Although sources involved have not yet confirmed the deal, Tao executives reportedly said in a statement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it had formed a joint venture with Menofim to buy the 34-story, 586,589-sf building. The two Israeli investment companies would own 70% of the building, and investors including the Marciano Investment Group and Metropolitan Real Estate Investments would own the rest, the statement is said to have revealed.

The Lipstick Building, on East 53rd St., was designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee in 1986. Tenants include Latham & Watkins, Bernard L. Madoff, Morgan Stanley, Poten & Partners, Robinson & Cole, Smith Management Co. and Unisys. Retail tenants include Vong restaurant and Newsstand. Tishman Speyer is the managing agent of the property.

Tishman Speyer would not respond by deadline to calls confirming the sale. The company bought the property in January 2004 for roughly $400 per foot or $247.5 million, as reported by GlobeSt.com.

The two Israeli companies said they would pay $44.8 million in cash for their share of the building and finance the rest with short- and long-term bank loans.

Tishman Speyer sold the New York Times building at 229 W. 43rd St. to another foreign investor. The buyer, Africa Israel Investments Ltd., an international investment firm led by Lev Leviev purchased the property for $525 million as GlobeSt.com recently reported.

The Tao-Menofim joint venture, including Metropolitan and Marciano, also agreed with another entity to buy 292 Madison Ave. for $164.5 million by July 23, the statement reportedly revealed. GlobeSt.com reported the sale of the 26-story, 193,000-sf building on East 41st Street, in April, but a spokesperson for seller SL Green, contacted this morning, would not reveal a closing date or the identity of the buyer.

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Natalie Dolce

Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.