TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - July 08, 2015) - Smart Real Estate Investment Trust (formerly, Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust) ("SmartREIT") (TSX: SRU.UN) announced today that Gregory Howard has been appointed to the Board of Trustees, effective July 2, 2015. Mr. Howard replaces Peter Forde, who stepped down as a Trustee when he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of SmartREIT following the acquisition of SmartCentres.
Mr. Howard is a Partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada's leading law firms, and he is one of Canada's pre-eminent real estate lawyers. His wide-ranging expertise includes commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, development projects, project financing, commercial leasing, REITs, private equity funds, workouts, strategic planning and corporate matters. He has been recognized as one of the country's leading real estate lawyers by Chambers Global, the Legal 500 and Real Estate Law.
"Greg is unquestionably one of the most talented real estate lawyers in this country and we are delighted he will be joining the Board where we can benefit from his considerable business acumen, extensive legal knowledge and real estate experience," said Mitchell Goldhar, Chairman of the Board, SmartREIT.
About SmartREIT
SmartREIT is one of Canada's largest real estate investment trusts with an enterprise value which has now grown to approximately $8.3 billion. It owns and manages in excess of 30 million square feet in value-oriented, principally Walmart-anchored retail centres, having the strongest national and regional retailers as well as strong neighbourhood merchants. In addition, SmartREIT is a joint-venture partner in the Toronto and Montreal Premium Outlets. SmartREIT's core vision is to provide a value-oriented shopping experience to Canadian consumers and over time create high quality office environments as part of mixed use developments in urban settings.
With SmartREIT's acquisition of SmartCentres, SmartREIT has transformed into a fully integrated real estate provider. SmartREIT and SmartCentres have had a long and successful alliance, helping to provide Canadians with value-focused retail shopping centres across the country. Now, our alliance has grown even stronger, the result is a fully integrated real estate provider with expertise in planning, development, leasing, operations, and construction -- all under one roof. Our new name is a reflection of our combined capabilities: SmartREIT. For more information on SmartREIT, visit www.smartreit.ca.