Exclusive: Blackstone interviewing banks for Brixmor IPO - sources

Blackstone Group LP is interviewing investment bankers for a proposed initial public offering of its neighborhood shopping center company Brixmor Property Group Inc, according to two people familiar with the process.

Several banks will likely be hired, given the size of the company, which owns more than 600 shopping centers and is valued at about $13 billion including debt, one source said on Friday.

(Reporting by Ilaina Jonas and Olivia Oran in New York)