CBRE Group

CBRE Group, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Commercial real estate services and investment
Founded	1906
Headquarters	Dallas , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Bob Sulentic (CEO and chairman)
Products	Facilities management, project management, transaction services, consulting, financial advisory, valuation, capital markets, commercial mortgage brokerage, loan origination and servicing, investment management, property management, sustainability consulting, development solutions
Revenue	US$35.8 billion (2022)
Operating income	US$1.41 billion (2022)
Net income	US$968 million (2022)
Total assets	US$24.4 billion (2022)
Total equity	US$8.41 billion (2022)
Number of employees	140,000 (2024)
Website	www.cbre.com

CBRE Group, Inc.—an acronym derived from Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis—is a premier American firm specializing in commercial real estate services and investment. Its main headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas, while its global financial center is situated at Lever House in Midtown Manhattan. By revenue in 2022, it holds the distinction of being the largest commercial real estate services and investment company worldwide.

Placed 135th on the Fortune 500 list and maintaining a consistent presence since 2008, CBRE caters to more than 95 of the Fortune 100 corporations. It is recognized as one of the "Big 4" commercial real estate companies, alongside Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, and JLL.

As of 2024, CBRE boasts over 500 offices globally and employs nearly 140,000 professionals. The company generated revenues amounting to US$35.8 billion with an operating income of US$1.41 billion, demonstrating robust financial health despite a decline in net income to US$968 million. Its total assets are valued at US$24.4 billion, complemented by equity of US$8.41 billion.

Under the strategic direction of CEO and chairman Bob Sulentic, CBRE is steadily broadening its international footprint by offering an extensive range of commercial real estate solutions, thereby strengthening its market dominance and competitive positioning within the sector.

Services

CBRE delivers services tailored to both real estate occupiers and investors. For occupiers, offerings include facilities management, project oversight, transaction services encompassing property sales and leasing, consulting, financial advisory, and valuation expertise. For investors, the firm provides capital markets services such as property sales, commercial mortgage brokerage, loan origination and servicing; along with property leasing, investment management, property management, sustainability consulting, valuation, and development solutions.

History

• Established in 1906 under the name Tucker, Lynch & Coldwell.
• In 1913, Benjamin Arthur Banker joined as a partner; subsequent name changes culminated in adopting Coldwell Banker in 1974.
• Acquired by Sears in 1981.
• In 1989, Sears divested Coldwell Banker’s commercial division through a management-led buyout involving The Carlyle Group for approximately $300 million; this unit was renamed CB Commercial Real Estate Group while the residential segment retained the Coldwell Banker brand.
• Transitioned to a public company via an IPO in 1996, raising close to $80 million.
• Purchased Koll Real Estate Services for $145 million in 1997.
• Merged with Richard Ellis International in 1998 and rebranded as CB Richard Ellis (CBRE); also acquired UK-based Hillier Parker.
• Taken private through a leveraged buyout led by Blum Capital for $800 million in 2001.
• Acquired Insignia Financial Group for $415 million in 2003.
• Returned to public trading with an IPO in 2004.
• Entered the S&P 500 Index in 2006.
• Acquired Trammell Crow Company for $2.2 billion in 2006.
• Bought ING Group’s real estate investment division for $940 million in 2011; rebranded as CBRE Group Inc. that same year.
• Expanded European facilities management capabilities by acquiring Norland Managed Services in 2013.
• Acquired Global Workplace Solutions from Johnson Controls in 2015 and FacilitySource in 2018.
• Purchased London-based developer Telford Homes in 2019.
• Shifted corporate headquarters from Los Angeles to Dallas, Texas, in 2020.
• In 2021, secured a 60% ownership stake in UK professional services firm Turner & Townsend for £960 million; announced plans in 2024 to consolidate project management operations into Turner & Townsend, forming a $3 billion entity with over 20,000 employees worldwide and increasing ownership to 70%.
• Established its global financial headquarters at Lever House in Midtown Manhattan as of January 2025.