FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
 
 For the year ended December 31, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 March 1, 2010
  
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Forward-looking statements
3Corporate structure
4General development of the business
5Business description
5Business strategy
10Seasonality
12Trademarks
12Employees
13Non-controlling interests
13Dividends and dividend policy
13Capital structure
14Rating of Preferred Shares
15Market for securities
16Transfer agents and registrars
16Director and officers
17Legal proceedings and regulatory actions
18Properties
18Selected annual information - last five fiscal periods
19Quarterly results - fiscal periods ended December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008
20Risk Factors
21Management's discussion and analysis
25Interest of management and others in material transactions
26Material contracts
26Cease trade orders, bankruptcies, penalties and sanctions
26Confilicts of interest
27Experts
27Audit Committee
27Additional information
29Exhibit "A" - Audit Committee Mandate
   
 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
 This Annual Information Form contains "forward looking statements" which reflect the current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections of management regarding our future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "may," "would," "could, " "will," "anticipate,"
"believe," "plan," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "aim," "endeavour" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of this Annual Information Form. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this
Annual Information Form. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Information Form are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, we cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as
of the date of this Annual Information Form and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements.
 
 
  
 
 FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
 
 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
 March 1, 2010
 
 All amounts referred to in this Annual Information Form ("AIF") are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. All financial and statistical data in this AIF is presented as at December 31, 2009 unless otherwise indicated.
 Corporate structure
 FirstService Corporation (the "Company" or "FirstService") was formed under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by Certificate of Incorporation dated February 25, 1988. The Company amalgamated with Coloma Resources Limited
pursuant to a Certificate of Amalgamation dated July 31, 1988, and the amalgamated corporation continued under the name "FirstService Corporation".
 
 By Certificate of Amendment dated April 2, 1990, the Company: (i) consolidated each of its Class A Subordinate Voting Shares on a 30 to 1 basis and changed the designation of that class of shares to "Subordinate Voting Shares", each such share carrying one vote; and (ii) consolidated
each of its Class B shares on a 30 to 1 basis and changed the designation of that class of shares to "Multiple Voting Shares", each such share carrying 20 votes.
 
 By Certificate of Amendment dated June 27, 2007, the first series of Preference Shares of the Company were created and designated as 7% cumulative preference shares, series 1 (the "Preferred Shares"), with each Preferred Share having a stated value of US$25.00 and carrying a fixed cumulative annual dividend of US$1.75 payable quarterly.
 
 Our Subordinate Voting Shares are publicly traded on both the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") (symbol: FSV) and The NASDAQ Global Select Market ("NASDAQ") (symbol: FSRV). Our Preferred Shares trade in US$ on the TSX (symbol: FSV.PR.U). Our 6.50% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures
due December 31, 2014 (the "Convertible Debentures") trade in US$ on the TSX (symbol: FSV.DB.U). Our head and registered office is located at 1140 Bay Street, Suite 4000, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2B4.
 
 Our fiscal year-end is December 31. On May 14, 2008, our Board of Directors approved a change in year-end to December 31, effective December 31, 2008. Our previous fiscal year-end was March 31.
 
 The following chart sets out the significant subsidiaries of the Company as of December 31, 2009. The voting securities of such subsidiaries not controlled by us are those owned by operating management of each respective subsidiary.
 
 Name of subsidiary
Percentage of voting securities owned by FirstService
Jurisdiction of incorporation or formationAmerican Pool Enterprises, Inc.
96.4%
DelawareField Asset Services, Inc.
78.3%
TexasFirstService Residential Management, Inc.
97.6%
DelawareFirstService Commercial Real Estate Services Inc.
(d/b/a Colliers International)
93.1%
OntarioFirstService (USA), Inc.
100.0%
DelawareFirstService Delaware, LLC
100.0%
DelawareFirstService Delaware, LP
100.0%
DelawareThe Continental Group, Inc.
92.0%
FloridaThe Franchise Company Inc.
87.0%
OntarioThe Wentworth Group, Inc.
88.2%
Pennsylvania
  4
 General development of the business
  Our origins date back to 1972 when Jay S. Hennick, the Founder and CEO of the Company, started a Toronto commercial swimming pool and recreational facility management business, which became the foundation of FirstService. In 1993, we completed our initial public offering on the TSX, raising C$20 million. In 1995 our shares were listed
on NASDAQ. In 1997, a second stock offering was completed in Canada and the United States raising US$20 million. In December 2004, a stock dividend was declared effectively achieving a 2-for-1 stock split for all outstanding Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares.
  In August 2007, we issued a stock dividend of Preferred Shares to holders of Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares (together the "Common Shares"). One Preferred Share was issued for every five outstanding Common Shares. The stock dividend resulted in the issuance of 5,979,074 Preferred Shares, with an aggregate par value
of $149.5 million. The annual preferred dividend obligation for 2010 is $10.1 million, payable quarterly on or about the last day of each quarter.
 
 From 1994 to present, we completed numerous acquisitions, developing and growing the service lines that exist today.
 
 In 1996, we obtained a revolving credit facility from a syndicate of banks, which has been amended and restated at various times to the present and now includes a $225 million revolving credit facility due September 2012. In 2001, we completed a private placement of $100 million of 8.06% Senior Notes due June 29, 2011 with a group of US
institutional investors; as of December 31, 2009, $28.6 million remained outstanding under this obligation. In October 2003, $50 million of 6.40% Senior Notes due September 30, 2015 was issued. In April 2005, we completed a further private placement of $100 million of 5.44% Senior Notes due April 1, 2015.
 
 In November 2004, we established a new commercial real estate services division under the "Colliers International" brand with the acquisition of Colliers Macaulay Nicolls Inc. ("CMN"). CMN's real estate services offerings include brokerage (sale and leasing), property management, valuation and advisory services.
 
 In March 2006, we disposed of Resolve Corporation, our Business Services division, through an initial public offering of trust units of Resolve Business Outsourcing Income Fundin Canada. The disposal marked a significant milestone in our strategy
of focusing on property services businesses for future growth.
 
 In July 2008, we disposed our Integrated Security Services division, which included Intercon Security in Canada and SST in the United States, for gross cash proceeds of approximately $187.5 million. The proceeds were used to pay down debt and intensify our focus on global diversified real estate services.
 
 In November 2009, we completed a public offering in Canada of the Convertible Debentures. The Convertible Debentures are convertible into Subordinated Voting Shares at the option of the holder at any time prior to the earlier of December 31, 2014 or the date specified by the Company for redemption, at a conversion price of US$28.00 per
Subordinate Voting Share, subject to adjustment in certain events.
 
 Business description
  FirstService is a leader in the rapidly growing property services sector, providing services in the following areas: commercial real estate; residential property management; and property services. Industry-leading service platforms include Colliers International, a global player in commercial real estate; FirstService Residential Management,
a manager of residential communities in North America; and The Franchise Company, a provider of property services in North America through franchise and contractor networks.
 
 5
 Each service line provides near-essential services, generates a significant percentage of recurring revenues, has significant operating cash flow, generates substantial returns on invested capital and can be leveraged through margin enhancement, cross-selling or consolidation.
 
 Our business is conducted through three operating segments:
 
 
 Revenues by continuing operating segment
Year ended
December 31

Nine months ended
December 31

Year ended March 31(in thousands of US$)
2009

2008

2008

2007
2006Commercial Real Estate Services

$
622,996


$
578,192


$
787,467


$
577,676

$
438,032Residential Property Management


645,251



475,251



544,926



423,797


346,133Property Services


434,838



269,114



216,972



150,794


134,136Corporate


137



123



348



554


367Total

$
1,703,222


$
1,322,680



1,549,713


$
1,152,821

$
918,668
 Commercial Real Estate Services
 
 FirstService is a leading international commercial real estate services provider offering a full range of commercial real estate services in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Operations in the United States and Canada generate approximately 60% of total revenues for this
segment, while Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America generate approximately 40%. FirstService provides services to owners, investors and tenants, including brokerage (sale, leasing, and mortgage), property management and maintenance, valuation, project management and corporate advisory services. FirstService operates principally under the Colliers International brand name.
 
 Commercial real estate brokers match buyers and sellers of real estate (investors, developers or owners-users) as well as owners and tenants of space for lease in return for a commission generally based on the value of the transaction. FirstService's brokerage activities focus primarily on office, industrial, retail and multi-unit residential
properties. Brokerage activities represent approximately 60% of segment revenues and provide opportunities for cross selling other real estate services. In calendar year 2009, through a network of approximately 2,300 brokers across 172 offices in 40 countries, FirstService executed transactions valued at approximately US$40 billion across a diverse client base, including corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Typically, brokers earn a direct commission on individual transactions,
which provides variability in the cost structure.
 
 Commercial property management focuses on the same client segments as brokerage; however, fees are typically multi-year fixed fee contracts that are largely recurring in nature.
 
 FirstService's international corporate services group partners with large corporations in managing their overall portfolio and transactions. Professional staff combines proprietary technology with high level strategic planning, portfolio management, lease administration and
 
 
 6
 facilities and project management. Fees in corporate services are derived from a combination of fixed fee services and transaction based brokerage fees.
 
