AREF (The Association of Real Estate Funds)

Thanks to AREF (The Association of Real Estate Funds) for an impressive and comprehensive response this month to the call for evidence for the UK government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, and advocating key reforms for our real estate fund sector that include: -         addressing operational difficulties that DC pension schemes face in investing in LTAFs and other funds with notice periods via platforms. -         market access for UK AIFMs to EU professional investors should be equivalent to market access for EU AIFMs to UK professional investors. -         in order to facilitate the Reserved Investor Fund (RIF) holding UK residential real property, the RIF has an option to be added to the VATA list. -         UK AIFM Regulations amended so external valuers can limit liability i.e. no longer be subject to unlimited liability. -         mandating the sharing of real estate energy consumption data. Let’s hope the government’s Strategy (due to be published in Spring 2025) will progress the reforms – and thereby contribute to the government’s goal: delivering “sustainable, inclusive growth for the financial services sector and [securing] the UK’s competitiveness as an international financial centre”. https://lnkd.in/ewHke278 Paul Richards Jacqui Bungay British Property Federation Investment Property Forum Apex Group Ltd

Breakfast Seminar on Long-Term Asset Funds (#LTAFs) We invite our members & members of The Investment Property Forum to a breakfast seminar focused on the latest developments in Long-Term Asset Funds (LTAFs). The session includes: An FCA update from Mhairi Jackson, Asset Management Policy Manager at The Financial Conduct Authority; updates to standard documentation and practical considerations; and a market panel discussion on the current landscape for LTAF fundraising and investment. Speakers and Panellists: Moderator: John Forbes, John Forbes Consulting LLP Speaker: Mhairi Jackson, Asset Management Policy Manager, FCA Panellist: Christy Lindsay, CFA, Head of Sales and Private Markets Distribution, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) Panellist: James Lowe, CFA, Director, Private Markets, UK Wealth, Schroders Panellist: James Monk, Investment Director, Fidelity International 📅 Date: Tuesday 11th February 2025 ⏰ Time: 08:30 AM: Networking, coffee, and breakfast 09:00 AM: Session begins 10:30 AM: Session ends 📍 Location: PwC Offices, 7 More London Riverside, London AREF members should register here: https://lnkd.in/eqBbNGig IPF members should register through the IPF website. #arefnews #investmentmanagement #realestate #realestatefunds #propertyinvestment #property #fundmanagement #realestateinvestment

The Real Estate Debt Series – Event 3 We are thrilled to confirm the details for the third event in The Real Estate Debt Series, organised by the AREF Education & Training Committee. 🎤 Speakers and Moderator: 🔹 Moderator: Patrick Groves, Partner, CMS 🔹 Cyrus Korat, Founding Partner, DRC Savills Investment Management 🔹 Maddy Greene, Head of Transaction Management, DRC Savills Investment Management 💡 This session will examine alternative real estate lending, focusing on how it differs from traditional financing, the operational role of an alternative lender, and the structuring of private debt transactions. 📅 Thursday, 16 January 2025 ⏰ 08:30am: Networking over coffee & light breakfast 09:00am: Session starts 10:30am: Session finishes 📍 Venue: CMS Office, London Free to members and open to non-members. Spaces are limited. 👉 Register now to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/ekD8h7q5 #arefnews #investmentmanagement #realestate #realestatefunds #propertyinvestment #property #debtfunds

🎄 Season's Greetings from AREF! 🎄 As we celebrate this festive season, we’re deeply grateful for the incredible support of our members. We extend our warmest wishes to all our members and friends. ✨ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the AREF team! ✨ #AREF #SeasonsGreetings #MerryChristmas Paul Richards Ed Protheroe Jacqui Bungay Clare Whyte Rachel Portlock Mel Ozbay-Ali

🌟 Our New Affiliate Member- Grant Thornton🌟 We are thrilled to have Grant Thornton UK LLP join us as an affiliate member! We look forward to working with the team David Spring 🌐 To learn more about AREF membership and its benefits, visit our membership page: https://lnkd.in/ghHjGNa #arefnews #investmentmanagement #realestate #realestatefunds hashtag #propertyinvestment #property #fundmanagement #realestateinvestment #arefmember

♻️ From Commitment to Action: Facing the practical reality of decarbonising buildings We’re thrilled to announce the first in a two-part series hosted by the AREF ESG & Impact Investment Committee and in collaboration with Better Buildings Partnership (BBP). This event is a unique opportunity to explore the practical challenges of decarbonising real estate, with a focus on non-prime/secondary markets. The clock is ticking for the real estate industry to align with a 1.5-degree pathway. As we approach five years since the launch of pivotal initiatives like the BBP Climate Commitment, AREF ESG 5-Year Roadmap, and the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Building Framework, the challenge to achieve #netzero has never been more critical.🌍 Why Attend? ✅ Gain insights from industry-leading experts on #decarbonisation strategies. ✅ Engage in collaborative workshops addressing political, economic, social, and technological barriers. ✅ Help shape actionable solutions for our next event in the series. 📅 Event Details: 🗓 Date: Thursday 30th January 2025 ⏰ Time: 08:30am - 11:00am 📍 Venue: Accenture, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD Speakers include: Oliver Light, Head of Sustainable Real Estate, Accenture (Moderator) Adam Baranowski, Head of Climate Action & Investment, BBP (Moderator) Joey Aoun, Net Zero & Sustainability Lead, Savills Investment Management Lina (Magdalini) Makrodimitri, Energy & Carbon Lead, Schroders Ryan Brown, Sustainability Building Expert, Accenture + more to be announced! Free to AREF and BBP Members, open to non-Members! Register now: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dRF8V4ry #Sustainability #NetZero #Decarbonisation #RealEstate #AREFnews #AREF #investmentmanagement #realestate #realestatefunds #propertyinvestment #property #sustainability #fundmanagement #realestateinvestment #arefmember #esg_at_aref #AREFNetworking

