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NEEDHAM, MA-In a deal said to eclipse $500 million, the ownersof a vast industrial portfolio is selling off a majority of theproperties to a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm,sources have told GlobeSt.com. Equity Industrial Partnersreportedly will harvest the lion's share of 18 million sf to apartnership led by Hackman Capital Partners, say sources whoindicate the transaction could happen as early as this week.Concentrated in Massachusetts, the holdings extend to Colorado,Florida, Illinois and Texas and several other states.

"That's legit--it's definitely happening," one source tellsGlobeSt.com, while another maintains that Calare Properties ofHudson, MA, is also involved, possibly as operating partner. Thebuyers have already made a deposit on the deal, sources say, andthe principals of Hackman last month established an entity inMassachusetts known as the National Industrial Portfolio BorrowersLLC that is ostensibly related to the purchase.