Coldwell Banker Burnet said that it has acquired the assets of Prudential Pladson Realty Inc., which has two offices in St. Cloud and Sartell.

That deal will nearly double CBB's presence in the St. Cloud metro area. The company already has 44 agents working in the area; the Pladson deal will increase add another 35 agents.

Here's a statement from Robin Peterson, president of Coldwell Banker Burnet: "Prudential Pladson Realty has a rich history and a highly successful team of real estate professionals who share our dedication to service excellence. We are thrilled to welcome them to our team. The addition of this group of professional sales associates creates a great opportunity to expand our market presence and better serve homebuyers and sellers in St. Cloud and surrounding areas."

Sue Pladson, a 28-year veteran of the market, will step down as head of the company and will sell real estate from the company's office on West St. Germain Street in St. Cloud.

Heres' what Pladson had to say about the deal: "I am very confident that Coldwell Banker Burnet will be a wonderful new home for our agents as we collectively look to the future. Coldwell Banker Burnet's commitment to providing agents with the most advanced tools, technology and training, and their strong national brand presence combined with our local expertise makes this team the best in the area. It was the right fit for our agents."

Russ Portele, Coldwell Banker Burnet's St. Cloud branch vice president, will oversee CBB's operations in St. Cloud.