Corporate Law Law
This section addresses the formation, governance and transfer of shares of joint stock and limited liability companies, as well as mergers, divisions and conversions, under the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102).
Formation of a Joint Stock Company: Steps, Documents and the Articles of Association (2026)
Registration of a joint stock company under TTK arts.335 et seq.
How is a joint stock company incorporated? A practical guide to the articles of association, the MERSİS application, the capital undertaking, trade registry registration and post-incorporation obligations.
A joint stock company (A.Ş.) is a capital company whose capital is fixed and divided into shares and which is liable for its debts solely with its own assets. Under article 335 of the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102, the 'TTK'), a joint stock company is formed by the execution of articles of association in which the founders unconditionally undertake to pay the entirety of the capital and whose signatures are certified by a notary or signed before the director of the trade registry.
Founders and Minimum Capital
Under TTK art.338, a joint stock company may be formed by one or more founders; a single-member joint stock company is therefore possible. With the 2024 amendment, the minimum share capital is set at TRY 250,000; in non-listed companies that adopt the registered-capital system, the initial capital is TRY 500,000.
At least one-quarter of the cash capital must be deposited in a blocked company-name account at a bank before registration (TTK art.344). The remainder is paid within twenty-four months following registration. Where in-kind capital is contributed, its value is determined by a report of an expert appointed by the court (TTK art.343).
Drafting and Approval of the Articles of Association
The minimum content of the articles of association is set out in TTK art.339: the trade name, the seat, the corporate purpose, the capital and number of shares, the type and nominal value of the shares, the number of board members, the form of announcements and the accounting period are all mandatory. Under TTK art.340, the articles may depart from the mandatory provisions of the Code only where the Code expressly permits.
The articles of association become formal either through notarisation of the founders' signatures or through signature before the Trade Registry Directorate on the basis of a draft prepared via MERSİS. Since 2018, the standard practice has been to create an electronically signed articles of association on MERSİS and to file the application through that system.
Registration and Post-Incorporation Obligations
The application for incorporation must be made to the Trade Registry Directorate of the place of the company's seat within thirty days of the execution of the articles of association (TTK art.354). The supporting documents include the articles of association, the bank's blocking letter, the founders' declaration, the receipt for the Competition Authority levy (4/10,000 of the capital) and the directors' letters of acceptance of office.
On registration, the company acquires legal personality, and the registration is published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette. After incorporation, the company opens its tax registration with the tax office, registers as an employer with the social security institution (SGK), opens its books with a notary or in the e-Defter system, and obtains a corporate e-notification (e-Tebligat) address.
Practical Considerations
In corporate-law matters, resolutions, meeting notices, agendas, attendance lists, signature circulars, trade-registry application documents and the articles of association must be reviewed as a whole. In corporate transactions, most disputes arise not from the substance of the resolution but from defects in notice, quorum, representation and registration.
Transactions such as share transfers, amendments to the articles of association, mergers, demergers and liquidations are not completed by internal resolutions alone; notary, trade-registry, tax and accounting dimensions are also part of the process. The legal steps and financial obligations should therefore be planned together when drawing up the transaction timetable.
From the perspective of shareholders or directors, dissenting opinions, information rights, requests for special audit and records of release and liability may carry decisive evidentiary weight in any subsequent action. Minutes of meetings should therefore be prepared in clear and auditable form.
Relevant Statutory Provisions
- TTK m.335Moment of formation of a joint stock company
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 335- (1) Şirket, kurucuların, kanuna uygun olarak düzenlenmiş bulunan, sermayenin tamamını ödemeyi, şartsız taahhüt ettikleri, imzalarının noterce onaylandığı veya ticaret sicili müdürü yahut yardımcısı huzurunda imzaladığı esas sözleşmede, anonim şirket kurma iradelerini açıklamalarıyla kurulur. (Ek cümle: 15/7/2016-6728/67 md.) Şirketin kuruluşunda, esas sözleşmeyi ihtiva eden kâğıtlardan değerli kâğıt bedeli alınmaz. (2) 355 inci maddenin birinci fıkrası hükmü saklıdır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 335- (1) The company is formed when the founders declare their intention to incorporate a joint stock company in articles of association — drawn up in accordance with the law, by which they unconditionally undertake to pay the entirety of the capital, and whose signatures are either certified by a notary or signed before the director of the trade registry or his deputy. No valuable-paper duty is collected on the documents containing the articles of association at incorporation. (2) Article 355(1) is reserved.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.338Number of founders, including single-member companies
