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Brookfield Asset Management

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FY2018 Annual Report · Brookfield Asset Management
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Brookfield Asset 
     Management Inc.

2 0 1 8   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

This page is intentionally left blank

Five-Year Financial Record

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

PER SHARE1

Net income

$ 

3.40 $ 

1.34 $ 

1.55 $ 

2.26 $ 

Funds from operations2

4.35

3.74

3.18

2.49

Dividends3 

Cash

Special

Market trading price – NYSE4

0.60

—

43.12

0.56

0.11

0.52

0.45

0.47

—

43.54

33.01

31.53

33.42

3.11

2.11

0.45

—

1.	 2014	adjusted	to	reflect	three-for-two	stock	split	effective	May	12,	2015;	per	share	amounts	are	net	of	non-controlling	interest.

2.	 See	definition	in	the	MD&A	Glossary	of	Terms	beginning	on	page	108.

3.  See Corporate Dividends on page 46.

4.	 2018	Market	trading	price	is	as	at	February	13,	2019.	Market	trading	price	at	December	31,	2018	was	$38.35.

CONTENTS

Brookfield at a Glance 

Letter to Shareholders 

Management’s Discussion & Analysis 

PART 1 – Our Business and Strategy 

PART 2 – Review of Consolidated Financial Results 

PART 3 – Operating Segment Results 

PART 4 – Capitalization and Liquidity 

PART 5 – Accounting Policies and Internal Controls 

PART 6 – Business Environment and Risks 

  Glossary of Terms 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Consolidated Financial Statements 

Shareholder Information 

Board of Directors and Officers 

Throughout our annual report, we use the following icons:

3

6

17

19

30

47

75

84

93

108

114

119

201

202

Asset 
Management

Real  
Estate

Renewable 
Power

Infrastructure

Private 
Equity

Residential 
Development

Corporate 
Activities

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   2

 
 
 
 
 
 
Brookfield at a Glance

OUR BUSINESS

We  are  a  leading  global  alternative  asset  manager  with  over  $350  billion  of  assets  under  management  and  

$138 billion	in	fee	bearing	capital.	We	raise	private	and	public	capital	from	the	world’s	largest	institutional	investors,	

sovereign	wealth	funds	and	individuals,	with	a	focus	on	generating	attractive	investment	returns	that	will	allow	our	

investors	and	their	stakeholders	to	meet	their	goals	and	protect	their	financial	future.

• 

Investment focus	–	Real	Estate,	Infrastructure,	Renewable	Power	and	Private	Equity

•  Diverse  product  offering	 –	 Core,	 value-add,	 opportunistic	 and	 credit	 strategies	 in	 both	 closed-end	 and	 

long-life	vehicles

• 

Focused  investment  strategies	 –	 We	 invest	 where	 we	 have	 a	 competitive	 advantage,	 such	 as	 our	 strong	

capabilities	as	an	owner-operator,	our	large	scale	capital	and	our	global	reach

•  Disciplined  financing  approach  –  Debt  is  carefully  employed  to  enhance  returns  while  preserving  capital 

throughout business cycles

In	 addition	 to	 our	 asset	 management	 activities	 outlined	 above,	 we	 invest	 significant	 capital	 from	 our	 balance	

sheet in our managed entities alongside our investors as well as in other direct investments. This is intended to 

generate	attractive	financial	returns	and	cash	flows,	support	the	growth	of	our	asset	management	activities	and	

create an important alignment of interests with our investors. We refer to this as our Invested Capital and it totals 

approximately $40 billion	prior	to	leverage.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

We provide a wide range of investment products, primarily focused on real estate, renewable power, 
infrastructure and private equity

REAL ESTATE

RENEWABLE POWER

Office, retail, industrial, multifamily, hospitality 
and other properties

Hydroelectric, wind, solar and other power 
generating facilities

INFRASTRUCTURE

PRIVATE EQUITY

Utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure 
and sustainable resource assets

Business services, infrastructure services and 
industrial operations

Note: Excludes Residential Development and Corporate Activities which are distinct business segments for IFRS reporting purposes. 

“Brookfield,” the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. The “Corporation” refers 
to our asset management business which is comprised of our asset management and corporate business segments. Our “invested capital” or “listed 
partnerships” includes our subsidiaries, Brookfield Property Partners L.P., Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P., Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and 
Brookfield Business Partners L.P., which are separate public issuers included within our real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity 
segments, respectively. We use “private funds” to refer to our real estate funds, infrastructure funds and private equity funds. Please refer to the Glossary 
of Terms beginning on page 108 which defines our key performance measures that we use to measure our business.

3     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
Brookfield at a Glance

OUR GLOBAL PRESENCE

CANADA
$35B AUM  
~18,000 operating employees

EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST
$64B AUM  
~30,000 operating employees

LONDON

TORONTO

NEW YORK

DUBAI

MUMBAI

SHANGHAI

RIO DE JANEIRO

SYDNEY

UNITED STATES
$189B AUM  
~21,000 operating employees

SOUTH AMERICA
$40B AUM  
~23,000 operating employees

ASIA PACIFIC
$27B AUM  
~10,000 operating employees

Corporate Offices

QUICK FACTS

$355B

ASSETS UNDER  
MANAGEMENT

  $138B

FEE BEARING   
CAPITAL

 750+

INVESTMENT 
PROFESSIONALS

 30+

COUNTRIES

 100,000+

OPERATING 
EMPLOYEES

E X C H A N G E S         NYSE: BAM    TSX: BAM.A    EURONEX T: BAMA

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   4

Core Investment Principles

Our  approach  to  investing  is  disciplined  and  straightforward.  With  a  focus  on  value  creation  and  capital 

preservation,	we	invest	opportunistically	in	high	quality	real	assets	within	our	areas	of	expertise,	manage	them	

proactively	and	finance	them	conservatively	with	a	goal	of	generating	stable,	predictable	and	growing	cash	flows	

for	investors	and	shareholders.	Our	culture	is	anchored	by a	set	of	core	investment	principles	that	guide	our	

decisions and how we measure success.

BUSINESS P HILOS O PHY

•  Build our business and all our relationships based on integrity

•  Attract and retain high-calibre individuals who will grow with 

us over the long term

•  Ensure our people think and act like owners in  

all their decisions

•  Treat our investor and shareholder money like it’s our own

INVESTME NT  GU IDE LINE S

•  Invest where we possess competitive advantages

•  Acquire assets on a value basis with a goal of maximizing 

return on capital

•  Build sustainable cash flows to provide certainty, reduce risk 

and lower our cost of capital

•  Recognize that superior returns often require a  

contrarian approach

MEASUREME NT  OF  O UR 
CORPORATE  S U CCES S

•  Measure success based on total return on capital over  

the long term

•  Encourage calculated risks, but compare returns with risk

•  Sacrifice short-term profit, if necessary, to achieve long-term 

capital appreciation

•  Seek profitability rather than growth, as size does not 

necessarily add value

5     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Letter to Shareholders

OVERVIEW

2018	was	a	strong	year	in	the	global	economy,	punctuated	by	considerable	political	drama	and	towards	the	end	

of	the	year,	stock	market	volatility.	Behind	the	volatility,	most	companies	reported	good	results	and	ours	were	no	

exception. Net income in aggregate was a record $7.5 billion or $3.40 per share. Funds from operations (FFO) were 

$4.35	per	share,	an	increase	of	16% over 2017. FFO should grow substantially in 2019,	as	we	expect	to	sell	a	number	

of assets and therefore record upwards of $1 billion of carried interest into income.

Our assets under management grew to over $350	billion,	and	asset	management	results	increased	commensurately	

by 36% to $1.3 billion. We raised $40	billion	of	capital	during	the	year,	invested	or	committed	$35 billion	and	sold	

$14  billion	 of	 mature	 assets.	 We	 recently	 closed	 our	 latest	 opportunistic	 real	 estate	 fund	 at	 $15  billion,	 raised	

$7	billion	for	the	first	close	of	our	successor	private	equity	fund	and	are	now	in	the	market	with	our	successor	

infrastructure	fund,	which	should	be	by	far	our	largest.	In	total,	this	round	of	flagship	funds	should	raise	±$50 billion 

of	capital	for deployment.

Today we have approximately $35 billion of deployable capital for activities and this should grow as we continue to 

raise	capital	across	flagship	and	other	strategies.	On	a	corporate	basis,	we	have	started	devoting	some	of	our	free	

cash	flow	to	share	repurchases.	During	the	year,	$625 million	of	free	cash	flow	was	invested	to	repurchase	shares	

of BAM and our listed partnerships. 

STOCK PERFORMANCE

We  manage  our  business  for  the  long  term.  We  regularly  provide  our  stock  performance  as  a  measure  of  the 

achievement	of	our	goals,	although	it	is	not	our	primary	measure	of	value.	Our	longer	dated	returns	highlight	that	

our  business  is  resilient  through  market  cycles  and  we  continue  to  seek  to  deliver  on  our  goal  of  generating  in 

excess of 12% to 15% compound returns. Volatility toward the end of 2018	led	to	a	small	decline	in	our	one-year	

performance,	but	it	has	recovered	in	the	last	month,	so	we	have	shown	the	numbers	in	the	table	for	the	year	to	

February 13,	2019.

More	importantly,	our	view	of	the	intrinsic	value	of	the	business	increased	significantly	over	the	last	twelve	months.	

We	 successfully	 raised	 and	 deployed	 significant	 amounts	 of	 capital	 and	 sold	 several	 investments	 in	 our	 funds,	

building up our accrued carried interest balance. This increased intrinsic value of our businesses should enable us 

to continue compounding these results well into the future.

Investment Performance (Years)

Brookfield NYSE

S&P 500

1	(to	February	13,	2019)

10

20

25

—%

17%

17%

17%

5%

13%

6%

9%

10-Year U.S. 
Treasuries

1%

3%

5%

4%

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   6

MARKET ENVIRONMENT

Economic fundamentals generally remain strong globally. We continue to see good availability of liquidity in debt 

markets,	and	inflows	into	our	fund	strategies	have	been	robust.	This	is	all	playing	out	against	a	backdrop	of	political	

upheaval	and	the	reality	that	we	are	in	the	late	stages	of	the	business	cycle,	and	therefore	will	likely	see	a	recession at 

some point in the next few years.

The	U.S.	economy,	while	slowing	from	the	pace	in	late	2017 and early 2018,	continues	to	be	strong.	Interest	rates are 

still historically low and we expect that to continue. The stock market took a welcome pause at the end of 2018 which 

brought rationality back to the equity markets. In the context of this backdrop and amidst these conditions in 2018,	

we found a number of great businesses to acquire.

Economic	momentum	in	Europe	has	been	slow	for	some	time	due	to	uncertainty	over	Brexit,	Italy’s	budget	deadlock	

with	the	EU,	and	long-term	structural	issues.	We	expect	activity	to	be	better	once	the	outlook	on	Brexit	becomes	

clearer,	but	in	the	meantime,	we	believe	there	will	be	select	opportunities	to	deploy	capital.

Canada	and	Australia	are	exceptional	long-term	markets	for	investment	and	while	they	are	small	on	a	global	basis,	

both	are	very	important	to	us,	given	our	major	presence	in	each.	We	believe	they	will	continue	to	be	excellent	markets	

for	us,	given	their	stability	and	resilience.	In	2018,	we	were	successful	on	a	number	of	fronts	in	both countries.

The	South	American	markets	in	which	we	invest	have	been	recovering	nicely,	with	Brazil	the	slowest,	but	are	set	to	

recover	now	that	a	new	government	is	in	place.	We	invested	significant	capital	in	South	America	over	the	past	three	

years	and	will	both	continue	to	tuck-in	assets	around	these	businesses	and	monetize	investments	as	the	currencies	

and economies recover.

Asia continues to increase its importance in the global economy. While trade issues have been disruptive in the 

short	 term,	 and	 growth	 is	 slowing	 due	 to	 the	 law	 of	 large	 numbers,	 these	 countries	 are	 very	 important	 global	

investment	markets.	We	continue	to	judiciously	increase	our	investments	in	India,	China,	Japan	and	South	Korea.

A SUMMARY OF 2018

Total assets under management are now over $350	billion,	as	we	continue	to	raise	and	deploy	large	amounts	of	

capital across our businesses. 

AS AT AND FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS 
 ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

CAGR

Total assets under management

$	203,840

$	227,803

$	239,825

$	283,141

$	354,736

15%

Fee bearing capital

85,936

94,262

109,576

125,590

137,528

Gross annual run rate of fees plus target carry

Fee related earnings (after costs)

Cash available for reinvestment or 

distribution to BAM shareholders

1,204

378

1,489

496

2,031

712

2,475

896

2,975

1,129

1,024

1,274

1,782

1,899

2,419

24%

12%

25%

31%

Asset Management Activities
Our	fee	bearing	capital	has	seen	step-change	increases	over	the	past	few	fund	series,	increasing	from	$49 billion	

in 2009 to $86 billion in 2014 and $138 billion in 2018. This growth in fee bearing capital will continue to contribute 

to an	even	higher	growth	of	fee	related	earnings,	carried	interest	and	cash	flows.	In	early	2019,	we	completed	the	

final	close	for	our	flagship	real	estate	fund,	had	a	first	close	for	our	flagship	private	equity	fund	in	late	2018,	and	

recently launched our next infrastructure fund. In 2018,	we	also	launched	an	Australian	long-life	real	estate	fund	and	 

long-life	infrastructure	fund.	With	all	this,	we	raised	$22	billion	of	third-party	private	capital	across	our	strategies.

7     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Our	cash	flow	available	for	distribution	and	reinvestment	was	$2.4	billion	for	the	year,	a	27% increase over 2017. 

Our	 cash	 flows	 from	 invested	 capital,	 largely	 the	 LP	 commitments	 that	 we	 make	 alongside	 our	 investors,	 were	

$1.7 billion	in	2018. Cash available for distribution is the sum of our asset management activities and the earnings or 

distributions	received	from	our	invested	capital,	net	of	our	corporate	expenses.	The	contributors	to	cash	available	

for distribution within our asset management activities are fee related earnings and realized carried interest. Our 

fee related earnings were $1.1 billion in 2018,	a	$233 million increase from 2017.

We  generated  carried  interest  before  costs  of  $661  million  in  2018  and  realized  into  income  carried  interest  of 

$254 million before costs. We realize carried interest when the fund’s cumulative returns are in excess of preferred 

returns and are no longer subject to clawback. During 2018,	our	first	global	flagship	real	estate	fund	achieved	the	

milestone of returning 100% of invested capital as well as a 9% preferred return on capital to all investors. In 2019,	

we	expect	to	generate	and	record	into	income	and	cash	flow	up	to	$1 billion of realized carried interest before costs 

from this fund and other various earlier vintage funds. 

Operating Activities
Despite	the	fact	that	investment	markets	were	more	finely	priced	for	most	of	2018,	we	succeeded	in	acquiring	a	

number	of	very	high-quality	assets	by	leveraging	our	key	strengths	–	access	to	significant	pools	of	capital,	global	

scale and deep operating expertise. We invested or committed over $35 billion of capital in 2018 across our business 

groups and realized $14 billion of proceeds from the sale of mature assets. 

While the market capitalization of some of our listed partnerships were impacted by the market volatility in the 

second	 half	 of	 the	 year,	 our	 underlying	 businesses’	 operations	 continued	 to	 grow	 and	 achieve	 record	 results.	

Overall,	our	share	of	the	underlying	funds	from	operations	from	our	invested	capital	totaled	$1.6 billion before 

disposition gains. 

Our real estate operations had a strong year. In addition to acquisitions that drove increased FFO within our core 

office	and	core	retail	businesses,	we	sold	a	number	of	assets	at	favorable	returns,	returning	significant	capital	to	

fund	investors.	We	made	great	progress	on	our	development	activities,	including	Manhattan	West	in	New	York,	

where we topped out the 2.1	million	square	foot	One	Manhattan	West	office	tower	and	recently	launched	the	last	

office	tower	and	a	boutique	hotel.	On	acquisitions,	we	acquired	the	balance	of	GGP	we	didn’t	already	own	and	

purchased	Forest	City	Realty	Trust.	With	respect	to	realizations,	we	sold	a	large	U.S.	logistics	business,	generating	a	

2.5 times gross multiple of capital and a gross IRR of 22%. 

Our	renewable	power	operations	benefited	from	a	full	year	of	contribution	from	our	investment	in	TerraForm,	

a	 large	 portfolio	 of	 solar	 and	 wind	 facilities,	 where	 we	 realized	 more	 than	 $100  million  in  cost  savings  through 

operational	 improvements	 and	 balance	 sheet	 initiatives.	 We	 also	 benefited	 from	 the	 acquisition	 of	 a	 western	

European	 portfolio	 of	 solar	 and	 wind	 assets	 that	 closed	 in	 the	 second	 quarter.	 In	 China,	 we	 established	 a	 joint	

venture to develop and operate rooftop solar projects across logistics and commercial rooftops. We also continue 

to	see	strong	demand	from	investors	for	mature,	contracted	renewable	assets,	and	in	the	third	quarter,	announced	

the sale of a 25% interest in a Canadian hydroelectric portfolio.

Our	infrastructure	operations	continue	to	generate	strong	performance,	with	increases	from	our	recent	investments,	

largely	offset	by	the	absence	of	FFO	from	the	sale	of	our	Chilean	transmission	company.	Within	our	energy	business,	

results were up 29%,	in	part	the	result	of	the	contribution	from	both	the	acquisitions	of	Enercare,	as	well	as	a	group	

of	Canadian	midstream	assets.	This	was	partly	offset	by	our	utilities	and	transportation	businesses	which	have	

significant	Brazilian	operations	that	were	impacted	by	the	depreciation	of	the	Brazilian	real.	In	total,	we	committed	

to seven acquisitions totaling approximately $13.1 billion. In addition to Enercare and our new Canadian midstream 

assets,	these	included	three	data	center	businesses	located	in	the	U.S.,	South	America	and	Australia,	and	a	1,500 km 

gas pipeline in India. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   8

Our	private	equity	operating	results	more	than	doubled	compared	to	the	prior	year,	benefiting	from	both	organic	

growth	and	capital	deployment.	In	our	industrials	business,	our	graphite	electrode	business	benefited	significantly	

from	strong	pricing	and	long-term	contracts	put	in	place	at	the	beginning	of	the	year.	Our	infrastructure	services	

business	saw	a	significant	increase	in	cash	flows	from	a	full-year	contribution	of	our	marine	oil	services	business,	

as	 well	 as	 the	 acquisition	 of	 Westinghouse	 Electric	 Company.	 Within	 our	 business	 services	 group,	 we	 started	

redevelopment	of	the	gaming	facilities	in	the	Greater	Toronto	Area.	In	addition,	we	committed	to	acquire	a	market-

leading	global	battery	manufacturing	business	slated	to	close	in	the	first	half	of	2019.	On	the	realization	side,	we	

began	the	process	of	monetizing	our	investment	in	our	global	manufacturer	of	graphite	electrodes,	following	a	very	

successful	turnaround	over	the	last	few	years,	and	sold	our	Australia-based	oil	and	gas	company,	returning	more	

than 3 times our initial investment within three and a half years.

2018 – A SMALLER NUMBER OF LARGE DEALS

Despite competitive conditions for most of 2018,	we	acquired	a	number	of	businesses	that	should	do	very	well over	

the	longer	term.	More	importantly	at	this	point	in	the	cycle,	each	has	inherent	defensive	protections.	This	is important	

as it is likely we will own all of these businesses through the next downturn. 

