Credit: Shutterstock photoCBRE Group, Inc.CBG has acquired Forum Analytics, LLC for an undisclosed amount. The commercial real estate services and investment firm is expected to benefit well from Forum's modeling and mapping solutions.
Chicago-based Forum was founded by Paul Sill in 2001. Its proprietary tools include a web-based mapping platform SIMMS Online, a proprietary market optimization algorithm for total unit growth potential estimation called Optimizer, and a proprietary modeling algorithm called Cannibalytics which projects sales transfer between existing retail units.
Over 20 statisticians, analysts and programmers serve Forum, helping retailers and restaurants like Ace Hardware, Sephora, Verizon Wireless which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. VZ , Domino's Pizza, Inc. DPZ , Genuine Parts Company GPC among others plan their location strategy, on a local, regional and national basis. Forum's Paul Sill and staff will join CBRE.
With Forum's modeling and mapping solutions and the local market knowledge of CBRE, the latter can help its clients across 400-plus offices in more than 60 countries to make informed, data-driven assessments for location, product range as well as consumer marketing strategies.
Strategic in-fill acquisitions have played a vital role in enhancing the company's geographic coverage as well as broadening and strengthening its service offerings. In fact, the acquisition of Forum comes after CBRE's previous acquisitions of three retail real estate services firms, namely Indianapolis-based Sitehawk Retail Real Estate (November 2015), Dallas-based United Commercial Realty (January 2015) and Philadelphia-based Fameco (September 2013).
Overall, during 2014, CBRE accomplished 11 in-fill acquisitions, and in the first nine months of 2015, the company completed 4 in-fill acquisitions. Going forward, we believe that CBRE will benefit from its strategic in-fill acquisitions, transformational deals, improved leasing, property sales and outsourcing business. Yet, uncertainties in certain global economies, stiff competition and unfavorable foreign currency movements remain concerns.
CBRE currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
