November 21, 2006	Tuesday	Shawwal 28, 1427

CHICAGO, Nov 20: US investment fund Blackstone Group is to buy leading US real estate firm Equity Office Properties Trust for about $36 billion, the two companies announced on Monday, in a record deal for a private investment fund.

Blackstone is to acquire all of Equity Office’s outstanding common stock for $48.50 per share in cash in a record acquisition by an investment fund, the groups said in a joint statement said.This represents an 8.5pc premium over the closing share price on Friday, and a 20.5 per cent premium over the three-month average price of EOPT stock.—AFP