REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) SURVEY - · PDF fileREAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT)...

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Kuzey Yeminli Mali Muşavirlik A.Ş. Tel 0212 315 3000 Büyükdere Cd. Beytem Plaza Kat: 2Fax 0212 248 5032 Şişli 80220 İstanbul - TURKEY 1 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) SURVEY - TURKEY QUESTIONNAIRE & REPLIES I Does a REIT-regime form part of the legal system of your country or is it expected to be introduced in the near future? a. If no REIT regime is existing or is close to be implemented please describe the regime that is most similar to a REIT regime, if any. N/A b. If a REIT regime is existing or is close to be implemented please answer the questions set out below in regard of your country’s REIT regime. Please find our explanations regarding the inquiries hereinbelow. c. If a REIT regime is existing how is the REIT legally be dealt with? Is there a specific REIT law or is the REIT dealt with in different laws? A REIT (so called as Real Estate Investment Company – hereinafter referred as REIC or REIT) regime exists in Turkey primarily under the administrative supervision of the Capital Markets Board (CMB – is a regulatory and supervision agency). Currently there are 13 REIT’s registered at the Capital Markets Board

Transcript of REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) SURVEY - · PDF fileREAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT)...

Kuzey Yeminli Mali Muşavirlik A.Ş. Tel 0212 315 3000

Büyükdere Cd. Beytem Plaza Kat: 2Fax 0212 248 5032

Şişli 80220 İstanbul - TURKEY

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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT)

SURVEY - TURKEY

QUESTIONNAIRE & REPLIES

I Does a REIT-regime form part of the legal system of your

country or is it expected to be introduced in the near future?

a. If no REIT regime is existing or is close to be implemented please describe

the regime that is most similar to a REIT regime, if any.

N/A

b. If a REIT regime is existing or is close to be implemented please answer the

questions set out below in regard of your country’s REIT regime.

Please find our explanations regarding the inquiries hereinbelow.

c. If a REIT regime is existing how is the REIT legally be dealt with? Is there

a specific REIT law or is the REIT dealt with in different laws?

A REIT (so called as Real Estate Investment Company – hereinafter referred as

REIC or REIT) regime exists in Turkey primarily under the administrative

supervision of the Capital Markets Board (CMB – is a regulatory and supervision

agency). Currently there are 13 REIT’s registered at the Capital Markets Board

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with shares quoted at the Istanbul Stock Exchange which are as follows*;

* The chart is extracted from http://www.spk.gov.tr/kyd/yo/yo_index.html?tur=gyo as of 14.08.2007

Ticaret Ünvanı Şehir Web Adresi

Akmerkez Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.akmerkez.com.tr/bilgilendirme_formu.asp

Alarko Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.alarkoyatirim.com.tr/portfoy/form.asp

Atakule Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. ANKARA http://www.atakulegyo.com.tr/ksbf.htm

Doğuş-Ge Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.dogusgegyo.com/?page_id=177&cat_id=24

EGS Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.imkb.gov.tr/sirket/kabf/egyo.zip

İş Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.isgyo.com.tr

Nurol Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.nurolgyo.com

Pera Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.peragyo.com/spk_%20bilgi_formu.asp

Sağlam Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.saglamgyo.com

SİNPAŞ GYO A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.sinpasgyo.com/TR-tr/index.html

Vakıf Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. ANKARA http://www.vakifgyo.com.tr/vgyo.html

Y ve Y Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.ihlasgyo.com.tr

Yapı Kredi Koray GYO A.Ş. İSTANBUL http://www.yapikredikoray.com/spk.htm

REIT in Turkey is first introduced with the Capital Markets Law and regulated in

details with the Communiqué of the Capital Markets Board (CMB). The

Communiqué on Principles Regarding Real Estate Investment Companies, Serial

VI No.11 is the basic legislation dealing with REIT.

