October was a busy month for INREV Academy, with our last two courses offering practical insights into due diligence and real estate financing. Both courses brought together experienced professionals and leading industry experts to discuss best practices, opportunities, challenges, and the latest developments in their fields, including the use of AI.
The Effective Due Diligence course in Frankfurt on 1 October explored the full spectrum of due diligence from both investor and manager perspectives, covering legal, operational, and sustainability considerations. Participants benefited from group discussions and interactive sessions with expert speakers, as well as a case study during which they performed a detailed due diligence.
Key topics included:
- Investor perspective and selection criteria by Yno van Haaster (Columbia Threadneedle Investments)
- The manager’s perspective on preparing for and managing the due diligence process by Ilkka Tomperi (CapMan Real Estate)
- ESG due diligence: process, key factors, and current trends by Peer Petersen (UBS Asset Management)
- Risk management and operational due diligence by Goffe Jensma (PGGM)
- Legal due diligence and governance by Clare Baker (Linklaters)
Course leader Alex Tilson (Praemia REIM) and speakers highlighted the importance of building trust between investors and managers and establishing a foundation for long-term partnerships. Attendees actively contributed throughout the day, making the sessions highly interactive and insightful.
The Real Estate Financing course, which took place in PwC's Luxembourg office on 15 October, provided participants with a comprehensive overview of debt financing in today’s market, covering senior and junior lending, capital structures, and hedging strategies.
Led by Mathew Crowther (PGIM Real Estate), the programme included:
- The senior lending market by Michael Shields (ING Real Estate)
- Debt origination and management from a lender’s perspective by Bruno Dord (PIMCO Prime Real Estate)
- Alternative lending in commercial real estate by Sarah Fletcher (PGIM Real Estate)
- Debt origination and management from a borrower’s perspective by Duco Mook (CBRE Investment Management)
- Hedging strategies in the current market environment by Tomasz Cichowski (Chatham Financial)
- Capital structure: combining sources and cost of debt financing by Gianluca Marcato (Henley Business School)
The programme ended with a fun case study, where participants had the opportunity of negotiating a term sheet, splitting into two teams to play the part of lenders versus borrowers. This activity helped to translate theory into actionable insights.
Both courses demonstrated the value of INREV Academy’s hands-on approach, enabling participants to gain practical knowledge, connect with peers, and learn from leading professionals in the non-listed real estate industry.
Interested in taking a course? Find out what's coming up in our training calendar.