CBRE purchases retail and property management firms.

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc has acquired Immobiliere Developpement & Gestion (IDG), the second largest retail real estate specialist in Belgium.

The acquisition of IDG is an integral part of CB Richard Ellis' strategy to expand its retail services capabilities throughout Europe. That strategy was launched with the company's October 2005 acquisition of the UK's leading retail specialists, Dalgleish & Co Limited.

Founded in 1975, IDG has focused primarily on retail services, developing a strong reputation for serving the needs of property owners and retailers. For the first 22 years of its existence the firm operated as DevosGobert. It began trading as IDG following its acquisition by Charles Luel in 1997. Since then, the firm has experienced strong growth, and now employs a team of 17 professionals. It has annual revenues of approximately $2.4 million (o 2 million). Mr. Luel, IDG's principal shareholder, has joined CB Richard Ellis and will lead the retail group in Belgium.

Gaetan Clermont, managing director, CB Richard Ellis Belgium, said: "The acquisition of Dalgleish clearly opened a unique opportunity to develop a first-class retail capability throughout Europe, and IDG is the perfect expression of that strategy in Belgium.

"We have an opportunity to develop the pre-eminent retail services capability in Belgium, and look forward to working with Charles Luel and his colleagues in realizing this goal." CBRE has also acquired Advocate Consulting Group, Inc., a leading provider of real estate project and construction management consulting services in the New York area.

Advocate's expertise in interior construction and move management complements CB Richard Ellis' strength as the premier tenant rep brokerage firm in the New York area. Its ground-up construction management experience adds to the firm's agency leasing and property management expertise. Advocate will immediately adopt the CBRE name and brand.

Founded in 1997, Advocate provides commercial, institutional, retail and other tenant clients as well as owner developers with services including pre-construction, construction and move-in oversight. Clients have included Deutsche Bank, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, Reuters and Bridgemarket Restaurants. The firm was responsible for $380 million of construction management assignments in 2005.

Advocate's existing team of nine consulting professionals, led by the firm's founder Thomas R. Nelson, will be fully integrated within CB Richard Ellis' New York Tri-State Region. They will participate in the firm's national project management group, which serves all business lines, including asset services, brokerage and corporate services. During the past few years, CB Richard Ellis and Advocate have collaborated on a number of assignments for clients, including Lehman Brothers.