Introducing FUNDamentals: AREF’s New Training Series

We are delighted to announce Aztec Group as the official sponsor of FUNDamentals, AREF’s new training series. 
 

Developed by AREF’s Education and Training Committee, this 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 are instrumental in providing this valuable training experience for our members.
 

The FUNDamentals series, which spans over the next 18 months, is designed to enhance the understanding of real estate funds through six focused sessions tailored to different aspects of fund management.

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’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

Click here to register.

Spaces are limited—secure your place today!

Speaker 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. 

Future Sessions in the FUNDamentals Series

After the "Introduction to Funds Foundation" session, the series will continue with five additional sessions, each building on key aspects of real estate fund management:

• Introduction to Fund Regulation & Structures (Q3 2025)

• Introduction to Fund Taxation (Q4 2025)

• Introduction to Fund Terms (Q1 2026)

• Introduction to Fund Financials & Performance (Q2 2026)

• Introduction to Fund Transactions (Q3 2026)

Each session will feature expert trainers from top fund management firms, law firms, tax advisers, and consultants. Attendees will gain practical insights and real-world expertise, helping them enhance their understanding of the real estate fund landscape.

We thank Aztec Group for their generous sponsorship and PGIM Real Estate for their support in making the FUNDamentals series possible. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your knowledge—secure your place today and be part of the first session of this exciting new series.

Enquiries:

Please contact us at [email protected].