Encumbrance on units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - SEBI - SEBI/HO/DDHS/DDHS/CIR/P/2020/44

CIRCULAR SEBI/HO/DDHS/DDHS/CIR/P/2020/44 March 23, 2020 To, All Real Estate Investment Trusts ( REITs ) All Parties to REITs All Stock Exchanges Madam/Sir, Sub: Encumbrance on units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 1. Regulation 11(3) of SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 ( REIT Regulations ) inter alia provides for mandatory holding of units of REIT by sponsor(s) and sponsor group(s) of REIT. 2. Regulation 23 of the REIT Regulations, 2014 inter alia provides that the manager shall disclose to the designated stock exchanges, unit holders and the Board such information and in the manner as may be specified by the Board.. A. Encumbrance on units 3. Entities required to hold units in terms of Regulation 11(3) of the REIT Regulations may create encumbrance on such units during the mandatory holding period wherein encumbrance shall include pledge, lien, negative lien, non-disposal undertaking etc. or any other covenant, transaction, condition or arrangement in the nature of encumbrance. Provided that the conditions for creation and invocation of encumbrance, provided in this circular, are also included in the agreement executed for the purpose of creation of such encumbrance. B. Conditions for invocation during the mandatory holding period 4. Such encumbrance shall not be permitted to be invoked during the holding period prescribed in terms of Regulation 11(3) of the REIT Regulations unless the following conditions are satisfied: a) the person(s) invoking the encumbrance (whether directly or through any trustee or agent acting on its behalf) shall get itself or its nominee to become re-designated sponsor upon compliance with the terms and conditions for re-designation of sponsor as specified under REIT Regulations: Provided that this condition shall not be applicable in case the person invoking such encumbrance is already a member of sponsor group. b) The re-designated sponsor shall fulfil the obligations specified for sponsor under REIT Regulations . C. Obligation of entity creating encumbrance 5. Sponsor(s) and sponsor group creating encumbrance on units held by them, shall provide details of the encumbrance to the manager of the REIT within two working days from the date of creation of such encumbrance in the format specified at Annexure -I. Any change in the above information pursuant to release or invocation of encumbrance, or in any other manner, shall also be informed to the manager of the REIT within two working days from the date of such event. D. Other Obligations 6. The REIT shall within two working days from the receipt of details in terms of clause 5 shall disclose such information to every stock exchange where units of the REIT are listed. 7. The format for disclosure of unit holding pattern as provided under Annexure B of SEBI circular No. IMD/DF/146/2016 dated December 29, 2016 stands modified to include the following details pertaining to sponsor(s) and sponsor group: Category Category of Unit Holder No. of Unit Held As a % of Total Outstanding Units No. of units mandatorily held Number of units pledged or otherwise encumbered No. of units As a % of total units held No. of units As a % of total units held 8. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Regulation 33 of the REIT Regulations. 9. This circular is available on SEBI website at www.sebi.gov.in under the categories Legal Framework and under the drop down Circulars . Yours faithfully, Richa G. Agarwal Deputy General Manager Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities Tel No. 022-2644-9596 Email Id [email protected] Annexure - I Format for disclosure of details of encumbrance Name of REIT Name of the recognised stock exchanges where the units of REIT are listed Name of the sponsor or the member of sponsor group, as applicable Total unitholding No. of units % of total outstanding units - Specific details about the encumbrance Encumbrance (Date of creation of encumbrance: ______ ) Type of encumbrance No. and % of units encumbered No. of units: % of total outstanding units: Encumbered units as a % of total units held Period of encumbrance Name of the entity in whose favour units have been encumbered Purpose of borrowing Signature of Authorised Signatory: Place: Date: