REIT Governance Keeping Up with Influence of Institutional Shareholders, Hanks Says

Jim Hanks, a partner at Venable LLP who specializes in corporate governance, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWise 2016: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

One of the most prominent corporate governance issues pertaining to REITs today is the increased influence of major institutional shareholders, according to Hanks.

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Foreign Investors Heating Up Capital Markets, Real Estate Lawyer Says

Sandy Presant, chair of the Real Estate Fund Practice at Greenberg Traurig LLP, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWise 2016: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Presant said capital in the private real estate market is “very heated,” as foreign funds continue to be attracted to the safe haven of the United States.

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Impact of Lease Accounting Standard Unclear, PwC Partner Says

Tom Wilkin, partner at PwC, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWise 2016: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Wilkin discussed the impact of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) new lease accounting standard. Issued in February, the new standard will not have a significant impact on lessors, Wilkin said: “Landlords are to a large extent unaffected.”

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FIRPTA Revisions Free Foreign Capital to Invest REITs, Tax Lawyer Says

Prentiss Feagles, a partner at Hogan Lovells LLP, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWise 2016: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.

Feagles commented on reforms to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA) that were included in the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 and their impact on REITs.

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Apple Hospitality REIT Reaches Deal to Buy Apple REIT Ten

Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) said April 14 that it plans to acquire public non-listed REIT Apple REIT Ten, Inc. in a deal valued at $ 1.3 billion.

Apple Hospitality’s portfolio consists of 179 hotels operating exclusively under the Hilton and Marriot brands, with locations in urban, high-end suburban and developing markets. Apple REIT Ten was formed by Glade Knight, who previously served as chairman and CEO of Apple Hospitality REIT. Apple REIT Ten’s portfolio contains 55 Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels.

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