Colliers International Broadens U.S. Platform with Addition of EVS Realty Advisors in St. Louis

Once again accelerating the pace at which it continues to grow its U.S. operations, Colliers International today has acquired a controlling interest in one of St. Louis’ most prestigious real estate firms, EVS Realty Advisors.

The addition will significantly bolster Colliers International in the Midwest by strengthening the local firm’s ability to service regional, national and international clients seeking to do business in the St. Louis region. With today’s addition of EVS Realty Advisors, 11 of the nation’s leading firms have integrated their operations into the world’s third largest real estate services firm and rebranded as Colliers within the past twelve months.

“EVS Realty Advisors is a true market leader in St. Louis and the region in providing integrated investor services to institutional clients,” said Dylan Taylor, chief executive officer of Colliers International in the U.S. “These professionals share our deep commitment to exceptional client service and a collaborative culture. Today’s news reinforces our commitment to market leadership and delivering the best service to our clients.”

By merging with Colliers International, EVS Realty Advisors will integrate its operations with one of the world’s largest and most influential real estate companies, with 15,000 employees working from more than 480 offices in 61 countries and with revenues of nearly $2 billion. No immediate leadership or personnel changes are expected.

Robert A. Guimbarda, one of the principals and founders of EVS Realty Advisors, adds: “From the start, our firm’s mission was to become the top full-service, real estate investment advisory firm catering to Midwestern and other regional markets. With today’s news, we will be able to over-deliver on that promise to our clients while drawing the region’s most talented professionals into our ranks. The growth opportunities for everyone involved are monumental. We are thrilled to become a part of Colliers International.”

EVS Realty Advisors, which was founded in 2003, manages more than 2.5 million square feet of signature office properties throughout the St. Louis region. The firm also provides sales and leasing expertise in addition to real estate advisory and asset management services.

Colliers International Further Expands Platform in Greater Baltimore

SEATTLE and BALTIMORE, December 6, 2010 – Colliers International has further bolstered the rapid growth of its U.S. platform with the addition of Hearn Burkley, one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most highly regarded commercial real estate firms. Colliers International also announced that Baltimore’s top office brokerage team will join the organization.

Rebranded and operating as Colliers International, Hearn Burkley will transition from a growing regional powerhouse into a key hub for one of the world’s leading real estate organizations, with 15,000 employees operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries and with revenues of nearly $2 billion.

“With the addition of Hearn Burkley as part of the Colliers International platform, we continue our strategy to build our market share in the U.S.,” said Dylan Taylor, chief executive officer of Colliers International in the U.S. “The firm meets every criterion we look for when expanding into additional markets--it is the most client-centric and culturally-aligned firm in the Baltimore market, and is poised to continue its impressive record of growth as it fully embraces the Colliers International business model.”

With 55 professionals in Columbia, Maryland, the firm is focused on providing a full line of services to the Mid-Atlantic region, including brokerage and property management, development and consulting, and construction and engineering. Hearn Burkley currently manages 7 million square feet across more than 100 properties throughout the Baltimore region. “Aligning with Colliers International is the next logical step in our firm’s growth,” said Timothy R. Hearn, Hearn Burkley’s chief executive officer. “Last year’s acquisition of Corridor Reznick and our continuing investment in the business ideally positions us to become an important contributor to Colliers International on a local, regional and national level.”

The firm also announced that Gary Applestein and Clare Berrang, formerly of the Baltimore office of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, will join Colliers International’s Baltimore operation. Recognized as one of the top office leasing teams in the Baltimore region, Applestein and Berrang will work from the company’s Columbia, MD location. The team has arranged several significant transactions including the sale of an 110,000-square-foot building for ADP, Inc. in Owings Mills, MD as well as leasing 160,000 square feet of medical office space adjacent to the Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, MD.

Colliers International Continues U.S. Growth with Addition of The Winbury Group in Kansas City

Building upon the explosive growth of its domestic operations, Colliers International today announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Kansas City’s leading commercial real estate services firm, The Winbury Group. With today’s development, nine market leaders have integrated their operations into the third largest global player and rebranded as Colliers International over the past year.

By merging with Colliers International, The Winbury Group will immediately evolve from a locally owned top-performing operation to a key component of one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated real estate companies, with 15,000 employees operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries and with revenues of nearly $2 billion.

“With today’s news, we are continuing our systematic strategy to seize additional market share in the U.S.,” said Dylan Taylor, chief executive officer of Colliers International in the U.S. “Our U.S. continued expansion further solidifies our ability to provide the best service to our clients and the best career opportunities for our professionals. The Winbury Group is the clear market leader in greater Kansas City and we see very high alignment between the two firm’s cultures.”

Ted Murray, who serves as the CEO of The Winbury Group, adds: “After serving our clients for more than two decades throughout the Kansas City region and the country, we are thrilled to join Colliers International, a global industry leader. Our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest-quality commercial real estate services in the region will be significantly enhanced by this merger. Our clients will continue to rely on our local market knowledge and connections, but going forward they also will benefit from the national and international growth opportunities and resources of Colliers.”

The Winbury Group is a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. The firm also has an office in nearby Lawrence, Kansas. Founded in 1989, the firm currently boasts more than 100 employees and real estate advisors. During its 21 years in business, The Winbury Group has consistently delivered transaction, consulting, property and asset management services in addition to strategic planning expertise on behalf of both corporate and investment-grade clients, both on a local and national level.

About Colliers International
Colliers International is the third-largest commercial real estate services company in the world with 15,000 professionals operating out of more than 480 offices in 61 countries. A subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV; TSX: FSV and FSV.PR.U), it focuses on accelerating success for its clients by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including global corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research. The latest annual survey by the Lipsey Company ranked Colliers International as the second most recognized commercial real estate firm in the world.

A Special Evening with Clients

I had the privilege of co-hosting several hundred clients and colleagues in San Francisco this past Wednesday. Colliers International was lead sponsor and host of an event on behalf of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, established by the former prime minister of the U.K. in 2008 to foster dialogue and understanding between people worldwide, regardless of cultural and religious differences.

The centerpiece of the evening was meeting Tony Blair himself, and later seeing him interviewed by Emmy-winning broadcast journalist Charlie Rose. It was evident from their immediate rapport that this is one of a series of conversations the two have had since Blair stepped down from government in 2007 to begin a new career as statesman and thinker—not just for the United Kingdom, but for the world as a whole.

That his ongoing work has shifted in part from politics to religion reflects what he views as a changing and increasingly globalized world. The 20th century’s defining conflicts were over political ideology; whereas those of the next century will arise from differences of religious and cultural ideology.

Blair is still a political figure, of course, given his continued involvement in the Middle East peace process, emerging governments in Africa, and climate change. But the compelling moments in the discussion transcended both politics and religion, and pointed to something greater that unifies us all: basic human values.

“The one thing that in our part of the world we need to understand is that when we talk about ‘Western values,’ like freedom and democracy, the rule of law, and a belief in basic social justice…these aren’t Western values. They’re values of the human spirit, and they’re the values that people anywhere choose, when they’re given the choice.”

Occasions like this are an opportunity to evaluate one’s own leadership, regardless of your profession. Being around Mr. Blair and engaging with him personally, you can really see how naturally he brings people together. He’s candid without being exclusionary, intelligent without being elitist, warm without being artificial. It’s inspiring how he has continued to grow and learn in his second career, free from the limitations of political office. Despite having achieved the highest political office in his country, and retaining it for a decade, he continues to add to his accomplishments and build on his experience. It is clear that Mr. Blair has demonstrated an enterprising spirit, and having him as a focal point of a gathering of Colliers International clients created an evening that was well received by all.