 Commercial real estate brokerage is cyclical and seasonal in nature, affected by external factors, including interest rates, access to financing, investor and consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors and political risk in any specific region. FirstService's revenues in this segment are weighted more heavily to the latter half
of the calendar year, with approximately 70% of transactions occurring in fiscal quarters ending in September and December.
  FirstService is the largest member and controlling shareholder of Colliers International Property Consultants ("CIPC"), the owner of the global "Colliers International" commercial real estate services brand and trademarks.
Each member of CIPC is entitled to use the "Colliers International" brand and trademarks exclusively within a designated country (or region in the case of the United States of America). FirstService has the exclusive right to use the "Colliers International" brand in 40 countries around the world. Colliers International is recognized (in The Lipsey Company's 2009 Annual Commercial Real Estate Brand Survey) as one of the top 3 commercial real estate services organizations worldwide with a network of 293 offices
and over 15,000 employees in 61 countries. Colliers International provides FirstService with a global brand name and local market intelligence to serve the international community of investors, owners and users of real estate. In addition to the "Colliers International" brand, FirstService also owns and controls the following commercial real estate brands: FirstService Real Estate Advisors, PGP Property Valuation, PKF Hotel and Hospitality Consulting and MHPM Project Managers.
 
 Commercial real estate firms can be segmented into two tiers: (i) large global full-service firms with international service capabilities; and (ii) regional and niche firms with strengths in their respective local markets. Recent industry trends have seen an increase in outsourcing by multi-national clients with global needs
creating an opportunity for full-service global players like FirstService. There has also been a recent trend amongst larger firms to further improve their market position through consolidation. However, the commercial real estate competitive landscape market remains highly fragmented.
 
 FirstService's growth strategy in this segment is to expand its suite of complementary service offerings and the geographical markets where services are offered. This will continue to be achieved both organically and through selective acquisitions. FirstService also plans to enhance its brand and service delivery through increased broker
training and continued development of proprietary market tools and research resources. During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, FirstService made investments in several businesses in this segment, including Colliers Netherlands and FirstService Williams Real Estate operating in the greater New York City area. On October 29, 2009, FirstService acquired 29.99% of the shares of Colliers CRE plc. Colliers CRE plc has 15 offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain and provides a broad range of
real estate consultancy services throughout all of its markets.
 
 Residential Property Management
 
 FirstService is a manager of private residential communities in North America. Private residential communities include condominiums, cooperatives, gated communities, homeowner associations and a variety of other residential developments governed by common interest or multi-unit residential community associations (collectively referred
to as "community associations"). In total, FirstService manages more than 1 million residential units in 3,700 community associations in 18 American states. FirstService operates under the umbrella brand name FirstService Residential Management, along with regional brands. In the Southeast, FirstService operates primarily under the Continental brand in Florida and in Georgia as Community One. In the mid-Atlantic, FirstService operates primarily under the Wentworth, Cooper Square, Planned Companies and
American Pool brands. In the Southwest, FirstService operates as Rossmar & Graham in Arizona, as RMI in Nevada and as Merit in California. In the Midwest, FirstService operates as Wolin-Levin in Illinois and as Premier in Texas.
  7
 In the residential property management industry, there are two types of professional property management companies: (i) traditional property managers; and (ii) full-service property managers. Traditional property managers primarily handle administrative property management functions on behalf of their community association clients,
such as advising homeowner boards on a wide variety of matters relating to the operation of their communities, collecting monthly maintenance fees, sourcing and paying suppliers, preparing financial statements and contracting out support services. Full-service property managers provide the same services as traditional property managers but also provide a variety of other services under one exclusive contract.
 
 FirstService is a full-service property manager and in many markets provides a full range of ancillary services, including facility maintenance, landscaping, pest control, irrigation, home service contracts, real estate sales and leasing, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, concierge services and swimming pool management and maintenance.
A majority of the swimming pool related services revenues are generated outside the "sunbelt" states and, therefore, are impacted by weather-related seasonality. Accordingly, revenues are earned primarily in the two fiscal quarters ending in June and September. In most of FirstService's major markets, FirstService also provides rental management and maintenance services to: (i) property owners; and (ii) individual investors or owners of single or multiple residential units, many of which are within
the communities FirstService manages. Finally, in most markets FirstService also provides advisory services with respect to financial services (primarily lock-box and other transaction-related services and insurance brokerage) utilizing the scale of FirstService's operations to economically benefit clients.
 
 The aggregate budget of all the community associations in the United States is estimated by the Community Associations Institute (a national U.S. organization dedicated to fostering community associations) to be approximately US$41 billion. The aggregate budget of the community associations managed by FirstService is estimated at
approximately US$5 billion. Currently, FirstService estimates that it accesses in the range of 12-15% of the aggregate budget of its communities through the various services that it offers. FirstService's strategy is to continue to add communities under management while striving to earn a greater percentage of the aggregate budget by introducing additional value-added services and products, thereby offering clients a single point of accountability and leveraging FirstService's scale and purchasing power
to the benefit of the community associations.
 
 Based on recent industry data compiled by the Community Associations Institute, the Company estimates that: (i) more than 60 million Americans, representing approximately 24 million households, live in condominiums, cooperatives, planned communities and other residential developments governed by common interest or multiple
unit residential community associations; (ii) more than 50% of new homes currently being built in and around major metropolitan areas in the United States are within these categories; (iii) there are approximately 305,000 community associations in the United States; and (iv) the total annual operating revenues for these community associations are estimated to be US$41 billion. The market is growing at a rate of approximately 3% per year as a result of the 6,000-8,000 new community associations
formed each year. In addition, the growing trend from self-management to professional management, currently almost 50% of the market, is believed to at least double the effective growth rate for professional property management companies.
 
 Typically, owners of private residential units are required to pay quarterly or monthly fees to cover the expenses of managing the community association's business activities and maintaining the common areas of the property. Historically, decision making for communities was delegated to volunteer boards of directors elected by the owners.
Increasingly, these volunteer boards have outsourced the responsibility to manage the day-to-day operation and maintenance of community property to professional property management companies.
 
 The residential property management industry is extremely fragmented and dominated by numerous local and regional management companies. Only a small number of such companies,
 
 
 8
 however, have the expertise and capital to provide both traditional property management services as well as the other support services provided by full-service property managers. FirstService is a full-service manager of private residential communities in the United States, managing over 4% of the nation's approximately 24 million units in community associations. FirstService
enjoys a competitive advantage because of its size, depth of financial and management resources, and operating expertise.
 
 FirstService's business in this segment is subject to regulation by the states in which it operates. In most states, laws require that property managers must be licensed, which involves certain examinations and continuing education. In addition, FirstService's residential real estate sales and leasing operations are subject to regulation
as a real estate brokerage by the various states in which FirstService operates.
 
 Property Services
 
 In FirstService's Property Services division, FirstService provides a variety of residential and commercial services in North America through three service delivery channels: vendor networks, franchising and branchising. The principal brands in this division include Field Asset Services ("FAS"), California Closet Company ("California
Closets"), Paul Davis Restoration, CertaPro Painters, College Pro Painters ("College Pro"), Pillar to Post Home Inspection, Handyman Connection and Floorcoverings International.
 
 Vendor Network
 
 FAS, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is one of America's largest residential property preservation services companies. FAS provides comprehensive property preservation, maintenance and repair services to some of the largest residential mortgage lenders and servicers in America for residential properties acquired through foreclosure.
FAS processes client requests through the use of information technology systems to manage client portfolios of foreclosed properties. All maintenance and repair services are managed through a process that includes outsourcing field services to a national network of independent service contractors. At any one time, FAS provides its services to more than US$7.1 billion in client assets representing over 94,000 residential properties.
 
 Franchising
 
 FirstService owns and operates seven franchise systems as follows:
 
 (i)
California Closets is a provider of installed closet and home storage systems in North America. Headquartered in San Rafael, California, California Closets has 76 franchises in the United States and Canada as well as master franchises in other countries around the world. California Closets receives royalties from franchisees based on a percentage of the franchisees' gross revenues.
 
 (ii)
Paul Davis Restoration is a Jacksonville, Florida based franchisor of residential and commercial restoration services serving the insurance restoration industry in the United States through 232 franchises. This company provides restoration services for property damaged by natural or man-made disasters. Paul Davis Restoration receives royalties from franchisees based on a percentage of the franchisees'
gross revenues.
 
 (iii)
CertaPro Painters is a residential and commercial painting franchise system with 317 franchises operating in major markets across the United States and Canada as well as master franchises in other countries around the world. CertaPro Painters focuses on high-end residential and commercial painting and decorating work and other programs for property managers who have portfolios of condominium and commercial
properties.
 9
 Franchisees pay CertaPro Painters either a royalty based on a percentage of gross revenues or a fixed monthly fee, plus administrative fees for various ancillary services.
 (iv)
College Pro is a seasonal exterior residential painting and window cleaning franchise system operating in 29 U.S. states and across Canada with approximately 703 franchises. It recruits students and trains them to operate the business, including price estimating, marketing, operating procedures, hiring, customer service and safety. College Pro receives a royalty from each franchisee based on a percentage of
revenue. College Pro's operations are seasonal with significant revenue and earnings in the Company's June and September quarters followed by losses in the December and March quarters.
 
 (v)
Pillar to Post is one of North America's largest home inspection service providers. Services are provided through a network of 303 franchises. Pillar to Post earns royalties from its franchisees based on a percentage of franchisee gross revenues.
 
 (vi)
Handyman Connection is a leading North American home repair and remodeling service franchiser. Services are provided by a network of 110 franchises operating throughout the United States. Handyman Connection earns royalties from its franchisees based on a percentage of franchisee gross revenues.
 
 (vii)
Floorcoverings International is a residential floor coverings design and installation franchise system operating in North America with 78 franchisees. Floorcoverings International earns royalties from its franchisees based on a percentage of franchisee gross revenues.
 
 Franchise agreements are for terms of five or ten years, with the exception of College Pro Painters where the agreements are for a term of one year. All franchise agreements contain renewal provisions that can be invoked by FirstService at little or no cost.
 
