Los Angeles is going to be lousy with its absentee news moguls this month. Dean Singleton is coming in for a meeting of his suits on the 23rd — no one expects good news — and this Thursday Sam Zell himself will show his face at UCLA. The reader who emailed me the invite was bemused that Tribune barely rates a mention.

Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009
To: All FEMBA Students; All MBA Students; All Phd Students
Subject: Samuel Zell to speak at UCLA Anderson, Thursday, January 15, 2009

You are cordially invited to hear Sam Zell share his perspectives on the state of the economy, on Thursday, January 15, 2009, from 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Room C315, Entrepreneurs Hall, UCLA Anderson. Admission is on a first-come, first served basis, so we ask that you arrive early to ensure seating. A light lunch will be provided.

Mr. Zell currently serves as Chairman of Anixter, Equity International, Capital Trust, Equity Lifestyle Properties, Covanta, Equity Residential, Equity Group Investments, and the Tribune Company. His investments span industries and continents, and include interests in media, finance, energy, transportation, communications, and real estate. Previously, Mr. Zell served as chairman for Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP), the largest office REIT in the U.S. EOP was sold in February 2007 to The Blackstone Group for $39 billion in the largest private equity transaction in history.

Mr. Zell’s private entrepreneurial investment firm, Equity Group Investments, was the originator of three of the largest REITs in the real estate industry. He is also the chairman of Equity International, a privately held, leading investor in real estate-related businesses outside of the United States. Equity International originated the public offerings for four international companies, in which Mr. Zell maintains substantial interests: Gafisa, the leading homebuilder in Brazil; BR Malls, one of the largest shopping center owners and operators in Brazil; Homex, the fastest growing homebuilder in Mexico; and Xinyuan, homebuilding company headquartered in Zhengzhou, China.

Please join us for this unique opportunity to interact with Mr. Zell, hear his thoughts on the economy, and engage in lively Q & A with him on topics of interest. If you have any questions, please contact Stella Marks, Assistant Dean and UCLA Anderson Board of Visitors Liaison.

I like that — nothing relevant left out. Oh, well there is this: Tribune #2 Randy Michaels sent out an email crowing about the company's successful year under Zell.

Sam Zell archive