Each	one	of	these	acquisitions	is	different	but	they	all	have	one	or	more	of	the	following	in	common:	they	are	large	

in	size	and	therefore	the	competition	was	limited;	they	are	diverse	in	nature	so	many	cannot	participate	due	to	their	

limited	global	reach;	or	they	require	significant	operational	enhancements	to	generate	value	–	this	is	where our	

100,000	operating	team	members	come	in.	While	none	of	the	above	guarantees	success,	we	have	found	that	by	

relentlessly	focusing	on	these	competitive	advantages,	the	odds	favor	a	greater	chance	of	success.

We acquired a natural gas gathering and processing business for $3.3 billion in western Canada. This business is a 

long-term	contracted	business	which	protects	our	downside.	On	a	leveraged	basis,	this	business	is	generating	8% 

cash-on-cash	yields	which	on	the	downside	gives	us	substantial	protection,	while	we	are	in	the	midst	of	re	working	

the business to enhance returns. 

We closed the acquisition of an $11.4	billion	portfolio	of	largely	office	and	residential	properties	in	four	premier	

markets	in	the	U.S.	–	New	York,	San	Francisco,	Washington	and	Boston.	Given	that	these	assets	sit	in	the	premier	

U.S. markets for real estate and that we acquired this portfolio with few competitors due to size and diversity of 

assets,	we	should	have	limited	downside	risk	even	in	a	market	downturn.	On	the	upside,	we	believe	we	can	generate	

15% to 20%	leveraged	gross	equity	returns	through	optimizing	the	asset	portfolio,	operating	improvements,	and	

completing the development on a few large projects.

We acquired Westinghouse Electric Company for $4 billion. Westinghouse is an infrastructure services company 

that	provides	services	to	the	power	industry.	There	were	few	other	potential	buyers,	given	that	the	company	was	in	

bankruptcy and that the acquisition was large. We are currently generating approximately 20%	cash-on-cash	yields	on	

equity	and	believe	that	through	cost	synergies	and	small	amounts	of	growth	this	can	be	an	exceptional investment.

Our	 renewable	 power	 business	 acquired	 Saeta	 Yield,	 a	 $3.1  billion  portfolio  of  assets.  The  portfolio  consists  of 

1,000 megawatts	of	wind	and	solar	facilities	in	Spain	and	was	available	to	Brookfield	with	little	competition	because	

it	 was	 a	 large	 concentration	 of	 assets	 in	 one	 country	 for	 any	 one	 investor.	 The	 difference	 for	 us	 is	 that,	 given	

our	scale,	these	assets	could	be	tucked	into	our	overall	portfolio.	The	business	is	generating	+12%	cash-on-cash	

yields on purchase price with upsides expected to come from a number of operational enhancements that we are 

working on. 

9     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

We committed to acquire a $13.2 billion global battery maker for vehicles. This business is a global market leader in 

the	industry	and	with	technology.	Despite	this,	there	was	a	misperception	on	the	impact	of	automotive	electrification	

on	demand	for	lead	acid	batteries.	As	a	result	of	this,	we	were	able	to	acquire	this	business	on	an	unleveraged	8% 

cash-on-cash	yield	–	with	leveraged	cash-on-cash	gross	returns	increasing	to	over	20% as we execute our business 

plan.	These	strong	cash	yields	should	give	us	significant	downside	protection	and	underpin	our	investment	returns.	

The	 electrification	 of	 the	 car	 parc	 is	 an	 opportunity	 for	 our	 business	 to	 increase	 sales	 of	 advanced	 low	 voltage	

batteries	for	electric	vehicles,	which	we	have	higher	market	share	in	and	earn	higher	margins	on	than	traditional	

lead acid batteries installed in internal combustion vehicles. All electric vehicles require a low voltage battery to 

power	auxiliary	systems,	manage	the	high	voltage	lithium	ion	propulsion	battery,	and	ensure	functional	safety	of	

critical vehicle functions. 

BROOKFIELD OR BROOKFIELD OR BROOKFIELD?

We	are	often	asked	by	investors	which	Brookfield	stock	they	should	own	–	BAM	or	one	of	our	four	listed	partnerships.	

While	it	sounds	self-serving,	we	recommend	“all	of	them,”	because	while	each	carries	the	Brookfield	brand	and	

owns	and	operates	high-quality	businesses,	each	one	is	different	and	has	a	specific	goal	of	being	best	in	class	in	

their	specific	area	of	expertise	–	asset	management,	real	estate,	renewable	power,	infrastructure	or	private	equity.	

Of	course,	BAM	is	a	significant	owner	of	each	of	our	listed	partnerships,	benefiting	from	their	cash	flows	and	value	

creation,	 but	 is	 focused	 and	 driven	 by	 our	 asset	 management	 business.	 It	 is	 though	 notable	 that	 our	 franchise	

is  differentiated	 in	 the	 asset	 management	 industry	 by	 the	 scale	 and	 growth	 potential	 of	 these	 best-in-class	 

listed  partnerships  which  are  managed  by  us  in  the  same  way  as  we  manage  our  private  funds  for  private  

investors.	 Furthermore,	 with	 very	 large	 ownership	 stakes	 in	 each	 partnership,	 we	 are	 incented	 to	 ensure	 each	

creates	long-term	value	because	as	each	of	our	entities	does	well,	and	trades	well,	this	translates	into	further	value	

creation for BAM. 

The	commonality	of	our	entities	is	that	all	share	the	same	disciplined	investment	approach,	respect	for	capital,	and	

access to our global operating platform and relationships. These characteristics have stood us well for a long time.

Brookfield	 Property	 Partners	 (BPY)	 is	 a	 premier,	 diversified	 commercial	 real	 estate	 portfolio	 featuring	 some	 of	

the	 world’s	 premier	 properties.	 This	 is	 a	 portfolio	 that	 is	 well	 leased	 to	 high	 credit-quality	 tenants,	 generating	

stable,	sustainable	cash	flows.	The	business	features	significant	organic	growth	through	an	active	development	

and	 redevelopment	 pipeline,	 in	 which	 the	 company	 leverages	 its	 multi-sector	 expertise.	 Investment	 returns	

are	supplemented	by	BPY’s	participation	in	Brookfield-sponsored	real	estate	opportunity	funds,	which	invest	in	 

high-quality	 assets	 that	 are	 mispriced	 or	 feature	 significant	 operational	 upside	 across	 various	 property	 sectors,	

such	as	logistics,	multifamily	and	self-storage.	

Brookfield	Infrastructure	Partners	(BIP)	owns	high-quality	infrastructure	assets	that	are	the	backbone	of	the	global	

economy.	Infrastructure	cash	flows	are	supported	by	regulated	and	long-term	contractual	frameworks	and	typically	

their	cash	flows	are	linked	to	inflation	and/or	global	growth.	The	opportunity	set	in	the	business	is	very	substantial	

as  governments  and  corporations  outsource  their  infrastructure  investment  to  entities  specialized  in  managing 

these	types	of	assets.	BIP	is	positioned	with	an	investment-grade	balance	sheet,	and	irreplaceable	assets	on	five	

continents	across	four	sectors;	energy,	transportation,	utilities	and	data.	

Brookfield	Renewable	Partners	(BEP)	is	one	of	the	largest	pure-play	renewable	power	businesses	globally,	offering	

exposure	 to	 decarbonized	 energy,	 at	 a	 time	 when	 the	 global	 power	 grid	 is	 transforming	 from	 fossil	 fuels	 to	

renewables. BEP has 100+	years	of	experience	in	power	generation,	with	over	17,000	megawatts	of	hydro,	wind,	

solar,	distributed	generation	and	storage	capacity	across	four	continents.	Over	75%	of	the	generation	is	from	hydro,	

leading	to	long-term	cash	flows	with	minimal	annual	re-investment.	

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   10

Brookfield	Business	Partners	(BBU)	offers	a	unique	opportunity	to	invest	publicly	in	private	equity	investments.	BBU	

invests	in	businesses	with	high	barriers	to	entry,	low	production	costs	and	those	with	the	potential	to	benefit	from	

Brookfield’s	global	operating	expertise.	BBU	has	the	flexibility	to	invest	in	any	form	(debt,	equity,	public,	private)	and	

across	industries,	enabling	investment	flexibility	for	when	we	find	“good	businesses”	in	times	of	market	dislocation.

While	each	of	our	five	securities	is	different,	they	are	all	investments	that	we	expect	will	generate	significant	value	

creation	over	the	long	term.	We	hope	that	at	least	one	of	them	will	suit	your	investment	needs,	but	we	think	all	of	

them	can	belong	in	a	well-diversified	portfolio	of	investments.		

THE 50-YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE RUNWAY

We are in the early stages of the bulk of the infrastructure backbone of the global economy being transferred into 

private hands from the public sector. We believe that this will translate into an opportunity of many tens of trillions 

of dollars over the next 50 years for the private sector.

There	are	a	number	of	reasons	for	this	shift	from	the	public	to	private	sector,	but	we	think	there	are	three	main	

reasons.	 The	 first	 is	 that	 governments	 are	 highly	 indebted;	 despite	 this,	 they	 still	 need	 to	 keep	 up	 with	 both	

investment	of	capital	into	new	infrastructure	in	the	developing	world,	as	well	as	the	maintenance	of	old	infrastructure	

in	the	developed	world.	The	second	is	that	private	enterprise	has	proven	to	be	far	more	efficient	at	building	new	

infrastructure,	as	well	as	operating	that	infrastructure,	than	the	public	sector.	The	third	is	that	interest	rates	are	very	

low(ish)	by	historical	standards	and	are	expected	to	be	that	way	for	the	foreseeable	future.	As	a	result,	institutions	

need	something	to	replace	fixed	income	allocations	in	their	portfolios	that	has	low	risk	but	reasonable	returns.	

Infrastructure is part of the solution. 

As	a	result,	we	expect	that	over	the	next	50	years	there	will	be	both	a	very	large	supply	of	capital	for	projects,	and	

very large demand by governments for infrastructure capital. Our goal is to continue to build our reputation for fair 

dealing,	good	stewardship,	and	astute	investing,	to	the	benefit	of	the	governments/	companies	we	deal	with,	the	

communities	that	these	infrastructure	assets	serve,	and	those	we	invest	on	behalf	of.

Our	most	recent	flagship	infrastructure	fund	is	$14 billion and is now over 85%	invested	or	committed.	As	such, we	are	

now	raising	the	successor	private	fund.	On	our	existing	fund,	we	do	not	believe	we	have	compromised	our returns	

to	put	capital	to	work,	and	therefore	we	see	no	reason	that	our	next	fund	will	not	be	significantly	larger	than	the	last.

We are often asked why we do not have the same issues that some public equity managers have investing funds 

as	they	grow	larger.	The	difference	is	that	infrastructure	(as	well	as	real	estate	and	private	equity)	usually	becomes	

more  attractive  as  investments  get  larger.  The  competition  for  larger  acquisitions  is  less  and  the  sophistication 

required	to	operate	these	assets	increases	because	of	their	complexity,	therefore	favoring	large	and	experienced	

managers.	Lastly,	the	larger	assets	acquired	are	generally	also	higher	quality	–	they	often	have	better	counterparties,	

and stronger management teams. As a result we believe that our infrastructure business can scale to many times 

the size it is today.

ALTERNATIVES CANNOT BE REPLACED BY ETFs

Allocations	to	private	investments	(real	estate,	infrastructure	and	private	equity)	in	the	institutional	investment	

market  are  circa  20%  and  look  to  double  over  the  coming  decades.  Most  institutional  investors  we  deal  with 

are	 increasing	 overall	 allocations	 to	 real	 estate,	 infrastructure	 and	 private	 equity	 through	 fund	 allocations,	 

co-investments,	or	direct	investments.	As	a	result,	we	are	in	the	midst	of	vast	sums	of	capital	being	allocated	to	

these areas and this should continue for many years to come. 

11     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

This	is	due,	in	part,	to	the	fact	that	traditional	fixed	income	investments	today	do	not	generate	enough	yield	to	

support the returns needed by institutional funds. Equally important is the desire to shed the historic volatility 

in  public  market  assets  that  these  institutions  have  traditionally  had  by  holding  liquid  traded  investments.  In 

summary,	alternative	assets	have	been	and	will	increasingly	become	the	new	fixed	income	component	in	most	

institutional portfolios.

Another	major	trend	affecting	the	financial	markets	is	that	large	sums	of	capital	are	being	allocated	from	active	

public equity mandates towards passive strategies (through ETF’s and other means). This shift is being driven by 

passive	products	offering	low,	sometimes	no,	fee	alternatives	and	the	perception	(rightly	or	wrongly)	that	the	

returns,	after	fees,	on	passive	funds	can	match	or	exceed	those	of	active	public	market	equity	strategies.

In	the	face	of	this	pressure	on	active	mandates,	private	investing	continues	to	grow	rapidly	–	for	many	reasons,	

but primarily because private asset investing simply cannot be done passively. The good news is that ETF’s cannot 

replace	what	we	do!	More	specifically,	it	takes	a	lot	of	time	and	skill	to	acquire	assets,	and	a	lot	of	time,	expertise	

and	effort	to	operate	and	optimize	these	types	of	assets.	

We  believe  that  the  current  market  environment  will  exist  into  the  foreseeable  future  and  that  this  backdrop 

will	 therefore	 enable	 quality	 private	 managers	 of	 assets	 to	 continue	 to	 grow.	 Furthermore,	 within	 this	 group	

of	managers,	we	believe	we	are	particularly	well	positioned,	with	three	main	competitive	advantages	in	which	

we	have	invested	decades	establishing.	The	first	is	our	scale;	the	capital	we	have	available	is	in	excess	of	that	

of most others. The second is our global platform: we have a presence in  30 countries over many years. And 

the	third	is	our	culture	and	operating	capabilities:	this	is	exemplified	by	our	100,000 operating team members 

around	the	world.	These	attributes	define	Brookfield	and	we	attempt	to	continuously	use	one	or	more	of	these	

differentiators	in	everything	we	do.	

CLOSING

In	summary,	2018 was a successful year for us. Thank you for your continued support. 

We	remain	committed	to	being	a	leading,	world-class	alternative	asset	manager,	and	investing	capital	for	you	and	

our	investment	partners	in	high-quality	assets	that	earn	solid	cash	returns	on	equity,	while	emphasizing	downside	

protection for the capital employed. The primary objective of the company continues to be generating increased 

cash	flows	on	a	per	share	basis	and	as	a	result,	higher	intrinsic	value	per	share	over	the	longer	term.

Please	do	not	hesitate	to	contact	any	of	us	should	you	have	suggestions,	questions,	comments,	or	ideas	you	wish	

to share with us.

Sincerely, 

J.	Bruce	Flatt

Chief	Executive	Officer

February 14,	2019

Note:	In	addition	to	the	disclosures	set	forth	in	the	cautionary	statements	included	elsewhere	in	this	Report,	there	are	other	important	disclosures	that	must	
be	read	in	conjunction	with,	and	that	have	been	incorporated	in,	this	letter	as	posted	on	our	website	at	https://bam.brookfield.com/en/reports-and-filings.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   12

Value Creation

We create shareholder value by increasing the earnings of our asset management activities and increasing the value 

of	our	Invested	Capital,	as	follows:

ASSET MANAGEMENT

1. 

Increasing	fee	bearing	capital,	which	increases	our	fee	related	earnings.	We	track	the	value	created	by	applying	

a multiple to our current fee related earnings.

2.  Achieving	 attractive	 investment	 returns,	 which	 allows	 us	 to	 earn	 performance	 income	 (carried	 interest).	 We	

measure	the	value	created	by	applying	a	multiple	to	our	target	carried	interest,	net	of	costs1.

INVESTED CAPITAL

3. 

Increasing	the	cash	income	generated	by	the	investments	as	well	as	capital	appreciation,	through	operational	

improvements  and  disciplined  recycling  of  the  underlying  assets.  We  measure  the  value  created  using  a 

combination of market values and fair values as determined under IFRS.

Asset Management

AS	AT	AND	FOR	THE	YEAR	ENDED	DEC.	31,	2018	 
(MILLIONS)

Fee revenues

Direct costs

Fee related earnings

Carried	interest,	gross

Direct costs

Carried	interest,	net6 

Actual Current1

$	 1,693 $	 1,545

(564)

1,129

661

(171)

490

(618)

927

1,430

(430)

1,000

Total

$  1,619 $  1,927

Invested Capital

AS	AT	DEC.	31,	2018	 
(MILLIONS)

BPY

BEP

BIP

BBU 

Other listed5

Quoted2

IFRS3 Blended4

$	 8,855 $  15,595 $  15,595

4,879

4,063

2,671

3,859

4,749

1,916

2,017

4,224

4,879

4,063

2,671

3,859

Total listed investments

$	24,327

28,501

31,067

Unlisted investments and 
working	capital,	net

Invested capital

Leverage1

7,395

8,436

35,896

39,503

(10,577)

(10,577)

Invested	capital,	net1

$  25,319 $  28,926

FEE RELATED 
EARNINGS VALUE

CARRIED INTEREST 
VALUE

INVESTED
CAPITAL VALUE

BROOKFIELD ASSET 
MANAGEMENT VALUE

1.	 See	definition	in	the	Notice	to	Readers	on	page	16.

2.	 Quoted	based	on	December	31,	2018	public	pricing.

3.  Total IFRS invested capital excludes $328 million of common equity in our Asset Management segment.

4.	 For	business	planning	purposes,	we	consider	the	value	of	invested	capital	to	be	the	quoted	value	of	listed	investments	and	IFRS	value	of	unlisted	
investments,	subject	to	two	adjustments.	First,	we	reflect	BPY	at	IFRS	values	as	we	believe	that	this	best	reflects	the	fair	value	of	the	underlying	
properties.	Second,	we	reflect	Brookfield	Residential	at	its	privatization	value.

5.	 Includes	$2.3	billion	of	corporate	cash	and	financial	assets.

6.	 For	the	purposes	of	value	creation,	“current”	carried	interest,	net	represents	target	carried	interest,	net.	Target	carried	interest,	net,	is	defined	in	

the Notice to Readers on page 16.

13     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
Financial Profile

We measure value creation for business planning and performance measurement using a consistent set of metrics 

as set out in the table below. This analysis is similar to that used by us and our Board of Directors when assessing 

performance	and	growth	in	our	business. We	believe	it	helps	readers	to	understand	our	business.	These	plan	values	

are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to forecast or predict future events or to measure intrinsic value.

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 
(UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

Asset management activities

Current fee related earnings
Target	carried	interest,	net4

Accumulated	unrealized	carried	interest,	net

Invested Capital, net

   Listed investments

   Unlisted investments and net working capital

Invested	capital,	gross

Leverage

Total plan value3

Base1

(MILLIONS)

$  927

1,000

Plan Value 
Factor2

20x

10x

Feb. 20193

2018

2017

(BILLIONS,	EXCEPT	FOR	PER	SHARE	AMOUNT)	

$  19.6 

$  18.5 

$  17.7

10.0

1.7

31.3

33.0

8.4

41.4

(10.6)

30.8

10.0

1.7

30.2

31.1

8.4

39.5

(10.6)

28.9

7.0

1.4

26.1

35.6

5.5

41.1

(9.9)

31.2

$  62.1

$  59.1

$  57.3

Total plan value (per share)

$ 62.32 

$ 59.26

$ 56.94

Plan Value
AS AT DEC. 31 ($ BILLIONS) 

$57

$31

$26

$49

$28

$21

$59

$29

$62

$31

$30

$31

65

52

39

26

13

0

$41

$25

$37

$24

$13

$16

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

FEB. 2019

Asset Manager

Invested Capital

1.	 Base	fee	related	earnings	and	carried	interest	represent	our	annualized	fee	revenues	and	target	carried	interest,	as	at	December	31,	2018.	We	

assume a 60% margin on annualized fee revenues and a 70% margin on gross target carried interest.

