** Shares of LendLease LLC.AX rise 3.2% to A$6.525; on track for their strongest gain since Dec. 23

** Real estate company rose as much as 3.6% earlier in the day to hit the highest level since Dec. 16

** Company signs agreement with Japanese trading firm Sojitz Corp 2768.T to sell infrastructure investor Capella Capital

** Says sale for A$235 mln ($145.82 mln); sale expected to add A$70 mln to FY25 operating profit after tax

** LLC up 2.3% this year, as of last close

($1 = 1.6116 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru)

((John.Biju@thomsonreuters.com;))