Co-operatives that accept non-user members or investor-members create a potential risk to a co-operative's autonomy and independence in addition to risking breaching the 3rd Principle of "limited compensation on capital subscribed as a condition of membership". this risk arises because such members inevitably will not have the same commitment to the long-term sustainable autonomy and independence of the co-operative as user- members have. this is particularly the case where non-user or investor-members are granted voting rights in a co-operative's general assembly or rights to appoint nominees to the board. As stated in the Guidance Note to the 3rd Principle, such arrangements may also create problems with regulators who may see the admission of investor-members as circumventing investment regulations designed to protect all investors. Co-operatives need carefully to consider the threat to their autonomy and independence and the risk of regulatory non-compliance before agreeing to such arrangements.