 The franchised services industry is highly fragmented, consisting principally of a large number of smaller, single-service or single-concept companies. Due to the large size of the overall market for these services, dominant market share is not considered necessary for becoming a major player in the industry. However, because of the low
barriers to entry in this segment, FirstService believes that brand name recognition among consumers is a critical factor in achieving long-term success in the businesses it operates.
 
 Franchise businesses are subject to US Federal Trade Commission regulations and state and provincial laws that regulate the offering and sale of franchises. Presently, the Company is authorized to sell franchises in 40 states, in all Canadian provinces and in several other countries around the world. In all jurisdictions, FirstService
endeavors to have its franchisees meet or exceed regulatory standards.
 
 Branchising
 
 FirstService owns and operates nine California Closets franchises located in major population centers in the United States and Canada. These operations are referred to as "branchises". The purpose of branchising is to reacquire well-established and profitable franchises located in large territories to accelerate growth in these territories
in partnership with operating management.
  Business strategy
  We operate in the real estate services sector. Our objective is to increase the revenues, profitability and market position of each operating unit and subsequently acquired business, while maintaining the highest level of service to our customers.
 
 10
 Over the course of time, and as we have grown, our management style and way of doing business has been refined and enhanced into an approach we call "The FirstService Way". Built on seven strategic pillars, it has guided our growth and attracted strong management teams with visions for the future success of their businesses. The seven
principles of our business strategy are defined below:
 
 1.
Partnership philosophy. We believe equity ownership by our management teams is essential. Our partners enjoy total authority over front-line operating decisions, while equity ownership allows direct participation in the financial outcomes of their decisions. With significant equity interests in the businesses they operate, management's interests are aligned
with our shareholders in building long-term value. These interests are in the form of a non-transferable direct minority equity ownership position, stock options or in equity-like notional value appreciation plans. In all cases, we have the right to purchase ("call") the minority interest at a formula price based on a multiple of trailing EBITDA1. Minority shareholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares
at the same price, generally in tranches over a two or three year period.
 
 2.
Focus on internal growth. We have a keen focus on operational excellence. We set high internal growth targets and leverage our scale, competitive advantages, and sales channels by enhancing and broadening our service offerings. These differentiate us from competitors and support strong internal growth. Our performance-based compensation plan is structured
to reward internal growth.
 
 3.
Performance-based compensation. Successful management teams are well compensated for driving growth. Aligning our key operating managers with our shareholders through generous performance-based compensation programs ensures that they have the incentive needed to continue growing the business. In general, senior managers receive bonuses that are based on
a percentage of the amount by which their results exceed prior year EBITDA on a "same-store" basis. Lower level managers' incentives are also aligned with business unit EBITDA targets, but may include other measures deemed important for growing their business. We believe these programs are effective incentives to operating management to deliver internal growth and consistent, high-quality service in a cost-effective manner.
 
 4.
Acquisition strategy. Our disciplined approach to acquisitions ensures we invest in high-potential, well-managed businesses, at a fair price. New acquisitions are selected to augment our internal growth strategies and also to support the growth of the Company as a whole. The acquisition strategy entails the systematic acquisition of established, well managed,
and profitable real estate service companies operating in fragmented industries that: (i) enhance the market position of an existing service line, provide an entry into a new geographic region/market, or introduce a new service line; and (ii) provide a return on invested capital that exceeds our weighted average cost of capital. Each acquisition must meet strict criteria that include the following:
 ·
Strong, experienced management teams in place that are interested in growing their businesses and in being rewarded through performance-based compensation;
 ·
History of consistent profitability, supported by significant contractual revenues;
 ·
Non-capital intensive operations with a variable cost structure;
 ·
Leading positions in the markets served; and
 ·
One or more senior managers who wish to retain a significant minority interest in the acquired company in order to participate directly in its future growth and development as part of FirstService.
  5.
People development process. Retaining and promoting key operating managers is one of our most important practices. Each year, the key people within our businesses are
   1 See definition of EBITDA under "Selected annual information" and "Quarterly results" sections in this AIF.
  11
 evaluated in a consistent manner; strength, weaknesses and internal career opportunities are discussed, as are opportunities for advancement with other FirstService business units.
 6.
Management and review process. We have a rigorous process of oversight and operational review to maximize cash flows, increase margins, manage operational risk and monitor performance indicators. Sharing of best practices is proactively incorporated into our management and review process to ensure that each business benefits from the experience of others.
 
 7.
Strategic planning process. We utilize a consistent strategic planning process to determine the major issues facing our operating units. Short-term and long-term goals are reviewed and agreed upon, barriers are discussed and solutions are developed. Progress in achieving goals is monitored to ensure that we successfully execute our strategy and adapt to
changes in our markets.
 Seasonality
  Certain segments of the Company's operations are subject to seasonal variations. The seasonality of the service lines noted below results in variations in quarterly revenues and operating margins. Variations can also be caused by acquisitions or dispositions, which alter the consolidated service mix.
 
 The Commercial Real Estate Services operation generates peak revenues and earnings in the month of December followed by a low in January and February as a result of the timing of closings on commercial real estate brokerage transactions. Revenues and earnings during the balance of the year are relatively even. These brokerage operations
comprise approximately 21% of consolidated revenues.
 
 The demand for exterior painting (Property Services segment) and swimming pool management in the northern United States and Canada (Residential Property Management segment) is highest during late spring, summer and early fall and very low during winter. These operations generate most of their annual revenues and earnings between April
and September and comprise approximately 7% of consolidated revenues.
 Trademarks
  FirstService's trademarks are important for the advertising and brand awareness of all of our businesses and franchises. We take precautions to defend the value of our trademarks by maintaining legal registrations and by litigating against alleged infringements, if necessary.
 
 In our Commercial Real Estate Services unit, the Colliers International trademark was identified as an acquired intangible asset. The Colliers International trademark is highly recognized in the commercial real estate industry.
 
 In our Property Services unit, four franchise systems – California Closets, Paul Davis Restoration, Pillar to Post Home Inspection, and Handyman Connection – have trademarks to which value has been ascribed in the consolidated financial statements. These franchise systems have franchises in significant population centers
in the United States. The value of these trademarks is derived from the recognition they enjoy among the target audiences for the respective property services. These trademarks have been in existence for many years, and their prominence among consumers has grown over time through the addition of franchisees and the ongoing marketing programs conducted by both franchisees and the Company.
 
 12
 Employees
  We have approximately 18,000 employees, rising to a total of approximately 23,000 with seasonal employees in the spring and summer months.
 
 Non-controlling interests
  We own a majority interest in substantially all of our operations, while operating management of each subsidiary owns the remaining shares. This structure was designed to maintain control at FirstService while providing significant risks and rewards of equity ownership to management at the operating businesses. In all cases, we have the
right to "call" management's shares, usually payable at our option with any combination of Subordinate Voting Shares or cash. We may also be obligated to acquire certain of these minority interests in the event of death, disability or cessation of employment of the employee or if the shares are "put" by the employee, subject to annual limitations on these puts imposed by the relevant shareholder agreements. These arrangements provide significant flexibility to us in connection with management succession planning
and shareholder liquidity matters.
 
 Dividends and dividend policy
  Our Preferred Shares have a fixed annual dividend of US$1.75 per Preferred Share payable on or about the last day of each quarter to holders of record generally on or about the fifteenth day of the last month in each quarter, subject to declaration by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Preferred Shares were initially issued on
August 1, 2007 and since such date, dividends were paid on the Preferred Shares as follows:
 
 ·
US$0.2877 per Preferred Share for the period of August 1, 2007 to but excluding September 30, 2007, which dividend was payable on October 1, 2007 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on September 19, 2007;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of September 30, 2007 to but excluding December 31, 2007, which dividend was payable on December 31, 2007 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on December 18, 2007;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of December 31, 2007 to but excluding March 31, 2008, which dividend was payable on March 31, 2008 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on March 18, 2008;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of March 31, 2008 to but excluding June 30, 2008, which dividend was payable on June 30, 2008 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on June 19, 2008;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of June 30, 2008 to but excluding September 30, 2008, which dividend was payable on September 30, 2008 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on September 25, 2008;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of September 30, 2008 to but excluding December 31, 2008, which dividend was payable on December 31, 2008 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on December 29, 2008;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of December 31, 2008 to but excluding March 31, 2009, which dividend was payable on March 31, 2009 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on March 20, 2009;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of March 31, 2009 to but excluding June 30, 2009, which dividend was payable on June 30, 2009 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on June 19, 2009;
  ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of June 30, 2009 to but excluding September 30, 2009, which dividend was payable on September 30, 2009 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on September 24, 2009; and
  13
 ·
US$0.4375 per Preferred Share for the period of September 30, 2009 to but excluding December 31, 2009, which dividend was payable on December 31, 2009 to holders of Preferred Shares of record at the close of business on December 24, 2009.
  The payment of dividends on the Common Shares is at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, which considers earnings, capital requirements and the financial condition of the Company, among other relevant factors. If dividends were declared on the Common Shares, they could be payable in either US or Canadian dollars. The
Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Common Shares during the last three fiscal years.
 
 Under the terms of the Company's amended and restated credit facility, the Company is not permitted to paydividends, whether in cash or in specie, in the circumstances of an event of default
thereunder occurring and continuing or an event of default occurring as a consequence thereof. See "Material contracts" below.
  Capital structure
 
 Share Capital
  The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of preference shares, issuable in series, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, of which are authorized an unlimited number of Preferred Shares, an unlimited number of Subordinate Voting Shares and an unlimited number of convertible Multiple Voting
Shares. As of March 1, 2010, there were 28,299,216 Subordinate Voting Shares, 1,325,694 Multiple Voting Shares and 5,772,274 Preferred Shares issued and outstanding.
 
