The MFSA had issued a specific guidance note on PIFs structured as property funds.

For further details on the law and regulations and license conditions, click here.

This applies only to PIFs targeting experienced investors or targeting qualifying investors.

The investment rules are set-out below:

INVESTMENT RULESEXPERIENCED INVESTORSQUALIFYING INVESTORS
Main investment objective being to invest in the property (> 20% NAV)YY
Max 25% in any one single immovable propertyY
Minimum 5 different propertiesY
May not invest up to 100% of total assets in any single property fundY
Open end fund No leverageY
Closed end fund – max 100% NAV leverageY
Between 10% and 20% of NAV may be invested in propertyYY

Note: there are no borrowing restrictions.

PIFs Targeting Extraordinary Investors

The guidance note discloses that any PIF targeting Extraordinary investors falls outside the scope of this policy and that any such PIF established as a property fund would be subject to the general investment restrictions applicable to PIFs targeting extraordinary investors.