REIT in Turkey, like other investment trusts, should be established in forms of

joint stock company. They must deal primarily with portfolio management. REIT

must invest at least 50% of its portfolio value in real estate, rights relating to real

estate and real estate projects.

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At least 49% of the capital of the REIT should be offered to the public within

different periods between 1 and 3 years depending on the amount of its paid-in

capital. These shares must be quoted on the Stock Exchange. The assets or rights

on assets of REIT should be registered in the name of the REIT.

The independent expertise should appraise the value of the assets, and rights, and

market value of the rental value of assets. The market value of the assets and the

rights in the REIT portfolio should be determined by the expertise in question as

of the end of the each year. REIT should prepare portfolio tables displaying the

cost of the assets and rights along with their market values and, additionally, a

board of directors’ report for each three month period. Then, all should be

submitted to the Capital Markets Board. REIT’s are exempted from the

Corporation Tax, which is an important incentive for their development.

II Questions concerning the REIT regime and the conditions for

application

- General/history

1 At what time did the introduction of the REIT regime take place? Please

describe how successful the REIT market in your county is. What is the market

capitalization?

The REIT practices in Turkey started in 1995 and the trade thereof on the Istanbul

Stock Exchange commenced since 1997. The rapid increase in the population and

the internal migration have the housing demand expand in direct proportion with

the real estate investment. Along with the new Regulations regarding the

Mortgage Loans introduced in 2007, it is expected that the demand for the real

estate will increase and consequently this improvement will effect the REIT

positevely. Please find general information of the REIT hereinbelow†;

† The chart is extracted from the Monthly Bulletin of the CMB January 2007

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Registered

Capital Paid in Capital Portfolio Value Net Asset Value Title of Company

(TRY) (TRY) (TRY) (TRY) AKMERKEZ GYO 27.400.000 13.700.000 688.662.369 686.927.805 ALARKO GYO 20.000.000 5.490.100 214.285.941 198.940.030 ATAKULE GYO 100.000.000 63.000.000 141.192.165 141.004.566 EGS GYO 75.000.000 50.000.000 47.680.132 10.869.754 GARANTİ GYO 500.000.000 73.800.000 160.614.030 128.090.161 İHLAS GYO 35.000.000 33.162.530 23.477.767 27.786.909 İŞ GYO 2.000.000.000 329.966.000 1.103.620.187 1.057.165.639 NUROL GYO 50.000.000 10.000.000 41.464.710 41.945.651 PERA GYO 50.000.000 32.000.000 25.899 32.713 VAKIF GYO 100.000.000 16.800.000 65.704.776 65.437.242 YAPI KREDİ KORAY GYO 100.000.000 40.000.000 246.251.544 122.656.228

- Formalities /procedures

2 Are there any specific formalities or procedures that must be complied with

in order to become eligible for the REIT regime?

As described hereinabove REIT’s are regulated within the Communiqués of the

CMB and the establishment as well as the operations thereof is closely

overviewed by the CMB. In accordance with the Communiqué the Companies

could be established;

- for a limited time to undertake a certain project

- for a limited or unlimited time to invest in certain areas

- for a limited or unlimited time without any limitation or purpose.

REIT can be established by immediate establishment, furthermore existing

companies can convert into REIT by amending their Statute in accordance with

the procedures of the Communiqué and the Law. The followings are the pre-

conditions required for REIT to obtain permission for establishment and operation

from the CMB;

a) Should be established in the forms of a joint stock company under the

registered capital system in which the Board of Directors may increase the share

capital of company by issuing new shares up to the amount of registered capital

stated in the Statute without complying with the provisions of the Turkish

Commercial Code concerning capital increases.

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b) The initial capital should not be less than an amount, which shall be

determined by the Board (currently it is 7.200.000 TRY),

c) 100 percent of the share capital should be fully paid,

d) The commercial Title should include the phrase “Real Estate Investment

Company”

e) The Statute thereof should be in compliance with the provisions of the Law

and the regulations of the CMB

f) The Founders should be certified as never having been subject to legal

prosecution due to bankruptcy or other infamous offence

The types of investment companies according to the assets types that they can

hold, principles of valuation, portfolio restrictions, principles of management, the

principles with regard to distribution of profits, depository procedures and

principles and their obligations in the event of their liquidation shall be

determined by the CMB.