 The holders of Subordinate Voting Shares are entitled to one (1) vote in respect of each Subordinate Voting Share held at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company. The holders of Multiple Voting Shares are entitled to twenty (20) votes in respect of each Multiple Voting Share held at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company.
Each Multiple Voting Share is convertible into one Subordinate Voting Share at the option of the holder. Effective December 15, 2004, a stock dividend was declared, effectively achieving a 2-for-1 stock split for all outstanding Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares.
 
 On August 1, 2007 a stock dividend occurred in the amount of one Preferred Share for every five Common Shares. The Preferred Shares have a stated value of US$25.00, carry a fixed cumulative annual dividend of US$1.75 payable quarterlyand are redeemable,
in whole or in part, for cash or Subordinate Voting Shares at the option of the Company. The holders of the Preferred Shares are not entitled, except as otherwise provided by law or in the conditions attaching to the preference shares as a class, to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company.
 
 A summary of certain rights attaching to the Subordinate Voting Shares is set out in the section entitled "Certain Rights of Holders of Subordinate Voting Shares" contained in the Company's Management Information Circular (the "Circular") to be filed in connection with the Company's annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April 14,
2010, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 Convertible Debentures
  The Convertible Debentures were issued pursuant to a trust indenture (the "Indenture") between FirstService and Equity Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), dated November 10, 2009. The Convertible Debentures are governed by the Indenture. FirstService can issue
additional Convertible Debentures under the Indenture from time to time. The Indenture does not restrict the Company from incurring additional indebtedness for borrowed money or from mortgaging, pledging or charging its real or personal property to secure any indebtedness.
 
 14
 Currently, there is US$77.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures issued and outstanding.The Convertible Debentures are direct, unsecured obligations of FirstService, subordinated
to other indebtedness of FirstService for borrowed money and rank equally with all other unsecured subordinated indebtedness. The Convertible Debentures mature on December 31, 2014 and accrue interest at the rate of 6.50% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 in each year, commencing June 30, 2010. At the holder's option, the Convertible Debentures may be converted into Subordinate Voting Shares at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of the business day immediately
preceding either the maturity date and the date specified by FirstService for redemption of the Convertible Debentures. The conversion price is US$28.00 for each Subordinate Voting Share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
 
 The Convertible Debentures will not be redeemable before December 31, 2012. On and after December 31, 2012 and prior to December 31, 2013, the Convertible Debentures may be redeemed in whole or in part from time to time at FirstService's option, provided that the volume weighted average trading price of the Subordinate Voting Shares on
the TSX (converted into a US dollar equivalent) during the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day preceding the date on which the notice of the redemption is given is not less than 125% of the conversion price. On and after December 31, 2013 and prior to the maturity date, FirstService may, at its option, redeem the Convertible Debentures, in whole or in part, from time to time at par plus accrued and unpaid interest.
 
 Subject to specified conditions, FirstService has the right to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Debentures, on maturity or redemption, through the issuance of Subordinate Voting Shares. FirstService also has the option to satisfy its obligation to pay interest through the issuance and sale of Subordinate Voting
Shares.
 
 The Indenture provides that an event of default (”Event of Default") in respect of the Convertible Debentures will occur if any one or more of the following described events has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Convertible Debentures: (i) failure for 15 days to pay interest on the Convertible Debentures when
due; (ii) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Convertible Debentures, when due whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise; (iii) default in the observance or performance of any material covenant or condition of the Indenture and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days after notice in writing has been given by the Debenture Trustee to the Company specifying such default and requiring the Company to rectify the same; or (iv) certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company under bankruptcy or insolvency laws. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Trustee may, in its discretion, and shall, upon request of holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Convertible Debentures, declare the principal of and interest on all outstanding Convertible Debentures to be immediately due and payable. In certain cases, the holders of a majority of the principal amount of Convertible Debentures then
outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all Convertible Debentures, waive any Event of Default and/or cancel any such declaration upon such terms as such holders shall prescribe.
 
 A summary of additional terms of the Convertible Debentures is set out in the section entitled "Description Of The Securities Being Distributed" contained in the Company's (final) prospectus dated November 3, 2009 qualifying the distribution of the Convertible Debentures, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
 Rating of Preferred Shares
  Our Preferred Shares are rated by DBRS Ltd. ("DBRS"). As of the date of this AIF, the rating was "Pfd-3 (low)". DBRS rates preferred shares with ratings ranging from "Pfd-1" to "Pfd-5", with "Pfd-1" representing the highest rating. To show relative rankings with the categories,
 
 
 15
 DBRS may modify them by the addition of "high" or "low". The rating of our Preferred Shares is not a recommendation to purchase, hold or sell the Preferred Shares and does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. There can be no assurance that the rating shown above will remain in effect for any given period of time or that the rating will not be
revised or withdrawn in its entirety by DBRS in the future if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant.
  Market for securities
  The Company's Subordinate Voting Shares are listed for trading on the TSX and NASDAQ. The Company's Preferred Shares and Convertible Debentures are each listed for trading on the TSX, and trade in US$. The Company's Multiple Voting Shares are not listed and do not trade on any public market or quotation system.
 
 The tables below details the price ranges and volumes traded of Subordinate Voting Shares on NASDAQ in US dollars, and the TSX in Canadian dollars and of Preferred Shares and Convertible Debentures on the TSX in US dollars, in each case, on a monthly basis (but for the Convertible Debentures, only since the issue date of November
10, 2009), during the year ended December 31, 2009:
 
 Subordinate Voting SharesNASDAQ
TSXMonth
High Price (US$)
Low Price (US$)
Volume Traded
High Price (C$)
Low Price (C$)
Volume TradedJanuary 2009
14.55
10.99
501,042
17.35
13.47
1,607,163February 2009
11.08
7.06
348,778
13.80
9.70
1,858,423March 2009
9.11
7.35
625,548
11.25
9.50
2,268,565April 2009
10.60
8.28
827,714
12.88
10.50
3,299,978May 2009
13.44
10.02
743,224
15.24
11.95
1,863,728June 2009
13.39
11.32
425,519
14.50
13.03
1,243,079July 2009
15.44
10.98
349,151
16.74
12.67
1,418,304August 2009
17.00
15.35
488,136
18.55
16.44
510,334September 2009
19.30
14.56
483,426
20.78
16.06
1,625,903October 2009
22.10
17.69
1,001,826
22.94
18.84
900,809November 2009
19.15
17.69
321,755
20.00
18.99
705,856December 2009
19.92
17.68
373,977
21.20
18.86
1,801,635
 
 
 Preferred Shares
Convertible DebenturesTSX
TSXMonth
High Price (US$)
Low Price (US$)
Volume Traded
High Price (US$)
Low Price (US$)
Volume TradedJanuary 2009
15.25
14.00
73,286
–
–
–February 2009
15.05
14.25
203,350
–
–
–March 2009
14.80
14.25
113,974
–
–
–April 2009
15.50
14.75
277,835
–
–
–May 2009
16.49
15.00
142,395
–
–
–June 2009
17.54
16.50
90,352
–
–
–July 2009
18.00
16.75
35,015
–
–
–August 2009
21.50
17.81
108,130
–
–
–September 2009
20.05
18.57
73,573
–
–
–October 2009
20.05
18.84
367,421
–
–
–November 2009
20.50
19.31
338,243
100.01
98.00
138,820December 2009
20.85
19.74
146,567
101.00
99.00
100,270
 
 
 Transfer agents and registrars
  The transfer agent and registrar for the Subordinate Voting Shares, Preferred Shares and Convertible Debentures is Equity Transfer & Trust Company, 200 University Ave., Suite 400,
 
 
 16
 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4H1. The transfer agent and registrar for the Multiple Voting Shares is the Company at 1140 Bay Street, Suite 4000, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2B4.
 Directors and officers
 
 Directors– The following are the directors of the Company as at March 1, 2010:
 
 Name and province/country of residence
Age
Present position and tenure
Principal occupation during
last five yearsDavid R. Beatty 1,2,3
Ontario, Canada
68
Director since May 15, 2001
Corporate Director; Chair and CEO, Beatinvest Limited (an investment company); formerly the Managing Director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance; Director of the Institute of Corporate Directors; Director of the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness andProfessor
of Strategic Management at The Rotman School of Management, University of TorontoBrendan Calder2,3
Ontario, Canada
63
Director since June 14, 1996
Corporate Director;
Effective Executive in Residence & Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; Chair of Rotman's Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking; formerly the founding Chair of the Rotman International Centre for Pension ManagementPeter F. Cohen1,3
Ontario, Canada
57
Director since March 30, 1990; Chair of the Board since May 2005
President, Dawsco Group
(an Ontario-based real estate and investment company)Bernard I. Ghert1
Ontario, Canada
70
Director since June 23, 2004
Corporate Director;
Chairman of the Independent Review Committee of the Middlefield Group of Funds; President of the B.I. Ghert Family FoundationJay S. Hennick
Ontario, Canada
53
Chief Executive Officer and Director since May 30, 1988
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the CompanySteven S. Rogers
Ontario, Canada
53
Director since August 30, 1989
President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Franchise Company Inc.
(a subsidiary of the Company)Michael D. Harris2
Ontario, Canada
65
Director since June 26, 2006
Senior Business Advisor, Goodmans LLP;
President of own consulting firm, Steane Consulting Ltd.; Corporate Director;
Senior Fellow, The Fraser Institute
Former Premier of the Province of Ontario
  1.
Member of Audit Committee
 2.
Member of Executive Compensation Committee
 3.
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
 
 Each director remains in office until the following annual shareholders' meeting of the Company or until the election or appointment of his successor, unless he resigns, his office becomes vacant or he becomes disqualified to act as a director. All directors stand for election or re-election annually.
 
