BROOKFIELD NEWS, Nov. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Property Partners L.P. (NYSE:BPY) (TSX:BPY.UN) today announced that it has made a non-binding proposal to acquire all the outstanding shares of common stock of GGP Inc., other than those shares currently held by BPY and its affiliates (representing approximately 34% of the outstanding shares). Each common share of GGP will be acquired for consideration of $23.00. Each GGP shareholder can elect to receive consideration per GGP common share of either $23.00 in cash or 0.9656 of a limited partnership unit of BPY (“BPY units”), subject in each case to pro-ration based on a maximum cash consideration of approximately $7.4 billion (50% of the aggregate offer) and a maximum of approximately 309 million BPY units valued at approximately $7.4 billion (50% of the aggregate offer). The proposal represents a premium of 21% to the unaffected closing share price of the Company’s common stock of $19.01 on November 6, 2017.
The transaction will create, in BPY, one of the largest listed property companies in the world, with an ownership interest in almost $100 billion of premier real estate assets globally and annual net operating income of approximately $5 billion.
Brian Kingston, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Property Group, said, “Brookfield’s access to large-scale capital and deep operating expertise across multiple real estate sectors combined with GGP’s high-quality retail asset base will allow us to maximize the value of these irreplaceable assets. We are excited about the opportunity to leverage our expertise to grow, transform or reposition GGP’s shopping centers, creating long-term value in a way that would not otherwise be possible.”
He continued, “This transaction will provide GGP shareholders the option to immediately realize value for their shares at a 21% premium in cash and the opportunity to continue to participate in the growth of a leading, globally diversified real estate company that will be able to grow faster and create more value than either could on a stand-alone basis.”
The combined company will be owned approximately 30% by existing GGP shareholders. It will own one of the highest quality and most diverse real estate portfolios globally, with a strong balance sheet and financial profile. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to BPY’s FFO per unit and will provide for an enhanced dividend to GGP’s shareholders who elect to receive BPY units.
BPY presented its proposal to the Board of Directors of GGP on November 11, 2017. The transaction is subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive transaction documents and customary approvals, including, approval of a majority of the Company’s stockholders not affiliated with BPY.
There is no assurance that the GGP Board will approve a transaction with BPY or that a transaction will be consummated.
Brookfield Property Partners
Brookfield Property Partners is one of the world’s largest commercial real estate companies, with approximately $68 billion in total assets. We are leading owners, operators and investors in commercial real estate, with a diversified portfolio of premier office and retail assets, as well as interests in multifamily, triple net lease, industrial, hospitality, self-storage, student housing and manufactured housing assets. Brookfield Property Partners is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. Further information is available at http://bpy.brookfield.com.
