TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 12, 2013) - Brookfield Investments Corporation ("The Company") (TSX VENTURE:BRN.PR.A) announced the acquisition of a 10.6% economic interest in Brookfield Property Partners L.P. ("BPY"), a newly created company to be spun-off from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. ("Brookfield") on April 15, 2013. As consideration for the transaction, the Company sold its 11% common share interest in Brookfield Office Properties Inc. (TSX:BPO)(NYSE:BPO), as well as the Company's portfolio of preferred shares of Brookfield Office Properties.
In addition, the Company's 36% limited partnership interest in Brookfield Europe LP sold its interest in Canary Wharf Group plc, as well as certain other European assets, to BPY and received as consideration an indirect 8.9% economic interest in BPY's business The Company will continue to hold a 36% limited partnership interest in Brookfield Europe.
The result of the two transactions is that, in the aggregate, the Company will now hold a 13.8% indirect interest in BPY's businesses. The Company will continue to hold an interest in Brookfield Office Properties, Canary Wharf Group and other global property assets through the Company's interest in BPY.
Upon its spin-off, BPY will be Brookfield's flagship publicly-traded commercial property company and the primary entity through which Brookfield will carry on its commercial property operations on a global basis. BPY's goal is to be the leading global investor in best in class commercial property assets. BPY owns substantially all of Brookfield's commercial property operations, including its office, retail, multi-family and industrial assets. BPY's portfolio includes interests in over 300 office and retail properties encompassing more than 250 million square feet. In addition, BPY has interests in approximately 15,600 multi-family units, 29 million square feet of industrial space and an 18 million square foot office development pipeline. BPY is expected to begin trading on the NYSE and the TSX on April 15, 2013, under the symbols "BPY" and "BPY.UN" respectively.
Brookfield Investments Corporation holds investments in the property and forest products sectors, as well as a portfolio of preferred shares issued by companies within the Brookfield group.
Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws. The words "continue," "expect," "intend," "believe," derivations thereof and other expressions, including conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "could," "would," and "should," are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects or identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to: the sale of the Company's interest in Brookfield Office Properties, the launch of Brookfield Property Partners L.P. ("BPY") and our expectations for this entity; and other statements with respect to our beliefs, outlooks, plans, expectations and intentions. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information is based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information as such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include: economic and financial conditions in the countries in which BPY does business; the behaviour of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and exchange rates; availability of equity and debt financing; strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; regulatory and political factors within the countries in which BPY operates; availability of new tenants to fill property vacancies; tenant bankruptcies; acts of God, such as earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts; changes in accounting policies to be adopted under IFRS; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in BPY's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as other documents filed by BPY with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States.
We caution that the foregoing factors that may affect future results are not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether written or oral, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact Information:
in Brookfield Office Properties should be directed to
Derek Gorgi, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
416-363-9491