THE GERMAN GROUP KARSTADT WILL CLOSE 13 STORE AT THE BEGUIN OF 2010

On the basis of the decisions announced recently the group is going to launch actively the search for an investor ", for the resomption of the store chain. According to the lawyer Rolf Weidmann, a transaction should be buckled by spring, 2010. The objective would be the cessîon of all the stores. Karstadt is a subsidiary of the group of distribution Arcandor, which filed for bankruptcy in June, 2009 and among which the other pillar, the brand of mail-order selling which, is to be liquidated.

First towers in Damascus: Souria Holding promote a new centre piece to the bustling heart of the world’s oldest city

The towers designed by the French firm Architecture-Studio

Souria Holding’s premier real estate development will transform the city centre of Damascus.

Located at the former Baramkeh transport terminal in the heart of the city, the mixed-use development will provide world-class commercial, retail and hospitality space.

The diversity of shops, offices, restaurants, cafes and entertainment facilities will target a wide range of users, including both local and international business people and other professionals, families, students and tourists. All will be able to attend to their affairs in leisurely and comfortable surrounds. Spread over 33,000 square metres, the centre’s design will sit in harmony with the surrounding area – a new centre piece to the bustling heart of the world’s oldest city.

Czech Republic's fourteenth-place ranking in Ernst & Young's annual global index of investment in industrial properties

Development of the market in the CR with emphasis on industrial properties The market of industrial properties intended for production displays certain specific characteristics as opposed to properties intended for warehousing and logistics. Recently the demand for production halls intended for rent is growing rapidly and thus exceeds the demand for fully prepared construction plots within industrial zones. An important aspect influencing the growth in demand for industrial properties is the Czech Republic's fourteenth-place ranking in Ernst & Young's annual global index of investment attractiveness (European Attractiveness Survey 2009), placing the country in the same league with such powerhouses as Great Britain, France and China.

Brookfield Properties Achieves Substantial Completion on Bay Adelaide Centre West in Toronto 111,480 m² of rentable class-AAA office,73% pre-leased to major firms

Completed in June 2009, the Bay Adelaide Centre was built byBrookfield Properties to be downtown Toronto’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core and Shell Gold high rise office building.

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSX:BAM.A) (NYSE:BAM) (EURONEXT:BAMA) announced today that it has agreed to issue to a syndicate of underwriters led by Scotia Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets, RBC Capital Markets, and TD Securities Inc. for distribution to the public 6,000,000 Preferred Shares, Series 24. The Preferred Shares, Series 24 will be issued at a price of $25.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$150,000,000. Holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 24 will be entitled to receive a cumulative quarterly fixed dividend yielding 5.40% annually for the initial period ending June 30, 2016. Thereafter, the dividend rate will be reset every five years at a rate equal to the 5-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.30%.

OFFICE REAL ESTATE MARKET: FROM DECLINE TO STABILIZATION

Office markets worldwide are experiencing declines in prime office occupancy costs. The year-over-year change in prime office occupancy costs of the 179 markets monitored revealed an average drop of 7.7% worldwide over the 12-month period ending September 30, 2009 (in local currency and on an un-weighted average basis).

Redevco refurbishment project in Paris

The majority of markets – 131 markets in total – experienced a year-over-year decline including nearly 50 which saw rents tumble by double-digit percentage-points. Many of the world’s bellwether financial centers are at the top of the list of fastest changing markets, including Hong Kong Central CBD(-40.7%) and New York, Midtown(-29.7%) along with emerging markets such as Ho Chi Minh City(-45.4%) and Abu Dhabi(- 38.6%). Kiev led the world with the largest year-over-year decrease in office occupancy costs, falling 64.6% from year-ago levels. “While there are signs that commercial real estate values are stabilizing in some markets in Asia and parts of London, underlying property fundamentals are still weak,” said Dr. Raymond Torto, CBRE’s Global Chief Economist. ”However the office market may be on the cusp of moving from intensive care to the stabilization stage - the first step to getting back to good health.”

Source CBRE.

A new star in 2010 for french hotels

France is going to have to align itself with the international standards by adding a star to its luxury hotels. The notation of 5 stars did not exist in France. So a 5-star hotel in Geneva or in New York, saw becoming one four stars in Paris or in CannesIt is thus a discount(delivery) for level dress rehearsal which the French hotels are going to have to make. Advantage also for the clients of less studed hotels, which the prices were not still justified compared to their services.

Brookfield Asset Management Inc., focused on property, power and infrastructure assets, has over US$90 billion of assets under management and is listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbols BAM and BAM.A, respectively, and on NYSE Euronext under the symbol BAMA. For more information, please visit the Company’s website