Brookfield Announces Three-For-Two Stock Split and Dividend Increase of 6% Per Share

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 8, 2015) - Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM)(TSX:BAM.A)(EURONEXT:BAMA) ("Brookfield") announced today that the Board of Directors approved a three-for-two stock split of the company's outstanding Class A Shares. The split will be implemented by way of a stock dividend whereby shareholders will receive one-half of a Brookfield Class A Share for each Class A and Class B Share held (i.e. one additional share for every two shares held). The stock dividend will be payable on May 12, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2015. Fractional shares will be paid in cash based on the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the record date.

Brookfield is undertaking the stock split to ensure its shares remain accessible to individual shareholders and to improve the liquidity of the shares. The stock split will not dilute shareholders' equity. The company is ascribing no monetary value to the stock dividend payable to shareholders and therefore the stock dividend will not be taxable in Canada or the United States, although any cash received for fractional shares will be taxable.

The company is in the process of applying to renew its normal course issuer bid and accordingly the number of shares subject to the bid will be adjusted upwards to reflect the stock split.

As a result of the three-for-two stock split, Brookfield will adjust its dividend policy to reflect the additional number of common shares that will be outstanding. Subject to Board determination, the company expects to commence paying a quarterly dividend of US$0.12 per share (representing US$0.48 per annum, or US$0.72 per annum based on the pre-split number of shares outstanding) beginning on June 30, 2015. This would represent an increase of approximately 6% over the current quarterly dividend rate, on a split-adjusted basis.

Brookfield's Class A Shares will begin trading on a "due bill" basis at the opening of business on Friday, May 1, 2015 until Tuesday, May 12, 2015, inclusively. Accordingly, ex-dividend (post-split) trading in the Class A Shares will commence on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange at the opening of business on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.