Equity Office Properties agreed to give a consortium of investors led by Vornado Realty nine days of access to its books, paving the way for a formal counterbid to be tabled for Sam Zell’s commercial real estate empire. It is likely to be viewed as a victory for Vornado, with partners Starwood Capital and Walton Street Capital, which is seeking to break up an agreed $36bn bid from Blackstone.
