United Properties Corporate Solutions Division launches national platform expansion with NorthMarq Advisors

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 16, 2008) -- United Properties’ Corporate Solutions division announced it will integrate NorthMarq Advisors, a Philadelphia-based affiliate of NorthMarq Capital, into its operations to support the United Properties focus on strategic growth in key markets nationally. 

“This is the first of several growth opportunities that we see over the next few years, with geographic expansion as a critical part of our National business plan,” said Kevin Farrell, executive managing director-Corporate Solutions. “There are a number of clients who will benefit from the increased scope of services and the addition of this talent to our team.”

United Properties’ Corporate Solutions division, with roughly 100 employees, offers a full range of real estate services for mid-sized corporations.  The division has aggressive growth plans for 2008, with the goal to have a strong presence in multiple geographies by 2010 in order to serve their expanding customer base. Already, the business has increased revenues by 85% since 2004.

NorthMarq Advisors, a nationally recognized real estate consulting firm in portfolio management, as well as the evaluation, analysis, financing, purchase, sale and tenant representation of large real estate projects, will complete the integration into United Properties in the next few months. Both United Properties and NorthMarq Advisors are owned by the Pohlad family and will remain under that ownership structure, although the operational responsibility for NorthMarq Advisors moves under United Properties with this change.

The partnership provides new services to clients of both companies and allows the new entity to provide real estate operations, strategic planning and financing evaluations. Key Corporate Solutions clients include Deluxe, ADC and G & K Services. Key NorthMarq Advisors clients include Keystone Mercy Health Plan, The Campbell Soup Company, Independence Blue Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Girard Estate. NorthMarq Advisors was part of NorthMarq Capital’s acquisition of Legg Mason Real Estate Services in 2003.

“Joining forces makes sense, both for the strategic fit and for a shared business philosophy,” said Walt D’Alessio, senior managing director-NorthMarq Advisors. “We see many ways to offer more to our clients by leveraging Corporate Solutions’ platform and team resources.”

About United Properties
Corporate Solutions is a division of United Properties, a diversified commercial real estate company with more than 500 employees providing real estate services around the country. United Properties Corporate Solutions helps corporations improve business performance through real estate. Services include strategic planning, transaction management, contract management, facility management, and project management. In addition to corporate real estate services, the company specializes in brokerage, property management, construction, development and investments.

Based in the Twin Cities, United Properties received the 2004 National Developer of the Year Award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the commercial real estate industry’s leading trade association, and has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for the last five years. United Properties is located on the web at www.uproperties.com.

About NorthMarq
NorthMarq Advisors is a nationally recognized real estate consulting firm in the portfolio management, evaluation, analysis, financing, purchase, sale and tenant representation of large real estate projects. Their clients range from Fortune 100 companies to sports franchises to small privately held businesses. NorthMarq Advisors has six employees and is based in Philadelphia, PA. Northmarq Advisors is located on the web at www.northmarqadvisors.com .