Brookfield Weighs Making Bid for GGP

TORONTO—Having made an unsolicited offer earlier this month for Rouse Properties, which was spun off from General Growth Properties Inc. in 2012, Brookfield Asset Management reportedly is considering a bid for GGP itself. Spokesman for BAM and GGP declined to comment Friday on a Reuters report that the Toronto-based asset management firm was exploring an acquisition of the remainder of GGP that it does not already own. The Cleveland-based shopping center REIT has a market value of about $24 billion, and BAM entities already own approximately 34% of GGP.

Sources said to be familiar with the matter told Reuters Thursday that BAM has approached several potential partners, including sovereign wealth funds, to discuss the possibility of taking GGP private. However, the sources cautioned that it wasn’t certain that BAM would make an offer.