About Mauro Keller Sarmiento
Mauro has a Bachelors degree from Harvard College, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. As a son of an Argentine diplomat, he has travelled extensively, has lived and worked in various countries in Europe and the Americas, and speaks five languages fluently.

Mauro’s professional career has covered diverse international postings in investment banking, consultancy and management. His experience includes four years with JP Morgan in New York and Buenos Aires, three years with McKinsey &Co. in Spain, Italy and Portugal, and three years as manager of a business unit of oil-giant Repsol-YPF developing retail services throughout most of South America.

For the last 15 years Mauro has been active in corporate services and international Investments at NAI and C&W, one of the premier commercial real estate companies in Argentina, and a senior consultant to various private firms and investors active in South America and the Iberian Peninsula. Previously he spearheaded the international expansion efforts of the Insignia Group in both Europe and Latin America. His focus has been consulting and executing real estate transactions for leading corporations and investors.

C-III is led by CEO Andrew L. Farkas, who founded and was Chairman and CEO of Insignia Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:IFS).

“The completion of this transaction represents a significant step forward in our strategy to build a fully diversified commercial real estate services company,” said Mr. Farkas. “With the NAI Global acquisition, we are gaining the world’s leading commercial real estate network and a tremendous foundation for future growth.  As we begin a new year, we look forward to partnering with the NAI team to provide enhanced services to the commercial and institutional real estate markets they serve as well as continuing to take advantage of other opportunities to grow and expand our platform.”

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with C-III and excited about the opportunity to deliver an even broader range of services to our members and add greater value to our collective corporate and investment clients. We look forward to tapping into their great resources and expertise to help C-III clients strategically optimize their commercial real estate assets,” said Jeffrey M. Finn, President and CEO of NAI Global.

NAI Global will continue to operate as a separate company under its current management. NAI manages a network of commercial real estate firms comprising 5,000 professionals and 350 offices in the US and 55 countries throughout the world.  NAI’s network members provide a full spectrum of corporate, financial, technology and project management services.

C-III commenced operations with the purchase of Centerline Capital Group’s institutional real estate debt fund management and commercial mortgage loan servicing businesses in March 2010.  Since that time, C-III has successfully launched mortgage origination, investment sales and title insurance businesses, and expanded its principal investment, loan origination, fund management and primary and special loan servicing businesses, including acquiring the special servicing and CDO management businesses of JER Partners in August 2011.  In November 2011, C-III acquired two affiliated multifamily property management businesses – U.S. Residential Group and Pacific West Management – which now operate on a combined basis under the U.S. Residential Group name.

Financial terms of the NAI Global acquisition were not disclosed.

About C-III Capital Partners

C-III Capital Partners LLC is a leading commercial real estate services company engaged in a broad range of activities, including primary and special loan servicing, loan origination, fund management, CDO management, principal investment, title services and multifamily property management.  Our principal place of business is located in Irving, TX, and we have additional offices in New York, NY, Greenville, SC, McLean, VA, Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX and Nashville, TN.

About NAI Global

NAI Global (www.naiglobal.com) is the largest network of independent commercial real estate firms worldwide, comprised of over 5,000 professionals in 55 countries in more than 350 offices. NAI advisors work in tandem with our global management team to ensure our clients strategically optimize their real estate assets. NAI offices complete over $45 billion in combined transactions annually and manage 300+ million square feet of commercial space.

However, it is not without issues to overcome – especially the lack of infrastructure and easy access to markets. For the past couple of decades these areas were not accessible due to the violence and therefore there was no opportunity to build a comprehensive road network. Nevertheless, “Where there’s a will there’s a way” seems to be Colombia’s motto.

A sad comment in the article is that most or at least many of the original individual landowners will not return to work their land; they are too scared from the previous presence of the FARC and the atrocities they committed. They will sell it and most will be purchased by large agro-industrial concerns.

Once the strong investment and activity really kicks in and foreign agro-industrial firms begin to acquire large swathes of land, it will be interesting to see how Colombia reacts to growing foreign land ownership. Will it move to promote jingoistic counter-actions as Brazil and Argentina have? These latter two countries have and are enacting laws to limit foreign ownership of agricultural land. I bet on the side of rational Colombian behavior.

That big money is being deployed to acquire and expand existing platforms is a clear sign that the commercial real estate market is in the early stages of recovery. Key metrics show both sales and leasing volume are up and in the major markets both rental rates and asset prices have recovered sharply for core assets. But there is a long way to go for secondary markets and non-core assets. As commercial real estate climbs out of the depths of the credit crisis, industry leaders are now looking to expand their depth and breadth of coverage in order to capitalize on opportunities.

There is little doubt that the big will get bigger and more consolidation will follow. The real question remains “how best to provide service?”  Is it through a large corporate bureaucracy, best-in-class local providers or some combination that provides the requisite global infrastructure, quality control and support with the best local talent and client-centric approach? Clearly some of the recent M&A activity is following familiar strategic patterns, while others are dramatic course changes.

Over the past 40 years the commercial real estate industry has grown from a local business to a global industry with each economic cycle accelerating the transformation. Now more than ever global resources and reach are critical to serve commercial real estate clients at the local level. The trick is to be able to deliver local service at the global level. Finding the balance between entrepreneurial local market expertise and the institutional strength of a global company is the key to optimizing global real estate services. In the quest for scale and market share, the customer is often lost.

As the largest global managed network of commercial real estate firms we are committed to be a driver and leader in this industry transformation, evolving to serve the ever growing needs of our clients without sacrificing the local touch and customer care we have been known for.

