CASE STUDY: DUTUM GROUP

CASE STUDY: DUTUM GROUP — WINNING A LANDMARK JOINT VENTURE DEAL IN LAGOS

Client Overview

Dutum Group is one of Nigeria’s leading construction and real estate development firms, with a growing portfolio of commercial, residential, and institutional projects. Known for its technical excellence and execution capacity, the firm was invited to participate in a competitive bid for a large-scale mixed-use joint venture with an institutional landlord in Lagos, one of the city’s most strategically positioned developments in recent years.

The Challenge

Despite Dutum’s strong construction track record, the JV proposal demanded more than engineering expertise, it required a compelling investment narrative backed by data-driven market insights, robust financial models, and a deep understanding of developer-investor alignment.
To secure the partnership, Dutum needed to:

• Translate its technical strength into a bankable investment proposition.
  
  
• Demonstrate market feasibility and financial viability in line with institutional standards.
  
  
• Present a strategic positioning that stood out in a highly competitive evaluation process.
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Our Approach

Fortren & Company was engaged as Strategic Advisory Partner to coordinate the entire proposal development process alongside Dutum’s in-house team.
Over a two-month period, we provided a full suite of advisory support across research, strategy, and execution:

1. Market Feasibility Analysis:
   We conducted a detailed assessment of Lagos’s mixed-use and residential markets, benchmarking comparable developments and analyzing absorption trends, rental yields, and target demographics.
   
   
2. Financial Modeling:
   Our team built a comprehensive JV financial model that evaluated multiple development scenarios, optimized equity structures, and forecasted returns to meet both developer and landlord expectations.
   
   
3. Positioning Strategy:
   We crafted the project’s brand and investment narrative, aligning Dutum’s technical capabilities with a vision of urban regeneration, sustainable design, and long-term value creation.
   
   
4. Proposal Coordination:
   Acting as an extension of Dutum’s executive team, we coordinated input from design, construction, legal, and finance divisions to produce a unified, investor-ready submission.

The Outcome

The proposal was a resounding success, Dutum secured the joint venture, positioning the firm for a landmark project that will redefine its development portfolio and strengthen its institutional credibility.
The client’s leadership credited Fortren’s integrated approach, blending market intelligence, financial precision, and strategic storytelling, as a decisive factor in their winning bid.

Key Results

• Secured a high-value joint venture partnership with an institutional landlord in Lagos.
  
  
• Delivered a bankable proposal that met global investment standards.
  
  
• Strengthened Dutum’s brand positioning as a developer capable of leading complex, mixed-use projects.
  
  
• Deepened trust and collaboration between development and investment stakeholders.
  

Client Reflection

“Fortren didn’t just help us prepare a proposal, they helped us rethink how we position ourselves for institutional capital. Their insights bridged the gap between construction and investment, and that made all the difference.”
Temitope Runsewe— Managing Director, Dutum Group

Fortren & Company Insight

Winning institutional partnerships requires more than technical capacity; it requires strategic clarity and credible data.
At Fortren & Company, we help developers, family offices, and investors unlock opportunities by aligning real estate vision with market reality, from feasibility and positioning to transaction execution.

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