We are looking to set up a Cooperative share CIC model - equity share version and have a couple of asscoaietd questions please. Firstly with regards anuual accounting and auditing, will there be much difference from those costs associated with a guarantee CIC model, COOP or otherwise? Secondly how would we set up our share prospectus -is this something Coops Uk could help us with? Would it be possible for coop members to be equity shareholders also? I'm certain there will be more but many thanks for any help you can give thus far!

Our organisation is currently a Company Limited By Guarantee. The project we are running is called LocalEyes (www.localeyes.org) and provides a comprehensive internet based toolkit to assist communities engage with sustainable issues & regeneration. There is a huge revenue potential from business advertising and we would like to attract VC investment. Obvously our present company structure does not allow for dividends to be paid. Can someone advise on the best way forward that will allow us to be a non profit distributing company on one hand but also to have a business arm that will attract VC investment.