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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.9

                             DATED 25 MARCH 1998





                          BRITEL FUND TRUSTEES LIMITED

                                      AND

                          GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL

                                      AND

                       GOLDMAN SACHS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

                                      AND
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.

                                      AND

                        ENGLISH PROPERTY CORPORATION plc

                                      and

                                    MEPC plc





                            FIT OUT WORKS AGREEMENT

                                  relating to

                                One Carter Lane
                                   London EC4
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THIS AGREEMENT made the Twenty Fifth day of March 1998

BETWEEN:

(1) BRITEL FUND TRUSTEES LIMITED (Company number 1687513) whose registered
    office is at Standon House 21 Mansell Street London E1 8AA (the "LANDLORD");

(2) ENGLISH PROPERTY CORPORATION plc (Company number 640408) whose registered
    office is at 12 St James's Square London SW1Y 4LB (the "DEVELOPER");

(3) GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL (Company number 226395) whose registered office
    is at Peterborough Court 133 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BB (the "TENANT");

(4) GOLDMAN SACHS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Company number 2432555) whose registered
    office is at Peterborough Court 133 Fleet Street London EC4A 2BB ("GSPM")

(5) THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. whose office is at 85 Broad Street New York
    New York 10004 (the "GUARANTOR"); and

(6) MEPC plc whose registered office is at 12 St James's Square London SW1Y 4LB
    (the "DEVELOPER'S GUARANTOR").

WHEREAS:

(A) The Developer is to carry out the Developer's Fit Out Works at its own cost
    and in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement for Lease and this
    Agreement.

(B) The Tenant is to carry out the Tenant's Fit Out Works at its own cost and in
    accordance with the provisions of the Agreement for Lease and this
    Agreement.

(C) The Developer has agreed to employ GSPM as its contractor to carry out the
    Developer's Fit Out Works.

WITNESSES as follows:

1   DEFINITIONS

    In this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires expressions defined
    in the Agreement for Lease (as defined below) shall have the same meanings
    herein and additionally the following words shall have the following
    meanings:

    AGREEMENT FOR LEASE means the agreement for lease of the Premises of even
    date herewith made between the Landlord (1) the Developer (2) the Tenant (3)
    the Guarantor (4) and the Developer's Guarantor (5);

    CATEGORY A WORKS means the works to be carried out in accordance with the
    Category A Specification set out at Appendix A;

    CONSENTS means all licences, consents, permissions and approvals necessary
    for the Landlord lawfully to carry out the Works;

    DEVELOPER'S FIT OUT WORKS means items comprised in the Fit Out Works which
    are acquired by the Developer in accordance with the provisions of this
    Agreement.

    MAXIMUM SUM means the sum of [pound sterling] 3,413,752 plus value added
    tax;

    PREMISES means One Carter Land London EC4 more particularly described in the
    draft lease annexed to the Agreement for Lease as the Premises;

    TENANT'S FIT OUT WORKS means the Fit Out Works which are not Developer's Fit
    Out Works


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     VAT means Value Added Tax and any similar tax substituted for it or levied
     in addition to it.

2    FIT OUT WORKS

2.1  The Developer shall acquire and complete the installation of the items
     comprised in the Developer's Fit Out Works as follows:

     -    The Category A Fit Out Works up to pound 3,036,755

     -    Carpets up to pound 231,969

     -    Floor boxes up to pound 78,288

     -    Fourth floor works: pound 66,740

     but in no circumstances shall its aggregate expenditure exceed the Maximum
     Sum;

2.2  In order to enable the Developer's obligations to the Tenant to be
     satisfied the Developer hereby employs GSPM to design and carry out the
     Developer's Fit Out Works;

2.3  GSPM HEREBY COVENANTS with the Landlord to permit the Landlord (or its
     surveyors) at all reasonable times to inspect the progress of the
     Developer's Fit Out Works and the quality of the materials and workmanship
     used therein.


3    PAYMENTS BY DEVELOPER

     The Developer hereby appoints GSPM, and GSPM hereby agrees, to carry out
     the Developer's Fit Out Works for the Developer. GSPM shall invoice the
     Developer on 1 April 1998, 1 July 1998 and 1 October 1998 in respect of the
     Developer's Fit Out Works, each such invoice to be a proper VAT invoice
     addressed to the Developer for the sum of pound 1,137,917 on each occasion,
     and the Developer shall pay the invoiced amount to GSPM within 1 week of
     receipt of the relevant invoice.


4    APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS

4.1  GSPM shall not later than six months after the practical completion of the
     Developer's Fit Out Works produce to the Developer a reasonably detailed
     statement showing the actual expenditure incurred by the Developer and the
     items on which it was incurred;

4.2  GSPM shall thereafter from time to time provide amended statements
     reflecting any changes in the amount of such actual expenditure;

4.3  Nothing herein shall constitute a statement, warranty or representation
     that the Developer or the Tenant shall be or become entitled to any capital
     allowances in respect of any expenditure or contribution to expenditure
     incurred or made under this Agreement.


5    OWNERSHIP OF FIT OUT

5.1  It is agreed that the Tenant has no ownership interest in the Fit Out Works
     paid for by the Developer.

5.2  The parties hereby acknowledge that the Goldman Sachs group shall have no
     liability to, and shall not, pay for any Developer's Fit Out Works and that
     the Developer shall have no liability to, and shall not pay for any
     Tenant's Fit Out Works.


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  6  NOTICES INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT

     Notices and requests for payment shall be sent to the registered office of
     the Developer (the address of which shall be notified to the Tenant from
     time to time) marked for the attention of Julian Barwick or such other
     person as the Developer may from time to time nominate.