2.	 Reflects	 Brookfield’s	 estimates	 of	 appropriate	 multiples	 applied	 to	 fee	 related	 earnings	 and	 carried	 interest	 in	 the	 alternative	 asset	
management	industry	based	on,	among	other	things,	industry	reports.	These	factors	are	used	to	translate	earnings	metrics	into	value	in	order	
to	measure	performance	and	value	creation	for	business	planning	purposes.	These	factors	may	differ	from	those	used	by	other	alternative	
asset management companies and other industry experts in determining value. 

3.	 See	definition	of	Plan	Value	and	Feb.	2019	Plan	Value	in	the	Notice	to	Readers	on	page	16.	

4.	 See	definition	in	the	Notice	to	Readers	on	page	16.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT   14

Performance Highlights

Fee Bearing Capital1

AS AT DEC. 31 (BILLIONS)

Fee Related Earnings1

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

130.00

101.25

72.50

43.75

15.00

$87

$42

$26

2014

$138

$54

$70

$126

$61

$110

$49

$50

$52

$94

$43

$34

$1,129

$896

$712

1100

850

600

350

100

$496

$378

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Private Funds

Listed Partnerships

Public Securities 

Carry Eligible Capital1

AS AT DEC. 31 (BILLIONS)

Accumulated Unrealized Carried Interest1

AS AT DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

$58

$40

$42

60

45

30

15

0

$25

$18

$2,486

$2,079

2500

2020

1540

1060

580

$488

100

$898

$658

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Cash Available for Distribution and/or Reinvestment1,2

Distributions to Common Shareholders3

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

$2,419

$2,231

$1,899

$1,825

$1,782

$1,633

2500

2020

1540

1060

580

100

$1,274

$1,242

$1,024

$1,021

600

475

350

225

100

$540

$575

$500

$450

$388

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Cash available for distribution and/or reinvestment 
before realized carried interest

Realized carried interest, net

1.	 See	definition	in	MD&A	Glossary	of	Terms	beginning	on	page	108.

2.	 Comparative	numbers	have	been	revised	to	reflect	new	definition.

3.  Excludes special dividends.

15     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

NOTICE TO READERS

Pages 1 through 15 of the 2018 Annual Report must be read in conjunction with the cautionary statements included 
elsewhere in the 2018 Annual Report. 

In addition, for pages 1 through 15 of the 2018 Annual Report, the following terms have the definitions provided below:

Current fee related earnings is current fee revenues net of associated direct costs. Current fee revenues are the sum 
of (i) base management fees on current fee bearing capital based on the associated contractual fee rates; (ii) incentive 
distributions based on BEP, BIP and BPY’s current annual distribution policies; (iii) performance fees from BBU assuming 
a 10% annualized unit price appreciation; and (iv) transaction and public securities performance fees equal to a simple 
average of the last two years’ revenues. We assume that direct costs represent 40% of current fee revenues.

Plan value is used to measure value creation for business planning and performance measurement. The metrics used 
in  the  measurement  of  plan  value  include  current  fee  related  earnings,  target  carried  interest,  net,  accumulated 
unrealized carried interest, net and invested capital, net. The multiples applied to current fee related earnings and 
target carried interest, net to determine plan value reflect Brookfield’s estimates of appropriate multiples used in the 
alternative asset management industry based on, among other things, industry reports.

February 2019 plan value is based on the following adjustments to 2018 values: current fee revenues increased 
by  $80 million  ($48  million  net  of  direct  costs)  due  to  the  increase  in  the  market  capitalization  of  our  listed 
partnerships  as  at  February  13,  2019  versus  December  31,  2018. We  exclude  any  impact  to  current  fee 
revenues from increases in any units that are subject to a fee waiver and we assume the listed partnerships’ debt 
levels are held constant at the December 31, 2018 balance. Listed investments increased by $1.9 billion due to 
(i) increases in the per unit price of our listed partnerships in which we invest, excluding units in BPY/BPR which 
remained constant at their IFRS value; and (ii) an increase of approximately $200 million in our trading portfolio 
(reflects mark-to-market change) as a result of a general improvement in the market.

Target carried interest, net is target carried interest net of associated direct costs. Target carried interest represents 
the carried interest we will earn, straight-lined over the life of the fund, assuming that we achieve the target fund 
returns. This is calculated by multiplying carry eligible fund capital by the net target return of a fund and the fund’s 
carried interest percentage. Target carried interest on uncalled fund commitments is discounted for two years at 10%. 
We assume that direct costs represent 30% of target carried interest.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    16

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

ORGANIZATION OF THE MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (“MD&A”)

PART 1 – OUR BUSINESS AND STRATEGY

Infrastructure........................................................................

Our Business........................................................................

Organizational Structure......................................................

PART 2 – REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Overview..............................................................................

Income Statement Analysis..................................................

Balance Sheet Analysis........................................................

Consolidation and Fair Value Accounting ...........................

Foreign Currency Translation..............................................

Summary of Quarterly Results ............................................

Corporate Dividends............................................................

PART 3 – OPERATING SEGMENT RESULTS

Basis of Presentation............................................................

Summary of Results by Operating Segment........................

Asset Management...............................................................

Real Estate ...........................................................................

Renewable Power ................................................................

19

21

30

31

37

42

43

44

46

47

48

49

55

59

Private Equity ......................................................................

Residential Development.....................................................

Corporate Activities.............................................................

PART 4 – CAPITALIZATION AND LIQUIDITY

Capitalization.......................................................................

Liquidity ..............................................................................

Review of Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ............

Contractual Obligations .......................................................

Exposures to Selected Financial Information ......................

PART 5 – ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND INTERNAL

CONTROLS

Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments...................

Management Representations and Internal Controls...........

Related Party Transactions ..................................................

PART 6 – BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND RISKS........

GLOSSARY OF TERMS.......................................................

63

67

71

73

75

78

81

82

83

84

92

92

93
108

“Brookfield,” the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. 
The “Corporation” refers to our asset management business which is comprised of our asset management and corporate business 
segments. Our “invested capital” includes our “listed partnerships,” Brookfield Property Partners L.P., Brookfield Renewable 
Partners L.P., Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and Brookfield Business Partners L.P., which are separate public issuers 
included within our Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure and Private Equity segments, respectively. Additional discussion 
of  their  businesses  and  results  can  be  found  in  their  public  filings.  We  use  “private  funds”  to  refer  to  our  real  estate  funds, 
infrastructure funds and private equity funds. 

Please refer to the Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108 which defines our key performance measures that we use to measure 
our business. Other businesses include Residential Development and Corporate.

Additional  information  about  the  company,  including  our  Annual  Information  Form,  is  available  on  our  website  at 
www.brookfield.com, on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ website at www.sedar.com and on the EDGAR section of the 
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.

We are incorporated in Ontario, Canada, and qualify as an eligible Canadian issuer under the Multijurisdictional Disclosure 
System and as a “foreign private issuer” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
and Rule 3b-4 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a result, we comply with U.S. continuous reporting 
requirements by filing our Canadian disclosure documents with the SEC; our MD&A is filed under Form 40-F and we furnish 
our quarterly interim reports under Form 6-K.

Information contained in or otherwise accessible through the websites mentioned does not form part of this report. All references in this 
report to websites are inactive textual references and are not incorporated by reference.
17     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION

This Report contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-
looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform 
Act  of  1995  and  in  any  applicable  Canadian  securities  regulations.  Forward-looking  statements  include  statements  that  are 
predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, 
financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, 
strategies and outlook of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies 
for  the  current  fiscal  year  and  subsequent  periods,  and  include  words  such  as  “expects,”  “anticipates,”  “plans,”  “believes,” 
“estimates,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “forecasts” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or 
future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” 

Although we believe that our 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 known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, 
many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to 
differ  materially  from  anticipated  future  results,  performance  or  achievement  expressed  or  implied  by  such  forward-looking 
statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements 
include, but are not limited to: investment returns that are lower than target; the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, 
political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in 
interest  and  foreign  exchange  rates;  global  equity  and  capital  markets  and  the  availability  of  equity  and  debt  financing  and 
refinancing  within  these  markets;  strategic  actions  including  dispositions;  the  ability  to  complete  and  effectively  integrate 
acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; changes in accounting policies and methods used 
to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the ability 
to appropriately manage human capital; the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and 
reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; 
governmental  investigations;  litigation;  changes  in  tax  laws;  ability  to  collect  amounts  owed;  catastrophic  events,  such  as 
earthquakes and hurricanes; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and 
cyberterrorism; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in 
Canada and the United States.

We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-
looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential 
events. Except as required by law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking 
statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND USE OF NON-IFRS MEASURES

This Report contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and “forward-
looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform 
Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations. We may provide such information and make such statements 
in the Report, in other filings with Canadian regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or in other communications. 
See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information” above.

We disclose a number of financial measures in this Report that are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board 
(“IASB”). We utilize these measures in managing the business, including for performance measurement, capital allocation and 
valuation purposes and believe that providing these performance measures on a supplemental basis to our IFRS results is helpful 
to investors in assessing the overall performance of our businesses. These financial measures should not be considered as the sole 
measure of our performance and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, similar financial measures 
calculated in accordance with IFRS. We caution readers that these non-IFRS financial measures or other financial metrics may 
differ from the calculations disclosed by other businesses and, as a result, may not be comparable to similar measures presented 
by other issuers and entities. Reconciliations of these non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable financial 
measures calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS, where applicable, are included within this Report. Please refer to our 
Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108 for all non-IFRS measures.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    18

PART 1 – OUR BUSINESS AND STRATEGY

OUR BUSINESS

We are a leading global alternative asset manager with a 120-year history and over $350 billion of assets under management across 
a broad portfolio of Real Estate, Infrastructure, Renewable Power and Private Equity assets. Our $138 billion in fee bearing capital 
is invested on behalf of some of the world’s largest institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and pension plans, along with 
thousands of individuals.

We provide a diverse product mix of flagship private funds and dedicated public vehicles, which allow investors to invest in our 
four key asset classes and participate in the strong performance of the underlying portfolio. We invest in a disciplined manner, 
targeting 12-15% returns with strong downside protection, allowing our investors and their stakeholders to meet their goals and 
protect their financial futures. 

Investment focus
We predominantly invest in real assets across Real Estate, Infrastructure, Renewable Power and Private Equity

Diverse products offering
We offer public and private vehicles to invest across a number of product lines, including core, value-add, opportunistic 
and credit in both closed-end and long-life vehicles

Focused investment strategies 
We invest where we can bring our competitive advantages to bear, such as our strong capabilities as an owner-operator, 
our large-scale capital and our global reach

Disciplined financing approach 
We employ leverage in a prudent manner to enhance returns while preserving capital throughout business cycles

In addition, we maintain significant invested capital on the Corporation’s balance sheet where we invest alongside our investors. 
This capital generates annual cash flows that enhance the returns we earn as an asset manager, creates a strong alignment of interest, 
and allows us to bring the following strengths to bear on all our investments.

1.  Large-scale capital

We have over $350 billion in assets under management and $138 billion in fee bearing capital

2.  Operating expertise 

We have more than 100,000 operating employees worldwide who maximize value and cash flows from our operations

3.  Global presence 

We operate in more than 30 countries around the world

Our financial returns are represented by the combination of the earnings of our asset manager as well as capital appreciation and 
distributions from our invested capital. Our primary performance measure is funds from operations (“FFO”) which we use to 
evaluate the performance of our segments.

19     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Asset Management

Our  asset  management  activities  encompass  $138  billion  of  fee  bearing  capital  across  private  funds,  listed  partnerships  and 
public securities.

Private Funds – $70 billion fee bearing capital 

We manage and earn fees on 42 private funds across real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. Our fund 
strategies include core, credit, value-add and opportunistic, and we offer both closed-end and long-life vehicles. We have nearly 
600 unique institutional investors, who on average invest in 2.1 funds. On private fund capital we earn:

1.  Diversified and long-term base management fees which are based on closed-end and long-life fund capital. Closed-
end fund capital is typically committed for 10 years with two one-year extension options, and our long-life funds are 
perpetual vehicles that can continually raise new capital.

2.  Carried interest, which enables us to receive a portion of overall fund profits provided that investors receive a minimum 

prescribed preferred return. Carried interest is recognized once it is no longer subject to clawback. 

Listed Partnerships – $54 billion fee bearing capital 

We manage publicly listed perpetual-capital vehicles BPY, BEP, BIP, BBU, TERP and Acadian Timber Corp. (“Acadian”). On 
listed partnership capital, we earn:

1.  Long-term perpetual base management fees, which are based on our listed vehicles’ total capitalization.  

2.  Stable incentive distribution fees which are linked to cash distributions (BPY, BEP and BIP). These cash distributions 

have exceeded pre-determined thresholds and have a historic annual growth rate of 5-9%.

3.  Performance fees based on unit price performance (BBU). 

Public Securities – $13 billion fee bearing capital 

We manage public funds and separately managed accounts, focused on fixed income and equity securities within the real estate, 
infrastructure and natural resources asset classes. We earn management fees, which are based on committed capital and fund net 
asset value and performance income based on investment returns.

Invested Capital1

We have approximately $40 billion of invested capital on the Corporation’s balance sheet as a result of our history as an owner 
and operator of real assets, which provides attractive financial returns and important flexibility to our asset management business. 

Key attributes of our invested capital:

• 

Transparent – approximately 80% of our invested capital is listed partnerships (BPY, BEP, BIP, BBU) and other smaller 
publicly traded investments. The remaining is primarily held in a residential homebuilding business, and a few other directly 
held investments. 

•  Diversified, long-term, stable cash flows – received from our underlying public investments. These cash flows are underpinned 
by investments in real assets which should provide inflation protection and less volatility compared to traditional equities, 
and higher yields compared to fixed income. 

• 

Strong alignment of interests – the Corporation is the largest investor into each of our listed partnerships, and in turn, the 
listed partnerships are typically the largest investor in each of our private funds. 

Refer to Parts 2 and 3 of this MD&A for more information on our operations and performance.

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    20

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

We employ approximately 1,700 employees within our asset management business and a further 100,000 operating employees 
within the assets we own through managed funds. 

Our global presence spans over 30 countries and covers major economies around the world.

21     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

We have three distinct competitive advantages that allow us to consistently identify and acquire high quality assets and create 
significant value in the assets that we own and operate. 

Large-Scale Capital 

We have over $350 billion in assets under management.

We offer our investors a large portfolio of private funds which have global mandates and diversified strategies. Our access to 
large-scale capital from our private funds and co-investors enables us to pursue transactions where there is less competition. In 
addition, investing significant amounts of our own capital either through our listed partnerships or through the Corporation’s 
balance sheet ensures alignment of interest with our investors and additional flexible capital to fund larger investments. 

Operating Expertise

We have more than 100,000 operating employees worldwide who are instrumental in maximizing the value and cash flows from 
our operations.

We believe that real operating experience is essential in maximizing efficiency and productivity – and ultimately, returns. We do 
this by maintaining a culture of long-term focus, alignment of interest and collaboration through the people we hire and our 
operating philosophy. This in-house operating expertise developed through our heritage as an owner-operator is invaluable in 
underwriting acquisitions and executing value-creating development and capital projects.

Global Presence

We operate in more than 30 countries around the world.

Our global reach allows us to diversify and identify a broad range of opportunities. We are able to invest where capital is scarce, 
and our scale enables us to move quickly and pursue multiple opportunities across different markets. Our global reach also allows 
us to operate our assets more effectively: we believe that a strong local presence is critical to operating successfully in many of 
our markets, and many of our businesses are truly local. Furthermore, the combination of our strong local presence and global 
reach allows us to bring global relationships and operating practices to bear across markets to enhance returns. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    22

OPERATING CYCLE

Raise Capital

As an asset manager, the starting point is forming new funds and other investment products to which investors are willing to 
commit  capital. This  will,  in  turn,  provide  us  with  capital  to  invest  and  the  opportunity  to  earn  base  management fees  and 
performance-based returns such as incentive distributions and carried interest. Accordingly, we create value by increasing the 
amount of fee bearing capital  and by achieving strong investment performance that leads to increased cash flows and asset values.

Identify and Acquire High-Quality Assets

We follow a value-based approach to investing and allocating capital. We believe our disciplined approach, global reach and 
our expertise in recapitalizations and operational turnarounds enable us to identify a wide range of potential opportunities, some 
of which are challenging for others to pursue, and allow us to invest at attractive valuations and generate superior risk-adjusted 
returns.  We  also  have  considerable  expertise  in  executing  large  development  and  capital  projects,  providing  additional 
opportunities to deploy capital. 

Secure Long-Term Financing

We finance our operations primarily on a long-term, investment-grade basis, and most of our capital consists of equity and 
standalone asset-by-asset financing with minimal recourse to other parts of the organization. We utilize relatively modest levels 
of corporate debt to provide operational flexibility and optimize returns. This provides us with considerable stability, improves 
our  ability  to  withstand  financial  downturns  and  enables  our  management  teams  to  focus  on  operations  and  other 
growth initiatives.

Enhance Value and Cash Flows Through Operating Expertise

Our operating capabilities enable us to increase the value of the assets within our businesses and the cash flows they produce, 
and they protect capital better in adverse conditions. Our operating expertise, development capabilities and effective financing 
can help ensure that an investment’s full value creation potential is realized by optimizing operations and development projects. 
We believe this is one of our most important competitive advantages as an asset manager.

Realize Capital from Asset Sale or Refinancings

We actively monitor opportunities to sell or refinance assets to generate proceeds that we return to investors in the case of limited 
life funds and redeploy to enhance returns in the case of perpetual entities. In many cases, returning capital from private funds 
completes the investment process locking in investor returns and giving rise to performance income.

Our Operating Cycle Leads to Value Creation 

We create value from earning robust returns on our investments 
that compound over time and grow our fee bearing capital. By 
generating value for our investors and shareholders, we increase 
fees  and  carried  interest  received  in  our  asset  management 
business  and  grow  cash  flows  that  compound  value  in  our 
invested capital.  

23     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We manage our liquidity and capitalization on a group-wide basis, however it is organized into three principal tiers: 

i)  The Corporation: 

• 

Strong levels of liquidity are maintained to support growth and ongoing operations.

•  Capitalization consists of a large common equity base, supplemented with perpetual preferred shares, long-dated corporate 

bonds and, from time to time, draws on our corporate credit facilities.

•  Negligible guarantees are provided on the financial obligations of listed partnerships and managed funds.

•  High levels of cash flows are available after common share dividends.

ii)  Our listed partnerships (BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU):

• 

• 

• 

Strong levels of liquidity are maintained at each of the listed partnerships to support their growth and ongoing operations.

Listed partnerships are intended to be self-funding with stable capitalization through market cycles.

Financial obligations have no recourse to the Corporation.

iii)  Managed funds, or operating asset level in directly held investments:  

• 

• 

Each underlying investment is typically funded on a standalone basis.

Fund level borrowings are generally limited to subscription facilities which are backed by the capital commitments to 
the fund.

• 

Financial obligations have no recourse to the Corporation.

