Simon Group/Rouse JV Eyes Rodamco

CHICAGO-General Growth Properties, Inc.’s acquisition target apparently is Dutch property group Rodamco North America, which bought Urban Retail about a year ago, according to reports. General Growth has told the Securities and Exchange Commission it is pursuing “a multi-billion dollar portfolio” acquisition but has so far declined to comment on rumors Urban Retail’s parent is the intended target.

However, Rodamco North America has said it is in talks with several parties about a possible sale, with Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Baltimore-based Rouse Co. reportedly among them along with General Growth.

Meanwhile, Australian firm Westfield Holdings Ltd. is seeking to increase its 24% stake in Rodamco.

General Growth, which has ownership and management interests in 145 malls with 125 million sf, recently sold 8 million new shares of common stock, raising $300 million. Members of General Growth senior management ponied up more than 15% of that total, buying up about 1.3 million shares.