Turkey's Capital Markets Board ("Board") has amended provisions governing the investments and activities of real estate investment companies ("Companies"). Notably, real estate investment companies can now pledge, lien or otherwise encumber their own assets, as well as provide securities, guarantees and indemnities, in favour of affiliates in order to finance real estate investments within the portfolios of 100% owned affiliates.
The Communiqué Amending the Communiqué on the Principals of Real Estate Investment Companies ("Amendment Communique") was published in Official Gazette number 29951 on 17 January 2017, entering into effect on the same date.
Significant amendments under the Amendment Communique include:
- Companies can now pledge, lien or otherwise encumber their own assets, as well as provide securities, guarantees and indemnities, in favour of affiliates in order to finance real estate investments within the portfolios of 100% owned affiliates.
- Companies which exclusively manage funds for infrastructure investments and services will now be subject to the security, guarantee, pledge and indemnity provisions of the Corporate Governance Communique.
- The exemption from auditing interim financial reports and sending these to the Board has now been repealed for share sales to qualified investors.
- Real person representatives for legal entity board members must have obtained a four year higher education degree.
- For Companies exclusively managing portfolios of infrastructure investments and services, restrictions on distribution of cash dividends prior to public offering or sale to qualified investors will not apply until 31 December 2017.
Please see this link for full text of the Amendment Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