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 338- (1) Anonim şirketin kurulabilmesi için pay sahibi olan bir veya daha fazla kurucunun varlığı şarttır. 330 uncu madde hükmü saklıdır. (2) Pay sahibi sayısı bire düşerse, durum, bu sonucu doğuran işlem tarihinden itibaren yedi gün içinde yönetim kuruluna yazılı olarak bildirilir. Yönetim kurulu bildirimi aldığı tarihten itibaren yedi gün içinde, şirketin tek pay sahipli bir anonim şirket olduğunu tescil ve ilan ettirir. Ayrıca, hem şirketin tek pay sahipli olarak kurulması hem de payların tek kişide toplanması hâlinde tek pay sahibinin adı, yerleşim yeri ve vatandaşlığı da tescil ve ilan edilir. Aksi hâlde doğacak zarardan, bildirimde bulunmayan pay sahibi ve tescil ve ilanı yaptırmayan yönetim kurulu sorumludur. (3) Şirket, tek pay sahibi olacak şekilde kendi payını iktisap edemez; ettiremez.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 338- (1) A joint stock company requires one or more founders holding shares. Article 330 is reserved. (2) Where the number of shareholders falls to one, the situation must be notified in writing to the board of directors within seven days from the date of the transaction giving rise to that result. Within seven days of receiving such notice, the board must register and announce that the company has become a single-member joint stock company. Both where the company is formed with a single shareholder and where shares are subsequently concentrated in a single person, the name, domicile and nationality of the single shareholder are also registered and announced. Otherwise, the non-notifying shareholder and the board which failed to register and announce are liable for the resulting damage. (3) The company may not acquire — or cause to be acquired — its own shares so as to become the sole holder.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.339Mandatory content of the articles of association
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 339- (1) Esas sözleşmenin yazılı şekilde yapılması ve bütün kurucuların imzalarının noterce onaylanması veya esas sözleşmenin ticaret sicili müdürü yahut yardımcısı huzurunda imzalanması şarttır. (2) Esas sözleşmeye aşağıdaki hususlar yazılır: a) Şirketin ticaret unvanı ve merkezinin bulunacağı yer. b) Esaslı noktaları belirtilmiş ve tanımlanmış bir şekilde şirketin işletme konusu. c) Şirketin sermayesi ile her payın itibarî değeri, bunların ödenmesinin şekil ve şartları. d) Pay senetlerinin nama veya hamiline yazılı olacakları; belirli paylara tanınan imtiyazlar; devir sınırlamaları. e) Paradan başka sermaye olarak konan haklar ve ayınlar; bunların değerleri; bunlara karşılık verilecek payların miktarı, bir işletme ve ayın devir alınması söz konusu olduğu takdirde, bunların bedeli ve şirketin kurulması için kurucular tarafından şirket hesabına satın alınan malların ve hakların bedelleriyle, şirketin kurulmasında hizmetleri görülenlere verilmesi gereken ücret, ödenek veya ödülün tutarı. f) Kurucularla yönetim kurulu üyelerine ve diğer kimselere şirket kârından sağlanacak menfaatler. g) Yönetim kurulu üyelerinin sayıları, bunlardan şirket adına imza koymaya yetkili olanlar. h) Genel kurulların toplantıya nasıl çağrılacakları; oy hakları. ı) Şirket bir süre ile sınırlandırılmışsa, bu süre. i) Şirkete ait ilanların nasıl yapılacağı. j) Pay sahiplerinin taahhüt ettiği sermaye paylarının türleri ve miktarları. k) Şirketin hesap dönemi. (3) İlk yönetim kurulu üyeleri esas sözleşme ile atanır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 339- (1) The articles of association must be drawn up in writing, with the signatures of all founders either certified by a notary or signed before the director of the trade registry or his deputy. (2) The articles of association must contain: a) The company's trade name and the location of its seat; b) The company's corporate purpose, with its essential points specified and defined; c) The capital and the nominal value of each share, and the form and conditions of payment; d) Whether shares are registered or bearer; any privileges attached to particular shares; transfer restrictions; e) Non-cash rights and assets contributed as capital; their values; the number of shares issued in exchange; in the case of an undertaking or asset being taken over, the price; the price of property and rights purchased by the founders for the company's account in connection with the incorporation; and any remuneration, allowance or reward payable to those who provided services for the incorporation; f) Benefits to be derived from the company's profits by the founders, board members and others; g) The number of board members and those authorised to sign on behalf of the company; h) The manner of convening general assemblies and voting rights; ı) Where the company is established for a limited term, that term; i) The manner of publishing company announcements; j) The types and amounts of the capital shares subscribed by shareholders; k) The company's accounting period. (3) The first board members are appointed in the articles of association.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.340Principle of mandatory provisions
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 340- (1) Esas sözleşme, bu Kanunun anonim şirketlere ilişkin hükümlerinden ancak Kanunda buna açıkça izin verilmişse sapabilir. Diğer kanunların, öngörülmesine izin verdiği tamamlayıcı esas sözleşme hükümleri o kanuna özgülenmiş olarak hüküm doğururlar.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 340- (1) The articles of association may depart from the provisions of this Code on joint stock companies only where the Code expressly so permits. Complementary provisions of the articles whose inclusion is allowed by other statutes produce effect only by reference to those statutes.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.343Valuation of in-kind capital
