Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSX:BAM.A)(NYSE:BAM)(EURONEXT:BAMA)  announced the completion of the spin-off of Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (TSX:BBU.UN)(NYSE:BBU), the primary public vehicle through which Brookfield will own and operate the business services and industrial operations of its private equity group on a global basis.

“The spin-off of Brookfield Business Partners completes the fourth pillar of our strategy to consolidate Brookfield’s major business units and furthers our asset management strategy, providing investors with direct access to many businesses within our private equity group,” said Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield.

The spin-off was effected by way of a special dividend of units of BBU to holders of Brookfield’s Class A and B limited voting shares (the “Shares”). Each holder of Shares received one BBU unit for every 50 Shares (that is, 0.02 BBU units for each Share). Shareholders of Brookfield now own 19,725,150 BBU units, or an approximate 22% limited partnership interest in BBU, with Brookfield owning the remaining 78% limited partnership interest in BBU, on a fully-diluted basis. Brookfield also holds the general partner interest in BBU. The BBU units commenced regular-way trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange this morning under the symbols “BBU.UN” and “BBU” respectively.

Brookfield shareholders will receive a cash payment in lieu of any fractional interests in the BBU units. Brookfield will use the volume-weighted average of the regular-way trading price of the BBU units for the five trading days immediately following the spin-off (June 20th thru June 24th) to determine the value of the BBU units for the purpose of calculating the cash payable in lieu of any fractional interests. Payment of this cash amount will be made by check and mailed on or about June 30, 2016.

Prior to completion of the spin-off, BBU acquired from Brookfield certain business services and industrial operations, including Brookfield’s construction services business, a variety of other service businesses principally related to commercial and residential real estate, oil and gas exploration and production businesses in Australia and Canada, and select industrial manufacturing operations.

In order to satisfy Canadian withholding tax and U.S. “backup” withholding tax obligations on the special dividend, a portion of the BBU units otherwise distributable to non-Canadian investors will be withheld from registered shareholders. For non-Canadian beneficial owners of Brookfield shares registered in the name of a broker or other intermediary, these withholding tax obligations will be satisfied in the ordinary course through arrangements with the broker or intermediary. Beneficial owners should consult their brokers to determine how the withholding tax obligations will be satisfied for their units and on any questions they may have regarding fractional units.

As contemplated in BBU’s Form F-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and its Canadian Prospectus filed with the Ontario Securities Commission, on June 16, 2016 the existing board of directors of BBU’s general partner stepped down and a new board consisting of seven members, a majority of whom are independent of BBU and Brookfield, was put in place. The seven members of the board of directors are Jeffrey M. Blidner (Chair), John Lacey (Lead Independent Director), Stephen J. Girsky, David Hamill, Don Mackenzie, Denis Turcotte and Patricia Zuccotti. For biographical information about BBU’s directors please refer to the section entitled “Governance” beginning on page 89 of the Form F-1 and of the Canadian Prospectus.

Additional Information

The CEO Letter to Unitholders of BBU issued upon spin-off contains further information on BBU’s strategy and operations. Unitholders are encouraged to read this document along with other investor materials regarding BBU and its businesses, all of which are available on BBU’s website at www.brookfieldbusinesspartners.com.

Further details regarding the operations of Brookfield BusinessPartners are set forth in regulatory filings. A copy of the filings may be obtained through the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov and on BBU‘s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Brookfield Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a global alternative asset manager with $240 billion in assets under management. The company has more than a 100-year history of owning and operating assets with a focus on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. Brookfield offers a range of public and private investment products and services, and is co-listed on the New York, Toronto and Euronext stock exchanges under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively.

For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com.