Exclusive-Blackstone in advanced talks to acquire shopping center owner Retail Opportunity, sources say

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Blackstone is in advanced talks to acquire Retail Opportunity Investments Corp, which owns U.S. shopping centers and has a market value of $3.4 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Blackstone is likely to prevail in the auction for ROIC that has also attracted interest from other private equity firms, including Bain Capital, the sources said. Earlier this year, Bain Capital's real estate arm and retail investor 11North Partners had formed a partnership to acquire and operate open-air retail centers in North America.