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 343- (1) Konulan ayni sermaye ile kuruluş sırasında devralınacak işletmelere ve ayınlara, şirket merkezinin bulunacağı yerdeki asliye ticaret mahkemesince atanan bilirkişilerce değer biçilir. Değerleme raporunda, uygulanan değerleme yönteminin somut olayın özellikleri bakımından herkes için en adil ve uygun seçim olduğu; sermaye olarak konulan alacakların gerçekliğinin, geçerliğinin ve 342 nci maddeye uygunluğunun belirlendiği, tahsil edilebilirlikleri ile tam değerleri; ayni olarak konulan her varlık karşılığında tahsis edilmesi gereken pay miktarı ile Türk Lirası karşılığı, tatmin edici gerekçelerle ve hesap verme ilkesinin icaplarına göre açıklanır. Bu rapora kurucular (…) ve menfaat sahipleri itiraz edebilir. Mahkemenin onayladığı bilirkişi kararı kesindir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 343- (1) In-kind capital contributions and any business or asset taken over at incorporation are valued by experts appointed by the Commercial Court of First Instance of the place where the company's seat will be located. The valuation report must explain, with adequate reasoning and consistent with the accountability principle, that the valuation method applied is the fairest and most appropriate choice in the circumstances; that any receivables contributed as capital are genuine, valid and compliant with article 342; their collectability and full value; and the number of shares to be allotted in exchange for each non-cash asset together with its Turkish Lira equivalent. The founders and stakeholders may object to the report. The decision of the experts as approved by the court is final.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.344Payment of cash capital
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 344- (1) Nakden taahhüt edilen payların itibarî değerlerinin en az yüzde yirmibeşi tescilden önce, gerisi de şirketin tescilini izleyen yirmidört ay içinde ödenir. Payların çıkarma primlerinin tamamı tescilden önce ödenir. (2) Sermaye Piyasası Kanununun pay bedellerinin ödenmelerine ilişkin hükümleri saklıdır.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 344- (1) At least 25% of the nominal value of cash-subscribed shares must be paid before registration; the remainder must be paid within twenty-four months following the company's registration. Any issue premium on the shares must be paid in full before registration. (2) The provisions of the Capital Markets Act on payment of share prices are reserved.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TTK m.354Registration and announcement
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 354- (1) Şirket esas sözleşmesinin tamamı, Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığının izniyle kurulacak olan anonim şirketlerde izin alınmasını, diğer şirketlerde 335 inci maddenin birinci fıkrası uyarınca şirketin kuruluşunu izleyen otuz gün içinde şirketin merkezinin bulunduğu yer ticaret siciline tescil ve Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesinde ilan olunur. Tescil ve ilan olunan esas sözleşmeye, aşağıda sayılanlar dışında, 36 ncı maddenin birinci fıkrası hükmü uygulanmaz. Bu hususlar şunlardır: a) Esas sözleşmenin tarihi. b) Şirketin ticaret unvanı ve merkezi. c) Şirketin, varsa süresi. d) Şirketin sermayesi, ödenmesinin şekil ve şartları ile payların itibarî değerleri, varsa imtiyazlar. e) Pay senetlerinin türleri, hamiline veya nama yazılı oldukları. f) Şirketin nasıl temsil olunacağı. g) Yönetim kurulu üyeleriyle şirketi temsile yetkili kimselerin ad ve soyadları, unvanları, yerleşme yerleri ve vatandaşlıkları. h) Şirketin yapacağı ilanların şekli; esas sözleşmede buna ilişkin hüküm bulunduğu takdirde, yönetim kurulu kararlarının pay sahiplerine nasıl bildirileceği. (2) Şubeler, merkezin sicil kaydına gönderme yapılarak bulundukları yer ticaret siciline tescil olunurlar. (3) (Değişik: 26/6/2012-6335/14 md.) 343 üncü madde uyarınca verilen bilirkişi raporu ticaret sicili müdürlüğüne tevdi edilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 354- (1) The full text of the articles of association is registered with the trade registry of the place of the company's seat and announced in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette — for companies requiring ministerial approval, following such approval; for other companies, within thirty days following the company's formation under article 335(1). Article 36(1) does not apply to the registered and announced articles of association except for the following matters: a) The date of the articles of association; b) The company's trade name and seat; c) Any term of the company; d) The company's capital, the form and conditions of payment, the nominal value of the shares and any privileges; e) The types of share certificates and whether they are bearer or registered; f) The manner of representation of the company; g) The names and surnames, titles, domiciles and nationalities of the board members and of the persons authorised to represent the company; h) The form of announcements by the company; if so provided in the articles, the manner of communicating board resolutions to the shareholders. (2) Branches are registered with the trade registry of their location with a reference to the head office's registration. (3) The experts' report rendered under article 343 is filed with the Trade Registry Directorate.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.
Conclusion
Although the formation of a joint stock company looks like a simple registration step, careful drafting of the articles of association forestalls a substantial proportion of later shareholder disputes. Completing signature circulars, tax registration and the certification of statutory books within the first year eliminates the risk of administrative fines.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like professional assistance on a specific matter, you may request a consultation.
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