The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Brookfield Asset Management has been exploring an acquisition of General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP), the U.S. mall operator with a market value of $24-billion (all figures U.S.). A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says Brookfield which, through several entities, owns about 34 per cent of GGP, has approached several potential investment partners, including sovereign wealth funds, to discuss possibly taking GGP private. The preliminary deliberations have not advanced. Reuters's sources cautioned there was no certainty Brookfield would make an offer to GGP. GGP has 131 properties, mainly in the United States, including the planned development of the Ala Moana Center in Hawaii. A deal for GGP would be similar to a related transaction that Brookfield is pursuing. Earlier this month, it offered to purchase the remainder of mall operator Rouse Properties Inc. that it does not already own. Rouse was spun off from GGP in 2012 and currently has a market value of $1-billion. It is considering Brookfield's offer. GGP's stock has traded down 13.4 per cent in the last 12 months despite increasing its dividend to 19 cents from 17 cents.