Brookfield Financial Advises American Recovery Property Trust on Office Portfolio Recapitalization

NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwire - Oct. 31, 2012) - Brookfield Financial, the global investment bank, announced today the continuation and expansion of their exclusive advisory agreement with American Recovery Property Trust (ARPT) to include the entire portfolio of over 13 million square feet of high quality office properties currently owned by tenant-in-common ownership groups. The expansion of the engagement comes on the heels of the successful recapitalization of Congress Center, a 524,800-square-foot Class A office property in the West Loop submarket of Chicago, IL, in a joint venture with Northwood Investors that closed last week.

Brookfield Financial will work closely with ARPT and its sponsor, Sovereign Capital Management Group, to address the capital needs across the entire portfolio and to put in place a capital and ownership structure for each property to allow them to compete effectively for tenants.

Chris Wilson, Managing Partner of Brookfield Financial, commented, "We are pleased with the successful recapitalization of Congress Center. We brought in a high quality institutional partner to work with ARPT and the new capital will enable the building to fulfil its potential in a highly competitive leasing market in Chicago."

Todd Mikles, CEO of Sovereign Capital Management Group, commented, "This relationship and continued support from Brookfield draws key resources towards our ongoing focus to recapitalize challenged properties acquired at the height of the real estate market."

Brookfield Financial, a wholly-owned affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management (TSX:BAM)(NYSE:BAM)(EURONEXT:BAMA), is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. We provide a broad array of advisory and investment banking services on a global basis to international real estate and infrastructure clients, including private real estate investors, developers, pension funds, public corporations and REITS. The focus of Brookfield Financial's team of over 100 professionals is client service, delivered through our ability to provide unparalleled access to financial capital, independent advice, unique structuring capabilities, transaction and execution expertise. For more information, please visit Brookfield Financial's website at www.brookfieldfinancial.com.

Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Sovereign Capital Management Group, Inc. and it's closely held affiliates have grown to include nationwide asset management, property management, advisory services, private equity syndications and various property holdings across the United States. For more information, visit www.sovcapital.com or contact Stephanie Ferran at sferran@sovcapital.com or (619) 294-8989.