3 Which legal forms are permitted to be used for a REIT vehicle?

In accordance with the Communiqué either as immediate establishment or

transformation the REIT should be in form of joint stock company. The general

concept of joint stock companies are regulated with the Turkish Commercial

Code, the specifics of REIT shall be accomplished with the Capital Markets Law

and the Communiqué.

4 Does your law provide for a pre-REIT structure? If so, what are the

requirements? What benefits can be achieved? For example, under the proposed

German REIT system capital gains from the transfer of real estate to the REIT

shall already be tax privileged even if the transfer takes place at a point of time

where the REIT has not yet received its full REIT status (but with a recapture

provision if the REIT status is finally not obtained.).

N/A

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5 What is the required minimum share capital for a REIT? Is there a

distinction between one or more class of shares, voting or non-voting rights?

The required minimum share capital for a REIT is 7.200.000 TRY. The CMB has

the authority to redefine the minimum capital requirement on a yearly basis.

The REIT’s may issue shares in registered or bearer forms. However, the shares

representing the capital in kind should be in registered form. If the share capital

will be in kind, an appraisal report should be drawn from the Commercial Code

and the capital amount will be in accordance with the report. Although Turkish

Commercial Code restricts the transfer of capital in kind shares for 2 years, the

shares of REIT in connection with capital in kind can be freely transferred without

any time limitation.

Companies shall not issue any privileged securities or real estate certificates other

than shares permitting nomination of candidates in election of members of the

Board of Directors. After the public offering, no privileges can be created,

including nominations for membership to the Board of Directors.

6 Is there a difference between domestic and foreign legal forms? What are

the statutory seat/management seat requirements?

There is no specific difference between domestic and foreign investor. The REIT

to be established in accordance with the Communiqué will be a Turkish

Company. Please also note that in accordance with the Constitution and the

Foreign Direct Investment Law, there is a non-discrimination principle which is

also applicable for the foreign investors. Directly investing into Turkey.

The members of Board of Directors and Auditing Board (are elected and serve in

accordance with the related articles of the Turkish Commercial Code. However, at

least 1/3 of the members to be appointed to the Board must be independent from;

a) Other shareholders having 10% or more shares or shareholders with voting

right of 10% or more,

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b) The shareholders entitled to nomination preference for the board of directors,

c) The companies providing consultancy,

d) The operating companies,

e) The companies in which the individuals mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b)

have 10% or more shares or voting right,

f) The subsidiaries of the company.

In accordance with Article 347 of the Turkish Commercial Code, the statutory

auditor of the company should be a Turkish citizen and if there is an Auditing

Board one more than the half of the auditing board members should be Turkish

citizen.

- Shareholder/listing requirements

7 Is listing on a stock exchange required to obtain the REIT status? Is a

private REIT allowed?

It is obligatory that companies, which are established by immediate establishment

process or transformed into real estate investment companies by amending the

Articles of Association, provide the necessary office, hardware and personnel,

establish the organization, form an asset portfolio with the resources left after the

necessary expenses have been deducted and apply to the Board for the registration

of their shares equal to at least 49% of their issued capital to be offered to the

public by completing the public offering application form, the format and

procedures of which are going to be determined by the Board and the documents

mentioned in the form;

a) in one year following the registration of Articles of Association in

establishment or the changes in the Articles of Association in transformation with

the trade registry if their paid in capital is less than 50 million YTL,

b) in three years following the registration of Articles of Association in

establishment or the changes in the Articles of Association in transformation with

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the trade registry if their paid in capital is equal to or more than 50 million YTL

but less than 100 million YTL,

c) in five years following the registration of Articles of Association in

establishment or the changes in the Articles of Association in transformation with

the trade registry if their paid in capital is equal to or more than 100 million YTL.

