The Muller Company Completes Nearly 180,000 SF in New Leases and Renewals in Southern California Valued at $41 Million

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF. – The Muller Company, a full service real estate company specializing in management, investment and development of commercial real estate in the western United States, announces today that the firm has recently completed nearly 180,000 square feet in new leases and lease renewals at Torrey Pines Court in La Jolla, Calif., and Main Street Town Center in Santa Ana, Calif. The total value of the leases is nearly $41 million and the recent lease signings at Torrey Pines Court brings the office campus to 100 percent occupancy. This announcement comes on the heels of The Muller Company receiving three new management contracts totaling over 1.9 million square feet, including 14 industrial buildings in the Phoenix-metro area owned by DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.

Located at 3366 N. Torrey Pines Court in La Jolla, Torrey Pines Court is a 200,000-square-foot, five-building office park, which was purchased in 2005 by The Muller Company in a joint venture with Rockwood Capital. At the close of escrow, the project was 56 percent leased and had severe functional challenges. The Muller Company completed a $26 million renovation on three of the existing buildings, redeveloping them into a first class research and development facility. After completion, Torrey Pines Court was awarded ENERGY STAR status and became a recipient of BOMA 2008 Building of the Year award. The 118,000 square feet in new leases brings Torrey Pines Court to full occupancy and includes leases with GSA, Scripps, Orexigen Therapeutics, and West Wireless Healthy Institute. GSA signed a 33,780-square-foot, five-year lease. Scripps signed a 15,057-square-foot, five-year lease and was represented by Brian Gallagher of Health West Realty Advisors out of San Diego. Orexigen Therapeutics signed a 22,229-square-foot lease with a 9,312-square-foot expansion, for a 64-month lease and was represented by Scott Ginsburg of Staubach Company in San Diego. West Wireless Health Institute signed a 37,960-square-foot, seven-year lease and was represented by David Marino of Irving Hughes in San Diego.

At Main Street Town Center, a 10-story, 215,000-square-foot Class A office building, also owned in partnership with Rockwood Capital, The Muller Company recently completed 58,143 square feet in new leases and lease renewals including a lease renewal with New York-based Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), Main Street Town Center’s largest tenant. Located at 2677 N. Main Street in Santa Ana, Main Street Town Center’s new leases and tenant retention efforts have increased the building’s occupancy rate to 88 percent in a market that currently endures negative absorption and an 18 percent vacancy rate, said Jim Bannan, Director of Leasing and Marketing for The Muller Company.

Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services, signed a 44,024-square-foot, 72-month lease renewal at the Main Street Town Center and was represented by UGL Equis’ Senior Vice President Justin Hodgdon, from the firm’s Costa Mesa office, and Josef Farrar, Senior Vice President from the company’s Los Angeles office. Phoenix Group Information Systems, a California Corporation, signed a 7,193-square-foot, 72-month lease at the Main Street Town Center and was represented by Marshal Vogt and George Thompson of Lee & Associates of Orange, Calif. The State of California Unemployment and Insurance Appeals Board signed a 4,444-square-foot, four-year lease renewal and was represented by Dean Chandler of CB Richard Ellis. Hanul Law Corporation signed a 1,607-square-foot, three-year lease renewal and was represented by CenterPointe Properties. Chisholm Financial signed an 875-square-foot, five-year lease and was represented by Newmark Knight Frank. Coreland Companies of Tustin, Calif., is The Muller Company’s exclusive leasing agent for Main Street Town Center and the Coreland leasing team includes Steve Hogberg, Senior Vice President; David Girty, Director, Office Brokerage; Matt Hammond, Director, Retail Brokerage; and Tim Muller, Leasing/Sales Associate.

Recently, DCT Industrial Trust, Inc. selected The Muller Company to manage its Phoenix portfolio of 14 industrial buildings totaling over 1.6 million square feet; Bank of America awarded The Muller Company a contract to manage Creekside Executive Center in Camarillo, Calif., a two-story office building and 13 office/medical condos totaling 73,892 square feet; and the firm also received a management contract from a leading global financial services company for a 19-story, 255,477-square-foot office building in Phoenix.

“This is and will continue to be a challenging economic climate for some time and property owners must have a strategic plan in place in order to minimize the downside of property values in today’s environment,” stated Jon M. Muller, Principal of The Muller Company. “Every aspect of operating an asset must be thoroughly scrutinized to assess optimal income-producing capabilities.

“Retaining existing tenants and filling vacancies through proactive management are key to getting through this current cycle,” Muller said. “It is critical that building owners have a plan in place or hire an experienced third-party management company to create and implement one before a drop costs or vacancies impact the property’s value beyond an acceptable level.”

About UGL Equis
UGL Equis is a corporate real estate firm that focuses exclusively on the business space user. The company has more than 42,000 affiliated employees in 14 countries around the world through its parent company UGL. Chicago-based UGL Equis provides comprehensive real estate solutions through portfolio strategy and management, transaction advisory, corporate finance, project services, workplace integration, data management, facility management, development management and audit and recovery services for national and global companies with office, industrial and retail opportunities throughout the United States, Mexico, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. UGL Equis and its sister company UGL Unicco, are subsidiaries of UGL Limited (ASX: UGL). For additional information, please visit www.ugl-equis.com.

