ReutersAfrica reports that U.S. business magnate Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Lifestyle Properties, the real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns over 134,000 manufactured housing homesites in North America, is in talks to buy a controlling interest in Brazil’s Grupo Tha. At 115 years of age, Grupo Tha is the country’s oldest construction company and real estate developer. Zell is also chairman of Equity Residential, the largest apartment REIT, and has substantial interests in energy companies, transportation, logistics, media and health care in a variety of countries spanning the globe.

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