Luxembourg Real Estate Vehicles - VAIÖ: Startseite

1 Asset Management and real Estate Luxembourg real Estate Vehicles This publication is exclusively designed for the general information of readers. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and timely information, information contained in this publication may not be comprehensive, or some information may have been omitted that may be relevant to a particular reader. Consequently, PricewaterhouseCoopers does not guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. You must be aware that the information to which you have access is provided as is without any express or implied guarantee by PricewaterhouseCoopers. PricewaterhouseCoopers cannot be held liable for mistakes, omissions, or for the possible effects, results or outcome obtained further to the use of this document or for any loss which may arise from reliance on materials contained in this publication, which is issued for informative purposes only.

2 No reader should act on or refrain from acting on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without considering and, if necessary, taking appropriate advice in respect of their own particular circumstances. PricewaterhouseCoopers Luxembourg ( ) has about 1950 professionals from 53 different countries. PricewaterhouseCoopers ( ) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. PricewaterhouseCoopers refers to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. Table of contents 1. Introduction 5. 2. structuring real Estate Vehicles 6. Regulated real Estate Vehicles 6.

3 real Estate funds 7. General regulatory framework 7. Particular tax implications 10. real Estate venture capital companies (SICAR) 11. General regulatory framework 11. Particular tax implications 13. real Estate securitisation structures 14. General regulatory framework 14. Particular tax implications 16. Unregulated Vehicles 16. Legal framework 16. Particular tax implications 16. 3. Regulatory and Taxation outlook 18. Regulation 18. Taxation 19. 4. The selection of service providers for real Estate Vehicles 21. Investment advisor 22. Administrative agent 22. Custodian bank 23. Transfer agency 23. Property valuer 23. Auditor 23. Tax advisor 23. 5. Setting up a real Estate structure 25. 6. Your partner Our team 26. 7. Contacts 33. Glossary 39. Appendix I 41. Appendix II 43. Appendix III 45. Luxembourg real Estate Vehicles PricewaterhouseCoopers 3. 1. Introduction In recent years, property The Luxembourg legal framework is flexible enough to fulfill a wide range investors and developers of investors' needs.

4 Luxembourg 's taxation regime is a key factor when have become much more considering whether to choose an unregulated or regulated real Estate vehicle for international investors. There are several key factors to the success of international in their outlook. Luxembourg , including: Property has effectively an ongoing political support for the development of the financial services become part of the global industry;. market place. However, the tax the broad awareness of Luxembourg funds;. and legal system that applies a high level of investor protection;. to property transactions differs a flexible onshore regime for setting up highly sophisticated and tax efficient with each jurisdiction. Players in real Estate Vehicles investing internationally;. this market need to understand the presence of experienced service providers. the local implications of their This guide has been prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Luxembourg in order proposed transactions.

5 To provide general background information on the legal and taxation aspects of regulated and unregulated real Estate Vehicles domiciled in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as well as first guidance in the set-up phase of these structures. The guide starts with the legal and tax opportunities for structuring real Estate Vehicles in Luxembourg , followed by practical information on the selection of service providers and actions during the lifetime of the structures. Practically, real Estate structures are brought to life by the combination of several types of Vehicles achieving an overall competi tive position with minimal tax leakage. The guide highlights also major future regulatory and tax developments, such as the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), which will potentially be the single most important regulatory development for the European real Estate industry.

6 Besides the choice of Vehicles , the selection of service providers involved in Luxembourg real Estate structures is key to establishing a successful project. Therefore, we provide some practical information on this selection. We hope you will find useful information in this brochure and wish you an interesting read. Amaury Evrard real Estate and Infrastructure Leader Luxembourg Luxembourg real Estate Vehicles PricewaterhouseCoopers 5. 2. structuring real Estate Vehicles The choice of a real Estate Regulated real Estate Vehicles vehicle will depend on the Sponsors who want to establish a regulated real Estate vehicle in Luxembourg type of funding that needs can choose between four different options, each addressing specific needs: to be raised, the proposed 1. Undertaking for Collective Investment (UCI or fund ), whose securities investor base, the type of are distributed to the public; or investments to be made and 2.

7 Specialised Investment Fund (SIF), UCI's reserving their securities to any specific tax considerations. well-informed investors; or Luxembourg offers a choice 3. Soci t d'Investissement en Capital Risque (SICAR), which are eligible of both regulated and non- for well-informed investors as well;. regulated structures that meet 4. Regulated securitisation vehicle. the different requirements of Today, the most chosen regulated vehicle for structuring real Estate investment real Estate players. schemes is the SIF. However, the vast majority of Luxembourg real Estate structures use unregulated Vehicles for which no statistical information exists. real Estate Vehicles in Luxembourg Regulated real Estate Vehicles Unregulated real Estate Vehicles Funds SICAR Securitisation Vehicles Soparfi1 Other Part II. Part I funds Specialised funds Investment Funds Soci t de Participation Financi re 1.

8 Luxembourg real Estate Vehicles 6 PricewaterhouseCoopers All regulated real Estate Vehicles , as described hereafter, real Estate is defined in Chapter III of the Circular 91/75. fall under the prudential supervision of the Luxembourg as follows: financial sector regulator, the Commission de Surveillance property consisting of land and buildings registered in du Secteur Financier (CSSF2) which plays a key role by (i) the name of the UCI;. authorising the vehicle and by (ii) supervising the ongoing share holdings in real Estate companies (including claims operations of the structure. Also included in this brochure on such companies) the exclusive object and purpose is the description of certain unregulated Vehicles (see of which is the acquisition, promotion and sale as well Unregulated Vehicles page 16). as the letting and agricultural lease of property provided that these share holdings are at least as liquid as the real Estate funds property rights held directly by the UCI.

9 General regulatory framework property related long-term interests such as surface 1. Publicly distributed Undertakings for Collective ownership, leasehold and options on real Estate investments. Investment (UCI) Obviously, spreading risk is a key element to consider in Depending on the investment policies, real Estate UCIs contemplating the choice for setting-up a real Estate UCI. In can principally be created in Luxembourg under Part I or general, the regulation requires that, at the date of acquisition Part II UCIs of the Law of December 20, 2002 (the 2002 of the relevant property, no one investment can be larger Law ). Part I funds benefit from the EU passport, which than 20% of the total Net Asset Value of the UCI. This has been introduced by the European Directive 85/611/ diversification requirement does not apply during a start-up EEC regarding Undertakings for Collective Investments in period of a maximum of four years from the closing date of Transferable Securities (UCITS).

10 They can be distributed the initial subscription period. Moreover, the aggregate of cross-border all over the EU thanks to a simplified all borrowings of the UCI may not on average exceed 50%. notification procedure, which is not the case for Part II of the valuation of all its properties. However, depending funds. However, the investment universe of Part I UCITS on the investment policy of the UCI, any exceptions can be is limited to assets eligible for UCITS under the before discussed individually with the CSSF. mentioned European Directive. Therefore, this type of fund is mainly used for the investment in real Estate equities, REITs or to create real Estate fund of funds. real Estate UCIs under the so-called Part II of the 2002 Law allow a wider range of investments, such as direct investment in real Estate properties, and can be considered as the classic type of regulated real Estate fund structures in Luxembourg .