On the heels of purchasing a package of theme parks that includes Tampa's Busch Gardens and Orlando's SeaWorld, private-equity firm Blackstone Group LP reportedly has agreed to pay Glimcher Realty Trust about $195 million in cash and assumed debt for about a 60 percent stake in Tampa's WestShore Plaza and another large mall in Portland, Ore.

The mall deal was reported Monday by the Wall Street Journal citing unnamed sources "familiar with the transaction." Blackstone would pay about $27 million in cash and assume about $54 million in debt for its stake in 1.1-million square-foot WestShore Plaza.

Glimcher had no comment on the deal but publicly has announced plans to sell the two malls, plus a third near Columbus, Ohio, to raise $50 million in net proceeds to pay down corporate debt.

The Blackstone-Glimcher deal is expected to close early next year. Glimcher, based in Columbus, Ohio, would continue operating the malls.