Gazit America announces appointment of Chief Executive Officer

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES/

TORONTO, Feb. 17 /CNW/ - Gazit America Inc. ("Gazit America" or the "Company") (TSX: GAA) is pleased to announce that, effective today, Gail Mifsud has joined the Company as its Chief Executive Officer.

Dori J. Segal, the Company's Chair, commented, "We are thrilled to have Gail as our full-time CEO. She brings with her a breadth of knowledge and experience in real estate, having spent many years as a senior real estate equities analyst, most recently with Blackmont Capital. "On behalf of my fellow directors, employees and shareholders, I would also like to thank Roni Soffer for his efforts as the Company's interim CEO since its initial public offering in August 2009; Roni will continue to serve as the Company's Vice-Chair".

"I am delighted to be joining Gazit America at this pivotal time in its corporate development," stated Gail Mifsud, CEO. "The firm has a solid foundation on which to grow its business including stable cash flow, a talented and integrated senior management team, and a highly experienced Board of Directors with decades of real estate expertise to draw upon. In my capacity as the full-time CEO, our focus will be to capitalize on accretive real estate transactions to build long-term shareholder value. To this end, we will be nimble and prudent in our work for the benefit of our shareholders."

ABOUT GAZIT AMERICA (TSX: GAA)

Gazit America is focused on entrepreneurial real estate opportunities including the acquisition and development of income-producing properties, investments in public and private real estate entities, investments in joint ventures and other structured acquisitions and investments in commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities. Gazit America currently owns approximately 16% of Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY), a US real estate investment trust, and two properties comprised of five medical office buildings totalling approximately 115,000 square feet of rentable space located in Cambridge and London, Ontario.

For further information: regarding Gazit America: Gail Mifsud, C.E.O., or David Dinniwell, C.F.O., Gazit America Inc., 109 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 303, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6K 1X4, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], www.gazitamerica.com