CHICAGO—Mergers have become common in the world of commercial real estate, and as reported in GlobeSt.com, Colliers International recently helped grow its presence in the Midwest through a few key acquisitions. And company officials expect that the industry will continue to see mergers and further consolidation.

"We're very much focused on growth," Craig Robinson, president of Colliers International | USA, tells GlobeSt.com, "and regional and local firms see the need to be part of an international platform." The firm just acquired Summit Realty Group in Indianapolis and also recently acquired Gateway Commercial in St. Louis, firms which had been affiliated with Cushman & Wakefield. Gateway officials say C&W's recent acquisition of DTZ, one of its main competitors, had created some redundancies and becoming part of Colliers made more sense.

Occupiers are increasingly looking for providers that can help them in multiple markets, Robinson adds, and regional firms like Summit and Gateway have responded to that demand by making sure they join one of the big players that can help them leverage expertise across many geographic areas. Furthermore, many may also be seeking the ability to provide more services within their existing markets.