Unlike many other alternative asset managers, much of the debt issued within our managed entities is included in our consolidated 
balance sheet not withstanding that virtually none of this debt has any recourse to the Corporation. This is due in large part to the 
larger amount of capital that we invest in our funds relative to other managers, which causes us to consolidate these entities in our 
Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Approach to Capitalization

Our overall approach is to maintain appropriate levels of liquidity throughout the organization to fund operating, development 
and investment activities as well as unforeseen requirements. The following are key elements of our capital strategy:

•  Maintain significant liquidity at the corporate level, primarily in the form of cash, financial assets and undrawn credit lines. 
Ensure  our  listed  partnerships  can  finance  their  operations  on  a  standalone  basis  without  recourse  to  or  reliance  on 
the Corporation.

• 

• 

Structure  our  borrowings  and  other  financial  obligations  to  provide  a  stable  capitalization  at  levels  that  are  attractive  to 
investors, are sustainable on a long-term basis and can withstand business cycles.

The vast majority of this debt is at investment-grade levels, however, periodically, we may borrow at sub-investment grade 
levels in certain parts of our business where the borrowings are carefully structured and monitored. 

• 

Provide recourse only to the specific businesses or assets being financed, without cross-collateralization or parental guarantees. 

•  Match the duration of our debt to the underlying leases or contracts and match the currency of our debt to that of the assets 

such that our remaining exposure is on the net equity of the investment.

We maintain a prudent level of capitalization at the Corporation with 77% of our capitalization in the form of common and preferred 
equity. Consistent with our conservative approach, our corporate borrowings represent only 17% of our corporate capitalization 
and equate to just 5% of our consolidated debt. The remaining 95% of consolidated debt obligations have no recourse to the 
Corporation, are held within managed entities and have virtually no cross-collateralization or parental guarantees. 

Our corporate capitalization is now more than $38 billion and our debt to capitalization level remains below 20%.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    24

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Corporate borrowings............................................................................................................................... $
Accounts payable and other liabilities ........................................................................................................

Preferred equity ...........................................................................................................................................

Common equity - book value ......................................................................................................................
Corporate capitalization ........................................................................................................................... $

2018

6,409

2,496

4,168

25,647

38,720

% of Total

17%

6 %

11 %

66 %

100%

Liquidity 

The Corporation has very few capital requirements. Nevertheless, we maintain significant liquidity ($4 billion in the form of cash 
and financial assets and undrawn credit facilities as at December 31, 2018) at the corporate level to bridge larger fund transactions, 
seed new fund products or participate in equity issuances by our listed partnerships.

On a group basis, we have over $34 billion of liquidity, which includes corporate liquidity, listed partnership liquidity and uncalled 
private  fund  commitments.  Uncalled  private  fund  commitments  are  third  party  commitments  available  for  drawdown  in  our 
private funds. 

AS AT DEC 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
Cash and financial assets, net......................................................................................................................... $
Undrawn committed credit facilities..............................................................................................................
Core liquidity1................................................................................................................................................
Third-party uncalled private fund commitments ...........................................................................................
Total liquidity1 .............................................................................................................................................. $

Corporate
Liquidity

Group
Liquidity

2,275

$

1,867

4,142

—

3,752

7,061

10,813

23,575

4,142

$

34,388

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

Cash Flow Generation

We generate significant, recurring cash flows at the corporate level, which may be used for (i) reinvestment into the business; or 
(ii) returning cash to shareholders. These cash flows are underpinned by:

• 

Fee related earnings that are supported by long-term and perpetual contractual agreements. 

•  Distributions from listed investments that are stable and backed by high-quality operating assets.

In 2018, cash available for distribution and/or reinvestment was $2.4 billion, and over the past five years has grown at a 19% 
compound annual growth rate: 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Fee related earnings ....................................................................................................................................... $
Realized carried interest.................................................................................................................................

Distributions from investments......................................................................................................................

Other invested capital earnings

Corporate activities ......................................................................................................................................

Other wholly-owned investments ................................................................................................................

Preferred share dividends...............................................................................................................................
Total cash available for distribution and/or reinvestment1...................................................................... $

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

2018

1,129

$

188

1,698

(486)

41

(445)

(151)

2017

896

74

1,351

(300)

23

(277)

(145)

2,419

$

1,899

25     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT 

Our Approach

Managing risk is an integral part of our business. We have a well-established and disciplined risk management approach that is 
based on clear operating methods and a strong risk culture. Brookfield’s risk management program emphasizes the proactive 
management of risks, ensuring that we have the necessary capacity and resilience to respond to changing environments by evaluating 
both current and emerging risks. We have implemented a risk management framework and methodology that is designed to enable 
comprehensive and consistent management of risk across the organization. 

We use a thorough and integrated risk assessment process to identify and evaluate risk areas across the business such as human 
capital,  climate  change,  foreign  exchange  and  other  strategic,  financial,  regulatory  and  operational  risks.  Management  and 
mitigation approaches and practices are tailored to the specific risk areas and executed by business and functional groups for their 
businesses, with appropriate coordination and oversight through monitoring and reporting processes.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    26

Focus on Risk Culture 

A strong risk culture is the cornerstone of our risk management program: one that promotes conservative risk-taking, addresses 
current and emerging risks and ensures employees conduct business with a long-term perspective and in a sustainable and ethical 
manner. This culture is reinforced by the strong commitment and leadership from our senior executives, as well as the policies 
and practices we have implemented.

Our compensation program reflects this focus on long-term decision making to generate sustainable growth and risk adjusted 
returns by emphasizing equity compensation which has long-term vesting and retention requirements as well as reimbursement 
provisions in the event of restatements or detrimental conduct. Approximately 85% of total compensation for named executive 
officers is in the form of long-term incentive awards. This approach ensures consideration of the risks associated with decisions, 
minimizes the possibility that executives are rewarded in the short-term for actions which are detrimental in the long term, and 
reinforces the alignment of the interests of management with the long-term interests of fund investors and shareholders.

Shared Execution

Given the diversified and decentralized nature of our operations, we seek to ensure that risk is managed as close to its source as  
possible and by the management teams that have the most knowledge and expertise in the specific business or risk area. As such,  
business specific risks overall such as safety, environment and other operational risks are generally managed at the operating  
business group level, as the risks vary based on the nature of each business. At the same time, we monitor many of these risks  
organization-wide  to  ensure  adequacy  of  risk  management,  adherence  to  applicable  Brookfield  policies,  and  sharing  of  best  
practices.

For risks that are more pervasive and correlated in their impact across the organization, such as liquidity, foreign exchange and 
interest rate or where we can bring specialized knowledge, we utilize a centralized approach amongst our corporate and our 
operating business groups. Management of strategic, reputational and regulatory compliance risks is similarly coordinated to 
ensure consistent focus and implementation across the organization.

Oversight & Coordination

We have implemented strong governance practices to monitor and oversee our risk management practices. Management committees 
have been formed to bring together required expertise to manage key risk areas, ensuring appropriate application and coordination 
of approaches and practices across our business and functional groups:

•  Risk Management Steering Committee to coordinate the risk management program on an enterprise-wide basis;

• 

Investment Committees to oversee the investment process, as well as monitor the ongoing performance of investments;

•  Conflicts Committee to resolve potential conflict situations in the investment process and other corporate transactions;

• 

Financial Risk Oversight Committee to review and monitor financial exposures;

•  Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Committee to coordinate ESG initiatives; 

• 

Safety Steering Committee to focus on health, safety and security matters; and

•  Disclosure Committee to oversee the public disclosure of material information.

Brookfield’s Board of Directors oversees risk management with a focus on more significant risks and leverages management’s 
monitoring processes. The Board has delegated responsibility for oversight of specific risks to the following board committees:

•  Risk  Management  Committee  oversees  the  management  of  Brookfield’s  significant  financial  and  non-financial  risk 
exposures, including review of risk assessment and risk management practices and confirming that the company has an 
appropriate risk-taking philosophy and suitable risk capacity.

•  Audit Committee oversees the management of risks related to Brookfield’s systems and procedures for financial reporting, 

as well as for associated audit processes (internal and external).

•  Management Resources and Compensation Committee oversees the risks related to Brookfield’s management resource 

planning, including succession planning, executive compensation and senior executives’ performance.

•  Governance and Nominating Committee oversees the risks related to Brookfield’s governance structure, including the 

effectiveness of board and committee activities and potential conflicts of interest.

27     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE MANAGEMENT

We believe that acting responsibly toward our stakeholders is fundamental to operating a productive, profitable and sustainable 
business. This is consistent with our philosophy of conducting business with a long-term perspective in a sustainable and ethical 
manner.  Our bottom  line  is  that  having  robust  ESG  principles  and  practices  is  good  business  for  a  wide  variety  of  reasons. 
Accordingly,  we  have  embedded  ESG  principles  and  practices  into  both  our  asset  management  activities  and  underlying 
business operations.

We incorporate ESG factors into our investment decisions, starting with the due diligence of a potential investment through to the 
exit process. During the initial due diligence phase, we utilize our operating expertise to identify material ESG opportunities or 
risks relevant to the potential investment and then perform a deeper due diligence if required, where we utilize internal experts 
and, as needed, third-party consultants. All investments made by Brookfield must be approved by our investment committees 
based on a set of predetermined criteria that evaluate potential risks, mitigants and opportunities. ESG matters are part of this 
evaluation, including anti-bribery and corruption, health and safety, environmental and social considerations.

As part of each acquisition, the investment teams create a tailored integration plan that, among other things, includes material 
ESG-related matters for review or execution. ESG risks and opportunities are actively managed by the portfolio companies with 
oversight  from the  investment  team  responsible  for  the  investment. This  recognizes  the  importance  of  local  expertise,  which 
provides valuable insight given the wide range of asset types and locations in which we invest, coupled with the broad Brookfield 
investment expertise. We believe there is a strong correlation between actively managing these considerations effectively and 
enhancing investment returns.

With respect to environmental considerations, we believe that our operating businesses are well positioned as the world transitions 
toward lower carbon and more sustainable economies. Our renewable power business is one of the largest pure-play global owners 
and operators of hydroelectric, wind and solar generation facilities and is committed to supporting the global transition toward a 
low-carbon economy; we also benefit by having negligible fossil fuel inputs and enhanced revenues. Further, we are one of the 
world’s  largest  owners  of  real  estate;  our  office  and  retail  portfolios  are  heavily  weighted  towards  properties  that  meet  high 
environmental sustainability standards consistent with the expectations of our tenants, which enhances rental revenues and lowers 
operating costs. Our infrastructure and private equity businesses include a wide variety of businesses, many of which are well 
positioned to have a positive environmental impact and benefit from our focus on operational efficiency, including energy efficiency.

Regarding the management of social considerations, we would not be able to operate our businesses without our 100,000 operating 
employees and 1,700 employees within our asset management operations. Therefore, we are constantly focused on human capital 
development. We believe that diversity adds significant benefits to a workplace and so we are continuing to introduce measures 
to increase diversity. Diversity is about having a workplace that reflects a variety of perspectives, but a diverse work environment 
is  not  enough. We  also  are  focused  on  maintaining  an  inclusive  environment—meaning  one  in  which  all  are  encouraged  to 
contribute, enabling the organization as a whole to benefit from different perspectives in order to achieve better business outcomes.

We also recognize that we must be positive contributors to the communities in which we operate and not just an employer. We 
encourage and support numerous community and philanthropic initiatives across Brookfield, and we believe that these programs 
have a positive impact not just on the communities but on our many employees that participate.

Finally, we understand that good governance is critical to sustainable business operations. We have developed a comprehensive 
governance framework across Brookfield. This is greatly assisted by operating through public companies, including Brookfield 
Asset Management and our listed partnerships, as well as within the regulatory requirements of a global asset manager. Governance 
extends to all facets of our activities, including those related to ESG matters. We maintain a committee of senior executives 
representing each of our major business operations to coordinate ESG initiatives across our business groups, share best practices 
and encourage a firm-wide effort to constantly improve our activities in these regards. While our board of directors has always 
had oversight over ESG matters, in 2018, our board formally embedded ESG management into the various board and committee 
mandates to acknowledge these areas as priorities, as noted on the following page.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    28

2018 Highlights

In 2018, we embedded ESG management into the charter for the Corporation’s Board of Directors, as well as its Governance and 
Nominating Committee, which allows for more formal director engagement with respect to our ESG initiatives. This ensures that 
sustainability is a priority and is explicitly addressed in our long-term business strategy and risk management.

We are taking specific actions to better measure our greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. Our renewable power business now 
measures its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions globally. In 2018, which represents the base-year calculation, BEP’s global gross 
carbon intensity was measured to be one of the lowest among comparable power companies. Our North American core office 
business, U.S. retail and our London office businesses also measure their GHG emissions and report their results annually to the 
Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, or GRESB, a leading sustainability assessment tool. In 2018, all three businesses 
maintained their GRESB Green Star rating.

Another environmental focus area is the recycling and reduction of waste across our operating businesses. Many of our real estate, 
infrastructure and private equity businesses have either launched innovative programs in this area or continued to improve their 
waste reduction measures. These initiatives span groundbreaking programs, such as the removal of plastic waste from the ocean 
at our U.K. ports business and the commitment by our London office business to becoming the world’s first plastic-free commercial 
center, to ongoing waste reduction and recycling initiatives.

We are becoming more active in sustainable finance initiatives. In 2018, our renewable power business issued C$300 million in 
corporate green bonds and developed the Brookfield Renewable Green Bond Framework, which defines the investments that are 
eligible for green bond issuance and how performance will be measured. Sustainalytics, a leading global provider of ESG ratings, 
confirmed its view that the framework aligns to its 2018 Green Bond Principles. The growing green bond market allows debt 
investors to participate in the financing of sustainable products, and we plan to offer additional green bond issuances.

We continue to implement measures to improve diversity within our employee base. We have now formalized our requirement 
that candidate pools be sufficiently diverse as part our recruiting process. Further, we have broadened the number of activities 
that  promote  and  support  success  for  our  female  employees.  The  following  provides  an  indication  of  our  progress  at  the 
asset management level.

At the Corporation, women comprise:

>40% of our overall workforce

40% of our independent board directors
20% of our senior vice-presidents and above (up from 11% three years ago)

Recently, we released a Positive Work Environment Policy, which consolidates our previous regional harassment policies into 
one global policy and sets a consistent and high standard across all our jurisdictions by explicitly expressing our commitment to 
maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, violence and harassment. Each employee is required to report any actions or 
incidents that they witness or experience that are in violation of this policy.

In recent years, data privacy and cybersecurity have become key ESG priorities for global companies. At Brookfield, we have 
continued to focus on strengthening our processes in this area through a number of measures. For example, we have established 
an information security steering committee, which ensures that our cybersecurity efforts are aligned across the organization. In 
addition, our cybersecurity program consists of key internal and external initiatives ranging from regular scanning of our data 
systems for vulnerabilities to improving our employees’ cybersecurity awareness through mandatory firm-wide training.

29     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

PART 2 – REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

The following section contains a discussion and analysis of line items presented within our consolidated financial statements. The 
financial data in this section has been prepared in accordance with IFRS. Starting on page 42 we provide an overview of our fair 
value accounting across our business and why we believe it provides useful information for investors about our performance. We 
also provide an overview of our application of the control-based model under IFRS used to determine whether or not an investment 
should be consolidated.

OVERVIEW

Net  income  increased  to  $7.5  billion  in  2018,  with  $3.6  billion  attributable  to  common  shareholders  ($3.40  per  share)  and 
$3.9 billion attributable to non-controlling interests. 

During 2018, we acquired a number of businesses across each of our operating segments that contributed to our results, the most 
significant of which was through the privatization of GGP Inc. (“GGP”) in the third quarter within our real estate segment. BPY 
previously held a 34% interest in this entity and started to consolidate the results effective August 28, 2018 through Brookfield 
Property REIT Inc. (“BPR”), a real estate trust created to consolidate GGP’s operations. As BPY issued equity to pay a portion 
of the consideration, our ownership interest in BPY decreased to 54%, as compared to 69% at the beginning of the year. Refer to 
pages 33 and 34 for more information about significant acquisitions and dispositions.

Our balance sheet was also impacted by acquisition and divestment activity as we acquired $78.6 billion of assets through business 
combinations during the year. In addition to the privatization of GGP which increased our asset base by $22.1 billion, the acquisitions 
of a diversified U.S. REIT, a portfolio of European wind and solar assets, a service provider to the power generation industry, a 
service provider to the offshore oil production industry and a North American residential energy infrastructure business had the 
most significant impact on our asset base. We also sold businesses throughout the year, most notably our Chilean electricity 
transmission  business,  various  assets  in  our  real  estate  LP investments  portfolio,  including  our  U.S.  logistics  portfolio  and  a 
portfolio of self-storage assets, an office property in Toronto and our Australian energy operations.

In addition to the impact of recent acquisitions, the $2.9 billion increase in consolidated net income and the $2.1 billion increase 
in net income attributable to common shareholders are primarily attributable to:

• 

• 

• 

same-store1 growth across many of our businesses;

fair value gains of $1.8 billion relating primarily to investment property valuation gains and various transaction-related gains, 
including the impact of completing step-up acquisitions in our real estate and private equity businesses; and

deferred tax recoveries, relating primarily to the projected utilization of previously unrecognized loss carryforwards; partially 
offset by

• 

the absence of income from assets sold, higher taxes and increases in interest expense on new borrowings.

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    30

INCOME STATEMENT ANALYSIS

The following table summarizes the financial results of the company for 2018, 2017 and 2016:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Revenues1................................................................... $
Direct costs.................................................................

Other income and gains .............................................

Equity accounted income...........................................

Expenses

Interest ..................................................................

Corporate costs .....................................................

Fair value changes......................................................

Depreciation and amortization...................................

Income taxes ..............................................................

Net income ................................................................

Non-controlling interests ...........................................
Net income attributable to shareholders................ $
Net income per share ............................................... $

(45,519)

11,252

1,166

1,088

(4,854)

(104)

1,794

(3,102)

248

7,488

(3,904)

2018

2017

2016

2018 vs 2017

2017 vs 2016

56,771

$

40,786

$

24,411

$

15,985

$

16,375

Change

(32,388)

(17,718)

(13,131)

8,398

1,180

1,213

(3,608)

(95)

421

(2,345)

(613)

4,551

(3,089)

6,693

482

1,293

(3,233)

(92)

(130)

(2,020)

345

3,338

(1,687)

2,854

(14)

(125)

(1,246)

(9)

1,373

(757)

861

2,937

(815)

2,122

2.06

$

$

(14,670)

1,705

698

(80)

(375)

(3)

551

(325)

(958)

1,213

(1,402)

(189)

(0.21)

3,584

3.40

$

$

1,462

1.34

$

$

1,651

1.55

$

$

1.  2017 and 2016 revenues have not been restated as we adopted IFRS 15 using the modified retrospective method as at January 1, 2018.

2018 vs. 2017

Revenues for the year were $56.8 billion, an increase of $16.0 billion compared to 2017 primarily due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

$16.3 billion of additional revenues earned from acquisitions during the current and prior year across each of our listed 
partnerships1, most notably the purchase of our road fuel distribution business in the second quarter of last year, which added 
$8.8 billion of incremental revenues. Included in this business’ revenues and direct costs are significant flow-through duty 
amounts that are passed through to the customers and recorded gross in both accounts, without impact to margin generated 
by the business;

initiatives in our existing infrastructure businesses, in particular from strong connections activity at our regulated distribution 
business and higher tariffs and strong volumes across a number of our transport operations; and

same-store increases, including improved performance at our graphite electrode manufacturing business and growth in our 
real estate business from strong core office same-property leasing growth of 5.9%; partially offset by 

the absence of $390 million of revenues from businesses sold and the deconsolidation of Norbord Inc. (“Norbord”)1 in the 
fourth quarter of 2017, which contributed $1.7 billion of revenues in 2017.