The CMB has the authority to reassess these amounts in accordance with the

Communiqué. It is possible for companies to offer their shares equal to at least

49% of their issued capital by performing one or more public offering in the time

periods specified hereinabove. The companies that do not apply to the Board by

completing the public offering application form and the documents mentioned in

this form within the time periods specified in first paragraph or whose

applications were found inappropriate due to failure to fulfill the necessary

conditions shall lose the right to operate as real estate investment companies. Such

companies are obliged to amend the provisions of their Articles of Association so

as not to cover real estate investment activities and apply to the Board to get out

from the registered system in at most three months following the notification of

the negative opinion or by the end of the relevant period. If the company does not

fulfill these changes, they shall be regarded as dissolved according to provisions

of the Turkish Commercial Code.

8 Is there a difference between a domestic and a foreign listing?

The main objective of the CMB is to establish a consistent and deepened Turkish

Capital Market, thus the listing requirement would be met with a domestic listing.

Although the wording of the Communiqué as well as the Law does not provide a

clear expression on the matter, the intention of the Legislation strengthens the

view.

9 Are there any specific shareholder conditions that have to be fulfilled to

become eligible for the REIT status?

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The Capital Market Law and relating Communiqué state certain conditions only

for the Founders of the Company which are as follows;

- The founder shareholders shall not have any payable tax and insurance

premium debt

- There should not be any bankruptcy decision or any composition of debts

announcement against the natural person shareholders or the institutions of

which they are an unlimited partner,

- The founder shareholders should not be sentenced for infamous offence such

as theft, fraudulent act, forgery

- Natural and legal person founders should have the sufficient financial

capacity, good repute and experience as required by their status.

10 Is there a difference between resident and non-resident shareholders in

regard of ownership (status, shareholding percentage, etc.) If so, please describe.

No difference please refer to our explanations in Q6.

- Activity test / asset requirements

11 Does you country’s REIT regime impose restrictions on the permitted

activities of the REIT? For instance, is a REIT permitted to develop real estate for

its own account, to trade with real estate or to own residential and/or commercial

real estate?

According to the Communiqué, REIT’s;

§ can not engage in deposit business, conduct business and operations resulting

in deposit collection defined in Turkish Banking Law

§ can not engage in commercial, industrial or agricultural activities other than

the transactions permitted by Communiqué,

§ can not engage in capital market activities other than portfolio management for

its own portfolio limited to the investment areas permitted by Communiqué,

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§ can not in any way be involved in construction of real estates and can not

recruit personnel and equipment with this purpose.

§ can not commercially operate any hotel, hospital, shopping center, business

center, commercial parks, commercial warehouses, residential sites, supermarkets,

and similar type of real estates and employ any personnel for this purpose.

§ can not provide services by its personnel to individuals and institutions in

project development, project control, financial feasibility and follow-up of legal

permission except for the projects related to the portfolio or will be related to the

portfolio.

12 Is a REIT allowed to hold shares and/or interests in a subsidiary corporation

and/or in a partnership structure? If so, what are the requirements/restrictions

(minimum or maximum shareholdings, etc.)?

REIT can only participate into operator companies, other real estate investment

companies, companies established within the context of Build-Operate-Transfer

model, companies established abroad, the operational field of which is only the

real estates, for the purpose of including certain real estates or rights backed by

real estates to their portfolio and companies established in Turkey, provided that

the expertise value of the real estate planned to be included in the portfolio value

at the acquisition date is at least equal to 75% of the balance sheet assets of

companies established in Turkey. However REIT shall not participate in the

operating companies more than 10% of their portfolio value specified in their

most recent quarterly portfolio table drew up and disclosed to the public at the end

of the accounting period.

13 What limits are set out concerning the amount of the real estate assets of the

REIT? Is there a description of the qualifying assets? If so, please give details

including the legislative source.

