Singapore, 9 October 2014… The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today published a consultation paper on a set of proposals to strengthen Singapore’s real estate investment trust (REIT) market. The proposals will enhance the transparency and corporate governance of the REIT market and improve its attractiveness to issuers and investors.

2   Singapore’s regulatory regime for REITs, established in 1999, provides investors the opportunity to gain exposure to real estate assets while diversifying their risks through a pooling arrangement. The last major review of the REIT regime was conducted in 2007, and since then, the REIT market has grown in breadth and depth. Singapore is now one of the largest REIT markets in Asia.

3   To instill greater investor confidence in the REIT market, MAS has drawn up a range of proposals, taking into account views and suggestions from industry stakeholders.

4   The key proposals are as follows:

(a) The REIT manager and its directors will have the statutory duty to prioritise the interests of REIT investors over those of the REIT manager and its shareholders, in the event of a conflict of interest . The Board of a REIT manager will have a stronger independent element, to enhance its objectivity when considering the interests of REIT investors.

(b) REIT managers’ performance fees will be computed based on a methodology that primarily takes into account the long-term interests of REIT investors, to better align the interests between the REIT manager and REIT investors.

(c) The development limit of a REIT will be increased from 10% to 25% of its deposited property. In addition, the leverage limit imposed on REITs will be increased from 35% to 45% of the REIT’s total assets, while the option for REITs with credit ratings to leverage up to 60%, will be removed. These proposed changes will provide the REIT with greater operational flexibility to rejuvenate the REIT’s maturing portfolio of assets.

(d) The REIT manager will provide more comprehensive disclosure to REIT investors by including in the annual reports, items such as:

(i) the amount of income support payments received by the REIT;

(ii) more information on the lease expiry profile and refinancing needs of the REIT; and

(iii) its remuneration policy for directors and executive officers, and their remuneration.

5   Mr Lee Boon Ngiap, Assistant Managing Director, Capital Markets, MAS, said, “The sound regulatory framework has enabled REITs to become an established investment option for investors in Singapore. We look forward to feedback from investors and industry practitioners on the proposals to further strengthen our REIT market.”

6   The MAS consultation paper is available on MAS website and comments should reach MAS by 10 November 2014. Interested parties may email their comments to reits@mas.gov.sg .  (Click here to view the consultation paper).