CBRE Launches Niche Mining, Metals Group

CBRE jumped at the chance to hire Brodkey since creating the niche team required finding the right person to lead it. The focus is to advise and assist with all transactions for mining-related properties and businesses. Initially, the concentration will be on active precious metal, base metal, coal, diamonds and industrial mineral mines industries in North and South America.

Brodkey tells GlobeSt.com that transactions most commonly involve selling active mines, including real estate, mineral rights, ancillary land and other rights. It also will entail such deal-making as selling closed mines and exploration properties.

Typically, mining companies and property owners handle small transactions in house while relying on investment banking firms to oversee the larger deals, according to a press release. Brodkey says investment banking firms generally handle sales upward of $100 million. The CBRE group offers an alternative for outsourcing and will target deals $50 million and under, earn-ins and other industry-specific transactions.

CBRE launched the team a month ago. Brodkey says the team started with "a clean slate," meaning he didn't bring any clients to the playing field. But, his industry contacts will be the vein for new business.

Brodkey was a vice president of business development for BHP Copper Inc. He also served as a vice president and general counsel for Magma Copper Co. His broad-based practice spans domestic and international fronts. Besides an attorney's hat, he also was a mining engineer.

Assisting Brodkey will be Patricia Peraza, a professional legal assistant. Eventually, a financial analyst will be added.