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In accordance with the Communiqué, the portfolio of general purpose REIT is

required to be diversified based on the industry, region and real estates and to be

managed with a long term investment purpose.

75% of the portfolio of the companies established with the purpose of operating in

certain areas or investing in certain projects must consist of assets mentioned in

their titles and/or Articles of Association.

Furthermore, the companies are required to invest in real estates, rights supported

by real estates and real estate projects in the ratio of at least 50 % of their portfolio

value.

14 Is there a difference between domestic and foreign real estate holding and/or

any other allowed activities?

REIT can invest in foreign real estate and capital market instruments backed by

real estate, at a maximum rate of 49% of the portfolio value.

15 Please describe any tax or other penalties if the required asset level is not

met.

If companies can not meet requirement of investing in real estates, rights

supported by real estates and real estate projects in the ratio of at least 50 % of

their portfolio value, they should apply to the CMB. After making an evaluation,

the Board may provide an extension period of one year for once. However, if

companies still fail to achieve this minimum 50% ratio at the end of this extension

period, they are required to apply to the Board in order to modify their Articles of

Association so as not to cover real estate investment trust operations. If companies

do not fulfill these changes, they shall be regarded as dissolved in accordance with

the Turkish Commercial Code. The exemptions specific for REIT will not be

applicable. For the exemptions applied until the loss of the REIT status should be

determined in accordance with the specifics of each case.

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- Leverage

16 Please describe the gearing limits. For instance under Dutch tax law the loan

capital is limited to 60% of the fiscal book values of real property and 20% of

fiscal book values of all other investment.

In order to meet short term fund demands or costs related to their portfolio, REIT

can obtain credits at a rate of three times as much as their net asset values

included in their most recent quarterly portfolio table prepared and disclosed to

the public at the end of the accounting period. In order to calculate the uppermost

limit of such credits, obligations of the company arising out of financial leasing

transactions and non-cash credits shall also be taken into account.

REIT can issue debt instruments within the restrictions in the capital market

legislation. However, for the issued debt securities, the credits mentioned in the

above paragraph shall be deducted from the issue limit calculated according to the

capital market legislation.

Companies can issue asset-backed securities backed by contracts on sales or

promises to sell the real estates in their portfolio, or backed

17 Is there a difference between domestic and cross-border situations?

Principally there is no specific determination within the REIT Legislation,

however this issue should be analyzed in details according to the Foreign

Currency Control Legislation on specific case basis.

- Profit distribution obligation

18 The REIT regimes in general require that all or most of the profits of the

REIT are distributed to the shareholders. Does your country’s REIT regime

require such a profit distribution and if so, under what timing rules? Are advanced

profit distributions allowed?

13

According to Communiqué related to the distribution of dividends by publicly

held joint stock corporations, it is required to show first dividend ratio by

corporations in the articles of association.

The first dividend ratio can not be less than 20% of distributable profit remains

after deduction of the reserves required to be set aside according to law and taxes,

funds, financial payments and the losses of previous year, if any.

Distribution of dividends shall be completed by companies until the end of the

fifth month following the end of their accounting periods.

Interim (advance) dividend distribution is a procedure, which is only applicable

for the companies, subject to Capital Markets Law. In normal conditions, the

yearly income of a company can be distributed as dividend to its shareholders by

the decision of the General Assembly. However, the Capital Markets Law, has a

specific provision for the listed companies which enables them to distribute

dividend prior to the year end, but under some certain conditions. Provided that

its articles of association so permit and there has been a decision of the general

assembly giving such authority to the board of directors limited to the current

year, publicly held joint stock corporations may distribute an interim dividend

from profits shown on their quarterly financial statements prepared in

conformance with the capital market legislation and independently audited,

provided that the dividend does not exceed half of the amount remaining after

subtracting the reserves required to set aside according to law and the articles of

association plus funds designated for taxes.

