09.11.2026 13:51
A dispute over share transfers and income sharing among family members at Sarar, one of Turkey's established ready-to-wear brands, has been taken to court. Ali Emre Sarar, son of founding partner Celaleddin Sarar, objected to the transfer of shares in seven group companies and initiated bankruptcy proceedings against his uncle Sebahattin Sarar and his two daughters, alleging that the income due to him was not paid.
In 1944, the foundations of what would become Sarar Group were laid in Eskişehir, and over the years it turned into an international brand. This time, however, it has faced a partnership dispute within the family. In the group of companies that grew through the partnership of three brothers, share transfers led to a change in control of the management majority. The dispute among family members who objected to the validity of the transactions, along with claims for receivables, turned into legal proceedings.
SHARES IN SEVEN COMPANIES WERE TRANSFERRED IN A SINGLE DAY
According to documents reflected in the case file, on November 30, 2022, seven consecutive board meetings were held at Sarar Group's headquarters in the Eskişehir Organized Industrial Zone. At the meetings that began at 10:00 a.m., it was decided that almost all of the shares held by founding partner Cemalettin Sarar in seven companies within the group would be transferred equally to his nieces Ece Özalp and Sara Sarar.
It was stated that the nominal values of the shares were taken as the basis in the transfer transactions, but that there was no document in the file showing that these amounts were paid. Following these transactions, Sebahattin Sarar and his two daughters held the majority stake in all seven companies.
LEFT THUMBPRINT USED INSTEAD OF SIGNATURE
Another detail that drew attention in the documents regarding the share transfers was the manner in which Cemalettin Sarar approved the decisions. It was recorded that Sarar approved the seven board resolutions with his left thumbprint instead of a signature on the grounds that his right hand was broken.
Ali Emre Sarar, son of founding partner Celaleddin Sarar, objected to all seven decisions taken on the same day. Sarar opposed the transactions, adding a note that the share transfers were void and invalid.
DISPUTE GREW AFTER THE FOUNDING PARTNER'S DEATH
About two months after the share transfers, Celaleddin Sarar, one of the founding partners of Sarar Group, died on February 8, 2023. Celaleddin Sarar's shares in the company were inherited by his wife Jale Sarar and his children Ali Emre, Gözde, and Emir Sarar.
As for the other founding partner, Cemalettin Sarar, a restriction case was filed at Eskişehir 1st Civil Court of Peace and a guardian was appointed for him. The partnership dispute within the family continued regarding not only the share transfers but also the sharing of company revenues.
HE INITIATED BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HIS UNCLE AND TWO DAUGHTERS
Ali Emre Sarar, son of Celaleddin Sarar, applied to legal remedies, claiming that various partnership and asset revenues were embezzled without being shared with the other partners.
Sarar, who sought to collect receivables he claimed arose in return for the shares inherited from his father, initiated bankruptcy proceedings against his uncle Sebahattin Sarar, Ece Özalp, and Sara Sarar.
While the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings does not mean that a decision has been made for the bankruptcy of the said persons, the legal process regarding the validity of the share transfers and the receivable claims continues.
FOUNDED IN 1944, EXPANDED TO 28 COUNTRIES
The brand, whose foundations were laid by Hacı Abdurrahman Sarar in the Eskişehir market in 1944, grew in the following years through the equal partnership of the brothers Cemalettin, Celaleddin, and Sebahattin Sarar. The group, which over time carried its activities in ready-to-wear into different sectors such as automotive, insurance, and information technology, exports to 28 countries with its structure consisting of seven companies.
It is awaited how the judicial process will conclude in the dispute regarding the management and share structure of the group, which grew through the partnership of three brothers.