Insight Programme | Real Estate Private Equity

Welcome to our Executive Insight Programme on Real Estate Private Equity. 

Why should you enrol for this programme?

Real estate private equity is a global phenomenon. Understanding its intricacies is a key element in the professionalization of the Belgian real estate industry. It can lead to cross-border investments, international collaboration, an evolution towards more sustainable real estate and affordable housing and the sharing of best practices.

This programme helps real estate professionals acquire new skills and refine existing ones: skills related to financial modelling, risk assessment, negotiation and deal structuring, all crucial in real estate private equity. In addition, real estate private equity involves complex financial and investment challenges. The programme enhances problem-solving abilities, enabling you to tackle intricate issues and find innovative solutions, all starting from research-based insights and scientific knowledge, provided by international experts, willing to share their knowledge with you. Learning from case studies and real-world examples can kindle innovation and creativity among the participants so that you can apply these insights to your projects and strategies.

What can you expect from this programme?

This programme provides a concise overview of the market dynamics, key players, terminology and strategies of professional real estate investments. We focus on private equity in real estate from a European perspective. The central research question of the course is: how can you put capital to work with real estate as the underlying asset?

The programme addresses financial fundamentals and frameworks, European legal frameworks and basic tax structuring insights. It delivers a frame of reference on an economic foundation, supplemented with practice-oriented cases and study visits where you can integrate and apply your knowledge in dialogue with international experts.

Take a closer look at the Real Estate Private Equity Insight Programme

Most of the classes of the programme are taught in Leuven. In addition, the programme includes a study visit to London and a study visit to Luxembourg.

Real Estate Private Equity | Executive Insight Programme

Part 1 | Introduction: Real Estate as an asset class

• Setting the scene: we sketch the overview of the programme based on some real-world examples.
• Investors & Structures: explanation of the roles in real estate private equity: Limited Partners, General Partners, Operational Partners, Merchant Bank, Investment Bank, Fund Managers and introduction to Investment Strategies
• Definition of Real Estate Private Equity
• Key concepts of Real Estate Private Equity: the ABC of funds
• Real Estate as an asset class
• Functioning of the capital markets 

Part 2 | Structuring a Real Estate Private Equity Fund

• European legal framework and main Belgian and Luxembourg vehicles
• Tax landscape and BEPS recommendations
• Strategic understanding of the structuring based on tax and legal aspects
• Financing and Debt Structure
• Preferred Equity Funds and Dry Capital
• Recapitalisation and timing strategies, liquidation scenarios and exit strategies
• The role of the asset manager 

Part 3 | Fundraising: Equity & Debt (London)

• Organisation of investors: international and domestic limited partners: types of Limited Partners
• Key challenges in equity raising and fund management. Distressed situations. Clever investment and joint venture strategies
• Functioning of the capital markets 
• London Safari 

Part 4| Strategies for Future Real Estate

• Macro-economics and how this affects the investment strategy
• ESG strategy to guide decision-making and sustainability in the investment process
• Real Estate Alternatives: parking spots, city centre storage, data centres, ...
• New investment strategies
• Vision of an international bank on the investment in future real estate
• AIFMD regulation
• New finance solutions: shadow banking, mezzanine, preferred equity, ... 

Part 5 | Exploring the Real Estate Private Equity Landscape at Luxembourg

• Luxembourg as a financial centre
• Panel discussion: service providers
• The practical process of setting up a fund from A to Z
• Panel discussion: fund governance
• Study visit