The Office Fund is structured as an investment company with variable capital, as defined in article 2:76a of the Dutch Civil Code, with its corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is a fiscal investment institution (FII) within the meaning of Article 28 of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969. Bouwinvest Real Estate Investment Management B.V. (Bouwinvest) is the Fund's Statutory Director and management company, subject to the terms of the management agreement. The management company has a licence within the meaning of Article 2:65 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act and is subject to supervision of the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM) and by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB).
The Fund owns two taxable subsidiaries, Bouwinvest Office Development B.V. and Bouwinvest Dutch Institutional Office Fund Services B.V. These subsidiaries perform activities that might go beyond mere ‘investing’. By having these activities performed by these subsidiaries the Fund remains compliant with the investment criteria of the FII-regime. Bouwinvest Office Development B.V. performs development activities for the investment portfolio of the Fund while Bouwinvest Dutch Institutional Office Fund Services B.V. renders services that are ancillary to renting activities of the Fund.
Fund governance structure
Shareholders' Committee
The Office Fund can establish a Shareholders’ Committee. The Shareholders' Committee comprises a maximum of five shareholders: one representative of each of the four shareholders with the largest individual commitment and one member to represent the collective interests of all other shareholders. Members of the Shareholders' Committee will be appointed by the General Meeting of Shareholders for a period of one year. The Shareholders’ Committee was established in March 2016.
Role of the Shareholders' Committee
The role of the Shareholders' Committee is to approve certain specified resolutions by the management company (see governance matrix) and assist the management company by providing advice if such is requested. The responsibility for proper performance of its duties is vested in the Shareholders' Committee collectively. In 2016, the Shareholders' Committee met twice to discuss the Fund Plan and the results of the Office Fund.
General Meeting of Shareholders
Shareholders of the Office Fund must be qualified institutional investors within the meaning of section 1:1 of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (FMSA). General Meetings of Shareholders are held at least once a year to discuss the annual report, adopt the financial statements and discharge the Statutory Director of the Fund for its management. Shareholder approval is required for resolutions that have a substantial impact on the Office Fund and its risk profile (see governance matrix).
Governance matrix
| | General Meeting of Shareholders | Shareholders' Committee |
| | Simple Majority vote (> 50%) | Double Majority vote | Approval rights | Consultation rights |
Amendment of the strategy of the Fund | | X | | X |
Liquidation, conversion, merger, demerger of the Fund | | X | | X |
Dismissal and replacement of the Management Company | | X | | X |
Amendment of the Management Fee of the Fund | | X | | X |
Conflict of Interest on the basis of the Dutch Civil Code | | X | | X |
Investments within the Hurdle Rate Bandwidth as specified in the Fund Plan | | | X | |
Related Party Transaction | | | X | |
Amendment or termination of the Fund Documents | X | | | X |
Adoption of the Fund plan | X | | | X |
Deviation from the valuation methodology of the Fund as set out in the Valuation Manual | X | | | X |
Investments outside the Hurdle Rate Bandwidth as specified in the Fund Plan | X | | | X |
Change of Control (of the Management Company) | | | | X |
Appointment, suspension and dismissal of managing directors of the Fund (with due observance to the rights mentioned under 3. here above). | X | | | X |
Amendment to the Articles of Association of the Fund | X | | | |
Adoption of the Accounts of the Fund | X | | | |
Information rights on the basis of the Dutch Civil Code | X | | | |
Authorising the management board to purchase own Shares | X | | | |
Reducing the capital of the Fund | X | | | |
Extending the five month term with regard to approval of the Accounts | X | | | |
Providing the management board with the authority to amend the Articles of Association of the Fund | X | | | |
Appointing a representative in the event of a Conflict of Interest | X | | | |
Requesting to investigate the Accounts and the withdrawal thereof | X | | | |
Approval of an Applicant Shareholder to become a Shareholder of the Fund | X | | | |
The rights of the General Meetings of Shareholders and the Shareholders' Committee are further specified in the Information Memorandum of the Fund and the Fund Documents.
Anchor investor
As at this annual report’s publication date, bpfBOUW holds the majority of the shares of the Office Fund.