ST. LOUIS— The recent merger between Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ created one of the world's largest real estate firms, but the deal also created a dilemma for C&W's local affiliate here, Gateway Commercial, which would have found itself part of the same company that is one of its main competitors. Therefore, Gateway officials tell GlobeSt.com, they have just agreed to be acquired by Colliers International, a move which will preserve the firm's independence but allow it to still have the international platform it needs to fully serve clients.

Craig Robinson, president of Colliers International | USA says "Colliers is already a market leader in Chicago and Kansas City and strengthening our capabilities in St. Louis was a natural choice for us, providing us with additional momentum throughout the entire region and across the country."

Gateway will rebrand as Colliers International and its team of 20 professionals will join Colliers International, St. Louis, effective immediately. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Gateway managing director and principal Kevin Gallagher will assume the leadership role for Colliers International, St. Louis. Robert Guimbarda will continue with Colliers St. Louis as vice chairman of the St. Louis advisory board, focusing on business development and local platform strategy.

Earlier this year, after DTZ and Cassidy Turley were combined, "the rumor mill started to buzz that DTZ would soon acquire Cushman & Wakefield,” Gallagher says. “We respect DTZ a lot, but there is a lot of overlap between us and its local office. We're competitors, so we knew that we needed to explore other options.”

As reported in GlobeSt.com, Colliers has been expanding in St. Louis lately, and wanted to expand further, but it was still a somewhat smaller local operation than Gateway, and Gallagher says the two didn't have much of an overlap. “Colliers was on a shortlist of people we wanted to talk to. And they had the platform we needed and a skill set at their office that complemented ours.”

Although it will be a bit of a change becoming a part of a major firm instead of an affiliate, Gallagher feels the corporate culture of Colliers will make a good fit. “We like having our own company, but they are used to dealing with entrepreneurial firms. They have a hands-off approach.”

Furthermore, Gallagher says he spent about ten years working for a company that was part of the Colliers network, “so for me it's a well-known company. It's like coming home.”