Note 22 - Segmented Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

22.  Segmented information

Operating segments

The Company has three reportable 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.

Effective in the second quarter of 2014, a component of the RRE segment, Service America, became managed by the Property Services management team on the basis that the business had evolved to become more akin to the Property Services operations than the RRE operations.  Service America is a Florida-based provider of heating, ventilation and air conditioning services and related service contracts to residential and commercial customers.  Segment reporting has been revised to reflect Service America in the Property Services segment for all periods presented.  For the year ended December 31, 2014, Service America generated revenues of $49,165 and operating earnings of $1,967 (2013 - $52,818 and $2,896; 2012 - $45,623 and $2,807, respectively).

Included in total assets of the CRE segment at December 31, 2014 is $4,768 (2013 - $4,744) of investments in subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.  The reportable segment information excludes intersegment transactions.

2014	Commercial Real Estate Services			Residential Real Estate Services			Property Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	1,582,039		$	919,545		$	212,457		$	232			$	2,714,273
Depreciation and amortization			35,753			19,693			6,734			230				62,410
Operating earnings (loss)			97,180			31,379			30,559			(24,691	)			134,427
Other income, net			0			0			0			0				1,008
Interest expense, net			0			0			0			0				(14,237	)
Income taxes			0			0			0			0				(31,799	)
Net earnings from continuing operations			0			0			0			0			$	89,399
Net loss from discontinued operations			0			0			0			0			$	1,537
Net earnings			0			0			0			0			$	90,936
Total assets		$	985,533		$	405,150		$	237,140		$	11,604			$	1,639,427
Total additions to long lived assets			133,296			23,208			16,423			(72	)			172,855

2013	Commercial Real Estate Services			Residential Real Estate Services			Property Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	1,306,334		$	844,952		$	193,135		$	204			$	2,344,625
Depreciation and amortization			32,426			30,655			8,557			244				71,882
Operating earnings (loss)			59,209			27,613			23,201			(21,243	)			88,780
Other expense, net			0			0			0			0				1,524
Interest expense, net			0			0			0			0				(21,499	)
Income taxes			0			0			0			0				(22,204	)
Net earnings from continuing operations			0			0			0			0			$	46,601
Net earnings from discontinued operations			0			0			0			0			$	(5,183	)
Net earnings			0			0			0			0			$	41,418
Total assets		$	797,520		$	444,275		$	194,233		$	7,483			$	1,443,511
Total additions to long lived assets			129,904			22,386			291			(76	)			152,505

2012	Commercial Real Estate Services			Residential Real Estate Services			Property Services			Corporate				Consolidated
Revenues		$	1,158,948		$	768,994		$	170,827		$	218			$	2,098,987
Depreciation and amortization			23,990			18,530			5,155			364				48,039
Operating earnings (loss)			32,696			39,767			21,798			(15,013	)			79,248
Other expense, net			0			0			0			0				2,441
Interest expense, net			0			0			0			0				(19,563	)
Income taxes			0			0			0			0				(20,733	)
Net earnings from continuing operations			0			0			0			0			$	41,393
Net earnings from discontinued operations			0			0			0			0			$	(671	)
Net earnings			0			0			0			0			$	40,722
Total assets		$	633,439		$	421,269		$	255,525		$	7,677			$	1,317,910
Total additions to long lived assets			35,031			18,165			9,291			73				62,560

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.

	2014		2013		2012
United States
Revenues	$	1,554,605	$	1,392,442	$	1,284,212
Total long-lived assets		401,101		395,069		468,602
Canada
Revenues	$	354,259	$	341,491	$	330,622
Total long-lived assets		97,929		88,660		99,529
Australia
Revenues	$	230,948	$	199,221	$	177,677
Total long-lived assets		51,083		44,811		49,269
Europe and Other
Revenues	$	574,461	$	411,471	$	306,476
Total long-lived assets		271,524		177,371		70,205
						.
Consolidated
Revenues	$	2,714,273	$	2,344,625	$	2,098,987
Total long-lived assets		821,637		705,911		687,605