FUNDamentals Training Series: Introduction to Funds Foundation

Our new FUNDamentals series is designed to enhance the understanding of real estate funds through six focused sessions tailored to different aspects of fund management.

Proudly sponsored by Aztec Group and developed by AREF’s Education and Training Committee, the series brings together the support of both Aztec Group, as the sponsor, and PGIM Real Estate, who are hosting all of the sessions. Their combined contributions play a vital role in providing this valuable training experience for our members.

First Session: "Introduction to Funds Foundation"

The first session of the series, "Introduction to Funds Foundation," will take place on Thursday 15th May 2025 at PGIM Real Estate’s office on the Strand. This session is exclusively for professionals working at AREF's Fund and Investor member firms and provides a foundational understanding of real estate fund management.

Session Overview:

This session is ideal for professionals new to the industry or those looking for a refresher, it’s particularly relevant for asset managers, investors, capital-raising professionals, and those in supporting roles.

It covers the basics of fund structures, regulatory considerations, and investment strategies, offering a comprehensive introduction to the key elements of real estate funds.

Topics covered will include:
✔ Setting the scene
✔ Open vs closed-ended fund structures
✔ Authorised vs unauthorised funds
✔ Common fund vehicles
✔ Basic fund structuring
✔ The role of leverage in fund management
✔ Fund manager considerations, what invest in and why

A key focus will be the relationship between fund structure choices, vehicles, leverage, and investment strategies, with an introduction to how these decisions connect to the regulatory and taxation landscape. These points will be expanded upon in later sessions of the series.

Trainers:

This session will be led by:

• Charles Crowe, Managing Director, Head of UK Investment, PGIM Real Estate
• Darren Stolzenberg, Partner, CMS

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday 15th May 2025
• Location: PGIM’s office, The Strand
• Time: 8:30am – 10:30am (including interactive breakout sessions)
• Cost: Free for AREF member firms

Cost & Booking:

This event is FREE and open to all staff from AREF Fund & Investor member firms only.  We are sorry this is not open to Affiliate members* (view our list of members here). 

Spaces are limited! Registrations will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of two attendees per member firm. Any third registrations from the same firm may be removed, and you will be notified if this occurs.

Please note, this training session is NOT for Affiliate Members.  It is for those working in Fund Management Houses and Investor Firms only. 

^{*If you work for an Affiliate Member and would like to register your interest to attend, please let us know by emailing [email protected].  If a spaces becomes available, we will let you know.}

Trainer Biographies

Charles Crowe

Managing Director, Head of UK Investment, PGIM Real Estate

Charles Crowe is a managing director at PGIM Real Estate.  Based in London, Charles has been been part of a team that has built a long term investment management business with AUM of c. £1.1bn and £0.8bn of further committed capital with exciting growth prospects. The team has introduced 13 new UK pension fund clients to the company and established strong relationships with all the major UK and European consultants. 
 
Prior to joining PGIM Real Estate in 2009, Charles was a senior member of the UBS Global Asset Management UK Real Estate business and a member of its UK Investment Committee. He was Head of Transactions, transacting over £2 billion of assets for both core and opportunity funds, and investment adviser to the UBS Secure Income Property Fund.  
 
Charles has over 20 years of real estate industry experience has worked as an investment surveyor in both the UK and Continental European real estate markets. He also has considerable asset management experience. 

Darren Stolzenberg

Partner, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

Darren is Chair of the AREF Education & Training Committee. He is a Partner in CMS UK's Funds and Indirect Real Assets team. He is qualified in Australia and England, and has been practising law in London since 1999.

 

Darren has acted on a large and varied number of real assets transactions, often with an international element. He now focuses on structuring transactions through indirect vehicles such as companies, limited partnerships, unit trusts and offshore vehicles. He advises on UK and international fund establishments, joint ventures, corporatised asset sales and acquisitions and also advises investors looking to invest in UK, pan-European and global funds. 

Enquiries

Please email us at [email protected].