A discussion of the impact on revenues and net income from recent acquisitions and dispositions can be found on pages 33 and 34.

Changes in direct costs correspond with the growth of revenue. Our direct costs increased by $13.1 billion in 2018 due to recent 
acquisitions, as discussed above, as well as higher costs to support same-store growth within existing operations. These increases 
were partially offset by the absence of direct costs from assets sold and the impact of the Norbord deconsolidation.

Other income and gains of $1.2 billion relate primarily to portfolio premiums as we sold a number of assets for more than their 
IFRS carrying values. The most significant gains reported during the year were the sale of our Chilean electricity transmission 
business in the first quarter, the sale of a portfolio of self-storage properties in the third quarter, the sale of our U.S. logistics 
portfolio in the fourth quarter and the sale of our Australian energy operations in the fourth quarter. 

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
31     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Equity accounted income decreased by $125 million to $1.1 billion primarily due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

valuation  losses  at  various  equity  accounted  investments,  particularly  certain  GGP  investment  properties  prior  to  its 
privatization; 

higher depreciation costs of $190 million relating to recent acquisitions; and

the consolidation of previously equity accounted entities as a result of increases in our ownership interest; partially offset by

an  increase  in  FFO  from  equity  accounted  investments  of  $303  million  due  to  contributions  from  recent  investments, 
particularly  our  investment  in  our  entertainment  operations  and  the  impact  of  FFO  generated  by  Norbord  which  was 
consolidated up until the fourth quarter of 2017.

Interest expense increased by $1.2 billion largely due to additional borrowings associated with acquisitions across our portfolio, 
debts assumed from acquired businesses and $1.6 billion of corporate recourse debt issued since the third quarter of 2017 on which 
we have incurred interest expense. We also issued additional debt in certain listed partnerships, increasing total interest expense.

We recorded fair value gains of $1.8 billion, compared to $421 million in 2017, primarily as a result of:

• 

• 

• 

• 

the impact of step-up acquisitions of GGP in our Real Estate segment and a service provider to the offshore oil production 
industry in our Private Equity segment, partially offset by successful deal costs;

valuation gains on properties in our core office and LP investments1 portfolios;

gains recorded on the extinguishment of a debt obligation associated with a hospitality property; and

gains related to the acquisitions and restructuring of businesses within our U.S. operations that resulted in the recognition of 
deferred tax assets; partially offset by

• 

net unrealized losses on financial contracts entered into to manage foreign currency, interest rates and pricing exposures.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $757 million to $3.1 billion due primarily to businesses acquired in the last 
twelve months as well as the impact of revaluation gains in the fourth quarter of 2017, which increased the carrying value of our 
PP&E from which depreciation is determined.

We recorded an income tax recovery of $248 million in 2018 compared to an expense of $613 million last year. This was primarily 
due to a deferred tax recovery on the recognition of previously unrecognized loss carryforwards that will offset future projected 
taxable income.

2017 vs. 2016 

Revenues in 2017 increased by $16.4 billion compared to 2016 primarily due to the acquisition of new businesses and assets 
across all of our listed partnerships, most notably our road fuel distribution business. Same-store growth from existing operations, 
including  in  our  infrastructure  transport  businesses  and  private  equity  construction  services  business,  also  contributed  to  the 
increase. These were partially offset by the absence of revenues from merchant development sales realized in 2016 and fewer 
deliveries in our Brazilian residential business.

Direct costs increased by $14.7 billion in 2017 due to recent acquisitions and higher than planned construction services costs, 
partially offset by a reduction in expenses from businesses sold and the benefits of operational improvements. 

Other income and gains of $1.2 billion in 2017 include gains from the sale of our bath and shower business, the partial sale of 
Norbord and the sale of a European logistics portfolio. The 2016 results include realized gains from the sales of a German hotel 
portfolio, a hospitality trademark and a toehold position in our Australian port business.

Equity accounted income decreased by $80 million to $1.2 billion as valuation losses at GGP and the absence of a one-time gain 
in our infrastructure business related to the privatization of our Brazilian toll road investment were partially offset by lower mark-
to-market losses on interest rate swap contracts in our U.K. office portfolio. 

Interest expense increased by $375 million as a result of additional borrowings associated with acquisitions across our portfolio 
and  the  addition  of  debt  within  newly  acquired  businesses,  particularly  in  our  renewable  power,  infrastructure  and  private 
equity operations. 

1.  Formerly referred to as Opportunistic.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    32

We recorded fair value gains of $421 million, which compared to a loss of $130 million in 2016, primarily as a result of:

• 

• 

• 

• 

increases in the values of our LP investments real estate portfolios;

a gain recorded when we deconsolidated our investment in Norbord; and 

the absence of a one-time impairment loss in 2016 on the conversion of a debt instrument to equity in our Private Equity 
segment; partially offset by 

valuation losses in our core office portfolio, mark-to-market losses on our GGP warrants prior to exercise and mark-to-market 
losses on foreign exchange derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $325 million to $2.3 billion due primarily to the impact of recent acquisitions. 

Income tax expense was $613 million, compared to a $345 million recovery in 2016. The prior year included a one-time income 
tax recovery of approximately $900 million as a result of a change in tax rates arising from the reorganization of certain of our 
U.S. real estate operations. Excluding the impact of this recovery, income tax expenses were consistent year over year as increased 
expenses associated with acquisitions were offset by $157 million of recoveries associated with U.S. tax reform.

Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions

We have summarized below the impact of recent significant acquisitions and dispositions on our results for 2018:

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)

Acquisitions

Dispositions

Revenue

Net Income

Revenue

Net Income

Real estate........................................................................................... $

1,430

$

Renewable power ...............................................................................

Infrastructure ......................................................................................

Private equity and other......................................................................

Gains recognized in net income .........................................................

1,117

1,157

12,642

16,346

—

516

165

211

62

954

833

$

(336) $

(118)

(15)

—

(39)

(390)

—

(13)

(9)

(15)

(155)

592

437

$

16,346

$

1,787

$

(390) $

Acquisitions

Real Estate

Recent acquisitions contributed an incremental $1.4 billion of revenues and $516 million of net income, respectively, in 2018. 
The  most  significant  contributor  was  our  core  retail  portfolio  as  we  have  been  consolidating  our  results  in  BPR  since 
August 28, 2018. Previously, we reported our 34% proportionate share of GGP’s results as equity accounted income. We have 
recognized $588 million of revenues since we began to consolidate this entity. We are also reporting our increased share of GGP’s 
net income, an incremental $237 million this year relative to the net income we would have reported if GGP were still equity 
accounted, to reflect our increased ownership. The net impact of the gains relating to the privatization is reported through the 
“Gains recognized in net income” line.

Other recent acquisitions that have had a significant impact on current period revenues and net income include our extended-stay 
property portfolios, an office property in Houston, a hospitality asset in Toronto and our office parks in India. 

Renewable Power

Within our Renewable Power segment, the recent acquisitions of TERP and TerraForm Global, portfolios of wind and solar assets 
acquired in the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as a portfolio of European wind and solar assets acquired by TERP in the second 
quarter of 2018, contributed an additional $1.1 billion of revenues and net income of $165 million this year.

Infrastructure

Within our infrastructure operations, revenues increased by $1.2 billion and net income increased by $211 million due to recent 
acquisitions.  Our  Brazilian  regulated  gas  transmission  business  acquired  partway  through  2017  contributed  an  additional 
$305 million in revenues and $154 million in net income this year. We were also impacted by contributions from our recently 
acquired Colombian natural gas distribution business and certain businesses acquired in the fourth quarter, most notably a North 
American provider of residential energy infrastructure services.

33     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Private Equity

Recent acquisitions within our Private Equity segment contributed an additional $12.6 billion of revenues in 2018. Our road fuel 
distribution business, acquired partway through 2017, contributed an additional $8.8 billion of revenues in 2018. Other recent 
acquisitions that had a significant impact on revenues include Westinghouse Electric Company (“Westinghouse”) which is our 
service provider to the power generation industry, a returnable plastic container business and our fuel marketing business. Revenues 
also benefited from the consolidation of our service provider to the offshore oil production industry in the third quarter of this 
year, previously an equity accounted investment. Gains that relate directly to the initial impact of consolidating this business are 
reported through the “Gains recognized in net income” line. 

Gains Recognized in Net Income

A significant portion of the $833 million in gains related to the impact of the step-up acquisitions of GGP and our service provider 
to the offshore oil production industry. Additional gains include those arising from the recognition of a deferred tax asset upon 
acquiring control of an investment that was not reflected in the carrying amount of the investment prior to the business combination. 
These gains were partially offset by transaction costs incurred relating to acquisitions completed during the year.

Further details relating to the significant acquisitions described above are provided in Note 5 of the consolidated financial statements. 

Dispositions

Recent asset sales across our listed partnerships resulted in the absence of revenues and net income of $390 million and $155 million, 
respectively. The assets sold that most significantly impacted our results were our European logistics business, several office 
properties and a portfolio of self-storage assets in our Real Estate segment.

The gains recognized in net income relate primarily to portfolio premiums on various assets sold, most notably our U.S. logistics 
operations, a portfolio of self-storage assets, our Chilean electricity transmission business and our Australian energy operations.

Fair Value Changes

The following table disaggregates fair value changes into major components to facilitate analysis: 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Investment properties............................................................................................................ $
Transaction related gains, net of deal costs...........................................................................

Financial contracts ................................................................................................................

Impairments and provisions ..................................................................................................

Other fair value changes .......................................................................................................

2018

2017

Change

1,610

$

1,021

$

1,132

(189)

(309)

(450)

637

(868)

(344)

(25)

589

495

679

35

(425)

Total fair value changes ........................................................................................................ $

1,794

$

421

$

1,373

Investment Properties

Investment properties are recorded at fair value with changes recorded in net income. The following table disaggregates investment 
property fair value changes by asset type:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Core office............................................................................................................................. $
LP Investments and other......................................................................................................

$

2018

150

1,460

1,610

$

$

2017

Change

(864) $

1,014

1,885

1,021

$

(425)

589

We discuss the key valuation inputs of our investment properties on page 85. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    34

Core Office

Valuation gains totaled $150 million. The gains relate primarily to:

• 

• 

• 

strong leasing activity in our Sydney and Toronto portfolios; and

an increase in value in a London development property as the asset nears completion; partially offset by

fair value adjustments in our downtown New York properties.

Valuation losses of $864 million in the prior year were primarily attributable to a change of valuation metrics and a slowdown in 
leasing activity in our properties in downtown New York, partially offset by gains in certain properties from rate compression and 
strong leasing activity.

LP Investments and Other

Valuation gains of $1.5 billion relate primarily to: 

• 

• 

our U.S. logistics portfolio, for which we reduced discount rates as development properties approached stabilization, increased 
cash flow assumptions due to strong overall leasing and updated values to reflect recent market transactions and purchase 
offers; and

higher cash flow projections for our office portfolio in India to reflect the impact of regulatory changes that allow for an 
increase in leasable area; partially offset by

• 

valuation losses on our opportunistic retail portfolio.

In the prior year, valuation gains of $1.9 billion were primarily related to valuation gains on our European logistics operations, 
increases in the values of our Indian office properties and mixed-use property in South Korea due to improved leasing activity 
and market rents and occupancy increases in our U.K. student housing portfolio.

Transaction Related Gains, Net of Deal Costs

Transaction related gains of $1.1 billion relate primarily to:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

gains of $584 million arising from the acquisitions and restructuring of businesses within our U.S. operations that resulted 
in the recognition of tax assets;

the privatization of GGP, resulting in a net transaction related gain of $422 million. The net gain on acquisition was partially 
offset by fair value adjustments to adjust the carrying value of our investment in GGP to its fair value immediately prior to 
acquiring control;

a $411 million gain following the extinguishment of outstanding debt relating to a hospitality asset; and

a $250 million gain recognized on taking control of a service provider to the offshore oil production industry. This includes 
a gain of $44 million on the settlement of subsidiary level debt and warrants; partially offset by

deal costs of $582 million across the company, primarily from acquisitions completed during the year in our private equity 
and real estate businesses.

The prior year gains relate primarily to the deconsolidation of Norbord Inc. We reduced our interest in Norbord to less than 50% 
in the fourth quarter of 2017 and recognized a gain when we revalued the assets and liabilities on the change of control.

Financial Contracts

Financial contracts include mark-to-market gains and losses on financial contracts related to foreign currency, interest rate and 
pricing exposures that are not designated as hedges. 

Unrealized losses of $189 million relate primarily to the mark-to-market movements on our interest rate and cross-currency swaps, 
as well as fair value changes on currency hedges which do not qualify for hedge accounting.

The prior year losses relate to the valuation of contracts in our financial asset portfolio and foreign exchange contracts that do not 
qualify for hedge accounting.

35     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Impairments and Provisions

Impairments and provisions totaled $309 million. We recognized impairment in our Private Equity segment following a write-
down  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  in  a  Canadian  natural  gas  operation. Additionally,  our  Brazilian  residential  business 
recorded a provision as a result of an ongoing assessment of outstanding claims.

In the prior year, impairments and provisions related primarily to the cost of terminations on condominium sales agreements in 
our Brazilian residential business, as well as impairment losses in our hospitality assets, timber assets and certain investments 
in our Private Equity segment.

Income Taxes

We recorded an aggregate income tax recovery of $248 million in 2018, compared to an expense of $613 million in the prior year, 
including current taxes of $861 million (2017 – $286 million) and a deferred tax recovery of $1.1 billion (2017 – expense of 
$327 million).

The decrease in income tax expense relates primarily to a lower effective tax rate primarily attributable to (1) an increase in the 
projected utilization of previously unrecognized loss carryforwards; and (2) changes in the proportion of income in the jurisdictions 
with different tax rates. 

The company recognized additional tax loss carryforwards as a result of higher projected taxable income in our revised business 
plan that we expect to be able to offset with previously unrecognized loss carryforwards. This resulted in a deferred tax recovery 
of approximately $700 million which contributed to the 12% reduction to our effective income tax rate. 

Our effective income tax rate is different from the Canadian domestic statutory income tax rate due to the following differences:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
Statutory income tax rate .....................................................................................................................

2018

26 %

2017

Change

26%

— %

Increase (reduction) in rate resulting from:

Portion of gains subject to different tax rates ...................................................................................

Change in tax rates and new legislation............................................................................................

International operations subject to different tax rates.......................................................................

Taxable income attributed to non-controlling interests.....................................................................

Recognition of deferred tax assets ....................................................................................................

Non-recognition of the benefit of current year’s tax losses ..............................................................

Other..................................................................................................................................................

(4)

(4)

(3)

(8)

(12)

1

1

(5)

(3)

3

(9)

(2)

3

(1)

1

(1)

(6)

1

(10)

(2)

2

Effective income tax rate .....................................................................................................................

(3)%

12%

(15)%

Our  income  tax  provision  does  not  include  a  number  of  non-income  taxes  paid  that  are  recorded  elsewhere  in  our  financial 
statements. For example, a number of our operations in Brazil are required to pay non-recoverable taxes on revenue, which are 
included in direct costs as opposed to income taxes. In addition, we pay considerable property, payroll and other taxes that represent 
an  important  component  of  the  tax  base  in  the  jurisdictions  in  which  we  operate,  which  are  also  predominantly  recorded 
in direct costs.

As an asset manager, many of our operations are held in partially owned “flow through” entities, such as partnerships, and any 
tax liability is incurred by the investors as opposed to the entity. As a result, while our consolidated earnings includes income 
attributable to non-controlling ownership interests in these entities, our consolidated tax provision includes only our proportionate 
share of the associated tax provision of these entities. In other words, we are consolidating all of the net income, but only our 
share of the associated tax provision. This gave rise to an 8% and 9% reduction in the effective tax rate relative to the statutory 
tax rate in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

We operate in countries with different tax rates, most of which vary from our domestic statutory rate, and we also benefit from 
tax incentives introduced in various countries to encourage economic activity. Differences in global tax rates gave rise to a 3%
decrease in our effective tax rate, compared to a 3% increase in the prior year. The difference will vary from period to period 
depending on the relative proportion of income in each country.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    36

BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS

The following table summarizes the statement of financial position of the company as at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Assets

2018

2017

2016

Change

2018 vs
2017

2017 vs
2016

Investment properties ........................................................... $
Property, plant and equipment..............................................

Equity accounted investments ..............................................
Cash and cash equivalents1...................................................
Accounts receivable and other1 ............................................
Intangible assets....................................................................

Goodwill ...............................................................................

Other assets...........................................................................
Total Assets............................................................................. $
Liabilities

Corporate borrowings1.......................................................... $
Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities1....................
Other non-current financial liabilities1 .................................
Other liabilities .....................................................................

Equity

Preferred equity ....................................................................

Non-controlling interests ......................................................

Common equity ....................................................................

Total Equity............................................................................

84,309

$

56,870

$

54,172

$

27,439

$

67,294

33,647

8,390

16,931

18,762

8,815

18,133

53,005

31,994

5,139

11,973

14,242

5,317

14,180

45,346

24,977

4,299

9,133

6,073

3,783

12,043

256,281

$

192,720

$

159,826

6,409

$

5,659

$

4,500

$

$

111,809

13,528

27,385

4,168

67,335

25,647

97,150

72,730

10,478

23,981

4,192

51,628

24,052

79,872

60,391

7,759

17,488

3,954

43,235

22,499

69,688

$

$

14,289

1,653

3,251

4,958

4,520

3,498

3,953

63,561

750

39,079

3,050

3,404

(24)

15,707

1,595

17,278

2,698

7,659

7,017

840

2,840

8,169

1,534

2,137

32,894

1,159

12,339

2,719

6,493

238

8,393

1,553

10,184

$

256,281

$

192,720

$

159,826

$

63,561

$

32,894

1.  The amounts for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been prepared in accordance with IFRS 9. Prior period amounts have not been restated (refer to Note 2 of the 

consolidated financial statements).

37     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

2018 vs. 2017 

Consolidated assets at December 31, 2018 were $256.3 billion, an increase of $63.6 billion since December 31, 2017. The increases 
noted in the table above are largely attributable to $78.6 billion of assets acquired through business combinations, increases in the 
fair value of our investment properties and property, plant and equipment, and additions to our fixed asset portfolios, including 
ongoing  construction  of  existing  assets  and  asset  purchases.  We  have  summarized  below  the  impact  of  acquisitions  on  our 
consolidated assets and liabilities:

(MILLIONS)

Real Estate

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Cash and cash equivalents ......................................... $

1,056

$

71

$

658

$

Renewable
Power and
Other
388

$

Accounts receivable and other ...................................

Inventory ....................................................................

Equity accounted investments....................................

Investment properties.................................................

Property, plant and equipment ...................................

Intangible assets .........................................................

Goodwill ....................................................................

Deferred income tax assets ........................................

2,247

150

12,379

33,024

1,748

54

96

220

Total assets.................................................................

50,974

Less:

Accounts payable and other .....................................

Non-recourse borrowings.........................................

Deferred income tax liabilities.................................
Non-controlling interests1 ........................................

(2,177)

(18,218)

(58)

(2,603)

(23,056)

511

23

15

—

2,945

3,208

2,905

—

9,678

(591)

(1,484)

(839)

(544)

(3,458)

2,267

686

329

—

4,913

2,942

971

38

623

5

29

—

2,970

386

186

582

12,804

5,169

(3,657)

(3,669)

(156)

(512)

(7,994)

(715)

(2,023)

(210)

(22)

Total 

2,173

5,648

864

12,752

33,024

12,576

6,590

4,158

840

78,625

(7,140)

(25,394)

(1,263)

(3,681)

(2,970)

(37,478)

Net assets acquired..................................................... $

27,918

$

6,220

$

4,810

$

2,199

$

41,147

1. 