 Further background information regarding the directors of the Company is set out in the sections entitled "Business of the Meeting – Election of Directors" and "Statement of Corporate
 
 17
 Governance Practices" contained in the Circular, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
 
 Officers– The following are the executive officers of the Company as at March 1, 2010:
 
 Name and province/country of residence
Age
Present position with the Company
First became
an officerJay S. Hennick
Ontario, Canada
53
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (Chair of the Board until May 2005 and President until October 2005)
1988D. Scott PattersonOntario, Canada
49
President and Chief Operating Officer (Executive Vice-President and President of Business Services until September 2005)
1995John B. FriedrichsenOntario, Canada
48
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
1998Roman Kocur
Ontario, Canada
49
Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development
2003Douglas G. Cooke Ontario, Canada
50
Vice President, Corporate Controller and Corporate Secretary
1995Elias Mulamoottil Ontario, Canada
40
Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development
2007
 
 The directors and executive officers of the Company, as a group, own or control 2,825,843 Subordinate Voting Shares, which represents 10.0% of the total Subordinate Voting Shares outstanding. The directors and officers, as a group, control 56.9% of the total voting rights when all Multiple Voting Shares and Subordinate Voting Shares are
considered. Mr. Hennick controls all of the Company's Multiple Voting Shares.
 
 Mr. Rogers controls a 5.3% voting interest in The Franchise Company Inc., a subsidiary of the Company.
  Legal proceedings and regulatory actions
  In the normal course of operations, the Company is subject to routine claims and litigation incidental to its business. Litigation currently pending or threatened against the Company includes disputes with former employees and commercial liability claims related to services provided by the
Company. The Company believes resolution of such proceedings, combined with amounts set aside, will not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or the results of operations.
 
 Properties
  The following chart provides a summary of the properties occupied by the Company and its subsidiaries as at December 31, 2009:
 
 (square feet)
United States (leased)
United States
(owned)
Canada
(leased)
Canada
(owned)
International
(leased)
International
(owned)Commercial Real Estate Services
510,000
-
240,000
-
395,000
-Residential Property Management
575,000
312,000
8,000
-
-
-Property Services
340,000
-
35,000
-
-
-Corporate
-
-
-
20,000
-
-
  18
 Selected annual information – last five fiscal periods
 (in thousands of US$, except per share amounts)
 
 Year
ended
December 31


Nine months
ended
December 31


Year
ended
March 312009


2008


2008


2008


2007


2006OPERATIONSRevenues

$
1,703,222


$
1,691,811


$
1,322,680


$
1,549,713


$
1,152,821


$
918,668Operating earnings


38,181



71,327



83,130



78,122



77,005



61,087Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations


(7,279
)


19,837



26,027



52,277



50,245



38,535Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations


(576
)


45,297



48,840



(2,829
)


2,290



42,843Net (loss) earnings


(7,855
)


65,134



74,867



49,448



51,181



81,378FINANCIAL POSITIONTotal assets

$
1,009,530


$
990,637


$
990,637


$
1,089,343


$
816,998


$
711,004Long-term debt


235,994



266,369



266,369



356,030



235,149



248,686Convertible debentures


77,000



-



-



-



-



-Shareholders’ equity


166,034



199,141



199,141



131,553



159,181



187,215COMMON SHARE DATANet (loss) earnings per common
share:BasicContinuing operations

$
(1.85
)

$
(0.19
)

$
0.12


$
0.95


$
1.17


$
0.89Discontinued operations


(0.02
)


1.61



1.71



(0.03
)


0.04



1.41Cumulative effect adjustment


-



-



-



-



(0.04
)


-(1.87
)


1.42



1.83



0.92



1.17



2.30DilutedContinuing operations

$
(1.85
)

$
(0.19
)

$
0.11


$
0.89


$
1.08



0.83Discontinued operations


(0.02
)


1.61



1.70



(0.04
)


0.04



1.38Cumulative effect adjustment


-



-



-



-



(0.04
)


-(1.87
)


1.42



1.81



0.85



1.08



2.21Weighted average common shares
outstanding (thousands)Basic


29,438



29,684



29,584



29,905



29,903



30,171Diluted


29,516



29,914



29,755



30,547



30,354



30,896Cash dividends per common share


-



-



-



-



-



-PREFERRED SHARE DATANumber outstanding (thousands)


5,772



5,772



5,772



5,979



-



-Cash dividends per preferred share

$
1.75


$
1.75


$
1.31


$
1.16



-



-OTHER DATAEBITDA

$
133,067


$
124,745


$
124,361


$
123,614


$
107,983


$
84,319Adjusted diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations


1.42



1.37



1.55



1.32



1.17



0.75
  19
 Quarterly results – fiscal periods ended December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008
 (in thousands of US$, except per share amounts)
 
 Fiscal period

Q1



Q2



Q3



Q4


PeriodYear ended December 31, 2009Revenues
$
361,009


$
425,344


$
451,080


$
465,789


$
1,703,222Operating (loss) earnings

(34,273
)


25,429



28,143



18,882



38,181Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations

(44,327
)


11,659



16,678



8,711



(7,279
)Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations

(3,921
)


692



(19
)


2,672



(576
)Net (loss) earnings

(48,248
)


12,351



16,659



11,383



(7,855
)Net (loss) earnings per common share:Basic

(1.65
)


(0.07
)


0.16



(0.32
)


(1.87
)Diluted

(1.65
)


(0.07
)


0.16



(0.32
)


(1.87
)Nine-month period ended December 31, 2008Revenues
$
454,769


$
450,051


$
417,860


NA


$
1,322,680Operating earnings

35,278



35,442



12,410







83,130Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

23,837



19,257



(17,068
)






26,027Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations

325



67,628



(19,113
)






48,840Net earnings (loss)

24,162



86,885



(36,181
)






74,867Net earnings (loss) per common share:Basic

0.51



2.68



(1.36
)






1.83Diluted

0.47



2.66



(1.36
)






1.81Year ended March 31, 2008Revenues
$
359,661


$
373,287


$
447,634


$
369,131


$
1,549,713Operating earnings (loss)

33,449



32,833



23,643



(11,803
)


78,122Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations

20,992



20,818



16,657



(6,190
)


52,277Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations

4,002



997



(4,285
)


(3,543
)


(2,829
)Net earnings (loss)

24,994



21,815



12,372



(9,733
)


49,448Net earnings (loss) per common share:Basic

0.61



0.53



0.18



(0.40
)


0.92Diluted

0.56



0.50



0.15



(0.40
)


0.85OTHER DATAEBITDA – Year ended December 31, 2009
$
12,419


$
41,183


$
43,511


$
35,954


$
133,067EBITDA - Period ended December 31, 2008

47,113



47,451



29,797


NA



124,361EBITDA - Year ended March 31, 2008

41,509



42,760



38,961



384



123,614
 
 Notes
 1.  EBITDA is defined as net earnings from continuing operations before non-controlling interest share of earnings, income taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization, cost containment and stock-based compensation expense. The Company uses EBITDA to evaluate its own operating performance and as an integral part of its planning
and reporting systems. Additionally, the Company uses EBITDA in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine its overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. The Company believes EBITDA is a reasonable measure of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of its service operations. The Company believes EBITDA is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. EBITDA is not a recognized measure of financial performance
under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company's method of calculating EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, EBITDA may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers.  A reconciliation of net earnings from continuing operations to EBITDA appears below.
  20
 (in thousands of US$)

Year
ended
December 31


Nine months
ended
December 31


Year
ended
March 312009


2008


2008


2008Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations

$
(7,279
)

$
19,837


$
26,027


$
52,277Income tax


39,066



22,246



30,878



17,108Other income, net


(1,624
)


(3,248
)


(2,422
)


(4,650
)Interest expense, net


12,506



12,097



8,252



13,387(Gain) loss on available-for-sale securities


(4,488
)


14,680



14,680



-Integrated Security division divestiture bonus


-



5,715



5,715



-Operating earnings


38,181



71,327



83,130



78,122Depreciation and amortization


46,383



42,558



31,746



37,673Goodwill impairment charge


29,583



-



-



-114,147



113,885



114,876



115,795Stock-based compensation expense


5,424



3,926



2,551



7,819Cost containment


13,496



6,934



6,934



-EBITDA

$
133,067


$
124,745


$
124,361


$
123,614
  2.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations is defined as diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations plus the effect, after income taxes, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment recognized in connection with the accounting standards on NCI; (ii) amortization expense related
to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; (iii) goodwill impairment charges; (iv) stock-based compensation expense; (v) cost containment expense; (vi) gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and (vii) deferred income tax valuation allowances related to tax loss carry-forwards. The Company believes adjusted earnings per share is a useful measure of operating performance because it enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. This is not a recognized measure
of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company's method of calculating this measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation appears below.
 
 (in US$)

Year
ended
December 31


Nine months
ended
December 31


Year
ended
March 312009


2008


2008


2008Diluted net (loss) earnings per common share from continuingoperations

$
(1.85
)

$
(0.19
)

$
0.11


$
0.89Pro forma impact of dividends on preferred shares


-



-



-



(0.12
)Non-controlling interest redemption increment


1.10



-



-



-Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax


0.39



0.35



0.25



0.33Goodwill impairment charge


0.93



-



-



-Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax


0.11



0.08



0.05



0.22Cost containment, net of tax


0.30



0.15



0.15



-Integrated Security division divestiture bonus, net of tax


-



0.12



0.12



-(Gain) loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax


(0.10
)


0.40



0.41



-Deferred income tax valuation allowance


0.54



0.46



0.46



-Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share from continuing operations

$
1.42


$
1.37


$
1.55


$
1.32
  Risk factors
  Investors in the Company's securities should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this Annual Information Form, and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended
December 31, 2009. If any of the following risks actually occurs, the Company's business could be materially harmed. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those of which the Company is
 
 21
 currently unaware or the Company currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company's business.
 