It was also a great money spinner for many with full hotels in London and the memorabilia industry that has sprung up. The food and drink for parties also boosted the economy and it revived new interest in both the Royal Family and the UK, which should help to boost the economy. It is expected that there will be more weddings again and that there will be a new fad of trees in the churches instead of flowers. There is already somebody somewhere copying that dress and it will no doubt be up for sale this week.

It has given a glimmer in the world and a reason to celebrate. Let’s hope it stays in people’s minds and helps to boost the economies and then the property markets. Wherever the Royal Couple eventually settle after Anglesey there will no doubt be a boost to that market and wherever they honeymoon etc. There will probably be a revived interest to buy properties in London too and who knows maybe to set up new businesses. So the reaches of one “happy“ event will keep on going.

“The addition of Greg to our team now allows us to offer a complete capital markets solution to our clients,” stated Peter Ruggiero, Managing Director-Global Capital Markets at NAI Global. “We now have an integrated debt and equity platform to help our clients capitalize on the best opportunities.”

Shecher previously was managing member of Lexington Capital Advisors in Boca Raton, FL, and Tinton Falls, NJ, and served as senior vice president at Johnson Capital from 2005 to 2009. His experience also includes senior positions at David Cronheim Mortgage, Pinnacle Capital Funding and Cushman & Wakefield.

Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, NAI Global manages a network of 5,000 professionals and 350 offices in 55 countries. NAI firms complete over $45 billion in transactions in a typical year, and manage more than 300 million square feet of commercial space worldwide.

Olshonsky previously was COO at NAI Friedland Realty, NAI Global’s Westchester County affiliate. He joined the NAI network in 2010 after 15 years with CB Richard Ellis, where he served as managing director in charge of its Washington, DC, brokerage operations Olshonsky began his career as a leasing agent in Washington, DC, in 1982 and has held leasing positions with several prominent New York and Washington property owners, including Manekin Corp., Charles E. Smith/Vornado and Helmsley Spear.

“Jay is an accomplished real estate executive with a track record of success in building and integrating top performing brokerage teams,” stated NAI Global President & CEO Jeffrey M. Finn. “His knowledge and experience will be valuable in growing our New York City team.”

Olshonsky joins an NAI Global New York City operation that recently doubled its capacity in Manhattan and plans to aggressively expand its local tenant representation and leasing teams. The New York office also serves as the global base for NAI’s Corporate Solutions, Special Asset Solutions, Capital Markets, Project Management and Sustainability Solutions teams.

Mooney has been active in the NAI Global network for more than 20 years and served as chairman of the NAI Members’ Leadership Board during 2000-2001, a key period in the organization’s history.

“Mike is a leader and visionary who has always been close by to provide solid advice and wisdom,” stated NAI Global President & CEO Jeffrey M. Finn. “His strong, subtle leadership during a critical time of transition served to galvanize the organization and accelerate our growth. We appreciate his many contributions to the NAI organization over the past two decades and look forward to his continued support and guidance.”

J. Michael Mooney

The award was presented in a ceremony on February 9 at the NAI Global 2011 Convention in Las Vegas. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, NAI Global manages a network of 5,000 professionals and 350 offices in 55 countries. NAI professionals complete over $45 billion in transactions annually.

David C. Blanchard

NAI Global, the premier network of commercial real estate firms and one of the largest real estate services providers worldwide, honored David C. Blanchard, Executive Vice President, with the Gerald C. Finn Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his years of dedication and service to the NAI Global network.

Blanchard joined NAI Global in 1985 in a corporate services/business development role and has played a leadership role in building NAI’s U.S. network during his 25-year career. He currently leads the company’s Member Services team and primarily focuses on member development, orientation and training.

Blanchard’s contributions are not limited to NAI. He also serves as an Instructor for the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), a prestigious group of office and industrial brokers who serve their clients throughout the world, and was honored with SIOR’s coveted “Instructor of the Year” award for 2008 and again in 2009.

“David’s unique ability to touch and inspire people has been critical to our growth and success,” stated NAI Global President & CEO Jeffrey M. Finn. “He is special person and we are so glad we have had the great fortune to have him on our team. No individual has played a more vital role in fueling our growth, building our culture and helping us to realize our success.”

The award was presented in a ceremony on February 9 at the NAI Global 2011 Convention in Las Vegas. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, NAI Global manages a network of 5,000 professionals and 350 offices in 55 countries. NAI professionals complete over $45 billion in transactions annually.

“Hayim brings a new energy and leadership to the Las Vegas office,” said Jeffrey M. Finn, NAI Global President and CEO. “Since joining the firm, Hayim has raised NAI’s profile among owners, investors and tenants across the market. He has the vision and experience to lead the Las Vegas brokerage team to even greater success as the region recovers from the downturn.”

“This is an exciting time for a broker,” said Mizrachi. “Las Vegas is on sale, and there are tremendous opportunities for investors and corporate space users interested in owner/operator, in all product types. Las Vegas was hit the hardest during the economic downturn, but now prices have come down and in many locations overcorrected, leaving opportunities for savvy buyers.”

Mizrachi joined NAI Las Vegas as First Vice President and Business Manager in 2010 and was responsible for driving the business development and broker recruitment process for the office. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a commercial real estate specialist for Prudential | IPG Commercial Real Estate, and previously worked with Mizrachi Development as Operations Manager. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he earned a degree in business administration and marketing.

NAI Las Vegas is located at 840 Grier Drive, Suite 340 in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.nailasvegas.com.