"By combining Tetris' expertise with the knowledge andexperience of Jones Lang LaSalle, we aim to become the first-choicepartner for third-party business projects in this field," saysGroup Tetris founder Franck Eburderie. JLL's CEO for France andSouthern Europe calls the investment "a perfect match for ourgrowth strategy." The chief executive, Benoit du Passage, reportsthat JLL now has nearly 400 employees in France after finalizingthe Group Tetris agreement. The latest conquest, he says,"complements initiatives already under way in recruitment and theopening of offices in the Ile de France region, allowing us toreinforce our market share in our traditional activities and offernew services."

Affiliation with Group Tetris will allow JLL to supportbusinesses throughout the entire life cycle of a real estateassignment, says Passage, with the firm being acquired particularlyrecognized for expertise in the design and implementation of officesystems. Among the private corporations, public enterprises andinstitutional clients that Group Tetris represents are suchentities as DCN, Dexia, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Gaz de France andSanofi. Services provided range from location searches, spaceplanning and build out budgeting and scheduling to interiorarchitecture and implementation of the real estate program. JLL canfulfill a variety of roles, says Benoit du Passage, including maincontractor, owners' representative and general contractor.

Already operating a vast and diverse global platform, JLL hasbecome increasingly focused on the so-called EMEA block of Europe,the Middle East and Africa in the past two years. JLL's chiefexecutive of EMEA, Alistair Hughes, notes that the firm has nowmade nine small- to medium-sized business acquisitions in 2007. "Wecontinue to develop our service offering with a careful blend oforganic growth and tactical purchases," he says of the quest. Thefirm was advised in the latest purchase by the Lovells law firm,while Thesis provided counsel to Group Tetris.