 Economic conditions, especially as they relate to credit conditions and consumer spending
 During periods of economic slowdown or contraction, our business is impacted directly. Credit conditions affect commercial real estate transactions, which reduces the demand for our services. Consumer spending directly impacts our franchising and branchising businesses because as consumers spend less on property services, our revenues decline.
These factors could also negatively impact the timing or the ultimate collection of accounts receivable, which would negatively impact our operating revenues, profitability and cash flow.
 
 Commercial real estate property values, vacancy rates and general conditions of financial liquidity for real estate transactions
 Since our Commercial Real Estate segment accounted for 36% of our revenues in 2009, factors affecting the commercial real estate industry have a direct impact on our operations. Property values have a direct impact on the commissions earned on sales transactions. Vacancy rates affect the market lease rates that are the basis of leasing
commissions earned. Both property values and vacancy rates can influence the number of sales transactions that occur.
 
 Extreme weather conditions impact demand for our services or our ability to perform those services
 Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, can have a direct impact in our Property Services and Residential Property Management segments. These events damage property, which require various services that our companies offer such as restoration and large-scale landscaping. They may also harm our employees, facilities and franchisees, resulting
in an inability to serve clients and generate revenues.
 
 Economic deterioration impacts our ability to recover goodwill and other intangible assets
 During 2009, we experienced a decline in the operating performance of some of our businesses. Expectations of future earnings drive the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible assets, which are tested, at least, on an annual basis. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded a $29.6 million impairment charge to our Commercial
Real Estate segment's goodwill, and a further deterioration of operating performance may necessitate an additional non-cash impairment charge.
 
 Ability to generate cash from our businesses to fund future acquisitions and meet our debt obligations
 We rely on our businesses to generate the necessary cash to service our financial obligations. As at December 31, 2009, including convertible debentures of $77.0 million, we have $313.0 million of debt outstanding ($213.2 million net of cash) that will be required to be refinanced or repaid over the next six years. We also have $142.7 million
of available un-drawn credit at December 31, 2009, committed to September 2012. To date, we have been able to meet all of our debt obligations, however with a decline in performance in some of our businesses, surplus cash may not be available to be remitted which may result in the inability to meet a debt repayment.
 
 An important component of our growth strategy is strategic and selective acquisitions, which we tend to complete with cash. Although we have a revolving credit facility available to us as noted above, we also rely on surplus cash on hand to fund acquisitions. If cash on hand is not available and the credit facility is fully utilized, then
future acquisitions may not be possible.
 
 The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates in relation to the US dollar on our Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and Euro denominated revenues and expenses
 In our Commercial Real Estate segment, we generate approximately 65% of our revenues outside of the United States. Consequently, our consolidated results are impacted directly by
 
 22
 fluctuations in the relative strength of the US dollar versus the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and Euro currencies.
 
 In the future, in our Commercial Real Estate segment, we expect to acquire additional international operations. As a consequence, the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations may increase.
 
 Competition in the markets served by the Company
 We operate in highly competitive markets. Changes in the source and intensity of competition in the markets served by us impact the demand for our services and may result in additional pricing pressures. The relatively low capital cost of entry to certain of our businesses has led to strong competitive markets, including regional and local
owner-operated companies. Regional and local competitors operating in a limited geographic area may have lower labour, benefits and overhead costs. The principal methods of competition in our businesses include name recognition, quality and speed of service, pricing, customer satisfaction and reputation. No assurance can be given that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors and that the competitive pressures that we face will not result in reduced market share or negatively
impact our financial performance.
 
 Labour and franchisee shortages or increases in wage and benefit costs
 As a services company, our primary asset is the human capital that comprises our workforce. In particular, we rely on property managers, real estate brokers, franchisees and other skilled staff to generate revenues. A shortage, or increase in wage and benefit costs, of this human capital could reduce our revenues and profitability.
 
 The effects of changes in interest rates on our cost of borrowing
 As at December 31, 2009, we had $147.0 million of debt at variable interest rates. As a result, changes in base rates such as LIBOR affect our interest expense as these base rates fluctuate. On our fixed rate debt, we have from time-to-time entered into fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps, where advantageous, to convert the fixed interest
payments to floating. These swaps are intended to manage interest rate sensitivity and reduce overall interest costs.
 
 Continued compliance with the financial covenants under our debt agreements, or our ability to negotiate a waiver of certain covenants with our lenders
 Although we have always been in compliance with our financial covenants, a prolonged decline in our earnings performance could result in a non-compliance with one or more financial covenants. While we maintain good relationships with our lenders, the current economic climate may test our relationships especially if a covenant is breached.
If the Company fails to meet its payment or other obligations under its amended and restated credit facility, the lenders will be entitled to demand immediate repayment of all amounts owing and thereafter, if unpaid, exercise their secured creditor rights.
 
 Unexpected increases in operating costs, such as insurance, workers' compensation, health care and fuel prices
 As a services company, the costs of providing services to our customers can fluctuate. Certain operating costs, such as fuel prices, are based on market rates which we cannot control and, absent an offsetting price increase in our services, have a direct impact on our operating margins.
 
 Changes in the frequency or severity of insurance incidents relative to our historical experience
 Adverse changes in claims experience could increase our insurance costs and/or increase the risk of being unable to renew insurance coverage at our operations. In our Residential Property Management and Property Services segments, we effectively self-insure certain risks, with a layer of third-party insurance for catastrophic claims. An
increase in the frequency or severity of claims in these areas could materially affect our financial position and results of operations. There
 
 23
 can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain insurance coverage on favourable economic terms in the future.
 
 Our ability to make acquisitions at reasonable prices and successfully integrate acquired operations
 As an acquisitive organization, we actively pursue acquisitions to expand our global footprint and services offerings as well as supplement existing businesses. Not only does our acquisition strategy depend on the continued availability of suitable targets, it also depends on the ability to negotiate favorable terms and conditions. Another
risk with acquisitions is the ability to integrate the acquired business into an existing service line.
 
 Declaration of dividends on the Preferred Shares
 Future dividends on the Preferred Shares will depend on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that the Company's Board of Directors may deem relevant. Additionally, under the Company's amended and restated credit facility, the Company is not permitted
to pay dividends, whether in cash or in specie, in the circumstances of an event of default thereunder occurring and continuing or an event of default occurring as a consequence thereof.
  Risks arising from any regulatory review and litigation
 While management is not currently aware of any formal regulatory reviews or investigations, the commencement of any such reviews or investigations may result in the diversion of significant management attention and resources and, if the securities regulators determine that a violation of securities or other laws may have occurred, or has
occurred, the Company or its officers and directors may receive notices regarding potential enforcement action or prosecution and could be subject to civil or criminal penalties or other remedies. For example, the Company or its officers could be required to pay substantial damages, fines or other penalties, the regulators could seek an injunction against the Company or seek to ban an officer or director of the Company from acting as such, any of which actions would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
 Intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to our business
 Our ability to compete effectively depends in part on our rights to service marks, trademarks, trade names and other intellectual property rights we own or license (including "Colliers International"). We have not sought to register every one of our marks in every country in which they are used. Furthermore, because of the differences in
foreign trademark, patent and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws, we may not receive the same protection in other countries as we would in Canada or the United States. If we are unable to protect our proprietary information and brand names, we could suffer a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary information, or to defend against claims by third
parties that our products or services infringe their intellectual property rights. Any litigation or claims brought by or against us could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources. A successful claim of trademark, patent or other intellectual property infringement against us, or any other successful challenge to the use of our intellectual property, could subject us to damages or prevent us from providing certain services under our recognized brand names, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
 Disruptions or security failures in our information technology systems
 Our information technology systems facilitate our ability to monitor, operate and control our operations. While we have disaster recovery plans in place, any disruption in these plans or the failure of our information technology systems to operate as expected could, depending on the magnitude of the problem, adversely affect our operating
results by limiting, among other things, our capacity to monitor, operate and control our operations effectively. In addition, because our systems contain information about individuals and businesses, our failure to maintain the security of the data we hold, whether the result of our own error or the malfeasance or errors of others, could harm our reputation or give rise to legal liabilities relating to violations of privacy laws or
 
 24
 otherwise, which may lead to lower revenues, increased costs and other material adverse effects on our results of operations.
 
 Colliers International
 A key area of competitive advantage for the Commercial Real Estate Services unit is derived from its membership in CIPC. In the event that the Commercial Real Estate Services unit were to lose the license for Colliers International, its prospects could be adversely affected. However, as the Commercial Real Estate Services unit is currently
the largest member firm of the Colliers International network, we believe that this is unlikely.
 
 Multiple voting shares and a change of control
 The existence of the Multiple Voting Shares results in various impediments on the ability or desire of a third party to acquire control of the Company. This may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of the Company or an acquisition of the Company at a price that shareholders may find attractive. The existence of the Multiple
Voting Shares also may discourage proxy contests and make it difficult or impossible for the Company's holders of Subordinate Voting Shares to elect directors and take other corporate actions.
 
 Blank cheque preference shares
 The Company has the right to issue so-called "blank cheque" preference shares which may affect the voting and liquidation rights of holders of Common Shares. The Company's Board of Directors is authorized, without any further shareholder approval, to issue one or more additional series of preference shares in an unlimited number and to
set the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto.
 
