Funding Residential Development ÇƒÏ Succeeding in a Different Market Place

A dozen experts give their views and advice

There are plenty of reasons to be positive about residential development in London. Others are finding it tough; land prices are slowly becoming sensible again; planning policy is likely to soften to ensure housing targets are hit. Potentially, this is a great scenario but developers need to get through 2008 in order to be ready for 2009.

The event takes place in London W1 on Wednesday 25th June 2008.

Places are limited and as a result are on a first come, first served basis

9.30 Welcome

Chairman’s welcome
Stephan Miles-Brown, Head of Residential Development, Knight Frank

9.45 Where are we?

The current funding environment

Michael Lister, Michael Lister Private Equity

  • Where are we and how did we get here?
  • Who is out, who is in, who is being cautious?
  • Possible time scales for the situation to soften + lending conditions to expect later in the year

Been there, seen it, done it. Both as a banker and as a developer

Paul Isaacs, Managing Partner, Generator Group

  • Show your lenders that their money is safe in your hands
  • Tightening the belt + generating cash
  • Understanding the dynamics of the time cost of money

10.35 Getting Debt

What it takes to get through credit assessment

Graham Chilver, Director, Property Finance Team, Barclays Commercial Bank

  • Views from the funding market.
  • How will you and your project be considered? What features score best at credit assessment?
  • Changes in syndication

The banking deals available: What are the terms?

Ian Stockdale, Senior Partner West End Property Finance Team, Clydesdale Bank

  • Assessment of deal terms available in today’s market
  • Thorough due diligence + Perfect documentation
  • What is the most helpful stance for a borrower to take? Pragmatic outlook

11.30 Coffee

12.00 Finding the Opportunities

Mezzanine finance

Michael Lister, Michael Lister Private Equity

  • Provision change: what is different + how should you adapt?
  • With others unable to fund themselves, where are the opportunities?
  • Does the ‘who’ matter? Practical tips on how to get debt funding

Finding customers in an affordability constrained market

Richard Donnell, Research Director, Hometrack

  • Where are the buyers in an affordability constrained market?
  • Creating sales volumes
  • How much pre sales can be guaranteed to whom what discount?

12.50 Lunch

2.00 Dealing with the Bank in a Positive Manner

The best way to deal with your bank

Paul McCartney, Partner, Davies Arnold Cooper

  • What can a borrower expect in the current climate?
  • Be honest and early with your news
  • What can a borrower do to improve its position?

The Valuer’s perspective

Elaine Tooke, Partner, Head of Residential Development Consulting, Knight Frank

  • The difficulties facing Valuers; judging the market
  • Our perspective of where the banks are nervous
  • Do the banks have good reason to be nervous?

2.50 Squeezing out Profits

Saving: Anything you can save is useful!

Jeremy Butler, Partner, Howard Kennedy

  • Tax issues

Avoiding Insolvency

Vernon Dennis, Partner, Howard Kennedy

  • Common errors
  • 6 things I wish they had done six months ago

3.40 Coffee

4.00 Making Committed Projects Succeed

Optimising profits from current commitments

Mark Farmer, Head of Private Residential, EC Harris

  • You are committed on site but the market has changed; what are your choices?
  • Matching rate of build to rate of sales
  • Product optimisation and differentiated marketing

Waiting: Keeping planning permissions alive until better times return

John Qualtrough, Partner, Bircham Dyson Bell

  • Existing time limits
  • Lawful minimal works of commencement
  • Beware of triggering planning obligations

4.45 Networking session begins

This event is deliberately upbeat – doom and gloom is both dull and self-fulfilling. It takes place in London W1 and places cost £499 plus VAT

The day includes debate and networking sessions, giving you the chance to meet the speakers plus other leading industry figures as well as have your questions answered.

To book a place please contact Lexi Segar on 020 8877 0088 or email lsegar@ldevents.net