To Whom it may concern,

I am writing to share my positive experience working with NewMark Merrill when selling Summit Square & Broomfield Plaza in suburban Denver in late 2006. Please feel free to share my comments with any potential sellers that you may be negotiating with. In addition, you may also suggest that they contact me directly at (720)-320-8033.

I found your company to be a good business partner while working on the two sales. The transactions were characterized by trust, honest and forthright negotiation, flexibility, speed, and a desire to make the transaction a “win-win” for both seller and buyer. We worked under exceptional timing constraints given the complexity of the transaction to accommodate your 1031 objectives. The original deal which you offered was adhered to unless legitimate issues surfaced. When these issues did emerge (changing lease conditions or physical deficiencies), we put the issues on the table and negotiated fair resolutions.

One remarkable part of the transactions related to overcoming environmental issues. As you will recall, about three weeks before we were scheduled to close, PCE contamination was discovered at both shopping centers. Buyer, seller, and their environmental consultants worked together in a diligent manner to characterize the extent of the problems, estimate the cost to clean up for both sites, and negotiate an environmental escrow with an adequate contingency to cover the cleanup costs. We also purchased environmental insurance and got your lender comfortable with the whole arrangement. No small task to say the least. With most buyers, the transaction would have been scuttled, but based on our mutual desire, trust, and cooperative demeanors, we got it done and met the timing constraints.

Overall, NewMark Merrill Companies is in the top tier of companies that I have done business with, and I would highly recommend your company to any seller.

Paul T Luber
President