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Reits/Invits Rules
Markets regulator Sebi on Friday came out with a framework for undertaking fast-track follow-on offers by REITs and InvITs to make fundraising more efficient. Additionally, the regulator has prescribed a lock-in provision of three years for the preferential issue of units of REITs (real estate investment trusts) and InVITs (infrastructure investment trusts) allotted to sponsors. In its circulars, Sebi said 15 per cent of the units allotted to sponsors and sponsor groups will be locked in for a period of three years from the date of trading approval granted for the units. Further, the remaining units allotted to them will be locked in for one year from the date of trading approval granted for the units. Besides, Sebi has clarified on inter se transfer of units among the sponsor or sponsor group entities within a REIT or InvIT. With regards to the follow-on offer, Sebi said the FPO is one of the mechanisms for raising funds subsequent to the issue of units after the initial public .
Sebi on Friday floated a draft circular proposing REITs, InvITs to disclose financial information in their offer documents inline with public issue and listing norms. The proposed revisions focus on financial disclosures in offer documents and continuous compliance requirements post-listing. These changes are based on the recommendations from the Working Group on Ease of Doing Business for REITs and InvITs, inputs from the Indian REITs Association and Bharat InvITs Association, and internal deliberations, Sebi said. Additionally, the regulator proposed that Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) will be required to disclose combined financial statements for initial public offerings, irrespective of their operational tenure. Further, follow-on offers will need to present audited consolidated financial statements along with links to individual audited reports on their websites, it added. To enhance investor protection, the regulator inten
REITs and InvITs have gained popularity as preferred investment options, with fundraising, through the route, surging 10-fold year-on-year to Rs 11,474 crore in 2023, supported by measures taken by regulator Sebi and attractive returns offered by the instruments. Going ahead, fund mobilisation by REITs (real estate investment trusts) and InvITs (infrastructure investment trusts) is poised for significant growth in 2024, driven by several key factors, including anticipation of rate cuts and introduction of a range of policies aimed at encouraging investments like tax incentives and relaxed investment norms, Claravest Technologies co-founder Manaki Parulekar said. "This year, we are likely to see interest rates decrease in the first half of 2024 due to the expected drop in inflation. These conditions are favourable for investors who are looking to invest in long-term opportunities, such as REITs and InvITs," he added. According to data compiled by Prime Database.com, REITs and InvITs
Sebi on Wednesday proposed limiting the number of subordinate units that can be issued by REITs and InvITs as well as ensuring uniformity in the granted rights of such units. Sebi, in a consultation paper issued on Wednesday, has also made suggestions related to changes in terms and conditions of the subordinate units by the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) post-issuance. The consultation paper has additional proposals for the proposed framework for issuance of subordinate units by REITs and InvITs. In December last year, Sebi had sought public comments on the framework for issuance of subordinate units by REITs and InvITs to sponsor, their associates and sponsor group. The issuance of subordinate units is primarily intended to bridge the valuation gaps that may arise as a result of difference in the valuation of an asset perceived by the sponsor (asset transferor) and the REITs/ InvITs (and/or its investors/unitholders). On the ..
To promote ease of doing business, capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday decided to standardise the framework for calculation of available net distributable cash flows by REITs, InvITs and their respective holding companies. The new framework will be applicable from April 1, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in two separate circulars. Under the rules, the Net Distributable Cash Flow (NDCF) is computed at the level of real estate investment trusts (REITs), and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) and their holding companies (HoldCo) or special purpose vehicles (SPVs). Further, the minimum distribution should be 90 per cent of the NDFC at the Trust level as well as the HoldCo/SPV level. This is subject to applicable provisions in the Companies Act or the Limited Liability Partnership Act. Sebi said that the option to retain 10 per cent distribution needs to be computed by taking together the retention done at SPV level and Trust level. "Further,
Markets regulator Sebi on Monday issued the framework to exercise board nomination rights by eligible unitholders of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). At its board meeting on June 28, the board of Sebi approved introducing nomination rights to unitholders of REITs and InvITs. An eligible unitholder means a unitholder that has 10 per cent or more of the total outstanding units of a REIT or InvIT, either individually or collectively. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has issued the framework to exercise board nomination rights by the eligible unitholders, according to two separate but similarly-worded circulars. The regulator said the manager of a REIT or InvIT should review whether the eligible unitholders who have exercised the board nomination right, continue to have/hold the required number of units of the REIT or InvIT concerned. The review has to be done within 10 days from the end of each calendar month. In t
Markets regulator Sebi on Tuesday provided methods such as an offer for-sale mechanism, rights issue and issuance of bonuses to unitholders of REITs and InvITs to achieve compliance with the 25 per cent minimum public holding requirement. The rule mandates that any listed REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) or InvIT (infrastructure investment trust), which has public unitholding below 25 per cent, will have to increase its public unitholding to at least 25 per cent within a period of three years from the date of listing of units. To facilitate REITs and InvITs to achieve minimum public unitholding compliance, Sebi said that managers of these trusts will have to adopt any method suggested by the regulator. Methods include the issuance of units to the public through an offer document, offer for sale (OFS) of units held by the sponsor, manager and their associates to the public through an offer document and OFS of units through the stock exchange mechanism for compliance with the ...
Capital markets regulator Sebi on Friday allowed investment managers of investment vehicles -- REITs and InvITs-- to conduct meetings of unitholders through video conferencing and other audio-visual means. The move would allow maximum participation of unitholders in the decision-making process and help in better governance. Under the rules, an annual meeting of all unitholders of real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) need to be held within 120 days from the end of a financial year and the time between two meetings should not exceed 15 months. Further, managers of such investment instruments are also required to hold meetings of unitholders for certain matters. In two separate circulars, Sebi said it has decided to allow investment managers of REITs and InvITs to conduct meetings of unitholders through video conferencing (VC) and other audio-visual means (OAVM). For conducting such meetings, they need to comply with the procedure prescr
Capital markets regulator Sebi on Thursday allowed emerging investment vehicles, Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), to issue commercial papers. This is subject to certain conditions, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in two separate circulars. The move came after Reserve Bank Commercial Paper Directions last month indicated that InvIT and REIT having net worth of at least Rs 100 crore are eligible to issue commercial paper. The capital markets regulator said that REITs and InvITs may issue listed commercial papers. This is subject to certain conditions, including, REITs and InvITs need to abide by the guidelines prescribed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for issuances of commercial papers and follow the conditions of listing norms prescribed by Sebi. The issuance of listed CPs should be within the overall debt limit permitted under the REITs and InvITs rules, Sebi said. Commercial Paper or CP in market parlance refe