I am.
Thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to address you and the committee.
My name is Keith Jameson, and I am a director of the real estate group with BMO Capital Markets.
In relation to the matter that is currently before this committee, my role at BMO Capital Markets includes the coordination of the initial preparation of the due diligence and underwriting for the marketing of this portfolio, as well as working on the transaction team, as it relates to the execution of the deal.
There are 16 professionals in our Canadian real estate team and another 20 in the U.S., providing a full range of services, including investment brokerage, equity capital markets, debt financing, and real estate advisory. We have experience handling many billions of dollars of commercial brokerage transactions for the complete spectrum of asset classes, including many large and complex sale leasebacks.
BMO Capital Markets also has a long and good track record of advising governments on their investment banking requirements. Specifically, our capital markets team has been involved in some of the most significant privatizations in Canada, including CN, Air Canada, and NavCan.
Our real estate team demonstrated its capabilities in the RFP in July and August 2006, and our full credentials are detailed in those submissions to PWGSC. We believe that we were selected for this assignment because of our proven capabilities and track record and because of our understanding of PWGCS's issues and objectives.
With that, Madam Chair, subject to certain confidentiality provisions that may limit some of our responses, I will be happy to answer questions from you and your colleagues on the committee.
Thank you.