Includes non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations measured as the proportionate share of fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities on the 
date  of  acquisition.  For  certain  business  combinations  in  our  Private  Equity  segment,  non-controlling  interest  recognized  on  business  combinations  is  measured  at 
the proportionate fair value of the total net assets on the date of acquisition.

Further details on business combinations are provided in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

During 2018, we sold $11.1 billion of assets, while the impact of decreasing foreign exchange rates also partially offset the increases 
described above.

Investment properties consist primarily of the company’s real estate assets. The balance as at December 31, 2018 increased by 
$27.4 billion, primarily due to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

acquisitions of $33.0 billion, including $18.0 billion of investment properties at GGP which were previously reported through 
equity accounted investments and $9.4 billion through the acquisition of a diversified U.S. REIT with office, multifamily 
and  retail  assets.  Other  notable  investments  include  a  U.K.  student  housing  portfolio,  office  buildings  in  New York  and 
Chicago, an office park in Mumbai and a mixed-use entertainment complex in Germany;

additions of $3.1 billion as we enhanced or expanded numerous properties through capital expenditures; and

valuation gains recorded in fair value changes of $1.6 billion, largely within our LP investments portfolio (refer to page 34 
for further information); partially offset by 

the $1.7 billion impact of decreasing foreign exchange rates; and

sales or reclassifications of $8.6 billion, including office properties in Toronto and Sydney, 112 storage properties across the 
U.S., our U.S. logistics portfolio and the reclassification of a number of properties to held for sale, including office properties 
in the U.S. and Brazil and a mixed-use portfolio in China.

We provide a continuity of investment properties in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    38

Property, plant and equipment increased by $14.3 billion primarily as a result of: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

acquisitions of $12.6 billion across our operating segments, including one of North America’s leading providers of essential 
residential energy infrastructure, a western Canadian natural gas gathering and processing business, a service provider to the 
power generation industry, extended-stay hotels across the U.S., wind and solar assets in Europe and the consolidation of a 
service provider to the offshore oil production industry that was previously equity accounted;

revaluation surplus of $5.6 billion in our Renewable Power segment, primarily attributed to the benefit of the United States 
tax reform enacted into law in 2017 and the successful integration of key acquisitions into the business; and

additions of $2.1 billion primarily related to growth capital expenditures across our operating segments; partially offset by

the negative impact of foreign currency translation of $3.0 billion; and

sales and depreciation in the period, including the impact of reclassifying $749 million to assets held for sale as part of the 
expected sale of certain wind and solar assets in non-core regions within our Renewable Power segment. 

We provide a continuity of property, plant and equipment in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements.

The increase of $1.7 billion in equity accounted investments is primarily due to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the $2.5 billion net impact of the GGP transaction, as the consolidation of equity accounted investments held within GGP 
was partially offset by the derecognition of the carrying value of our investment prior to consolidation;

$3.1 billion of other additions or acquisitions through business combinations across our operating segments, including assets 
acquired as part of the acquisition of a diversified U.S. REIT in the fourth quarter; and

our share of comprehensive income of $1.6 billion; partially offset by

the sale of our $1.0 billion Chilean electricity transmission business;

the reclassification of a service provider to the offshore oil production industry and two entities in our Real Estate and Corporate 
segments after increasing our ownership, thereby gaining control during the year; and

• 

distributions received and returns of capital of $1.9 billion.

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $3.3 billion as at December 31, 2018 compared to the prior year end primarily due to 
timing  of  cash  flows.  For  further  information,  refer  to  our  Consolidated  Statements  of  Cash  Flows  and  to  the  Review  of 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows within Part 4 – Capitalization and Liquidity. 

Intangible assets increased by $4.5 billion primarily from new acquisitions completed during the year, particularly a North American 
residential energy infrastructure business acquired in the fourth quarter in our Infrastructure segment and a service provider to the 
power generation industry acquired in the third quarter in our Private Equity segment. This was partially offset by amortization 
during the year of $659 million and the negative impact of foreign currency, which reduced the balance by $1.7 billion.

Goodwill  increased  by  $3.5  billion,  primarily  from  acquisitions  of  $4.2  billion.  Our  Infrastructure  segment  completed  many 
acquisitions during the year that resulted in goodwill, including a residential energy infrastructure business, a Colombian natural 
gas distribution business, a large-scale data center business and a western Canadian natural gas gathering and processing business. 
This was partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency, which reduced the balance by $635 million.

Other assets are comprised of inventory, deferred income tax assets, assets classified as held for sale and other financial assets. 
The increase of $4.0 billion is primarily a result of: 

• 

• 

• 

acquisitions completed in the year;

$840 million of deferred income tax assets from the recognition of net operating losses that can be used to offset future 
projected net income; and 

an increase in assets held for sale of $580 million, primarily attributable to the reclassification of certain wind and solar assets 
in our Renewable Power segment, as well as a Shanghai property portfolio in our Real Estate segment.

Corporate borrowings increased by $750 million due to $1.1 billion of corporate debt issued during the year, partially offset by 
the impact of decreasing foreign exchange rates and the absence of draws on the corporate revolving facility.

39     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Non-recourse borrowings increased by $39.1 billion primarily due to acquisitions across our businesses, most notably in our Real 
Estate segment. The balance also increased due to the use of leverage to fund certain recent acquisitions, specifically in our Private 
Equity segment, and the impact of debt refinancings in various businesses, including our graphite electrode manufacturing business 
and our Brazilian regulated gas transmission business. These increases were partially offset by the impact of decreasing foreign 
exchange rates and the repayment of amounts previously drawn on revolving or term bank facilities.

Other non-current financial liabilities consist of our subsidiary equity obligations, non-current accounts payable and other long-
term liabilities that are due after one year. The balance increased as a result of liabilities assumed on acquiring businesses during 
the year.

Refer to Part 4 – Capitalization and Liquidity for more information.

2017 vs. 2016

Consolidated assets as at December 31, 2017 were $192.7 billion, compared to $159.8 billion as at December 31, 2016. Year-
over-year  increases  were  primarily  due  to  the  impact  of  acquisitions  completed  in  2017.  In  addition,  most  foreign  currency-
denominated assets increased as the majority of foreign currencies appreciated against the U.S. dollar.

Investment properties were $2.7 billion higher at the end of 2017 compared to the prior year as the impact of various real estate 
investments completed during the year, as well as the impact of valuation gains and foreign exchange, was partially offset by 
numerous asset sales across our core office and LP investments portfolios.

Property, plant and equipment increased by $7.7 billion during 2017. The increase was primarily a result of acquisitions completed 
during the year, most notably solar and wind assets within our renewable power business. The increase from asset acquisitions 
was partially offset by depreciation recorded during the year.

Equity accounted investments were $32.0 billion as at December 31, 2017, an increase of $7.0 billion compared to the prior year. 
The increase was due primarily to $5.3 billion of additions, net of dispositions, related to increases across multiple businesses, 
including higher ownership of our investment in GGP and increases to our Brazilian toll road portfolio and our North American 
natural gas transmission business. In 2017, we also reclassified our investment in Norbord to an equity accounted investment. We 
benefited from comprehensive income of $1.7 billion and $727 million of foreign exchange gains in 2017, partially offset by 
distributions of $732 million.

The increase in intangible assets of $8.2 billion was due to acquisitions completed in 2017, specifically a Brazilian regulated gas 
transmission business in our Infrastructure segment and a Brazilian water treatment business in our Private Equity segment.

Corporate  borrowings  increased  by  $1.2  billion  as  the  issuance  of  $1.3  billion  of  corporate  notes  and  the  impact  of  foreign 
exchange were partially offset by the repayment of $250 million and C$250 million of corporate notes during the year.

Non-recourse  borrowings  increased  by  $12.3  billion  from  2016  to  2017,  the  majority  of  which  relates  to  debt  assumed  on 
acquisitions and increased borrowings to finance these acquisitions.

Other liabilities increased by $6.5 billion primarily due to the impact of recent acquisitions, including deferred income tax liabilities 
recorded in business combinations where the tax bases of the net assets acquired were lower than their fair values.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    40

Equity

The significant variances in common equity and non-controlling interests are discussed below. Preferred equity is discussed in 
Part 4 of this MD&A. 

Common Equity

The following table presents the major contributors to the period-over-period variances for common equity:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Common equity, beginning of year.............................................................................................................. $
Changes in period

2018

2017

24,052

$

22,499

Changes in accounting policies .................................................................................................................

Net income to shareholders .......................................................................................................................

Common dividends....................................................................................................................................

Preferred dividends....................................................................................................................................

Foreign currency translation......................................................................................................................

Other comprehensive income ....................................................................................................................

Share repurchases, net of issuances and vesting .......................................................................................

Ownership changes and other....................................................................................................................

(218)

3,584

(575)

(151)

(959)

1,365

(359)

(1,092)

1,595

—

1,462

(642)

(145)

280

569

(103)

132

1,553

Common equity, end of year ........................................................................................................................ $

25,647

$

24,052

Common equity increased by $1.6 billion to $25.6 billion during 2018. The change includes:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a reduction in opening common equity of $218 million to reflect the adjustments required to transition to IFRS 15 Revenue 
from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”) and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”);

net income attributable to shareholders of $3.6 billion;

foreign currency translation losses of $959 million as average foreign currency rates in the jurisdictions where we hold the 
majority of our non-U.S. dollar investments weakened relative to the U.S. dollar; 

other comprehensive income of $1.4 billion relating primarily to the revaluation surplus recorded on revaluing our property, 
plant and equipment at year end;

share repurchases, net of issuances and vesting, of $359 million, which included $388 million paid to repurchase 9.6 million
Class A common shares (“Class A shares”), of which $310 million was to fund long-term compensation plans; and

ownership changes and other which are primarily related to the dilution loss to reflect our reduced ownership interest in BPY 
following  the  GGP  privatization,  partially  offset  by  gains  relating  to  the  partial  disposition  of  our  graphite  electrode 
manufacturing business through initial and secondary public offerings in the second and third quarters, respectively. 

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests in our consolidated results primarily consist of third-party interests in BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU, and 
their consolidated entities as well as co-investors and other participating interests in our consolidated investments as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brookfield Property Partners L.P. ................................................................................................................. $
Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. .............................................................................................................

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. .........................................................................................................

Brookfield Business Partners L.P..................................................................................................................

Other participating interests ..........................................................................................................................

2018

31,580

$

12,457

12,752

4,477

6,069

2017

19,736

10,139

11,376

4,000

6,377

$

67,335

$

51,628

41     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Non-controlling interests increased by $15.7 billion in 2018 to $67.3 billion, primarily due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests which totaled $5.7 billion; this is inclusive of foreign currency 
translation losses as average foreign currency rates in the jurisdictions where we hold the majority of our non-U.S. dollar 
investments weakened relative to the U.S. dollar;

ownership changes attributable to non-controlling interests of $10.2 billion; and

net equity issuances to non-controlling interests totaling $6.7 billion; partially offset by

$6.7 billion of distributions to non-controlling interests.

CONSOLIDATION AND FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING

As a Canadian domiciled public corporation, we report under IFRS, while many of our alternative asset manager peers report 
under U.S. GAAP. There are many differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS, but the two principal differences affecting our 
consolidated financial statements compared to those of our peers are consolidation and fair value accounting.

In particular, U.S. GAAP allows some of our alternative asset manager peers to report their investments at fair value on one line 
in their balance sheet on a net basis as opposed to consolidating the funds. This approach is not available under IFRS. This can 
create significant differences in the presentation of our financial statements as compared to our alternative asset manager peers.

Consolidation

Our consolidation conclusions under IFRS may differ from our peers who report under U.S. GAAP for two primary reasons:

•  U.S. GAAP uses a voting interest model or a variable interest model to determine consolidation requirements, depending on 
the circumstances, whereas IFRS uses a control-based model. We generally have the contractual ability to unilaterally direct 
the relevant activities of our funds; and 

•  we generally invest significant amounts of capital alongside our investors and partners, which, in addition to our customary 
management fees and incentive fees, means that we earn meaningful returns as a principal investor in addition to our asset 
management returns compared to a manager who acts solely as an agent.

As a result, in many cases, we control entities in which we hold only a minority economic interest. For example, a Brookfield-
sponsored private fund to which we have committed 30% of the capital may acquire 60% of the voting interest in an investee 
company. The contractual arrangements generally provide us with the irrevocable ability to direct the funds’ activities. Based on 
these facts, we would control the investment because we exercise decision making power over a controlling interest of that business 
and our 18% economic interest provides us with exposure to the variable returns of a principal. 

All entities that we control are consolidated for financial reporting purposes. As a result, we include 100% of these entities’ revenues 
and expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, even though a substantial portion of their net income is attributable 
to non-controlling interests. Furthermore, we include all of the assets and liabilities of these entities in our Consolidated Balance 
Sheets, and include the portion of equity held by others as non-controlling interests.

Intercompany revenues and expenses between Brookfield and its subsidiaries, such as asset management fees, are eliminated in 
our Consolidated Statements of Operations; however, these items affect the attribution of net income between shareholders and 
non-controlling interests. For example, asset management fees paid by our listed partnerships to the Corporation are eliminated 
from consolidated revenues and expenses. However, as the common shareholders are attributed all of the fee revenues while only 
attributed  their  proportionate  share  of  the  listed  partnerships’  expenses,  the  amount  of  net  income  attributable  to  common 
shareholders is increased with a corresponding decrease in net income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Fair Value Accounting

Under U.S. GAAP, many of our alternative asset manager peers account for their funds as investment companies and reflect their 
investments at fair value. 

Under IFRS, as a parent company, we are required to look through our consolidated and equity accounted investments and account 
for their assets and liabilities under the applicable IFRS guidance. We reflect a large number of assets at fair value, namely our 
commercial properties, renewable power facilities and certain infrastructure assets which are typically recorded at amortized cost 
under U.S. GAAP. However, there are other assets that are not subject to fair value accounting under IFRS and are therefore carried 
at amortized cost, which would be more consistent with U.S. GAAP. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    42

Under both IFRS and U.S. GAAP, the value of asset management activities is generally not reflected on the balance sheet despite 
being material components of the value of these businesses.

For additional details on the valuation approach for the relevant segments, critical assumptions and related sensitivities, refer to 
Part 5 of this MD&A.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION

Approximately half of our capital is invested in non-U.S. currencies and the cash flows generated from these businesses, as well 
as our equity, are subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. From time to time, we utilize financial contracts to adjust 
these exposures. The most significant currency exchange rates that impact our business are shown in the following table:

Year-End Spot Rate

Change

Average Rate

Change

AS AT DEC. 31

Australian dollar .
Brazilian real1 .....
British pound ......

Canadian dollar...

2018

0.7050

3.8745

1.2760

0.7331

2017

0.7809

3.3080

1.3521

0.7953

2016

0.7197

3.2595

1.2357

0.7439

1.  Based on U.S. dollar to Brazilian real.

2018 vs
2017

2017 vs
2016

2018

(10)%

(15)%

(6)%

(8)%

9 % 0.7475

(1)% 3.6550

9 % 1.3350

7 % 0.7718

2017

0.7669

3.1928

1.2889

0.7711

2016

0.7441

3.4904

1.3554

0.7555

2018 vs
2017

2017 vs
2016

(3)%

(13)%

4 %

— %

3 %

9 %

(5)%

2 %

As at December 31, 2018, our IFRS net equity of $25.6 billion was invested in the following currencies: United States dollars – 
56% (2017 – 48%); Brazilian reais – 13% (2017 – 17%); British pounds – 12% (2017 – 15%); Canadian dollars – 7% (2017 – 
6%); Australian dollars – 6% (2017 – 9%); and other currencies – 6% (2017 – 5%). Currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. 
dollar at the end of 2018 were lower than December 31, 2017 for all of our significant non-U.S. dollar investments.

The  following  table  disaggregates  the  impact  of  foreign  currency  translation  on  our  equity  by  the  most  significant  non-U.S. 
currencies:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Australian dollar ............................................................................................................................... $
Brazilian real.....................................................................................................................................

British pound ....................................................................................................................................

Canadian dollar.................................................................................................................................

Other .................................................................................................................................................

Total cumulative translation adjustments .........................................................................................
Currency hedges1..............................................................................................................................

2018

2017

Change

(629) $

406

$ (1,035)

(2,162)

(506)

(539)

(644)

(714)

(4,688)

1,365

768

752

662

2,082

(1,643)

(1,656)

(1,307)

(1,396)

(1,376)

(6,770)

3,008

Total cumulative translation adjustments net of currency hedges.................................................... $ (3,323) $

439

$ (3,762)

Attributable to:

Shareholders................................................................................................................................... $

(959) $

Non-controlling interests ...............................................................................................................

(2,364)

$ (3,323) $

280

159

439

$ (1,239)

(2,523)

$ (3,762)

1.  Net of deferred income tax expense of $69 million.

Lower period end rates for our non-U.S. dollar investments, particularly the Brazilian real which decreased 15% from the beginning 
of the year, reduced our equity, net of currency hedges, by $3.3 billion. Gains on our hedges against the Australian, British and 
Canadian currencies, for which financial contracts and foreign currency debt are used to reduce exposures, partially offset the 
foreign currency translation losses. The overall result has been a net decrease in net equity. 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the year-over-year foreign exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar for our significant 
currency exposures increased with the exception of the Brazilian real, leading to an increase in net equity of $439 million. 

We typically do not hedge our equity in Brazil and other emerging markets due to the high costs associated with these contracts.

43     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS

In  the  past  two  years  the  quarterly  variances  in  revenues  are  due  primarily to  acquisitions  and  dispositions. Variances  in  net 
income to shareholders relate primarily to the timing and amount of fair value changes and deferred tax provisions, as well as 
seasonality  and  cyclical  influences  in  certain  businesses.  Changes  in  ownership  have  resulted  in  the  consolidation  and 
deconsolidation of revenues from some of our assets, particularly in our real estate and private equity businesses. Other factors 
include the impact of foreign currency on non-U.S. revenues and net income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Our real estate operations typically generate consistent results on a quarterly basis due to the long-term nature of contractual lease 
arrangements subject to the intermittent recognition of disposition and lease termination gains. Our retail properties typically 
experience seasonally higher retail sales during the fourth quarter, and our resort hotels tend to experience higher revenues and 
costs as a result of increased visits during the first quarter. We fair value our real estate assets on a quarterly basis which results 
in variations in net income based on changes in the value.

Renewable power hydroelectric operations are seasonal in nature. Generation tends to be higher during the winter rainy season 
in Brazil and spring thaws in North America; however, this is mitigated to an extent by prices, which tend not to be as strong as 
they are in the summer and winter seasons due to the more moderate weather conditions and reductions in demand for electricity. 
Water and wind conditions may also vary from year to year. Our infrastructure operations are generally stable in nature as a result 
of regulation or long-term sales contracts with our investors, certain of which guarantee minimum volumes. 

Revenues and direct costs in our private equity operations vary from quarter to quarter primarily due to acquisitions and dispositions 
of businesses, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, business and economic cycles and weather and seasonality in underlying 
operations. Broader economic factors and commodity market volatility may have a significant impact on a number of our businesses, 
in particular within our industrial operations. For example, seasonality affects our contract drilling and well-servicing operations 
as the ability to move heavy equipment safely and efficiently in western Canadian oil and gas fields is dependent on weather 
conditions. Within our infrastructure services, the core operating plants business of our service provider to the power generation 
industry generates the majority of its revenue during the fall and spring, when power plants go offline to perform maintenance 
and replenish their fuel. Some of our business services operations will typically have stronger performance in the latter half of the 
year whereas  others,  such  as  our  fuel  marketing and road  fuel distribution  businesses,  will  generate stronger performance  in 
the second and third quarters. Net income is impacted by periodic gains and losses on acquisitions, monetization and impairments.

