NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE-The Paris office of the Houston-based real estate firm picks up an empty six-story building here for around $30 million and plans to occupy a portion of the office space. The seller was a joint venture of Caisse des Dépôts, GE Capital and Whitehall Fund.

ROCKLIN, CA-Hoping it works out like its last project in the area, the Phoenix-based division of Opus Group is planning to break ground this fall for a two-building, 228,000-sf class A office complex here, regardless of preleasing.

SANYA, CHINA-China Jin Mao Group Ltd. selects Ritz-Carlton Co. LLC to operate its planned 451-room property on the southern tip of the island. It will be Ritz-Carlton's first resort and fifth hotel in China.

ESSEN, GERMANY-Locally headquartered KarstadtQuelle AG agrees to sell 85 department stores, parking garages and office buildings to The Whitehall Fund, its 49%-51% joint venture with Goldman Sachs International.

ESSEN, GERMANY-Locally headquartered KarstadtQuelle AG agrees to sell 85 department stores, parking garages and office buildings to The Whitehall Fund, its 49%-51% joint venture with Goldman Sachs International.

ESSEN, GERMANY-Locally headquartered KarstadtQuelle AG agrees to sell 85 department stores, parking garages and office buildings to The Whitehall Fund, its 49%-51% joint venture with Goldman Sachs International.

SANTA CRUZ, CA-Seagate Properties of San Rafael and Rreef America REIT II acquire a 75,000-sf development on 2.25 acres here located adjacent to Lighthouse Beach State Park.

BELLEVUE, WA-The Houston-based Hanover Co. plans to break ground next month for a 17-story Downtown apartment tower here that will have 129 units averaging 1,238 sf. The expected rental rate is at or above $3 per sf per month.