One was a sale and the other a financing but Sage's approach has been to consider these functions as one of many tools on the capital markets spectrum and not siloed functions. “All of our skills are intertwined,” Duffy told GlobeSt.com. “We all work on the deals together,” brainstorming and problem-solving for the client. What often happens, Duffy added, is that a client approaches Sage with a problem or issue and leaves it to Sage to solve.

“The client doesn't necessary have clarity about what capital market solution is the best,” Duffy said.

That is one reason JLL began talking with Sage almost from its inception about a possible acquisition, Collins said. “They never have to pitch for a deal.”

Duffy, Donhauser and Asbill have joined JLL's Capital Markets Group with the acquisition, along with the other members at Sage Cap, namely Andrew Asbill, Maggie Duffy (William Asbill's and John Duffy's son and daughter respectively) and Elizabeth Johnston.

Many Acquisitions Closing Now

This transaction is one of several the company has made in recent months to expand its presence in a local market or its expertise in a certain technology or service offering.

This month alone, for example, JLL entered into separate agreements to acquire

• MSCI's global corporate occupiers benchmarking business;

• the San Antonio, Texas-based commercial real estate firm, Travis Commercial;

• BRG, a workplace technology consulting, technology implementation, and space and move management services provider;

• Integral UK Ltd., a UK provider of mechanical and electrical property maintenance;

• Merritt & Harris, a provider of construction-related consulting services for real estate lenders and investors during new construction, renovations and workouts; and

• Procofin Oy, one of Finland's market leaders in providing project development and architectural services

This has not been by design, Collins said. As with the Sage acquisition, many of these deals have been in negotiations for months or even years and just happen to be closing now.

CHEVY CHASE, MD-JLL has acquired Sage Capital Advisors, an investment sales, equity and debt advisory firm formed in 2012 by three former HFF brokers, John Duffy, Robert Donhauser and William Asbill. Transaction details were not released but the acquisition followed a structure used in about 95% of JLL acquisitions, Steve Collins, head of JLL Capital Advisors told GlobeSt.com: the partners received a cash payout and a future earn out based on the group's performance.

The company, which specializes in large-scale, mixed-use projects, has completed some $21.5 billion in transactions. Its expertise fills a gap in JLL's Capital Markets platform both in the DC area as well as nationally, Collins said. For example, he noted that JLL and Sage have never competed for the same deal.

Two noteworthy transactions by Sage include Dweck Properties' sale of America's Square for $1,105 per square foot, or $510 million and more recently, the financing for The Boro in Tysons.

A Problem-Solving Approach

One was a sale and the other a financing but Sage's approach has been to consider these functions as one of many tools on the capital markets spectrum and not siloed functions. “All of our skills are intertwined,” Duffy told GlobeSt.com. “We all work on the deals together,” brainstorming and problem-solving for the client. What often happens, Duffy added, is that a client approaches Sage with a problem or issue and leaves it to Sage to solve.