About The Muller Company
The Muller Company has over 30 years of experience in developing, acquiring and managing a diverse portfolio of over 20 million square feet of office, industrial and retail real estate throughout the western United States, with nearly 11 million square feet currently under management in the California and Phoenix markets. Over the years, The Muller Company has partnered with institutional owners such as GE Capital, Capmark, Rockwood Capital, BlackRock, ING Realty and Metlife. Empowered by an entrepreneurial spirit and guided by an owner’s perspective, The Muller Company excels at mining the long-term value from every asset that it manages by adding value, either through leasing, capital improvements, refinancing, operational audits and repositioning. For more information, contact the Director of Business Development, Lori Ann Haigh at 949.460.5380 or visit www.themullercompany.com.

The Muller Company Awarded Three New Property Management Contracts Totaling Over 1.9 Million SF

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF. – The Muller Company, a full service real estate company specializing in management, investment and development of commercial real estate in the western United States, announces today that the firm has been awarded three new management contracts totaling over 1.9 million square feet. DCT Industrial Trust, Inc. selected The Muller Company to manage its Phoenix portfolio of 14 industrial buildings totaling over 1.6 million square feet; Bank of America awarded The Muller Company a contract to manage Creekside Executive Center in Camarillo, Calif., a two-story office building and 13 office/medical condos totaling 73,892 square feet; and the firm also received a management contract from a leading global financial services company for a 19-story, 255,477-square-foot office building in Phoenix.

Based in Denver, Colo., DCT Industrial Trust is a leading real estate company that owns, operates and develops high-quality bulk distribution and light industrial properties in large-volume distribution markets in the United States and Mexico. The Muller Company will manage DCT’s portfolio of 14 industrial buildings located throughout Maricopa County in Arizona, and was selected for its owner’s approach to management, proactive style and local presence in the Phoenix marketplace. The Muller Company’s Senior Property Manager Tiffany Lauchlan, CPM, with more than 13 years of property management experience, will oversee DCT’s 1.6+ million-square-foot portfolio.

Bank of America selected The Muller Company because of the firm’s presence in Ventura County and substantial experience in managing bank-owned assets. Located at 4001-4087 Mission Oaks Boulevard in Camarillo, Calif., Creekside Executive Center consists of a two-story, 55,322-square-foot office building and 13 office/medical condominiums totaling 18,570 square feet. The Muller Company’s Property Manager Patti Mallen will manage Creekside. In addition to leasing and maintaining the property, Mallen will assist in selling the remaining condos by 2011.

“The Muller Company, with their hands on approach, has been a tremendous asset in helping Lee & Associates position Creekside Executive Center for the market,” said David Kim of Lee & Associates, one of Creekside Executive Center’s exclusive sales, leasing and marketing representatives. “With the many resources and long-standing vendor relationships, The Muller Company always makes a broker’s job easier. Furthermore, Creekside Executive Center is an excellent property and is well-maintained by The Muller Company and, as a result, we are receiving great responses from prospective buyers, which is very exciting!”

The Muller Company, because of their experience in the Phoenix market with 4+ million square feet under management, was awarded a contract to manage a 19-story, 255,477-square-foot office building located in Phoenix. The Muller Company is responsible for leasing and maintaining the property. Since the management contract was acquired, there has been a 10% growth in new leases and 8% growth in renewals.

“This is and will continue to be a challenging economic climate for some time and property owners must have a strategic plan in place in order to minimize the downside of property values in today’s environment. Every aspect of operating an asset must be thoroughly scrutinized to assess optimal income-producing capabilities,” said Jon M. Muller, Principal of The Muller Company.

“We view the assets that we manage as if we owned them ourselves and look for ways to increase the asset’s value through multiple value-add strategies as well as lowering operating costs and expenses. Additionally, retaining existing tenants and filling vacancies through proactive management are key to getting through this current cycle. It is critical that building owners have a plan in place or hire an experienced third-party management company such as The Muller Company to create and implement one before a drop costs or vacancies impact the property’s value beyond an acceptable level,” added Muller.

The Muller Company recently added two seasoned commercial real estate veterans to expand its corporate ranks and help spearhead the firm’s 2010 goals of refinancing, finding new institutional partners and growing the fee management side of the business. The Muller Company hired Lori Ann Haigh, former Vice President of National Sales at First American Title, as the new Director of Business Development; and Susan G. Rosenblatt, former Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank, as the Director of Asset Management.