19 Please describe the consequences in case the profit distribution obligation is

not complied with.

In case REIT distribute dividends incomplete according to legal procedure, the

CMB can oblige that the amount of incompletely distributed dividends shall be

distributed in cash together with the amount of interest calculated using the

Turkish Central Bank’s short term advance interest rate. If legal conditions are

met, the right of applying legal procedures against members of the Board of

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Directors of the REIT for incomplete distribution of the dividends of those

suffered from this is reserved.

20 Is there a difference between a domestic and a cross-border profit

distribution? Will foreign source profits (e.g. from foreign located property

or foreign subsidiary) require a special/different treatment?

From a REIT Legislation point of view the domestic and foreign sourced profit

does not require different treatment.

III Questions concerning the tax and balance sheet treatment at the level of

the REIT

21 Please describe the tax regime in terms of rate, income recognition (cash

versus accrual), etc, and more in particular the tax treatment of the

following sources of income:

The corporate tax rate is 20%. There is a corporate tax exemption for the income

of REIT’s established in Turkey. REIT’s may also have income subject to

withholding tax to be taxed at source. Principally the income recognition is on

accrual basis.

- Rental income;

The rental income is deemed as the commercial income of the REIT, thus should

be regarded within the corporate tax exempted at REIT level.

- Capital gains;

No differentiation, thus capital gains is principally deemed as the commercial

income of REIT to be regarded within the corporate tax exemption. There may

also be income subject to withholding tax.

- Other types of business income if allowed to be generated.

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The general principle is that the commercial income of REIT should be regarded

within the corporate tax exemption. However there may also be income subject to

withholding tax in accordance with the type of income.

22 Please describe for which kind of taxes a special tax treatment is applicable.

For example, if in your country a local income tax will be levied in addition to

the corporate income tax is the tax exemption applicable for both kinds of

taxes?

It is principally possible that an income tax is levied on a tax issue in addition to

the corporate income tax. However, there is an exception for REIT in Turkish

Corporate Tax Code that if the gains of corporation are subject to withholding

tax according to Turkish Income Tax Code’s related articles, they will not be

subject to a double taxation in accordance with the Corporate Tax Code.

23 Please describe any tax or other penalties if certain income thresholds are

not met.

There is no income thresholds in Turkish Tax System. However please note that

there are some certain tax penalties such as irregularity penalties, tax loss

penalties and tax smuggling penalties.

24 Please describe the levying mechanism of withholding tax, if any, in case of

a dividend distribution by the REIT to its shareholders (rate, timing,

execution, treaty rules).

There is an uncertainty with regards to the withholding tax rate for dividends

distributed by REITs. In accordance with the opinion of the Ministry of Finance

dividend distributions to be made by REIT’s should be subject to 15%

withholding tax. However the wording of the Code may provide another

interpretation that the withholding tax rate should be 0%.

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25 Is there a difference between a dividend distribution to a domestic or foreign

shareholder?

Dividends distributed to resident companies are exempt from the dividend

withholding tax. Dividends distributed to resident real persons, non resident

corporations and real persons are subject to withholding tax.

26 Please describe the rules regarding the loss of the REIT status.

This issue should be analyzed furtherly with regards to the specifics of each case.

There are no specific provisions within the Legislation. As an initial comment it

may be considered that the exemptions provided to REIT’s will be lost by the loss

of the REIT status.

27 Does your country levy some sort of transfer tax or registration duty (real

estate transfer tax, stamp duty, land register fee, notary fee, etc.) in case of the

acquisition of real estate? If so, please describe this particular treatment.

Delivery of goods and services is subject to the Value Added Tax. The general tax

rate for VAT is 18% whereas the VAT Code provides several reduced tax rates

such as 1% and 8% for specific deliveries. To this extent, delivery of housings

smaller than 150 square meters is subject to 1% VAT. In addition to this, there are

several exemptions provided by the VAT Code which would be applicable for real

estate deliveries under special circumstances.

