Note 21 - Segmented Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

21.  Segmented information

Operating segments

The Company has three reportable operating segments. The segments are grouped with reference to the nature of services provided and the types of clients that use those services.  The Company assesses each segment’s performance based on operating earnings or operating earnings before depreciation and amortization.  CRE provides commercial property brokerage and other advisory services to clients in North America and in various other countries around the world.  Residential Property Management provides property management and related property services to residential communities in North America.  Property Services provides franchised and Company-owned property services to customers in North America. Corporate includes the costs of operating the Company’s corporate head office.

Included in total assets of the CRE segment at December 31, 2012 is $5,226 (2011 - $3,072) of investments in subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.  The reportable segment information excludes intersegment transactions.

	Commercial			Residential
2012	Real Estate			Property			Property
	Services			Management			Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	1,170,427		$	839,167		$	295,725		$	218			$	2,305,537
Depreciation and amortization			24,106			18,730			10,302			364				53,502
Operating earnings (loss)			33,796			45,870			13,744			(15,013	)			78,397
Other income, net																2,441
Interest expense, net																(19,601	)
Income taxes																(20,304	)
Net earnings																40,933
Total assets		$	633,439		$	444,037		$	232,757		$	7,677			$	1,317,910
Total additions to long lived assets			35,031			19,689			7,767			73				62,560

	Commercial			Residential
2011	Real Estate			Property			Property
	Services			Management			Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	994,579		$	760,501		$	468,903		$	188			$	2,224,171
Depreciation and amortization			22,073			18,022			10,692			139				50,926
Operating earnings (loss)			22,379			47,202			45,421			(16,941	)			98,061
Other expense, net																(6,317	)
Interest expense, net																(16,808	)
Income taxes																26,807
Net earnings															$	101,743
Total assets		$	576,268		$	423,328		$	210,898		$	23,224			$	1,233,718
Total additions to long lived assets			14,997			49,071			6,441			68				70,577

	Commercial			Residential
2010	Real Estate			Property			Property
	Services			Management			Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	861,917		$	662,033		$	462,141		$	180			$	1,986,271
Depreciation and amortization			23,362			14,605			9,544			375				47,886
Operating earnings (loss)			14,694			46,670			58,671			(22,503	)			97,532
Other expense, net																(3,007	)
Interest expense, net																(17,397	)
Income taxes																(29,228	)
Net earnings															$	47,900
Total assets		$	514,060		$	359,247		$	217,692		$	38,542			$	1,129,541
Total additions to long lived assets			78,068			41,182			6,650			273				126,173

Geographic information

Revenues in each geographic region are reported by customer locations.  Amounts reported in geographic regions other than the United States, Canada and Australia are primarily denominated in US dollars, UK pounds and Euros.

	2012		2011		2010
United States
Revenues	$	1,490,763	$	1,523,912	$	1,406,713
Total long-lived assets		468,602		476,530		469,465
Canada
Revenues	$	330,622	$	310,912	$	246,809
Total long-lived assets		99,529		91,821		76,502
Australia
Revenues	$	177,677	$	171,873	$	164,486
Total long-lived assets		49,269		54,701		55,291
Other
Revenues	$	306,475	$	217,474	$	168,263
Total long-lived assets		70,205		55,494		57,927
Consolidated
Revenues	$	2,305,537	$	2,224,171	$	1,986,271
Total long-lived assets		687,605		678,546		659,185