WILLOWBROOK, IL-The distributor of scientific equipment and laboratory supplies buys a 49,144-sf building in Morgan Realty Partners' Madison Business Park. Principal Financial Group had the building on the market for $3.7 million.

CHICAGO-The 25 Mervyn's stores located at General Growth Properties malls represent "very good and valuable real estate," according to chief executive officer John Bucksbaum. Meanwhile, the second-largest US retail REIT has $471 million of redevelopments in the works.

BOLINGBROOK, IL-Jet Lithocolor signs a 50,388-sf lease at 850 Remington Blvd. here while Genin Trudeau takes 34,505 sf at 10430 Woodward Ave. in Woodridge and Fidelis Packaging 25,396 sf at 2401 Internationale Pkwy., also in Woodridge.

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL-Glenview-based Rafti Properties LLC is in line to pick up the 121,671-sf Lincolnshire Town Center at Milwaukee Avenue and Old Half Day Road in this far north suburb for $17.6 million next month.

CHICAGO-CB Richard Ellis promises to "return the original luster and international prominence to the Sears Tower," now owned by New York-based 233 S. Wacker LLC. However, Trizec Properties Inc.'s leasing efforts kept three 100,000-sf-plus tenants at the 110-story building, and occupancy above the West Loop market at 89%.

CHICAGO-The long-time independent, regional investment banking firm moves from 135 S. LaSalle St. to 35,000 sf in the 1.1-million-sf West Loop building connected to Union Station.

CHICAGO-"We are in the get-the-answer mode," says president and chief executive officer David W. Duncan, whose company's questions center on how to improve tenant retention, pricing and procurement.

STREAMWOOD, IL-Preferred Development pays $1.2 million for 3.2 acres at the southwest corner of Route 59 and Sarasota Trail, where it will build a branch for LaSalle Bank, with additional space to follow.