Värde Partners Names New CEO of Trimont Real Estate Advisors

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Värde Partners ("Värde") today named Brian Ward CEO of Trimont Real Estate Advisors ("Trimont"), the Atlanta-based real estate financial service provider owned by certain funds managed by Värde.  With over $90 billion of client assets under management and offices in the U.S., U.K. and The Netherlands, Trimont provides real estate financial services, including asset management, asset servicing, CMBS bond trustee services, construction loan administration and services, and underwriting.  Trimont's roster of clients spans the globe, and the business creates an important platform for Värde's growing real estate business.

"The appointment of Brian Ward signals the next step in our growth of Trimont, positioning Trimont to expand even further into the attractive market of real estate financial services, especially in the resurgent construction lending market," said Marcia Page, Executive Chair of Värde and Chairman of the Board of Trimont.  "Brian's extensive real estate and leadership experience is a perfect fit for Trimont, providing both a strong understanding of the markets where Trimont intends to flourish and the organization skills needed to preserve the strong management of Trimont."

"I'm excited to join the Trimont team," said Brian Ward.  "Trimont is a global industry leader in the non-bank financial service sector.  The current market dynamics surrounding global deployment of capital into all facets of commercial real estate, combined with an increasing regulatory environment and complexity of debt and equity financings aligns with the core strengths of Trimont."

Ward joins Trimont from Colliers International (NASDAQ: CIGI; TSX: CIG), where he served as President of Capital Markets and Investment Services for the Americas.  Prior to joining Colliers, Ward was the National Director of Capital Markets for Institutional Property Advisors and its parent company Marcus & Millichap. 

Ward has substantial experience with all manner of complex domestic and international debt and equity structures.  He has also worked extensively on partnership recapitalization and restructuring strategies.  Ward is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the National Multi Housing Council, is an actively licensed real estate attorney, and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.

About Trimont Real Estate Advisors:  Trimont Real Estate Advisors (trimontrea.com) is a real estate financial services provider with over $90 billion of client assets under management, providing services to commercial lenders and investors since 1988. With 170 employees in Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, London and Amsterdam, the company core client services include asset management (primary, construction and special), asset servicing, construction loan administration, underwriting and due diligence, information management and public finance.

Trimont is a highly rated primary, special, and construction servicer, with particular expertise in repositioning and development deals. Trimont is rated by Standard & Poor's as a Commercial Mortgage Special Servicer (Strong) a Construction Loan Servicer (Strong), and Commercial Primary Servicer (Above Average).   It is rated by Fitch as a Primary Servicer (CPS2+) and a Special Servicer (CSS2) and by Kroll Bond Ratings, Inc.

About Värde Partners:  Värde Partners is a $10 billion global alternative investment firm that employs a credit-oriented, value-based approach to investing across a broad array of geographies, segments and asset types, including real estate, corporate credit, residential mortgages,  specialty finance, transportation and infrastructure.  The Firm sponsors and manages a family of private investment funds with a global investor base that includes foundations and endowments, pension plans, insurance companies, other institutional investors and private clients. Now in its third decade, Värde employs 200 people with main offices in Minneapolis, London and Singapore

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SOURCE Värde Partners