End of Anonymous Bearer Share Ownership?

A bearer (hamiline yazılı) share is a type of share which is not registered in the name of any entity or natural person. This anonymity is sometimes used to conceal illegal activities such as the financing of terrorism, corruption or money laundering. In order to combat the concealment of such crimes, and increase trading security, the TCC and the Communiqué now require companies and holders of bearer shares to comply with certain notification and registration requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements will result, among other things, in a restriction on the exercise of shareholding rights.

Notification procedure

The CRA has established an electronic system, the Bearer Share Registry System (BSRS) to process notifications, and to keep track of bearer share certificates and their holders. Information stored on the BSRS is not publicly accessible and is kept confidential by the CRA, which means that anonymity will still be preserved, on a more limited scale.

Upon payment, in full, of the share price, a company issuing bearer shares must adopt a board of directors’ resolution (the Resolution) for printing of the bearer share certificates and notify the CRA of the relevant bearer share certificates, together with details of the holders, through the BSRS. These steps are followed by the printing (with unique numbers generated by the BSRS) and the distribution of the share certificates, in conjunction with the registration of the Resolution with the relevant trade registry and announcement of the same on the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette.

The necessary notifications to the CRA, as well as the printing and distribution of the share certificates, must be completed within three months of payment of the share price in full.

What should those who already hold bearer share certificates do?

A company that has issued bearer share certificates prior to the introduction of the notification obligation, on 1 April 2021, must register the bearer share certificates with the BSRS by 31 December 2021. Holders of bearer share certificates must first apply to the board of directors of the relevant company. The Communiqué provides further steps to be taken for registration of such bearer share certificates and their holders.

Transfer of bearer shares

Previously, bearer share ownership was transferred by the mere delivery of the share certificateto the transferee. Now, in addition to taking receipt of the share certificate, the transferee must notify the CRA, either itself, or through the company. Upon receipt of the notification through the BSRS, the CRA will register the transferee as the new owner of that bearer share certificate. The relevant shareholding rights become exercisable as at the date of the notification.

What happens if notifications are not made?

A shareholder failing to make the necessary notification will not be able to exercise the rights arising from the relevant bearer shares, until notification is made. The TCC also imposes monetary fines for failiure to duly make such nofitication.

Shareholders’ list for general assembly meetings

Previously, holders of bearer share certificates in joint stock companies were able to attend shareholder meetings, merely by proving their possession of bearer share certificates. Under the new regime, the CRA issues a shareholders’ list which will be the basis of the list of attendees for the general assembly. Companies have to apply to the CRA for such list at least two days prior to the relevant general assembly. The Communiqué also provides, provisionally, for shareholders who have applied to the company for notification but in respect of whom the company has not yet notified the CRA, to be included in the shareholders’ list until 31 December 2021.

The shareholders’ list will contain certain information about the bearer shareholders, such as the names or titles, addresses, number of shares held and nominal values. Although disclosure of this information to third parties is prohibited by the Communiqué, its inclusion on the shareholders’ list still carries risks in terms of anonymity.

Conclusion

The new regime signals a shift away from the original function of bearer share certificates, which were known for their anonymity and ease and speed of transfer. However, the new electronic system is expected to bring with it a safer trading environment.