The first dividend amount payable by a publicly-traded joint stock company out of its 2008 profits has been determined as minimum 20% of the distributable profits which is left after the reserve funds to be withheld by law, taxes, funds, financial payments, and if any, losses for the previous years, are subtracted from the profit of the term.  

Joint stock companies whose stocks are traded on the Exchange are, subject to a decision of their general assemblies, free to:

• distribute the dividend fully in cash,
• distribute the dividend fully as stock,
• distribute a certain part of it in cash and a certain part of it as stock, and retain the remainder;
• choose not to distribute it in cash or as stock, and retain it in whole.

Unless the mandatory legal reserves are set aside and the first dividend stipulated in the articles of association for the shareholders is distributed, a decision cannot be taken to set aside further legal reserves, to carry the profits forward to the next year and to distribute profits to preferred stockholders, holders of participating, founder's and common dividend shares, members of the board of directors, and other persons.    
 
Distribution of dividends in cash has to be completed by the end of the 5th month (May) following the fiscal year, or the 6th month (June) if dividends as stocks are concerned, and the dividend amounts which remain uncollected by the shareholders will prescribe 5 years after the distribution date.