Avison Young has entered into an agreement with global private-equity firm, EQT to acquire GVA, a U.K.-based real estate advisory-led businesses. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2019.

“We are incredibly impressed with the strategic positioning of GVA, represented by its depth of consultancy and transactional services and long-standing client relationships,” said Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young.

“We are excited by the international collaboration potential and the opportunity to continue to build our unique partnership model. This transaction will restore GVA to its partnership roots and provide additional opportunities to cross-sell clients across Avison Young in the U.K. and globally. Moreover, joining forces with GVA will provide us with a greater level of scale and capabilities to fuel our growth to an even wider audience, and offer an expanded breadth of services to our clients. We look forward to welcoming the highly experienced senior leaders of GVA as Principals and owners of Avison Young, and to working with our new colleagues and clients across the globe.”

GVA has 1,500 employees in 15 offices in the U.K., Ireland, and Poland. Upon the closing of the deal, Avison Young will combine GVA with Avison Young’s existing U.K. operations.