Due to Coronovirus Disease COVID-19 Pandemic, most of companies and enterprises have aligned their business operations to cope with the negative impact and mitigate the damages incurred. With an effort to avoid transmission and spread of the disease, a lock down has been imposed and activities at some of the business places have been temporarily halted until further notice.  Accordingly, real sector have been inevitably affected and financial outlook of the companies have been deteriorated as an adverse consequence of the disease. 

To diminish the negative impact on Turkish economy in general,  one of the measures adopted and put  into effect is the enactment of the Law No:7244 dated 16.04.2020 on mitigating the effect of the pandemic on social and economic life in Turkey. 

Pursuant to Article 12 of the said Law, a provisional article has been incorporated into Turkish Commercial Code Numbered 6102 enabling the share capital companies to protect their shareholders' equity during Corona times.  Accordingly, until 30.09.2020;

- Companies are allowed to distribute only up to %25 of the 2019 net profit as a dividend to their shareholders,

- No dividend shall be distributed out of the profits or free reserves generated at financial years before 2019, and

- Board of Directors shall not be empowered by the General Assembly of the Shareholders  with the authority to make any advance dividend payment. 

The President shall have the authority to extend  the foregoing measures beyond 30.09.2020, if it is deemed necessary.

Before enactment of the said Law, if the general assembly of the shareholders of the  company  has been convened, and at that meeting distribution of dividend for the financial year 2019 has been agreed upon, but no payment has been effectuated yet or partial payment has been  made; then dividend  payment for the amount exceeding %25 threshold figure shall only be made after 30.09.2020, unless the said deadline is  extended or cut short with the discretion of the President.  

In case general assembly of the shareholders of  the company has been held before the enactment of the Law whereby the resolution to distribute dividend out of 2019 profits above %25  threshold  is adopted, and afterwards dividend payment has  actually been made before the  effective date of the Law, the decision and subsequent payment exceeding %25 is just fine and in line with the  law. 

The said provision of the newly enacted law is a compulsory legal rule, therefore any  decision  of companies in defiance of the  provision shall be deemed as a patent breach of the law. In this regard; any decision taken at the general assembly meeting of the companies held between the periods of  16.04.2020  and 30.09.2020, i) on distribution of dividends above %25 of the profits generated at  2019  financial year,  or ii) on distribution of dividends out of the profits and reserve  funds generated  before 2019  financial year, or iii) on authorizing   Board of Directors with the power to make any  advance dividend payment might be challenged at the competent court with proper venue in accordance with Article 445 of Turkish Commercial Code within  three months upon the General Assembly Meeting date. The law suit to set aside the  decision of General Assembly might be filed; i) by the shareholders, who have attended to the pertinent General Assembly, voted against and incorporated their reservation into the minutes of the general assembly or ii)  by  the Board of Directors.  

In case the decision to distribute dividends above %25 of the profits generated at 2019  financial year has been taken at the general assembly meeting, however such distribution has not been made yet or only a partial payment has been made; any decision of Board of Directors of the company to  make or complete the payment above %25 threshold before 30.09.2020 or beyond that date upon the discretion of Presidency, then a  Court decree might be obtained to declare the decision of Board of Directors of the company as null and void pursuant to Article 391 of Turkish Commercial Code.  Besides, distribution of dividend above the threshold figure in the existence of explicit provision of the law will lead to liability of Board of Directors of the Company.