.
See Dellinger , op. cit., p. 39.
126.
See Zawischa G, in Dellinger (2005), p. 570.
127.
See sec. 23 par. 13 n. 3, sec. 25 par. 4 n. 1, sec. 7 n. 1 or sec. 13 GenG.
128.
See Hofinger and Zawischa (2008), p. 2.
129.
See sec. 3 par. 3 GenRevG.
130.
See Nowotny (2008), point 5/163.

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Faculty of Law, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Georg Miribung
RiCC (Research Institute for Cooperation and Cooperatives), Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria
Elisabeth Reiner

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Georg Miribung
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dante Cracogna
University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
Antonio Fici
University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Hagen Henrÿ

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Miribung, G., Reiner, E. (2013). Austria. In: Cracogna, D., Fici, A., Henrÿ, H. (eds) International Handbook of Cooperative Law. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30129-2_9

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30129-2_9
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