Purchase of 65% interest in GVA Williams finalized by FirstService

According to FirstService Corp., it has completed its previously unveiled purchase of a 65% interest in GVA Williams Real Estate, with senior management retaining the balance of equity. GVA Williams will be re-branded as "Williams Real Estate, a FirstService Co." Williams R.E. establishes the FirstService commercial real estate platform and opens a global gateway for further expansion of the company's diversified portfolio of commercial real estate and property services. The move strengthens the FirstService presence in the U.S. by adding offices in N.Y., Conn. and N.J. FirstService is a global diversified leader in the following three areas: commercial real estate; residential property management; and property services. Industry-leading service platforms include: FirstService Commercial Real Estate, the fourth largest global player in commercial real estate services; FirstManagement Partners, the largest manager of residential communities in North America; and TFC, North America's largest provider of property services through franchise and contractor networks. FirstService generates over US$1.9 billion in annualized revenues with more than 17,000 employees worldwide. More information about FirstService is available at www.firstservice.com. Williams Real Estate is the New York hub of FirstService Commercial Real Estate, the fourth largest commercial real estate services company in the world with more than U.S. $1 billion in annualized revenue. FirstService Commercial Real Estate has 186 company-owned offices in 36 countries around the world including controlling interests in Colliers International, Cohen Financial, PKF Hotel and Hospitality Consulting, PGPValuation Inc. and MHPM Project Managers. FirstService Commercial Real Estate is a subsidiary of publicly traded FirstService Corp. Williams Real Estate provides specialized realty services including leasing, property management, investment advisory, development, construction management, mortgage brokerage, tenant representation and institutional management.