Disposing a real estate is subject to the Title Deed Fee of 3% which both the seller

and the buyer are obliged to pay equally (50% - 50%) before the disposal. This fee

is calculated over actual consideration to be paid for such real estate; however the

consideration shall not be less than the tax value of such real estate. In addition to

that, specific sales agreement (if any) will be subject to 0,75% stamp duty if an

amount is stated on the agreement.

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28 Please describe the transition regulations that apply upon conversion into a

REIT, or visa versa.

This issue should be analyzed furtherly with regards to the specifics of each case.

There is no general transition regulations that apply upon every conversion into a

REIT.

29 Does your country grant a privileged exit taxation rule for capital gains

realized on real estate if sold to a REIT? If yes, are there any timing/holding

period/type of qualifying real estate requirements to be observed on either the side

of the seller or the purchasing REIT?

There is no privileged exit taxation rule for capital gains realized on real estate if

sold to a REIT. However, there is a specific limited exemption rule which is

stipulated in the Corporate Income Tax Code and applicable for only resident

companies. According to this rule, under some certain conditions the 75% of the

gains derived from the alienation of real estate may be exempted from Corporate

Tax.

30 Is the REIT in your country regarded as a tax resident person for Double

Taxation Treaty purposes?

Yes.

31 Is the REIT entitled to a refund of a tax credit for foreign withholding levied

on its foreign source income? For instance in case certain provisions are met,

Dutch tax law allows such a payment.

This issue should be furtherly analyzed based on the specifics of each case.

32 How is a foreign REIT taxed in your country with its local rental income (or

with any other income, if allowed)?

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N/A. As a general rule, non-resident corporation deriving rental income in Turkey

will be subject to 20% withholding tax and reverse charge VAT at 18% rate may

be charged.

33 What accounting rules are to be observed by the REIT (local GAAP, US-

GAAP, IFRS)? Is there a difference between single and group financial

statements?

Since REITs should be listed in the Turkish Stock Exchange, the accounting rules

designated by the Capital Markets Board and the Turkish Board of Accounting

Standarts should be applicable for REITs.

IV Questions concerning the tax treatment at the level of the shareholders

34 Please describe the fiscal treatment of a corporate domestic shareholder

concerning the following benefits:

- A dividend paid by the REIT. Is there a difference between current income

dividend and a capital gains dividend?

No.

- A return of capital distribution;

The capital distribution to be named as a capital decrease (repayment of the

capital through an amendment of the Statute of the Company) is not subject to

withholding tax. If a return of capital distribution will be in forms of increasing

the capital of the company and providing the shareholders with gratis shares, then

this will not be regarded as a dividend distribution to be subject to taxation.

- Capital gains realized on the sale of the REIT shares.

For the shares acquired after 01.01.2006, the capital gains taxation derived from

the alienation of the shares of REIT by a full taxpayer company is as follows;

19

1) The gains derived from the disposal of the share certificates quoted in Istanbul

Stock Exchange and held for more than 1 year are;

- not subject to withholding,

- subject to corporate tax (20%).

- 75% of the income is exempted from corporate tax in case the conditions in

paragraph 5/1-e of the Corporate Tax Code are met.

2) Those quoted in Istanbul Stock Exchange and disposed in one year or less;

- are subject to 10% withholding.

- are subject to corporate tax (20%).

- The withholding paid is deducted from the corporate tax calculated in the tax

return.

35 Please describe the fiscal treatment of an individual domestic shareholder

concerning the following benefits:

- A dividend paid by the REIT. Is there a difference between current income

dividend and a capital gains dividend?

No.

- A return of capital distribution;

The capital distribution to be named as a capital decrease (repayment of the

capital through an amendment of the Statute of the Company) is not subject to

withholding tax. If a return of capital distribution will be in forms of increasing

the capital of the company and providing the shareholders with gratis shares, then

this will not be regarded as a dividend distribution to be subject to taxation.

