Note 22 - Segmented Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

22.  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.  RRE 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, 2013 is $4,744 (2012 - $5,226) of investments in subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.  The reportable segment information excludes intersegment transactions.

2013	Commercial Real Estate Services		Residential Real Estate Services		Property Services		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenues	$	1,318,779	$	884,334	$	140,317	$	204		$	2,343,634
Depreciation and amortization		32,539		30,655		8,557		244			71,995
Operating earnings (loss)		60,663		30,509		20,305		(21,243	)		90,234
Other income, net											1,531
Interest expense, net											(21,501	)
Income taxes											(22,624	)
Net earnings from continuing operations										$	47,640
Net loss from discontinued operations										$	(5,997	)
Net earnings										$	41,643
Total assets	$	797,520	$	467,480	$	171,028	$	7,483		$	1,443,511
Total additions to long lived assets		129,904		21,854		823		(76	)		152,505

2012	Commercial Real Estate Services		Residential Real Estate Services		Property Services		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenues	$	1,170,427	$	814,617	$	125,204	$	218		$	2,110,466
Depreciation and amortization		24,106		18,530		5,155		364			48,155
Operating earnings (loss)		33,796		42,574		18,991		(15,013	)		80,348
Other expense, net											2,441
Interest expense, net											(19,565	)
Income taxes											(21,007	)
Net earnings from continuing operations										$	42,217
Net earnings from discontinued operations										$	(1,328	)
Net earnings										$	40,889
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

2011		Commercial Real Estate Services		Residential Real Estate Services		Property Services		Corporate			Consolidated
Revenues	$	994,579	$	736,029	$	121,172	$	188		$	1,851,968
Depreciation and amortization		22,073		17,887		6,427		139			46,526
Operating earnings (loss)		22,379		42,736		8,043		(16,941	)		56,217
Other expense, net											(6,317	)
Interest expense, net											(16,798	)
Income taxes											43,823
Net earnings from continuing operations										$	76,925
Net earnings from discontinued operations										$	22,878
Net earnings										$	99,803
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

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.

	2013		2012		2011
United States
Revenues	$	1,391,450	$	1,295,692	$	1,151,709
Total long-lived assets		395,069		468,602		476,530
Canada
Revenues	$	341,491	$	330,622	$	310,912
Total long-lived assets		88,660		99,529		91,821
Australia
Revenues	$	199,221	$	177,677	$	171,873
Total long-lived assets		44,811		49,269		54,701
Other
Revenues	$	411,472	$	306,475	$	217,474
Total long-lived assets		177,371		70,205		55,494
Consolidated
Revenues	$	2,343,634	$	2,110,466	$	1,851,968
Total long-lived assets		705,911		687,605		678,546