  7  SUB-CONTRACTOR'S CERTIFICATE

     GSPM confirms that it has applied for a certificate under section 561 of
     the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and acknowledges that all
     payments to be made under this agreement shall be made under deduction of
     tax in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IV of the Income and
     Corporation Taxes Act 1988 unless at the time of such payment it has
     demonstrated to the Developer's reasonable satisfaction that it is the
     valid holder of a current certificate.

  8  PROPER LAW AND JURISDICTION

     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance in all
     respects with English law and the parties hereto hereby submit to the
     non-exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice of England in
     relation to any claim, dispute or difference which may arise hereunder and
     in relation to the enforcement of any judgment rendered pursuant to any
     such claim dispute or difference and, for the purpose of Order 10 Rule 3 of
     the Rules of the Supreme Court of England (or any modification or
     re-enactment thereof), the parties hereby irrevocable agrees that any
     process may be served on them by leaving a copy thereof at their respective
     addresses (as referred to above).

  9  DEVELOPER'S GUARANTOR

9.1  The Developer's Guarantor covenants with the Tenant as principal debtor
     that the Developer will pay the sums due from it under and perform its
     obligations contained in this Agreement.

9.2  The liability of the Developer's Guarantor shall not be affected by:

     9.2.1  any time given to the Tenant or any failure by the Tenant to enforce
            compliance with the Developer's covenants and obligations;

     9.2.2  any variation of the terms of this Agreement;

     9.2.3  any change in the constitution structure or powers of the
            Developer's Guarantor or the Developer or the administration
            liquidation or bankruptcy of the Developer or the Developer's
            Guarantor;

     9.2.4  any act which is beyond the powers of the Developer;

     9.2.5  the transfer of the reversion expectant on the term to be granted by
            the Lease;

     9.2.6  any other act or thing by which (but for this provision) the
            Developer's Guarantor would have been released. 

  10  THE GUARANTOR

10.1  The Guarantor covenants with the Landlord as principal debtor that the
      Tenant will pay the sums due from it under and perform its obligations
      contained in this Agreement.

10.2  The liability of the Guarantor shall be no greater than it would have been
      if the Guarantor had been the Tenant (except for additional costs arising
      from the enforcement of the guarantee) but shall not be affected by:


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     10.2.1    any time given to the Tenant or any failure by the Landlord to
               enforce compliance with the Tenant's covenants and obligations;

     10.2.2    any variation of the terms of this Agreement;

     10.2.3    any change in the constitution structure or powers of the
               Guarantor the Tenant or the Landlord or the administration
               liquidation or bankruptcy of the Tenant or Guarantor;

     10.2.4    any act which is beyond the powers of the Tenant;

     10.2.5    the transfer of the reversion expectant on the term to be granted
               by the Lease;

     10.2.6    any other act or thing (other than the default of the Landlord)
               by which (but for this provision) the Guarantor would have been
               released.

10.3 The Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under
     this Guarantee in whole or in part (and any purported assignment or
     delegation is void) except for an assignment of all the Guarantor's rights
     and obligations hereunder in whatever form the Guarantor determines may be
     appropriate to a partnership, corporation, trust or other organisation in
     whatever form (the "SUCCESSOR") that succeeds to all or substantially all
     of the Guarantor's assets and business and that assumes such obligations by
     contract, operation of law or otherwise. Upon any such assignment and
     assumption of obligations the Guarantor shall give written notice thereof
     to the Landlord and subject to the Landlord having received in a form
     reasonably satisfactory to the Landlord, a deed executed by the Successor
     (accompanied by a legal opinion in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
     Landlord addressed to the Landlord from a reputable firm of lawyers in the
     relevant jurisdiction confirming inter alia validity and due execution)
     whereby the Successor assumes and covenants with the Landlord to perform
     all outstanding and future obligations of the Guarantor under this
     Agreement, whether such assumption is by operation of law or by virtue of
     such deed, the Guarantor shall be relieved of and fully discharged from all
     obligations hereunder, whether such obligations arose before or after such
     delegation and assumption, but without prejudice to any antecedent breach.

  11 INTEREST ON OVERDUE SUMS

     If the person entitled so to do does not receive any sum due to it by the
     due date the person liable to pay it shall pay on demand interest on such
     sum at 4 per cent above the current base rate of Barclays Bank Plc from the
     due date until payment (both before and after any judgment).

  12 NOTICES

     Section 196 of the Law of Property Act 1925 shall apply to any notice which
     may be served under this Agreement as if the final words of Section 196(4)
     "and that service.....be delivered" were deleted and replaced by "and that
     service shall be deemed to be made on the third Working Day after posting".

  13 AGREEMENT FOR LEASE AND LICENCE TO ALTER

     This Agreement is without prejudice to the Tenant's obligations under the
     Agreement for Lease and Licence to Alter.

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SIGNED by the parties or their duly authorised representatives the day and 
year first before written


SIGNED by                             on           ) /s/ [signature]
behalf of the Landlord                             ) Authorised Signing Officer
                                                   )


SIGNED by [name]                      on           ) /s/ [signature]
behalf of the Developer                            )
                                                   )


SIGNED by [name]                      on           )  
behalf of the Tenant                               )
                                                   )


SIGNED by                             on           )  
behalf of GSPM                                     )
                                                   )

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SIGNED by                             on           ) 
behalf of The Guarantor                            )
                                                   )


SIGNED by  [name]                     on           ) /s/ [signature]
behalf of The Developer's Guarantor                )
                                                   )



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