Our residential development operations are seasonal in nature and a large portion is correlated with the ongoing U.S. housing 
recovery and, to a lesser extent, economic conditions in Brazil. Results in these businesses are typically higher in the third and 
fourth quarters compared to the first half of the year, as weather conditions are more favorable in the latter half of the year which 
tends to increase construction activity levels.

Our condensed statements of operations for the eight most recent quarters are as follows:

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED
Q4
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Revenues1 ......................................... $ 16,006
Net income........................................
3,028

Net income (loss) to shareholders ....

1,884

Q3

Q2

Q1

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

$ 14,858

$ 13,276

$ 12,631

$ 13,065

$ 12,276

$

9,444

$

6,001

941

163

1,664

680

1,855

857

2,083

1,046

992

228

958

225

518

(37)

2018

2017

Per share

– diluted ......................................... $

– basic ............................................

$

1.87

1.91

$

0.11

0.11

$

0.62

0.64

$

0.84

0.85

$

1.02

1.05

$

0.20

0.20

0.19

0.20

$

(0.08)

(0.08)

1.  2017 revenues have not been restated as we adopted IFRS 15 using the modified retrospective method as at January 1, 2018.

The following table shows fair value changes and income taxes for the last eight quarters, as well as their combined impact on 
net income:

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED
(MILLIONS)
Fair value changes ............................ $
Income taxes .....................................

Q4

257

884

Net impact......................................... $

1,141

$

$

2018

Q3

132

$

Q2

833

(144)

(339)

(12) $

494

Q1

572

(153)

419

$

$

Q4

280

(110)

170

$

$

$

$

2017

Q3

132

$

Q2

213

(259)

(119)

(127) $

94

Q1

(204)

(125)

(329)

$

$

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    44

 
 
Over the last eight completed quarters, the factors discussed below caused variations in revenues and net income to shareholders 
on a quarterly basis:

• 

The increase in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2018 is due primarily to recent acquisitions, including a full quarter of 
revenues from GGP following the privatization, as well as the impact of same-store growth across the business. Consolidated 
net income is higher than prior period due to gains on sales of businesses, fair value valuation gains on investment properties 
and a deferred tax recovery in our Corporate segment. These increases were partially offset by higher interest expense from 
new borrowings to fund acquisitions and debts assumed from acquired businesses.

•  Revenues increased in the third quarter primarily due to recent acquisitions across all segments, including the privatization 
of GGP, and same-store growth, in particular improved pricing at our graphite electrode manufacturing business. Higher 
interest and depreciation expenses associated with recent acquisitions, and the recognition of a deferred tax expense associated 
with the GGP privatization, more than offset the increase in revenues.

• 

• 

• 

The increase in revenues in the second quarter of 2018 is primarily attributable to recent acquisitions, additional home closings 
in our North American residential business and improved pricing at our graphite electrodes manufacturing business. Increases 
in direct costs offset these changes in revenue. While net income also benefited from strong performance at Norbord and 
valuation and transaction-related gains in our Real Estate segment, results were more than offset by higher income tax expenses 
and the absence of a one-time gain recognized on the sale of a business in the first quarter.

In the first quarter of 2018, revenues decreased due to the seasonality of our residential homebuilding and construction services 
businesses, partially offset by a full quarter of revenues contributed by recent acquisitions in our Renewable Power segment. 
Net income benefited from investment property valuation gains and other fair value gains recognized in the current quarter.  

The increase in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2017 is attributable to same-store growth in existing operations across our 
business  and  acquisitions  throughout  the  year.  Net  income  benefited  from  gains  from  the  sale  of  the  European  logistics 
company and from a change in basis of accounting for Norbord.

•  Revenues in the third quarter of 2017 increased as a result of incremental contributions from acquisitions made partway 
through the second quarter of 2017, as described below, that have now contributed to a full quarter. Current quarter acquisitions 
also added to the increase, namely the acquisition of a fuel marketing business in our Private Equity segment. Results were 
partially offset by higher income tax expenses in the quarter.

• 

• 

The overall increase in results in the second quarter of 2017 is predominantly attributable to acquisitions completed in the 
quarter,  including  the  regulated  gas  transmission  operation  and  the  leading  water  treatment  business,  both  in  Brazil  and 
the U.K. road fuel distribution business.

In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded fair value losses, predominantly driven by mark-to-market losses on the GGP warrants, 
as well as decreases in valuations in our core office portfolio. Revenue declined from the prior quarter due to seasonality in 
the residential business.

45     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

CORPORATE DIVIDENDS

The dividends paid by Brookfield on outstanding securities during the past three years are summarized in the following table:

Distribution per Security

Class A and B1 Limited Voting Shares (“Class A and B shares”) ......................................... $
Special distribution to Class A and B shares2,3 .....................................................................
Class A Preferred Shares

Series 2.............................................................................................................................

Series 4.............................................................................................................................

Series 8.............................................................................................................................

Series 9.............................................................................................................................

Series 13...........................................................................................................................
Series 144 .........................................................................................................................
Series 15...........................................................................................................................

Series 17...........................................................................................................................

Series 18...........................................................................................................................
Series 245 .........................................................................................................................
Series 255 .........................................................................................................................
Series 266 .........................................................................................................................
Series 287 .........................................................................................................................
Series 308 .........................................................................................................................
Series 329 .........................................................................................................................
Series 34...........................................................................................................................

Series 36...........................................................................................................................

Series 37...........................................................................................................................

Series 38...........................................................................................................................

Series 40...........................................................................................................................

Series 42...........................................................................................................................

Series 44...........................................................................................................................
Series 4610 ........................................................................................................................
Series 4811 ........................................................................................................................

2018

0.60

$

—

0.48

0.48

0.68

0.53

0.48

—

0.40

0.92

0.92

0.58

0.68

0.67

0.53

0.90

0.89

0.81

0.94

0.95

0.85

0.87

0.87

0.96

0.93

0.92

2017

0.56
0.11

$

2016

0.52

0.45

0.39

0.39

0.55

0.53

0.39

—

0.28

0.92

0.92

0.58

0.56

0.72

0.70

0.93

0.87

0.81

0.94

0.95

0.85

0.87

0.87

0.97

1.03

0.28

0.36

0.36

0.48

0.75

0.36

0.11

0.23

0.90

0.90

0.80

0.27

0.85

0.87

0.90

0.85

0.80

0.92

0.92

0.83

0.85

0.85

0.94

—

—

1.  Class B Limited Voting Shares (“Class B shares”).
2.  Distribution of one common share of Trisura Group Ltd. for every 170 Class A Shares and Class B Shares held as of the close of business of June 1, 2017.
3.  Distribution of a 20.7% interest in Brookfield Business Partners on June 20, 2016, based on IFRS values.
4.  Redeemed March 1, 2016.
5.  1,533,133 shares were converted from Series 24 to Series 25 on July 1, 2016.
6.  Dividend rate reset commenced March 31, 2017.
7.  Dividend rate reset commenced June 30, 2017.
8.  Dividend rate reset commenced December 31, 2017.
9.  Dividend rate reset commenced September 30, 2018.
10.  Issued November 18, 2016.
11.  Issued September 13, 2017.

Dividends on the Class A and B shares are declared in U.S. dollars whereas Class A Preferred share dividends are declared in 
Canadian dollars.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    46

 
 
PART 3 – OPERATING SEGMENT RESULTS 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

How We Measure and Report Our Operating Segments

Our  operations  are  organized  into  our  asset  management  business,  five  operating  groups  and  our  corporate  activities,  which 
collectively represent seven operating segments for internal and external reporting purposes. We measure operating performance 
primarily using FFO generated by each operating segment and the amount of capital invested by the Corporation in each segment 
using  common  equity.  Common  equity  relates  to  invested  capital  allocated  to  a  particular  business  segment  which  we  use 
interchangeably with segment common equity. To further assess operating performance for our Asset Management segment we 
also provide unrealized carried interest1 which represents carried interest generated on unrealized changes in value of our private 
fund investment portfolios.

Our operating segments are global in scope and are as follows:

i.  Asset management operations include managing our listed partnerships, private funds and public securities on behalf of our 
investors and ourselves. We generate contractual base management fees for these activities as well as incentive distributions 
and performance income, including performance fees, transaction fees and carried interest. Common equity in our asset 
management segment is immaterial.

ii.  Real estate operations include the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other 

properties. 

iii.  Renewable power operations include the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and 

other power generating facilities. 

iv. 

Infrastructure operations include the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure 
and sustainable resource assets. 

v.  Private equity operations include a broad range of industries, and are mostly focused on business services, infrastructure 

services and industrial operations. 

vi.  Residential development operations consist of homebuilding, condominium development and land development. 

vii.  Corporate activities include the investment of cash and financial assets, as well as the management of our corporate leverage, 
including corporate borrowings and preferred equity, which fund a portion of the capital invested in our other operations. 
Certain corporate costs such as technology and operations are incurred on behalf of our operating segments and allocated to 
each operating segment based on an internal pricing framework. 

In assessing results, we separately identify the portion of FFO and common equity within our segments that relate to our primary 
listed partnerships: BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU. We believe that identifying the FFO and common equity attributable to our listed 
partnerships enables investors to understand how the results of these public entities are integrated into our financial results and is 
helpful in analyzing variances in FFO between reporting periods. Additional information with respect to these listed partnerships 
is available in their public filings. We also separately identify the components of our asset management FFO and realized disposition 
gains1 included within the FFO of each segment in order to facilitate analysis of variances in FFO between reporting periods.

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
47     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY OPERATING SEGMENT

The following table presents revenues, FFO and common equity by segment on a year-over-year basis for comparative purposes:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
2018
(MILLIONS)
Asset Management........................ $ 1,947
Real Estate.....................................

8,116

Renewable Power..........................

Infrastructure.................................

3,762

5,018

Private Equity................................

37,270

24,577

12,693

Residential Development ..............

2,683

2,447

Corporate Activities ......................

188
Total .............................................. $58,984

Revenues1

FFO2

Common Equity

2017 Change 

2018

2017 Change 

2018

2017 Change 

$ 1,467

$

480

$ 1,317

$

970

$

347

$

328

$

312

$

6,862

2,788

3,871

362

1,254

1,786

2,004

(218)

17,423

16,725

974

1,147

236

(174)

328

602

795

49

270

345

333

34

58

257

462

15

5,302

2,887

4,279

2,606

4,944

2,834

4,215

2,915

(476)

(146)

(330)

(7,178)

(7,893)

16

698

358

53

64

(309)

715

$42,374

$16,610

$ 4,401

$ 3,810

$

591

$25,647

$24,052

$ 1,595

1.  Revenues  include  inter-segment  revenues  which  are  adjusted  to  arrive  at  external  revenues  for  IFRS  purposes.  Please  refer  to  Note  3(c)  of  the  consolidated 

financial statements.

2.  Total FFO is a non-IFRS measure – see definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

Total revenues and FFO were $59.0 billion and $4.4 billion in 2018 compared to $42.4 billion and $3.8 billion in the prior year, 
respectively. FFO includes realized disposition gains of $1.5 billion in 2018 compared to $1.3 billion in the prior year. 

Revenues increased by $16.6 billion to $59.0 billion in the year, primarily as a result of:

• 

• 

• 

recent acquisitions across all business groups, in particular a road fuel distribution business and a service provider to the 
power generation industry in our Private Equity segment; the step-up acquisition of GGP in our Real Estate segment; a 
Colombian  gas  commercialization  and  distribution  business  and  one  of  North America’s  leading  providers  of  essential 
residential energy infrastructure in our Infrastructure segment; and portfolios of wind and solar assets in our Renewable Power 
segment; and

same-store growth, including the impact of improved pricing in our graphite electrode manufacturing business and same-
property leasing growth in our core office properties; partially offset by

the absence of revenues from Norbord which was consolidated up until the fourth quarter of 2017 at which time we sold a 
partial interest and therefore no longer hold a controlling interest in the business.

FFO excluding disposition gains increased by $391 million from the prior year primarily due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

continued expansion of our asset management activities, with significant increases in fee bearing capital resulting in higher 
management fees;

strong market performance by BBU resulting in higher performance fees earned; and

contributions from recent acquisitions and same-store growth as described above; partially offset by

the impact of foreign exchange.

We recorded realized disposition gains in 2018 across all our operating segments. In our real estate business, we monetized mature 
core office properties, sold core retail assets prior to the privatization of GGP and began to sell holdings in our first flagship 
opportunistic fund resulting in gains of $939 million. In our Private Equity segment, we realized gains on the partial sell-down 
of our graphite electrode manufacturing business through an IPO, secondary offering and share buyback. The sale of our Chilean 
electricity transmission business resulted in gains of $244 million for our Infrastructure segment while in our Renewable Power 
segment, gains of $38 million included the sale of a partial interest in certain of our Canadian hydroelectric assets.

Common equity increased by $1.6 billion to $25.6 billion due to contributions from earnings across our businesses and increases 
in the fair value of our operating assets, particularly in our renewable power business, partially offset by the impact of unfavorable 
foreign exchange rates and ownership changes on the privatization of GGP.

Further details on segment revenues, FFO and common equity are discussed in the following sections.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    48

Business Overview

•  We manage $138 billion of fee bearing capital, including $70 billion in private funds, $54 billion in listed partnerships and 
$13 billion within our public securities group. We earn recurring long-term fee revenues from this fee bearing capital, in the 
form of:

Long-term, diversified base management fee revenues from third party capital in our closed-end and long-life funds and 
perpetual fee revenues based on the total capitalization of our listed partnerships;

Incentive distributions from BIP, BEP and BPY, all of which have exceeded pre-determined thresholds; and

Performance fees, linked to the unit price performance of BBU and other transaction and advisory fees.

• 

Included within our private fund fee bearing capital is $58 billion of carry eligible capital. We earn carried interest from this 
capital when fund performance achieves its preferred return, allowing us to receive a portion of fund profits returned to 
investors. We recognize this carried interest once it is no longer subject to claw-back. 

Fee Bearing Capital1

AS AT DEC. 31 (BILLIONS)

Fee Related Earnings1

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

Carry Eligible Capital1

AS AT DEC. 31 (BILLIONS)

Accumulated Unrealized Carried Interest1

AS AT DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
49     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
 
 
Five-Year Review

Asset Management FFO has increased over the past five years primarily as a result of steady growth in fee bearing capital from 
increased market capitalization of our listed partnerships and growing private fund capital. This has contributed to higher base 
fees and a corresponding increase in Asset Management FFO. In particular, our private fund fee bearing capital significantly 
increased in 2016 and 2018 as we closed record levels of private fund capital. Higher FFO and distribution levels at our listed 
partnerships further contributed to increases in fee related revenues year over year. 

Our accumulated unrealized carried interest has increased each of the past five-years due to the private fund fee bearing capital 
growth discussed above and as a result of the investment performance in many of our funds, which have recently entered the carry 
generation phase of their fund lives. We participate in the favorable investment performance of our private funds in the form of 
carried interest, and will recognize a growing amount of realized carried interest into FFO and net income as our earlier vintage 
funds begin to monetize investments and return significant capital to investors. 

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

Real assets and alternatives continue to provide an attractive investment opportunity to institutional and high net worth investors. 
In periods when stock equity values are high, real assets provide diversification as they have demonstrated the ability to retain 
their value across cycles. These asset classes also provide investors with alternatives to fixed income investments by providing a 
strong yield profile. Institutional investors, in particular pension funds, must earn and generate returns to meet their long-term 
obligations while protecting their capital. As a result, inflows to alternative asset managers are continuing to grow and managers 
are focused on new product development to meet this demand. 

We currently have eight funds in the market. Funds in the market include our fifth flagship private equity fund, our fourth flagship 
infrastructure fund and a European infrastructure debt fund, along with five long-life funds focused on real estate and infrastructure 
assets across multiple geographies. We continue to develop additional products in response to investor demand. In March 2019, 
we announced the agreement to acquire a 62% ownership in Oaktree Capital Management (“Oaktree”), a leading global alternative 
investment  management  firm  with expertise  in  credit  strategies. The  successful  completion  of  this  acquisition  will  allow  our 
shareholders access to increasingly diversified fee streams and will expand the product offerings available to our private fund 
investors. 

Separate from the acquisition of Oaktree, we continue to expand our investor base bringing our total private fund investors to 
more than 600 following the successful final close of our third flagship real estate fund. This fund was our largest to date at 
$15 billion and included $2 billion from high net worth investors. We continue to advance our fundraising efforts in the high net 
worth space and raised $3 billion through multiple channels in 2018 and the start of 2019. 

Operations

Private Funds ($70 billion of fee bearing capital)

•  We manage our fee bearing capital through 42 active private funds across our major asset classes: real estate, infrastructure/
renewable power and private equity. These funds include core, credit, value-add and opportunistic closed-end funds and core, 
core plus and credit long-life funds. These are primarily invested in the equity of private companies, although in certain cases, 
are invested in publicly traded equities. Our credit strategies invest in debt of companies in our areas of focus.

•  We refer to our largest private fund series as our flagship funds. We have flagship funds within each of our major asset classes: 
Real Estate (BSREP series), Infrastructure (BIF series, which includes infrastructure and renewable power investments) and 
Private Equity (BCP series).

•  Closed-end private fund capital is typically committed for 10 years from the inception of the fund with two one-year extension 

options. 

• 

Long-life private funds are perpetual vehicles that are able to continually raise capital as new investments arise. 

•  We are compensated for managing these private funds through base management fees, which are generally determined on 
committed capital during the investment period and invested capital thereafter. We are entitled to receive carried interest 
on these funds, which represents a portion of fund profits above a preferred return to investors. 

Listed Partnerships ($54 billion of fee bearing capital)

•  We manage fee bearing capital through publicly listed perpetual capital entities, including BPY, BEP, BIP, BBU, TERP and 

Acadian.

•  We are compensated for managing these entities through (i) base management fees, which are primarily determined by the 

market capitalization of these entities; and (ii) incentive distributions or performance fees.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    50

• 

Incentive  distributions  for  BPY,  BEP,  BIP,  TERP  and  Acadian  are  a  portion  of  the  increases  in  distributions 
above predetermined  hurdles.  Performance  fees  for  BBU  are  based  on  increases  in  the  unit  price  of  BBU  above  an 
escalating threshold.

Public Securities ($13 billion of fee bearing capital)

•  We manage our fee bearing capital through numerous funds and separately managed accounts, focused on fixed income and 

equity securities. 

•  We act as advisor and sub-advisor, earning both base and performance fees.

Fee Bearing Capital

The following table summarizes fee bearing capital:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Real estate......................................................................... $
Renewable power .............................................................

Infrastructure ....................................................................

Private equity....................................................................

Diversified ........................................................................
December 31, 2018 .......................................................... $
December 31, 2017........................................................... $

Private
Funds

Listed 
Partnerships 

Public 
Securities 

Total 2018

Total 2017

33,737

$

19,916

$

— $

53,653

$

7,595

17,766

10,714

—

13,824

15,946

4,653

—

—

—

—

13,377

21,419

33,712

15,367

13,377

69,812

52,375

$

$

54,339

60,560

$

$

13,377

$

137,528

12,655

n/a

$

125,590

41,636

23,930

38,751

8,618

12,655

n/a

Fee bearing capital increased by $11.9 billion during the year. The principal changes are set out in the following table:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, December 31, 2017..................................................................... $
Inflows.......................................................................................................

