Debt investments will continue to gain significance in the coming years

2 Days
5 Main Topics
32 Speakers

The DebtConference 2024, one of the leading European events for the global real estate debt investment industry, took place on 12/13 September 2024, at the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre. This significant industry gathering attracted participants from around the world to discuss current market trends, macroeconomic developments, and the challenges posed by rising interest rates. With over 35 high-profile speakers, including industry leaders, investors, and economists, the event provided valuable insights into real estate debt investments and their future.

The Start: Pre-Event Dinner and Networking

The conference kicked off on the evening of 11 September with an exclusive pre-event dinner at Restaurant Schönemann, located at the Opernplatz in Frankfurt. Here, sponsors and investors had the opportunity to network in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying regional and seasonal dishes. This dinner underscored the community spirit of the event and served as an ideal prelude to the following conference days.

Day 1: Macroeconomics, Geopolitics, and Real Estate Markets

The first day began with a warm welcome from David Rückel, the conference chairman, followed by a macroeconomic analysis from Dr. Gertrud R. Traud. In her presentation, she highlighted the economic challenges Germany is currently facing, including increased competitive pressure and slowing economic growth. Although inflation is easing, uncertainty remains high.

Another highlight of the morning was Dr. Timo Blenk’s presentation, which focused on geopolitical risks in times of global uncertainty. He emphasized the strategic competition between the U.S. and China, which impacts global supply chains and trade, and stressed the importance of factoring geopolitical risks into future business strategies.

Following this, Brian Klinksiek presented the latest developments in global real estate markets. He highlighted the structural changes driven by urbanization and sustainability, with a particular focus on the resurgence of the retail sector after years of setbacks.

Challenges in a High-Interest Environment

The second topic block addressed the impact of rising interest rates on real estate markets. Andrew Radkiewicz discussed the challenges in Europe and Australia, explaining how private credit funds are increasingly filling the financing gaps left by stricter regulations. A panel discussion on the German and European real estate markets revealed that the markets have reached a turning point and are now opening up to new international players.

Day 2: Manager Universe and APAC Markets

On the second day, the focus shifted to the manager universe and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets. Nicolas Bauknecht, Sandra Ludwig, and Rebecca Steinfeld discussed various investment opportunities in different regions, with Europe presenting a heterogeneous market and the APAC region experiencing rapid growth. ESG criteria played a central role, especially in Europe, where sustainability aspects are increasingly being integrated into credit decisions.

Anshumann Woodhull provided an overview of the real estate debt markets in Asia, highlighting attractive opportunities in countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, where favorable market dynamics and regulatory constraints are creating stable conditions.

Conclusion and Outlook

The DebtConference 2024 offered a wealth of valuable insights into the current challenges and opportunities in the real estate debt investment markets. Rising interest rates and changing financing conditions were key topics of discussion, but it also became clear that attractive investment opportunities continue to exist, especially for private lenders. With a special focus on ESG and the adjustment to geopolitical risks, the conference concluded with the outlook that debt investments will continue to gain importance in the coming years. Participants agreed that while the markets are challenging, they remain promising.

We would like to thank all sponsors and speakers for their great support, professional contributions, and valuable insights, which made this conference possible. A full overview of all partners, video statements from participants, and conference impressions can be found at www.debtconference.com.

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DebtConference 2025: 11/12 September 2025, Frankfurt

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