Geoffrey Mar

Senior Vice President

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Eighth Avenue Place, East Tower, 525 8 Avenue SW
Suite 3200
Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G1

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Geoff joined CBRE in February of 1993, specializing in investment sales. Geoff has 10 years of experience in the Alberta real estate market, having joined CBRE from Knowlton Realty Ltd. Geoff was CBRE's Top Junior Producer in 1994. Geoff has been a member of the National Investment Team – Calgary (NIT – Calgary) since its inception.

In addition to his sales role, Geoff is a Barrister and Solicitor and a member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta. Prior to entering commercial real estate, Geoff was with Canada's largest law firm. Geoff provides in-house legal assistance to NIT - Calgary in matters of drafting documents, reviewing and interpreting documentation and providing insight on a wide range of other legal issues including regulatory and municipal law matters. Geoff's experience in dealing with the real estate bar across Canada can provide valuable insight to both vendors and purchasers regarding drafting issues and pitfalls.

Since the implementation of the National Investment Team – Calgary, Geoff's principal role has been the co-ordination and management of due diligence and closing matters for all of the transactions conducted by NIT - Calgary. The provision of transaction management expertise to the extent that it is provided by NIT – Calgary is unique in the real estate brokerage industry. Geoff's dedication and experience in this area help to insure that transactions are completed on-time and on-price.

In addition to monitoring the progress and conduct of the purchaser's due diligence processes and the management of the closing process, NIT – Calgary has also acted on the 'buy-side' to conduct the due diligence and closing processes on behalf of prospective purchasers of commercial real estate including: the engaging and direction of outside counsel and third-party consultants; assisting prospective purchasers to interpret third-party reporting; and, sourcing, negotiating, documenting and funding third-party financing, involving both conventional and conduit lenders.

Transaction Management

Among the key 'value-add' elements provided by Geoff in this role throughout the transaction process are:

Negotiation – Geoff has a considerable amount of 'deal experience' in the negotiation of the forms of purchase and sale documentation with many of the vendors and purchasers in the marketplace and relationships and negotiation experience with the majority of the key members of the real estate Bar in Calgary and with many other solicitors across Canada. This ongoing experience proves valuable to our clients in avoiding pitfalls that exist in purchase and sale documentation an provides 'real-time' experience regarding the 'hot buttons' of particular purchasers and solicitors
Due Diligence Progress – the volume of business that NIT – Calgary transacts and the involvement of our Team in the conduct of the purchaser's due diligence has provided us with the ability to assist purchasers and their consultants to arrive at solutions for issues arising from the conduct of the purchaser's due-diligence including: structural, mechanical and other building science issues; environmental issues, both regulatory and financing related; lease issues; property management and accounting issues; title and off-title issues, including Real Property Report an City Compliance issues; and, financing issues. Geoff's experience with this process provides our clients with valuable contact with the purchaser, its solicitor and its consulting team so that potential issues can be addressed before they become problems
Closing – among the closing issues on which Geoff provides valuable support are: liaising between the solicitors for the vendor and purchaser and the vendor and purchaser directly, this is a valuable function that the solicitors on the file are prohibited from conducting on their own due to the rules of the Law Society; the negotiation and preparation of a statement of adjustments; estoppel certificate issues, including meeting with tenants explain the documents and obtain execution; and, assisting with mortgage funding, such as obtaining title insurance an assisting the lender's solicitors
Post-Closing – Geoff often remains involved in transactions long after the closing is completed to: assist with post-closing adjustments; satisfy vendor and purchaser obligations and their respective solicitor's undertakings, including leasing, management and municipal requirements

CBRE - Hutcheson Award - National Team Award – General - 2018
CBRE - Hutcheson Award - National Team Award – General - 2014
CBRE - Hutcheson Award - National Team Award – General - 2011
CBRE - Hutcheson Award - National Team Award – General - 2001

National Investment Team - Calgary

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The CBRE Calgary National Investment Team specializes in major transactions in office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties in the Calgary and Edmonton markets.

Diverse Capabilities

The National Investment Team - Calgary (NIT - Calgary) consists of four experienced professionals with a wide range of competencies. NIT - Calgary includes three of Alberta's most experienced investment real estate brokers. Their combined industry experience is over 70 years and their sale volume is in excess of $9 Billion. In addition, NIT - Calgary has a lawyer and a planner on its team that offer expertise in development planning, legal and environmental matters. All property underwriting is conducted by three analysts who ensure the accuracy of the teams' financial underwriting.

