Officials with DDR did not offer any reasons why the deal is dead. Company officials said in a statement that they continue "to engage in active discussions with the institutional investor concerning assets which might be included in a potential transaction in 2009." A company spokesman did not return a call for comment.

The sale was supposed to include almost six million square feet of properties, with DDR ending up owning 20% and the partner owning 80%, and was supposed to decrease leverage and fund other possible capital expenditures with better upsides. David Oakes, EVP of finance and CIO with DDR, said in the statement that the company is disappointed. "We continue to access many sources of capital in order to meet our goals of improving our liquidity and lowering our leverage."

The trust has made other cost-saving moves, such as forgoing its fourth-quarter dividend to save $80 million. Financing is also another DDR initiative, as it has received $34.5 million for an undisclosed asset, and $47.4 million for 12 years for its development in Manus, Brazil. The company as also halted development plans in Russia.

The REIT's stock was down 89 cents to $4.80 cents per share at noon today. The trust owns and manages about 720 retail properties in 45 states, Puerto Rico and Brazil.