- Capital gains realized on the sale of the REIT shares.

For the shares acquired after 01.01.2006, the capital gains taxation derived from

the alienation of the shares of REIT by a full taxpayer individual is as follows;

1) The share certificates of individual domestic shareholder which quoted in

Istanbul Stock Exchange;

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- those held for more than one year are not subject to withholding, and not

declared.

- they are subject to 10% withholding if held 1 year or less.

- withholding is the final tax. Not declared.

2) Capital gains not derived through the intermediary of banks or intermediary

institutions (for example unquoted share certificates), will be declared pursuant to

the general provisions of the Income Tax Code.

The gains derived from share certificates of full liable corporations held for more

than 2 years are exempted.

36 Please describe the fiscal treatment of a corporate foreign shareholder

concerning the following benefits:

- A dividend paid by the REIT. Is there a difference between current income

dividend and a capital gains dividend?

No.

- A return of capital distribution;

The capital distribution to be named as a capital decrease (repayment of the

capital through an amendment of the Statute of the Company) is not subject to

withholding tax. If a return of capital distribution will be in forms of increasing

the capital of the company and providing the shareholders with gratis shares, then

this will not be regarded as a dividend distribution to be subject to taxation.

- Capital gains realized on the sale of the REIT shares.

For the shares acquired after 01.01.2006, the capital gains taxation derived from

the alienation of the shares of REIT by a corporate foreign shareholder is as

follows;

1) Those derived from the disposal of the REIT share certificates quoted in ISE

and held for more than 1 year;

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- are not subject to withholding,

- are not declared.

2) The rate of withholding is 0% for those quoted in ISE and disposed in 1 year or

less.

- Not declared.

3) Capital gains derived without the intermediary of banks or intermediary

institutions;

- are not subject to withholding.

- are subject to corporate tax (20%).

- The amount remaining after the corporate tax is subject to 15% income tax

withholding.

In the above mentioned ratios of withholding tax is not concerned the Double

Taxation Treaties. If in a Double Taxation Treaty determine a lower ratio of

withholding tax, then the Treaty ratio will prevail.

37 Please describe the fiscal treatment of an individual foreign shareholder

concerning the following benefits:

- A dividend paid by the REIT. Is there a difference between current income

dividend and a capital gains dividend?

No.

- A return of capital distribution;

The capital distribution to be named as a capital decrease (repayment of the

capital through an amendment of the Statute of the Company) is not subject to

withholding tax. If a return of capital distribution will be in forms of increasing

the capital of the company and providing the shareholders with gratis shares, then

this will not be regarded as a dividend distribution to be subject to taxation.

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- Capital gains realized on the sale of the REIT shares.

For the shares acquired after 01.01.2006, the capital gains taxation derived from

the alienation of the shares of REIT by a limited (non-resident) taxpayer

individual is as follows;

1) Of the share certificates quoted in Istanbul Stock Exchange;

- those held for more than one year are not subject to withholding, and not

declared.

- the withholding rate is 0% if they are held for 1 year or less.

2) Capital gains not derived through the intermediary of banks or intermediary

institutions (for example unquoted share certificates), will be declared pursuant to

the general provisions of the Income Tax Code.

The gains derived from share certificates of full liable corporations held for more

than 2 years are exempted.

38 Are there any limitations regarding the holding of shares in a REIT? If so,

what are the tax or civil/corporate law consequences if such limitations are

disregarded?

N/A

39 Is a non-resident shareholder entitled to a withholding tax reduction under

the Double Taxation Treaty between the REIT country and his country of

residence?

For the application of the reduced rates of the DTT, non-resident taxpayer should

provide a certificate of residency (apostilled) from the home-country.

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40 Is it possible for domestic and foreign shareholders (corporate and

individual as well as tax-exempt entities) to credit withholding tax?

This issue should be furtherly analyzed in accordance with the specifics of each

case and the DTT.

***

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