Where the net profit is used for a purpose other than to build up the cooperative’s assets, each year one twentieth of it must be allocated to a reserve fund. Such allocations must be made for at least 20 years; where share certificates exist, they must in any event be made until the reserve fund is equal to one-fifth of the cooperative’s capital.
The articles of association may stipulate that the reserve fund must be accumulated more rapidly.
To the extent that the reserve fund does not exceed one-half of the cooperative’s other assets or, where share certificates exist, one-half of the cooperative’s capital, it may be used only to cover losses or for measures designed to sustain the cooperative’s pursuit of its objects in difficult times.