💫Exciting Announcement: AREF Annual Dinner & Awards 2025!💫 We are proud to announce that JTC Group will once again sponsor the AREF Annual Dinner & Awards for the second year running. We are thrilled to collaborate with the #JTC team on making 2025’s dinner our best yet. 🔮 An Iconic New Venue for 2025!!! The #AREFDinner25 will be held at the magnificent ✨Raffles London✨ , situated in the historic Old War Office (OWO) on Whitehall. This landmark building, steeped in history, has been meticulously restored over the last 8 years into a luxurious venue that marries its rich heritage with contemporary elegance. 📅 Save the Date: Thursday 25th September 2025 📍 Venue: Raffles London at The OWO 🌟 Tickets and booking details will be announced in the New Year. This exclusive event is open to AREF members and their invited guests, offering a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, celebrate achievements, and enjoy a truly memorable evening. Read more here ➡️: https://lnkd.in/eQYbDnkA #AREFnews #AREF #AREFNetworking #RealEstate #JTCGroup #RafflesLondon

🌟 Join Us for Vision 2025: The Evolution of Funds We are thrilled to invite AREF members to #AREFVision2025, an exclusive event hosted by Evelyn Partners, where we’ll explore the evolving landscape of real estate investment funds. 📅 Date: Tuesday 21st January 2025 🕒 Timing: 08:30-10:30am 📍 Venue: Evelyn Partners, 45 Gresham St, London EC2V 7BG The morning kicks off with a networking session, giving you the opportunity to connect with industry peers over a light breakfast. Following that, we’ll dive deep into the Evolution of Funds with a special keynote presentation by Simon Marx, Head of Research at Lothbury Investment Management Limited followed by a panel discussion featuring Anne Copeland, Head of Institutional Capital at Newcore Capital and Tim Russell, Senior Fund Manager at Aviva Investors + more to be confirmed. Keynote Presentation: 🎤 The Evolution of Funds - this keynote will cover: 🔹Current market dynamics 🔹Shift from balanced to specialist funds 🔹International capital trends 🔹Declining institutional ownership of direct property 🔹Lessons from past cycles: Is history repeating itself? Insights into AREF’s Journey: 📖 A brief history of AREF presented by Rachel Portlock, Head of Research at AREF. Panel Discussion: 💡 Challenges and the Road Ahead Our panel will explore pressing industry challenges, including: 🔹Unlocking the DC conundrum: Regulatory issues and liquidity challenges 🔹The Budget’s impact on funds 🔹LTAF outcomes vs. expectations 🔹The role of the #RIF in shaping future opportunities 🔹International investor trends and evolving strategies + hear AREF's future plans by Paul Richards, CEO at AREF and take part in the interactive audience Q&A. Space is limited at this event, book your space now, here: https://lnkd.in/eBTiF37m #arefnews #Vision2025 #RealEstateInvestment #Funds #InvestmentStrategy #EvelynPartners #Networking #RealEstate #Finance #InstitutionalCapital #RealEstateTrends

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 | Imagine a world where every building, every development, every piece of land contributes to a richer, more biodiverse planet. AREF (The Association of Real Estate Funds)'s Nature in Real Estate video has launched, designed to help fund managers navigate this critical issue. It provides practical guidance on incorporating biodiversity and natural capital considerations into every stage of the investment lifecycle, from acquisition to disposal. Teamwork at it's best as we collaborated with AREF's ESG & Impact Investing Committee, Chantal Beaudoin at Knight Frank Investment Management (KFIM), Emily Hamilton at Savills Investment Management, Jessica Pilz at Fiera Real Estate UK, Alexander Newport at Bradford Estates and Rachel Portlock to deliver this video. Get in touch with Jonathan Hale and Mark Topliff to find out more. #YourPartnersinProperty #esg #biodiversity #natureinrealestate #CRE #KnightFrank

🌟 Team Spotlight 🌟 We’re delighted to introduce our new Team Spotlight series, where we’ll celebrate one of our brilliant team members each month. This month, meet Rachel Portlock, our Head of Research. Rachel leads our research efforts with exceptional expertise and dedication, playing a vital role in driving innovation and shaping our success. Read Rachel's Team Spotlight here: https://lnkd.in/e4sfv8M7 #arefnews #TeamSpotlight #Teamwork