 Ownership of Convertible Debentures
 Risks relating to the ownership of Convertible Debentures are set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors – Risk Factors Relating to the Ownership of Convertible Debentures" contained in the Company's (final) prospectus dated November 3, 2009 qualifying the distribution of the Convertible Debentures, which section is incorporated
herein by reference.
 
 Political conditions, including any outbreak or escalation of terrorism or hostilities and the impact thereof on our business
 Political events and situations can have an effect on our Company because of our global operations. Events could occur that may hamper our ability to manage operations, extract cash and implement FirstService policies in certain regions, particularly in developing countries that have had a recent history of political and economic instability.
 
 Changes in government policies at the federal, state/provincial or local level that may adversely impact our businesses
 As a multinational company, changes in laws and regulation at the different jurisdictional levels can have direct effect on our operations. It is difficult to predict the future impact of the legislative and regulatory requirements affecting our businesses. The laws and regulations applicable to our businesses will likely change in the
future and affect our operations and financial performance. In addition, if we were to fail to comply with any applicable law or regulation, we could be subject to substantial fines or damages, be involved in litigation, suffer losses to our reputation and suffer the loss of licenses or penalties that may affect how our business is operated, which, in turn, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 Management's discussion and analysis
  The section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" within the Company's December 31, 2009 annual report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 25
 Interest of management and others in material transactions
  There are no material interests, direct or indirect, of directors or executive officers of the Company, any shareholder who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company, or any known associate or affiliate of such persons in any transactions within
the three most recently completed financial years of the Company or during the current financial year which has materially affected, or is reasonably expected to materially affect, the Company.
  Material contracts
  On February 1, 2004, the Company, upon the review, report and recommendation of the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, entered into a management services agreement (the "Management Services Agreement") with Jayset Capital Corp. ("Jayset") and Jay S. Hennick. Mr. Hennick is the sole officer, director
and shareholder of Jayset. The particulars of the Management Services Agreement are set out in the sections entitled "Executive Compensation – Management Contract" and "Incentive Award Plans – Sale of Control Agreement" contained in the Circular, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
 
 The Company entered into a: (i) Note and Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 1, 2005 among the Company, FirstService Delaware, LP and others in respect of the Company's 5.44% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2015; (ii) Note and Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 21, 2001 among the Company, FirstService Delaware, LP and others in
respect of the Company's 8.06% Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes due 2011; and (iii) Note and Guarantee Agreement dated as of September 29, 2003 among the Company, FirstService Delaware, LP and others in respect of the Company's 6.40% Guaranteed Secured Notes due 2015. The foregoing Note and Guarantee Agreements were entered into in connection with the Company's issuance of guaranteed senior secured notes on the dates indicated.  The Note and Guarantee Agreements, and subsequent amendments, are available
on SEDAR.
 
 On September 10, 2007, the Company amended and restated its credit facility, increasing the amount to $225 million from the then current amount of $110 million. The new facility also increased the term to 5 years from 3 years and included an "accordion feature" providing an additional $50 million in financing under the same terms if required,
bringing the total financing capacity of the facility to $275 million. The amended and restated credit facility, as well as subsequent amendments, is available on SEDAR.
 
 On November 10, 2009, the Company completed a public offering in Canada of the Convertible Debentures. The Convertible Debentures were issued pursuant to the Indenture. See "Capital structure – Convertible Debentures" above for a summary of the material terms of the Convertible Debentures and the Indenture. The Indenture is available
on SEDAR.
  Cease trade orders, bankruptcies, penalties or sanctions
  To the best of the knowledge of the Company:
 
 (A)
none of the directors or executive officers of the Company is, as at the date of this AIF, or has been, within 10 years before the date of this AIF, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) that: (i) was subject to an order that was issued while the director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial
officer; or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer;
 
 26
 (B)
none of the directors or executive officers of the Company, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control the Company: (a) is, as at the date of this AIF, or has been, within 10 years before the date of this AIF, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of
that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (b) has, within the 10 years before the date of this AIF, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement
or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director, executive officer or shareholder;
 
 except for: (i) David R. Beatty who was a director of Thistle Mining Inc. ("Thistle") when Thistle announced on December 21, 2004 that it intended to undertake a restructuring under the Companies'Creditors
Arrangement Act. While Thistle completed the restructuring on June 30, 2005, its common shares were suspended from trading on the Alternative Investment Market from June 30, 2005 to July 13, 2005 and its common shares were suspended from trading on the TSX on December 31, 2004 due to the restructuring until Thistle delisted in February 2006. Mr. Beatty is no longer a director of Thistle Mining Inc.; and (ii) Michael D. Harris who was a director of Naturade, Inc., a company publicly traded in the United
States, from December 2005 until August 2006, which company, within a year after Mr. Harris' resignation as a director, filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
 
 Conflicts of interest
  Certain directors and officers of the Company are engaged in and will continue to engage in activities outside the Company, and as a result, certain directors and officers of the Company may become subject to conflicts of interest. The Business Corporations Act(Ontario) provides
that in the event that a director has an interest in a contract or proposed contract or agreement, the director shall disclose his interest in such contract or agreement and shall refrain from voting on any matter in respect of such contract or agreement unless otherwise provided under the Business Corporations Act(Ontario). To the extent that conflicts of interest arise, such conflicts will be resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Business
Corporations Act(Ontario).
 
 As at the date hereof, the Company is not aware of any existing or potential material conflicts of interest between the Company and a director or officer of the Company.
  Experts
  The Company's independent auditors are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Accountants, who have issued an integrated auditors' report dated March 1, 2010 in respect of the Company's consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2009, for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and
for the years ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, and on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2009. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has advised that they are independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and the rules of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
  Audit Committee
  The Audit Committee is comprised of three members who are each "independent" and "financially literate" as required by Multilateral Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees(the "Audit Committee Rule"). The members of the Audit Committee during the year ended December 31,
 
 27
 2008 were Messrs. Ghert - Chair, Beatty and Cohen. Mr. Ghert was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee in May 2005. Mr. Beatty was appointed to the Audit Committee in August 2007, replacing Mr. Calder. The Audit Committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and it has direct access to the external auditors as well as to
anyone in the Company. The Audit Committee has the ability to retain, at the Company's expense, special legal, accounting, or other consultants or experts it deems necessary in the performance of its duties. The Audit Committee meets at least four times annually, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.
 
 The Audit Committee reviews the annual and interim financial statements intended for circulation among shareholders and reports upon these to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") prior to their approval by the full Board. The Audit Committee is also responsible for the oversight of the integrity of the Company's internal
accounting and control systems. The Audit Committee communicates directly with the Company's external auditors in order to discuss audit and related matters whenever appropriate. In addition, the Board may defer to the Audit Committee on other matters and questions relating to the financial position of the Company and its affiliates. All reports made to the Company's ethics hotline are reviewed by the Audit Committee at its next meeting. The Board has adopted an Audit Committee mandate, a copy of which is annexed
as Exhibit "A" to this AIF. The Audit Committee mandate is also published on the Company's website (www.firstservice.com)
 
 The education and related experience of each of the members of the Audit Committee that is relevant to the performance by such members of their responsibilities on such committee is described below.
 
 Bernard I. Ghert (Chair) – Mr. Ghert has a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). Mr. Ghert was previously President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited from 1981 to 1987 and President of Stelworth Investments Inc. from 1987 to
1992. Mr. Ghert has been a director of many organizations in the private and public sectors, including Cadillac Fairview, Stelworth, CT Financial and Canada Trust, Wellington Insurance and the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. Mr. Ghert has served as Director of the Managers of several Middlefield Funds, President of the Canadian Institute of Public Real Estate Companies and was a former member of the Advisory Board of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Mr. Ghert currently is Chairman
of the Independent Review Committee of the Middlefield Group of Funds, President of the B.I. Ghert Family Foundation and Immediate Past Chair of the Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Directors.
 
 Peter F. Cohen– Mr. Cohen is a Chartered Accountant and a former partner in an audit practice of a public accounting firm. Mr. Cohen is currently the Chair of the Board of the Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dawsco Group, a private real estate and investment
company owned by Mr. Cohen and his family. Mr. Cohen was a co-founder and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Centrefund Realty Corporation, a publicly traded shopping center investment company until August 2000 when control of the company was sold. Mr. Cohen is a member of the boards of a number of private companies and charities.
 
 David Beatty – Mr. Beatty is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Beatinvest Limited (an investment company), Director of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director of the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness andProfessor
of Strategic Management at The Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Mr. Beatty was previously the founding Managing Director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance, founding Chairman of Orogen Minerals Limited, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Old Canada Investment Corporation Limited and President of Weston Foods. Mr. Beatty is Honorary Consul to Canada for the Government of Papua New Guinea and in 1993 was awarded the O.B.E. A graduate in
 
 28
 economics from the University of Toronto (Trinity College), he was a Nuffield Scholar at the University of Cambridge (Queens' College) where he obtained an M.A. in Economics.
  The Audit Committee Rule requires the Company to disclose whether its Audit Committee has adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services and to prepare a summary of these policies and procedures. The mandate of the Audit Committee provides that it is such committee's responsibility to: (a) approve the
appointment and, when circumstances warrant, discharge of the external auditor and monitor its qualifications, performance and independence; (b) approve and oversee the disclosure of all audit services provided by the external auditor to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, determining which non-audit services the external auditor are prohibited from providing and, exceptionally, pre-approve and oversee the disclosure of permitted non-audit services to be performed by the external auditor, in accordance with
applicable laws and regulations; and (c) approve the basis and amount of the external auditor's fees and other significant compensation. The Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy pursuant to which the Company may not engage the Company's external auditor to carry out certain non-audit services that are deemed inconsistent with the independence of auditors under US and Canadian applicable laws. The Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit services as well as permitted non-audit services. The Audit
Committee has delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee, who is independent, the authority to act on behalf of the Audit Committee with respect to the pre-approval of all audit and permitted non-audit services provided by its external auditors from time to time. Any approvals by the Chair are reported to the full Audit Committee at its next meeting.
 
