United members back merger

UNITED Co-operatives members have given their overwhelming support to the proposal to amalgamate with the Co-operative Group.

UNITED Co-operatives members have given their overwhelming support to the proposal to amalgamate with the Co-operative Group.
Over 91 per cent of United members voting at the society’s 21 members’ meetings held over the past two weeks backed the merger plan, with the majority in favour comfortably exceeding the two-thirds vote required for the deal to proceed.
Commenting on the vote, the society’s President, Bill Hoult, said: “I am very pleased that our members have given such massive backing to the proposed amalgamation.
“The size of the vote in favour clearly demonstrates that members share the Board’s vision of creating the world’s largest co-operative business.
“Over the past four years, following the merger of United Norwest and Yorkshire Co-operatives, we have been able to demonstrate what can be achieved when two large, successful societies come together with a committed Board, a strong management team and a clear strategy to deliver both business and co-operative success."
At the Co-operative Group's Special General Meeting the merger proposal was overwhelmingly backed. The vote allowed the rule changes to facilitate the amalgamation — subject to the confirmatory vote by United's members May 14th–22nd.
• Further coverage in Co-operative News, published May 1st.
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