Elbit Imaging (Nasdaq: EMITF) Announces Sale of 47 Real Estate Properties for US$1.428 Billion by EPN Group

Orlando, FL 1/11/12 (StreetBeat)-- Elbit Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: EMITF) announced today, that certain indirect subsidiaries of EPN GP, LLC and EPN EDT Holdings II, LLC entered into an agreement to sell 47 shopping centers located throughout the USA, to BRE DDR Retail Holdings LLC, a joint venture between Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII L.P. and/or its affiliates and DDR Corp. and/or its affiliates, for a purchase price of US$1.428 billion . Total property level debt to be repaid by EPN or assumed by BRE DDR Retail Holdings LLC is approximately US$934 million as of the date hereof.

In addition, the sellers shall retain all restricted and unrestricted cash upon the closing of the transaction which amounts to approximately US$30 million at the date hereof. Following the sale of the Properties, EPN Group will continue to hold two properties located in the United States that are valued at approximately US$43 million with total non-recourse secured debt of approximately US$14 million . In September 2011, EDT Retail Trust ("EDT"), the entity through which the Properties were held at the time, distributed an interim dividend payment of US$26 million to EPN.

The transaction is expected to close in June 2012 , and is subject to the completion of a limited due diligence investigation by the purchaser to be completed by the end of January 2012 , approval of the applicable lenders to the assignment and assumption of the above mentioned assumed debt, and satisfaction of certain other closing conditions.

The Company's interest in the EPN Group is held through Elbit Plaza USA L.P., a joint venture entity held in equal parts by the Company and its subsidiary Plaza Centers N.V. Elbit Plaza USA L.P. holds an approximate 45.4% ownership interest in the Properties through its holdings in the EPN Group.

The proceeds from the transaction will be subject to deduction of transaction expenses and applicable taxes. The profit realized for the Properties has already been recognized in the Company's financial statements in previous periods, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

EPN first acquired its interest in the Properties in June 2010 by investing approximately US$116 million in EDT, then an Australian publicly traded trust (through which the Properties were held at the time), and its managing entity. Following completion of that transaction, EPN became EDT's largest unitholder, holding an approximately 47.8% ownership interest in EDT. In March 2011 , EPN commenced an off-market takeover bid for all of the units in EDT not already held by EPN, which was successfully completed in August 2011 . Upon completion of that transaction, EPN became the holder of 100% of the outstanding units of EDT, at an additional cost of approximately US$ 242 million .

Mr. Dudi Machluf , Co-CEO of Elbit, commented: "We are excited to execute this transaction for the sale of EDT properties. Three years ago we made a strategic decision to take advantage of the knowledge and experience gained from our international activities and to use the same successful model to create value in the United States . We examined many transactions that came our way and eventually decided to invest in EDT. The investment in EDT was a multi faceted transaction, which required complex structuring and negotiations with various parties. We acquired full ownership of EDT and its assets in two stages and added value by streamlining its management, improving occupancy and net operating income, and restructuring EDT's cumbersome debt structure. Now, in a span of two years of intense operations in the United States , we are announcing a successful realization of 47 of the 49 EDT assets to Blackstone and DDR, two of the leading real estate investors in the United States .

"Following completion of this transaction, we will still maintain an investment platform for continuing operations in the United States , coupled with vast knowledge and experience in North America , which compliments and adds to our international knowledge and experience. We believe that there are further opportunities in the United States that meet the profile of our U.S. investment vehicle. We intend to continue our operations in the United States together with our existing partners, using our experience to attract new investors, so that the United States continues to be an important part of our operations in the coming years."

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