 In addition to performing the audit of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided other services to the Company and they billed the Company the following fees for each of the Company's two most recently completed fiscal periods:
 
 (in C$)

Year ended
December 31,
2009


Nine monthsended
December 31,
2008Audit fees (note 1)

$
1,592,000


$
1,590,000Audit-related fees (note 2)


543,000



220,000Tax fees (note 3)


216,000



271,000All other fees


-



-$
2,351,000


$
2,081,000
  Notes:
 1.
Refers to the aggregate fees billed by the Company's external auditor for audit services, including statutory and subsidiary audits.
 2.
Refers to the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the Company's external auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's financial statements and are not reported under (1) above, including professional services rendered by the Company's external auditor for accounting consultations on proposed transactions and consultations related to accounting
and reporting standards. Such fees included amounts incurred in respect of: review of prospectus and other work related to the raising of capital, due diligence and other work related to the disposition and acquisition of businesses, such work being unrelated to the audit of the Company's financial statements; accounting consultations with respect to proposed transactions; as well as other audit-related services.
 3.
Refers to the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the Company's external auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
 
 
 Additional information
  Additional information, including the directors' and officers' remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of the Company's securities and options to purchase securities, where applicable, is contained in the Circular.
  Copies of publicly filed documents of the Company, including those incorporated herein by reference, can be found through the SEDAR web site at www.sedar.com. Additional financial information is provided in the Company's consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2009.
  29
 Upon request, the Corporate Secretary of the Company will provide to any person or company:
 
 (a)
when the securities of the Company are in the course of a distribution pursuant to a short form prospectus or a preliminary short form prospectus has been filed in respect of a distribution of its securities:
 (i)
one copy of the current AIF of the Company, together with one copy of any document, or the pertinent pages of any document, incorporated by reference in the AIF;
 (ii)
one copy of the comparative consolidated financial statements of the Company for its most recently completed financial year for which financial statements have been filed together with the accompanying reports of the auditors and one copy of the most recent interim consolidated financial statements of the Company that have been filed, if any, for any period after the end of its most recently completed financial year;
 (iii)
one copy of the information circular of the Company in respect of its most recent annual meeting of shareholders that involved the election of directors or one copy of any annual filing prepared instead of that information circular, as appropriate; and
 (iv)
one copy of any other documents that are incorporated by reference into the preliminary short form prospectus or the short form prospectus and are not required to be provided under (i) to (iii) above.
 
 (b)
at any other time, one copy of any document referred to in (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above, provided that the Company may require the payment of a reasonable charge if the request is made by a person or company who is not a shareholder of the Company.
 30
 EXHIBIT "A"
  AUDIT COMMITTEE MANDATE
 
 Purpose
  The Audit Committee (the "Committee") is appointed by and shall assist the Board of Directors (the "Board") of FirstService Corporation (the "Company") in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in the following principal areas: (i) accounting policies and practices, (ii) the financial reporting process, (iii) financial statements provided by the Company to the public,
(iv) risk management including systems of accounting and financial controls, (v) appointing, overseeing and evaluating the work and independence of the external auditors, and (vi) compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. In addition to the responsibilities specifically enumerated in this Mandate, the Board may refer to the Committee such matters and questions relating to the financial position and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Board may from time to time see fit.
  Membership
  The Committee shall consist of at least three directors appointed annually by the Board and selected based upon the following, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations: Independence. Each member shall be independent in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and in such regard shall have no direct or indirect material relationship
with the Company which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgment.
  Financially Literate. Each member shall be financially literate or must become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Committee. For these purposes, an individual is financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present
a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company's financial statements.
  Commitment. In addition to being a member of the Committee, if a member is also on the audit committee or board of directors of other public companies or organizations, the Board shall determine that such simultaneous service does not impair the ability of such member to serve effectively on the Committee.
  Chair and Secretary
  The Chair of the Committee shall be selected by the Board. If the Chair is not present, the members of the Committee may designate a Chair for the meeting by majority vote of the members present. The Secretary of the Company shall be the Secretary of the Committee, provided that if the Secretary is not present, the Chair of the meeting
may appoint a secretary for the meeting with the consent of the other Committee members who are present.
  Meetings
  The times and locations of meetings of the Committee and the calling of and procedures at such meetings, shall be determined from time to time by the Chair of the Committee, in consultation with management when necessary, provided that there shall be a minimum of four meetings per year. The Committee shall have sufficient notice in
order to prepare for each meeting. Notice of each meeting shall also be given to the external auditors of the Company, and meetings shall be convened whenever requested by the external auditors or any member of the Committee in accordance with applicable law.
  
 Meetings Agendas
  Agendas for meetings of the Committee shall be developed by the Chair of the Committee in consultation with management and the corporate secretary, and shall be circulated to the Committee members prior to any meetings.
  Resources and Authority
  The Committee shall have the resources and the authority to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to engage, at the expense of the Company, outside consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties, without seeking approval of the Board or management.
  The Committee shall have the authority to conduct any investigation necessary and appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and has direct access and authority to communicate directly with the external auditors, legal counsel and officers and employees of the Company.
  The members of the Committee have the right, for the purpose of performing their duties, to inspect the books and records of the Company and to discuss such accounts and records and any matters relating to the financial position, risk management and internal controls of the Company with the officers and external auditors of the Company.
  Responsibilities
  The Company's management is responsible for preparing the Company's financial statements while the external auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the conduct of those activities by the Company's management and external auditors, and overseeing the activities of any
internal audit initiatives. The Company's external auditors are accountable to the Committee as representatives of the Company's shareholders.
  It is recognized that members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Company and do not represent themselves to be accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the fields of accounting or auditing or the preparation of financial statements. It is not the duty or responsibility of the Committee or its members to conduct
"field work" or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to rely on (i) the integrity of those persons and organizations within and outside the Company from whom it receives information, and (ii) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons or organizations absent actual knowledge to the contrary.
  The specific responsibilities of the Committee are as follows:
  Financial Reporting Process and Financial Statements
 In consultation with the external auditors and management, review the integrity of the Company's financial reporting process, both internal and external, and any major issues as to the adequacy of the internal controls and any special audit procedures adopted in light of any material control deficiencies; Review all material transactions
and contracts entered into by the Company with any insider or related party of the Company, other than director, officer or employee compensation which is approved by the Compensation Committee; Review with management and the external auditors the Company's annual audited consolidated financial statements and discuss with the external auditors all matters required to be discussed by generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) in Canada and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). This would
include reviewing the annual audit committee report prepared by the external auditors describing: (i) all critical accounting policies used by the Company, (ii) any material alternative accounting treatments within generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that have been discussed with management of the Company, including the ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and disclosures, and (iii) any other material written communications between the external auditors and management; Following
completion of the annual audit, review with management and the external auditors any significant issues, concerns or
 
 A-2
 difficulties encountered and resolve any disagreements between management and the external auditors; Review the interim quarterly and annual financial statements and annual and interim press releases prior to the release of earnings information, including earnings guidance provided to analysts; Review and be satisfied that adequate procedures
are in place for the review of the public disclosure of financial information by the Company extracted or derived from the Company's financial statements, other than as referred to in (f), and periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures; and Meet separately with management and with the external auditors, including at the time of the annual audit plan review with management and the external auditors.
  External Auditors
  The Committee shall require the external auditor to report directly to it and is responsible for the selection, nomination, compensation, retention, termination and oversight of the work of the external auditors engaged for the purpose of issuing an auditor's report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, and
in such regard recommend to the Board the external auditors to be nominated for approval by the shareholders; Pre-approve all audit engagements and the provision by the external auditors of all non-audit services, including fees and terms for all audit and non-audit engagements, and in such regard the Committee may establish the types of non-audit services the external auditors shall be prohibited from providing and shall establish the types of audit, audit related and non-audit services for which the Committee
will retain the external auditors. The Committee may delegate the responsibility to pre-approve non-audit services to one of its members and any such delegated pre-approvals shall be presented to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting ; Review and approve the Company's policies for the hiring of partners and employees and former partners and employees of the external auditing firm; Consider, assess and report to the Board with regard to the independence and performance of the external auditors; and Request
and review annually a report by the external auditors regarding the auditing firm's internal quality-control procedures, any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review of the auditing firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the past five years.
  Internal Controls and Risk Management
  Oversee management's design, implementation and evaluation of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, including compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Receive and review reports from management and the external auditors with regard to the reliability and effective operation of the Company's accounting
systems and internal controls; Discuss with management the Company's approach to risk assessment and management, controls over fraud and assessment of the need for internal auditing; Establish policies and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of any concerns regarding questionable accounting or other acts and for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
  Legal and Regulatory Requirements
  Receive and review timely analysis by management of significant issues relating to public disclosure and reporting, including, prior to finalization, the Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form; Prepare the report of the Committee required to be included with the Company's periodic filings; and Assist the Board
in the oversight of compliance with legal and regulatory matters.
  A-3
 Additional Responsibilities
  Report regularly to the Board, including on matters such as the quality and integrity of the Company's financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the results of any internal audit initiatives, including evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting for purposes of compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley,
and the performance and independence of the external auditors; and Reassess annually the adequacy of the Committee's Mandate and prepare and review with the Board an annual performance evaluation of the Committee.
  
 
 A-4