Press release from Business Wire
Update on Brookfield Office Properties' Residential Division Divestiture
Friday, March 25, 2011
Update on Brookfield Office Properties' Residential Division Divestiture16:56 EDT Friday, March 25, 2011
NEW YORK (Business Wire) -- Brookfield Properties Corporation (“Brookfield Office Properties” BPO:
NYSE, TSX) announced that the proposed merger of its residential
division with Brookfield Homes Corporation (“Brookfield Homes” BHS:
NYSE) into the new entity Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. has
advanced with the approval of the transaction by Brookfield Homes'
shareholders in a vote held today. It is expected that the merger will
close on or about March 31, 2011 and Brookfield Residential Properties
will commence trading on the NYSE and TSX on or about April 1, 2011.
Subsequent to closing of the transaction, Brookfield Office Properties
will distribute rights to its common shareholders, entitling them to
acquire, at $10 per share, the Brookfield Residential Properties common
shares that Brookfield Office Properties will receive in exchange for
the contribution of its residential division. The definitive terms of
the rights offering will be outlined in a prospectus that will be mailed
to all Brookfield Office Properties shareholders following regulatory
review. The rights will be exercisable for a 30-day period and it is
expected that the rights will be listed on the NYSE and TSX.
About Brookfield Office Properties
Brookfield Office Properties owns, develops and manages premier office
properties in the United States, Canada and Australia. Its portfolio is
comprised of interests in 108 properties totaling 78 million square feet
in the downtown cores of New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los
Angeles, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, making
it the global leader in the ownership and management of office assets.
Landmark properties include the World Financial Center in Manhattan,
Brookfield Place in Toronto, Bank of America Plaza in Los Angeles,
Bankers Hall in Calgary, Darling Park in Sydney and City Square in
Perth. The company's common shares trade on the NYSE and TSX under the
symbol BPO. For more information, visit www.brookfieldofficeproperties.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information
within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Although
Brookfield Office Properties believes that the anticipated future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable
assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements and information because they involve
assumptions, 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
statements and information. Accordingly, the company cannot give any
assurance that its expectations will in fact occur and cautions that
actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements and information
include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; local real
estate conditions, including the development of properties in close
proximity to the company's properties; timely leasing of newly-developed
properties and re-leasing of occupied square footage upon expiration;
dependence on tenants' financial condition; the uncertainties of real
estate development and acquisition activity; the ability to effectively
integrate acquisitions; interest rates; availability of equity and debt
financing; the impact of newly-adopted accounting principles on the
company's accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of
financial results; and other risks and factors described from time to
time in the documents filed by the company with the securities
regulators in Canada and the United States, including in the Annual
Information Form under the heading “Business of Brookfield Properties –
Company and Real Estate Industry Risks,” and in the company's most
recent interim report under the heading “Management's Discussion and
Analysis.” The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
Brookfield Office PropertiesMelissa Coley, 212-417-7215VP,
Investor Relations and Communicationsmelissa.coley@brookfield.com