NIT - Calgary's experience includes the completion of major transactions in office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties in the Calgary and Edmonton markets, as well as experience in multi-market portfolios in conjunction with other CBRE offices. NIT - Calgary has experience in the sale and development of commercial and residential land and, also, in the representation of users in Calgary and surrounding markets. In addition to its transactional expertise, NIT - Calgary provides consulting and valuation services.

Synergy

NIT - Calgary is a partnership, with all members sharing in the revenue of the team. The group maintains a common database of clients and works together to ensure maximum cooperation on all assignments. This formula increases communication and synergy, which benefits both sides of the transaction. The group occupies an open office environment, thus facilitating the sharing of information. The group meets weekly to review all listings and to share market intelligence.

Comprehensive Market Data

With access to CBRE Calgary's 25 sale professionals actively involved in the leasing of industrial, retail, downtown and suburban office space, as well as the highly regarded CBRE research team, NIT - Calgary has the best data on new supply, demand and vacancy, as well as leasing and sale comparables available to it. NIT - Calgary will add an appropriate leasing professional to certain investment assignments to ensure that the best possible market information and market knowledge is made available to clients.

National Scope

NIT - Calgary is a member of CBRE Limited's National Investment Team - Canada (NIT - Canada). NIT - Canada includes the most senior investment sale professionals in each of the CBRE offices across Canada, all of which are "best of class" in their respective markets. NIT - Canada conducts bi-monthly telephone conference calls to discuss sales, new listings and overall market activity and trends in all major Canadian markets. The sharing of market information from all listings allows each office to more effectively market its properties.

Fifth Avenue Place
1,486,000 sq. ft.
Consolidated Warehouse Portfolio
1,158,454 sq. ft.
Ontrea Industrial Portfolio
1,070,000 sq. ft.
Palliser Square
612,000 sq. ft.
Scotia Centre
566,000 sq. ft.
Marlborough Mall
538,000 sq. ft.

Summit Office Portfolio
488,386 sq. ft.
Western Gas Tower
416,000 sq. ft.
Altus Centre
304,000 sq. ft.
Southland Tower & Court
271,383 sq. ft.
Dalhousie Station
189,341 sq. ft.

Aspen Properties Ltd.
CREIT
Greystone
GWL Realty Advisors Inc.
HOOPP
H & R REIT
Investors Group
Ledcor Industries
Penreal Capital Management

Oxford
Redcliff Realty Advisors Inc.
Qualico
Remington Development Corporation
Summit REIT
RIO CAN Real Estate Investment Trust
Telsec Business Centres Ltd.
Tonko

Client Testimonials

" I thought you and your team did and outstanding job from the presale due diligence through to the final closing of the deal. Recognizing the complexity of the real estate itself being the large number of tenants and individualized properties, we were particularly impressed with your firms accurate presentation which played a major role in us achieving our final disposition objectives."

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the CB Richard Ellis Due Diligence and Closing Group, and in particular the efforts of yourself (Geoff Mar) and Ken Westhaver, for all the assistance provided in the closing of the financing transaction. Your background as a solicitor, and Ken's various relationships, were very helpful in obtaining a required comfort letter from The City of Calgary, regarding significant encroachment issues."

"Your firm put forth a tremendous effort. Perseverance was the key ingredient making this transaction a success. While we encountered many unexpected mine fields throughout the sale process, each time you and your staff regrouped and came back stronger and even more determined to make sure this transaction happened and upon terms that were important to the vendor."

"The CB Richard Ellis approach to the business is highly professional, and always keeps the interest of its clients first. We believe that your team's underwriting expertise, marketing focus, and sales expertise enabled us to dispose of these two buildings at a price well within our target expectations."

"CB Richard Ellis did a great job of accessing new buyers for this shopping center, and your energy and creativity was instrumental in getting this transaction closed. Several of your competitors had tried to sell this property, but it was CB Richard Ellis that got the job done!"

"We would like to thank the CB Richard Ellis Due Diligence and Closing Group, in particular the efforts of yourself (Geoff Mar) and Mr. Ken Westhaver, for its assistance in the closing of the sale of 520 - 11th Avenue SW. Your background as a barrister and solicitor and Ken's relationships at The City of Calgary were very helpful in assisting the Purchaser in its efforts to satisfy the lender and in obtaining responses from The City of Calgary regarding the various survey issues that arose. It was also of great assistance to have a knowledgeable and capable group interceding on behalf of all parties and acting as an intermediary between ourselves, the Vendor's Calgary counsel and the Purchaser's Vancouver counsel."