About The Muller Company
The Muller Company has over 30 years of experience in developing, acquiring and managing a diverse portfolio of over 20 million square feet of office, industrial and retail real estate throughout the western United States, with nearly 11 million square feet currently under management in the California and Phoenix markets. Over the years, The Muller Company has partnered with institutional owners such as GE Capital, Capmark, Rockwood Capital, BlackRock, ING Realty and Metlife. Empowered by an entrepreneurial spirit and guided by an owner’s perspective, The Muller Company excels at mining the long-term value from every asset that it manages by adding value, either through leasing, capital improvements, refinancing, operational audits and repositioning. For more information, contact the Director of Business Development, Lori Ann Haigh at 949.460.5380 or visit www.themullercompany.com.

The Muller Company Adds Two Commercial Real Estate Industry Veterans to Expand its Corporate Ranks
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Lori Ann Haigh Named Director of Business Development and Susan G. Rosenblatt Named Director of Asset Management

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF. – The Muller Company, specializing in managing, investing and developing commercial real estate in the western United States, announces today that the firm has added two commercial real estate industry veterans to its corporate ranks. Lori Ann Haigh, former Vice President of National Sales at First American Title, will serve as The Muller Company's Director of Business Development; and Susan G. Rosenblatt, former Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank, has been named Director of Asset Management. These additions will assist The Muller Company in expanding its business platform and growing its current portfolio of nearly 11 million square feet under management in California and the Phoenix markets.

As the new Director of Business Development, Haigh will be responsible for maintaining communications and relations with key industry contacts in order to provide The Muller Company with new partnership opportunities and fee management contracts. Haigh comes to The Muller Company with 15 years experience in the commercial title insurance industry where she advanced to the position of Vice President of National Sales at both Land America Commercial Services as well as First American Title Insurance. Haigh received a Bachelor Degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern California. A resident of Tustin, Haigh is a third-generation native Californian with a family history in serving the real estate community.

"My decision to work for The Muller Company was actually quite easy," said Haigh. "It's one thing to know the track record of a company; however, having worked with The Muller Company as a longstanding customer of mine while I was in the title business, I know the owners of The Muller Company; I know their character, their integrity, and their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for excellence. I consider it a privilege to have been chosen to expand their third-party management division."

Rosenblatt, as the Director of Asset Management, will be responsible for all aspects of debt capital management, including managing The Muller Company’s existing project financings and strategic lender and partner relationships as well as sourcing new debt and equity for future expansion. Rosenblatt has nearly 20 years of hands-on experience in commercial real estate finance from Wells Fargo Bank. She led all syndication activities for 20 real estate production groups and marketed to top national and middle market developers to win syndicated transactions as the Agent Bank. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Management from The College of William and Mary and a Masters of Business Administration from San Diego State University. She is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and currently lives in Newport Beach.

"I am delighted to take the role of Director of Asset Management for The Muller Company based on the company's outstanding reputation and track record in the real estate industry. The company has an extremely cohesive and dynamic management team with a strong base of talented employees with impressive tenure. The company's linear and nimble organizational structure, combined with the vision of the two key principals, will position it for significant growth in the future," says Rosenblatt.

Both women are highly involved in their industry and are members of National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and International Association of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Rosenblatt is additionally involved in Real Estate Lenders Association (RELA) and Haigh spends time participating with Women in Leadership, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and the National Charity League.

According to Stephen J. Muller, Principal, The Muller Company sees Haigh and Rosenblatt as tremendous assets and believes they will help spearhead the firm’s 2010 goals of refinancing, finding new institutional partners and growing the fee management side of the business. Haigh and Rosenblatt will report to Muller and also company Principal, Jon M. Muller.

In addition to the two new hires, The Muller Company attracts and retains many other highly talented individuals such as Christina DuCote', CPM, RPA, who was recently nominated by readers and editors of the San Diego Daily Transcript as their "Top Influential," based upon her actions and opinions strongly influencing San Diego's real estate and business community. She is the Senior Property Manager at Torrey Pines Court in La Jolla, Calif., a 200,000-square-foot office park, which was purchased by The Muller Company in a joint venture with Rockwood Capital in July 2005. When purchased, the project was 56 percent leased and had severe functional challenges. With a construction cost of approximately $26 million, The Muller Company renovated three of the existing buildings down to the raw structure, redeveloping it to a first class research and development facility. After completion, Torrey Pines Court was awarded Energy Star status and became a recipient of BOMA 2008 Building of the Year award and recently reached 100 percent occupancy with major tenants such as NOAA, Orexigen and Wireless Health.

About The Muller Company
The Muller Company has over 30 years of experience in developing, acquiring and managing a diverse portfolio of over 20 million square feet of office, industrial and retail real estate throughout the western United States, with nearly 11 million square feet under management in the California and Phoenix markets. Over the years, The Muller Company has partnered with institutional owners such as GE Capital, Capmark Financial, Rockwood Capital, BlackRock, ING Realty and MetLife. Empowered by an entrepreneurial spirit and guided by an owner’s perspective, The Muller Company excels at mining the long-term value from every asset that it manages by adding value, either through leasing, capital improvements, refinancing, operational audits and repositioning. For more information, contact the Director of Business Development, Lori Ann Haigh at 949.460.5380 or visit http://www.blogger.com/www.themullercompany.com.