Change is a win win win situation
Phil Nicklin, real estate tax partner at Deloitte, comments on
the impact of today's Budget on the Real Estate Industry:
"Overall this has been a positive Budget for property.
"Expectations were not high, given that this is an election
year, but the proposed changes to the REIT regime regarding stock
dividends are most welcome.
"The industry has been lobbying hard for the Government to
make changes to the REIT regime, so that stock dividends can count
towards a REIT's 90% distribution requirement. Currently only
cash dividends count.
"Stock dividends (where a shareholder opts to take shares in
lieu of a cash dividend) have proved very popular recently and will
help REITs to conserve cash. This is particularly important in an
environment where new debt is difficult and expensive to come
by.