JLL sees profit rise 15% in 2013

Jones Lang LaSalle reported a 15% increase in adjusted earnings per share to $6.32 over 2013, up from $5.48 the previous year.

Full-year fee revenue came in at $4.0 bn, a 12% jump on the same period a year before.

'Strong fourth-quarter revenue and profits capped a very successful 2013 for our firm,' said Colin Dyer, president and CEO of JLL. 'In 2014, we will continue to focus on serving our clients, improving margins, winning market share and investing in future profitable growth,' Dyer added.

Growth was driven by a 40% fee revenue increase in Capital Markets & Hotels and a 14% fee revenue increase in Property & Facility Management. Fee revenue growth was broad-based in 2013, with double-digit growth in all three geographic segments, Chicago-based JLL said.

In Europe, full-year fee revenue was up 17% at $1.1 bn, largely driven by growth in Capital Markets & Hotels, which increased 41% on a fee revenue basis. Revenue growth was broadly led by the UK, Germany, France, Russia and the Netherlands.

LaSalle Investment Management, the group's asset management unit, saw its fundraising momentum continue in 2013 with roughly $7.0 bn of new capital committed in 2013.

JLL also reduced its debt load to $437 mln in 2013 from $538 mln the previous year.