Outflows ....................................................................................................

Distributions ..............................................................................................

Market valuation........................................................................................

Other ..........................................................................................................

Change.......................................................................................................
Balance, December 31, 2018 ................................................................... $

Private
Funds

Listed 
Partnerships 

Public 
Securities 

Total 

52,375

$

60,560

$

12,655

$

125,590

21,832

—

(4,035)

247

(607)

17,437

8,660

—

(4,422)

(9,970)

(489)

(6,221)

4,458

(6,045)

—

34,950

(6,045)

(8,457)

(1,716)

(11,439)

4,025

722

2,929

11,938

69,812

$

54,339

$

13,377

$

137,528

Private fund capital increased by $17.4 billion, primarily due to:

• 

$21.8 billion of inflows, including $8.2 billion of commitments to our third flagship real estate fund, $4.2 billion to our fifth 
flagship private equity funds, $2.1 billion to our long-life strategies and $1.2 billion to our other credit and multifamily 
strategies, as well as $6.1 billion to co-investments; partially offset by 

• 

$4.0 billion of distributions and capital returned during the year. 

Listed partnership capital decreased by $6.2 billion, due to:

• 

• 

• 

$8.7 billion of inflows, including $5.7 billion related to the BPY and BPR capital issued as a result of the GGP privatization 
(BAM is entitled to earn incentive distributions on the units issued as part of the transaction effective on the closing date but 
has agreed to a one-year management fee holiday on this capital). Additional inflows included $3.0 billion of debt and/or 
preferred equity issued at BIP, BEP and BPY; more than offset by

$4.4 billion of distributions to unitholders; and

lower unit prices across each of the listed partnerships, which were impacted by market volatility late in 2018 (unit prices 
improved in early 2019 as markets recovered from the declines seen in December).

51     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Public securities capital increased by $722 million, due to:

• 

• 

• 

$4.5 billion of inflows, including $1.0 billion in new managed accounts and subscriptions into our energy and real estate 
mutual funds, as well as additional inflows from retail and institutional investors; and

$4.0 billion due to the acquisition of an energy and infrastructure investment advisor; partially offset by

$6.0 billion of redemptions, including investor reallocations out of infrastructure funds due in part to recent volatility within 
the infrastructure market; and

• 

$1.7 billion decrease in market value of investments across our public securities funds due to market volatility noted above.

Carry Eligible Capital

Carry eligible capital increased during the year to $58.3 billion as at December 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 – $42.4 billion). 
This includes an increase of $19.0 billion from commitments to new carry eligible funds, partially offset by capital that was 
returned to investors following asset dispositions.

As at December 31, 2018, $36.4 billion of carry eligible capital has already been deployed (December 31, 2017 – $24.2 billion). 
This capital is either currently earning carried interest or will begin earning carried interest once its related funds have reached 
their preferred return threshold. There is currently an additional $21.9 billion of uncalled fund commitments that will begin to 
earn carried interest once the capital is deployed and fund preferred returns are met (December 31, 2017 – $18.2 billion).

Operating Results

Asset management FFO includes fee related earnings and realized carried interest earned by us in respect of capital managed for 
investors, including the capital invested by us in the listed partnerships. This is representative of how we manage the business and 
measures the returns from our asset management activities.

To facilitate analysis, the following table disaggregates our Asset Management segment revenues and FFO into fee related earnings, 
realized carried interest, net, as these are the measures that we use to analyze the performance of the Asset Management segment.  
We also analyze unrealized carried interest, net1, to provide insight into the value our investments have created in the period.

We have provided additional detail, where referenced, to explain significant variances from the prior period.

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Fee related earnings ...........................................................................

Realized carried interest.....................................................................

Asset Management FFO ....................................................................

Ref

i

ii

$

$

Revenues

2018

1,693

254

1,947

$

$

2017

1,368

99

1,467

Unrealized carried interest

Generated ........................................................................................

Foreign exchange ............................................................................

Less: direct costs ................................................................................

Unrealized carried interest, net ..........................................................

iii

FFO

2018

1,129

188

1,317

$

$

2017

896

74

970

802

$

1,279

(141)

661

(171)

490

$

1

1,280

(352)

928

$

$

$

$

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    52

i.  Fee Related Earnings

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Fee revenues

Base management fees............................................................................................................................. $
Incentive distributions .............................................................................................................................

Performance fees .....................................................................................................................................

Transaction and advisory fees..................................................................................................................

Direct costs and other....................................................................................................................................

2018

2017

1,195

$

1,048

206

278

14

1,693

(564)

151

142

27

1,368

(472)

896

Fee related earnings ...................................................................................................................................... $

1,129

$

Fee related earnings increased by $233 million from the prior year as a result of commitments to new private funds, increased 
performance fees and higher incentive distributions. The increases were partially offset by the absence of one-time advisory fees 
earned in the prior year relating to co-investments. 

•  Base management fees of $1.2 billion in the year include fees earned from our private funds, listed partnerships and public 

securities businesses. The increase of $147 million is due to:

$133 million increase in private funds fees due to capital raised during late 2017 and 2018; and

$32 million of public securities fee revenues from an energy and infrastructure investment advisor acquired in the first 
quarter of 2018; partially offset by

$18 million decline in listed partnership fees due to lower unit prices across the listed partnerships.

• 

• 

Incentive distributions from BIP, BEP and BPY increased by $55 million to $206 million, a 36% increase from 2017. The 
growth represents our share as manager of increases in per unit distributions by BIP, BEP and BPY of 8%, 5% and 7%, 
respectively, as well as the impact of equity issued by BIP and BEP. 

Performance fees of $278 million represent fees earned from BBU and are calculated on an escalating threshold as 20% of 
the quarterly average unit price over the previous threshold. The current threshold is $41.96.

•  Direct costs and other consist primarily of employee expenses and professional fees, as well as business related technology 
costs and other shared services. Direct costs increased by $92 million year over year as we continue to build out our organization 
to manage the aforementioned growth in fee bearing capital.

The margin on our fee related earnings, excluding the impact of BBU performance fee, and transaction and advisory fees, was 
60% in the current year compared to 61% in the prior year. 

ii.  Realized Carried Interest

We realize carried interest when a fund’s cumulative returns are in excess of preferred returns and are no longer subject to future 
investment performance (e.g. subject to “clawback”). During the year, we realized $188 million of carried interest, net of direct 
costs (2017 – $74 million). Our first flagship real estate fund exceeded its preferred return after distributing the earnings from the 
sale of our U.S. logistics business during the fourth quarter. Our fourth private equity fund exceeded its preferred return after 
distributing proceeds from the partial sell down of our position in our graphite electrode manufacturing business and the sale of 
our Australian energy business during the year. We also earned carried interest in the year from dispositions within our real estate 
credit and multifamily funds.

We provide supplemental information and analysis below on the estimated amount of unrealized carried interest (see section iii) 
that has accumulated based on fund performance up to the date of the financial statements. 

53     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
 
 
iii.  Unrealized Carried Interest

The amounts of accumulated unrealized carried interest and associated costs are not included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets 
or Consolidated Statements of Operations as they are still subject to clawback. These amounts are shown in the following table:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Accumulated unrealized, beginning of year....... $
In-period change

Unrealized 
Carried 
Interest 
2,079

2018

Direct 
Costs 

Net 

$

(649) $

1,430

Unrealized 
Carried 
Interest 
898

$

2017

Direct 
Costs 

$

(322) $

Unrealized in period ........................................

Foreign currency revaluation...........................

Less: realized ...................................................

802

(141)

661

(254)

407

(202)

31

(171)

66

(105)

600

(110)

490

(188)

302

1,279

1

1,280

(99)

1,181

(348)

(4)

(352)

25

(327)

Net 

576

931

(3)

928

(74)

854

Accumulated unrealized, end of year ............. $

2,486

$

(754) $

1,732

$

2,079

$

(649) $

1,430

Favorable investment performance in our private funds generated $802 million of unrealized carried interest during the year. This 
was partially offset by $141 million of foreign exchange losses which was largely due to the depreciation of South American 
currencies relating to assets within our real estate and infrastructure funds.

Accumulated unrealized carried interest totaled $2.5 billion at December 31, 2018. We estimate that approximately $754 million
of associated costs will arise on the realization of the amounts accumulated to date, predominantly associated with employee long-
term  incentive  plans  and taxes. We  expect  to  recognize  $1.6  billion  of  this  carry,  before  costs,  within  the  next  three  years. 
Recognition of this carried interest is dependent on future investment performance.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    54

Business Overview

•  We own and operate real estate assets primarily through a 54% (51% fully diluted) economic ownership interest in BPY and 

a 27.5% interest in a portfolio of operating and development assets in New York.

•  BPY is listed on the Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange and had a market capitalization of $17.1 billion as at December 31, 

2018.

•  BPY owns real estate assets directly as well as through private funds that we manage.

Operations

Core Office

•  We  own  interests  in  and  operate  Class A  office  assets  in  gateway  markets  around  the  globe,  consisting  of  142  premier 

properties totaling 96 million square feet of office space. 

• 

The properties are located primarily in the world’s leading commercial markets such as New York, London, Los Angeles, 
Washington, D.C., Sydney, Toronto and Berlin. 

•  We also develop properties on a selective basis; active development projects consist of seven office and eight multifamily 

sites, totaling 10 million square feet. 

Core Retail 

•  We own interests in and operate 124 best-in-class malls and urban retail properties in the United States, totaling 121 million 

square feet.

•  Our portfolio consists of 100 of the top 500 malls in the United States.

•  Our retail mall portfolio has a development and redevelopment pipeline that exceeds $1 billion of development costs on a 

proportionate basis.

LP Investments 

•  We own and operate global portfolios of real estate investments through our opportunistic real estate funds, which are targeted 

to achieve higher returns than our core office and core retail portfolios. 

•  We invest in mispriced portfolios and/or properties with significant value-add opportunities.

•  Our LP Investments portfolios consist of high-quality assets with operational upside across the multifamily, triple net lease, 

hospitality, office, retail, mixed-use, self-storage, manufactured housing and student housing sectors. 

55     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

Our real estate group remains focused on increasing the value of our properties through proactive leasing and select redevelopment 
initiatives, as well as recycling capital from mature properties, primarily core office assets, to fund new higher yielding investments, 
particularly  in  our  LP  Investments  real  estate  business.  Our  $6.6  billion  capital  backlog  gives  us  the  opportunity  to  deploy 
additional capital throughout our portfolio for planned capital expansion that should continue to increase earnings for the next 
several years as these projects are completed. Our development track record reflects on-time and on-budget completions. This 
includes development projects in progress across our premier office buildings, retail malls and mixed-use complexes located 
primarily in North America and Europe. 

In our core retail operations, we are focused on operating and developing high-quality shopping centers as these destinations 
continue to provide an attractive physical location for retailers and continue to demonstrate meaningful outperformance, relative 
to lower tier malls, despite a changing retail landscape. 

In our LP Investments operations, we will continue to acquire high-quality properties through our global opportunistic private 
funds as these generally produce higher returns relative to core strategies. These funds have a wide scope in terms of real estate 
asset classes and geographic reach. We target an average gross 20% total return in our portfolio and a 2.0x multiple of capital on 
the equity that we invest into these vehicles. These investments have a defined hold period and typically generate the majority of 
profits from gains recognized from realization events, including the sale of an asset or portfolio of assets, or exit of the entire 
investment. Funding for these transactions will continue to include proceeds from asset sales as part of our capital recycling program.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table disaggregates segment revenues and our share of FFO and common equity of entities in our Real Estate 
segment, and summarizes realized disposition gains. We have provided additional detail, where referenced, to explain significant 
movements from the prior period. 

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brookfield Property Partners

Ref
.

Revenues

FFO

Common Equity

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Equity units1 ...............................................................
Preferred shares ..........................................................

Other real estate investments ........................................

Realized disposition gains.............................................

ii

i

$

7,164

$

6,012

$

736

$

668

$ 15,160

$ 15,388

64

7,228

888

—

76

6,088

774

—

64

800

47

939

76

744

36

1,224

435

15,595

1,828

—

1,265

16,653

72

—

$

8,116

$

6,862

$

1,786

$

2,004

$ 17,423

$ 16,725

1.  Brookfield’s equity units in BPY consist of 432.6 million redemption-exchange units, 81.7 million Class A limited partnership units, 4.8 million special limited partnership 

units, 0.1 million general partnership units, and 3.0 million BPR Class A shares, together representing an effective economic interest2 of 54% of BPY.

2.  See “Economic ownership interest” in the Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    56

The following transactions had a significant impact on BPY’s results: 

•  On August 28, 2018, BPY completed the privatization of GGP, previously a 34%-owned equity accounted investment, and 

began consolidating its results.

  A new publicly traded entity, BPR, was formed and issued 161 million BPR Class A shares to former GGP shareholders 
as consideration. As BPR shareholders are entitled to an economic return equivalent to that of BPY unitholders, BPR 
Class A shares are treated as a separate class of BPY equity. 

  Consideration  paid  to  GGP’s  shareholders  also  included  88  million  newly  issued  BPY  LP  units.  In  addition,  BAM 
acquired  21  million  BPY  LP  units  on  conversion  of  its  $500 million  Class  C  preferred  shares. As  a  result  of  these 
transactions, BAM’s effective ownership of BPY was reduced from 69% to 53%.

  BPR’s results are included in BPY’s core retail operations. For the first eight months of the year, BPY picked-up its 34% 
share of GGP’s results and we reported our 69% share of BPY’s FFO. Beginning in September, BPR is incorporated 
into BPY’s consolidated results. After accounting for the impact of BAM’s purchases of BPY shares in the fourth quarter, 
we now own 54% of the combined entity.

•  During the second half of the year, BPY sold 27.5% of its interest in a portfolio of operating and development assets in New 
York to BAM for net cash proceeds of $1.4 billion. We expect to syndicate out our interest to third-party investors in the near 
term. Our share of this portfolio of assets’ FFO and common equity are included in “other real estate investments.”

Revenues and FFO, prior to disposition gains, from our real estate operations increased by $1.3 billion and $67 million, respectively. 
These changes are primarily attributable to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the aforementioned privatization of GGP, previously an equity-accounted investment. BPR’s results are included in BPY’s 
consolidated results beginning August 28th; and

same-property growth throughout our portfolio; partially offset by 

the absence of revenues and FFO from assets sold in the year; and

incremental one-time contributions in the prior year from settlement gains related to historic legal disputes and ancillary 
revenue from condominium sales. 

Refer below for a detailed analysis of disposition gains.

i.  Brookfield Property Partners

The following table disaggregates BPY’s FFO by business line to facilitate analysis of the year-over-year variances in FFO: 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Core office ...................................................................................................................................................... $
Core retail .......................................................................................................................................................
LP Investments1 ..............................................................................................................................................
Corporate1 .......................................................................................................................................................
Attributable to unitholders ..............................................................................................................................

Non-controlling interests ................................................................................................................................
Segment reallocation and other2 .....................................................................................................................
Brookfield’s interest........................................................................................................................................ $

$

2018

608

651

330

(410)

1,179

(444)

1

736

$

2017

592

515

335

(425)

1,017

(322)

(27)

668

1.  BPY realigned its segments during the year. Comparative figures have been restated to conform with the new segment presentation.
2.  Reflects fee related earnings and net carried interest reclassified to the Asset Management segment as well as current taxes related to disposition gains. 

BPY’s FFO for 2018 was $1.2 billion, of which our share was $736 million, compared to $668 million in the prior year. 

Core Office

FFO increased by $16 million to $608 million. Included in prior year results are one-time gains on legal settlement claims for a 
total of $60 million, while in the current year, FFO benefited from an increase in lease termination income and fees earned from 
third parties.

57     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Excluding these results, FFO increased by $69 million, primarily due to same-property growth as a result of strong leasing activity, 
primarily in New York, Toronto and Sydney, resulting in an increase in occupancy rates from 91.2% in the prior year to 92.7%. 
These gains were partially offset by the absence of FFO from assets sold in the year as we continue to recycle capital out of core, 
stable assets into higher-yielding opportunistic investments.

Core Retail

FFO  increased  by  $136  million  from  the  prior  year  to  $651  million.  The  prior  year  results  included  one-time  gains  from 
condominium sales related to ancillary developments and lease termination income. Excluding these gains, FFO increased by 
$162 million as a result of: 

• 

• 

the incremental contributions from BPR on a consolidated basis beginning August 28th, after the aforementioned privatization 
of GGP; partially offset by 

the absence of FFO from properties sold, which were greater than the incremental contributions from businesses acquired in 
the year. 

LP Investments

BPY’s share of the FFO from its LP investments was largely in line with prior year as:

• 

• 

• 

the absence of FFO from assets sold, namely the sale of our European logistics portfolio in the fourth quarter of 2017 and a 
portfolio of self-storage properties in the third quarter of 2018; was partially offset by

income earned on the sales of merchant build assets in our multifamily portfolio; and

same-property growth at existing portfolio assets.

Recent acquisitions and dispositions have been further discussed on pages 33 and 34. 

Corporate

BPY’s  corporate  expenses  include  interest  expense,  management  fees  and  other  costs.  Corporate  expenses  of  $410  million
decreased from the prior year due to lower management fees as a result of a lower average capitalization value during the year, 
partially offset by higher interest expense.

ii.  Realized Disposition Gains

Realized disposition gains of $939 million relate to sales of properties across our portfolios. Most significantly, we sold:

• 

• 

• 

interests in certain core retail properties to joint-venture partners for realized gains of $246 million prior to the privatization 
of GGP in the third quarter;

full or partial interests of a number of core office properties throughout Canada, U.S. and Australia, for a total of $410 million, 
including the sale of 50% of a building in downtown Toronto for $161 million and our interest in an office property in Denver 
for a $73 million net gain; and

numerous LP investments, including our interest in a U.S. logistics portfolio for realized gains of $135 million and a portfolio 
of self-storage assets for gains of $36 million.

Prior year disposition gains of $1.2 billion relate primarily to the sale an office building in midtown Manhattan, our European 
logistics portfolio and the partial sale of an office building in London.  

Common Equity

Common  equity  in  our  Real  Estate  segment  increased  to  $17.4  billion  as  at  December 31,  2018  from  $16.7  billion  as  at 
December 31, 2017.  Positive  contributions  from  FFO  and  valuation  gains  on  investment  properties  were  partially  offset  by 
distributions paid during the year. In addition, the above-noted significant transactions impacted our common equity. Specifically: 

• 

• 

the acquisition of our 27.5% interest in a portfolio of operating and development assets in New York added $1.4 billion to 
the period end common equity in the directly held investments; partially offset by 

attribution of a portion of our common equity to non-controlling interests resulting from a dilution loss on the change in our 
effective ownership of BPY to 54%.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    58

Business Overview

•  We own and operate renewable power assets primarily through a 61% ownership interest in BEP, which is listed on the 

New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges and had a market capitalization of $8.1 billion at December 31, 2018.

•  BEP owns one of the world’s largest publicly traded renewable power portfolios.

Operations

Hydroelectric

•  We own, operate and invest in 218 hydroelectric generating stations on 82 river systems in North America, Brazil and Colombia. 
Our hydroelectric operations have 7,906 megawatts (“MW”) of installed capacity and long-term average (“LTA”)1 generation 
of 20,033 gigawatt hours (“GWh”) on a proportionate basis.

Wind

•  Our  wind  operations  include  106  wind  facilities  globally  with  4,448 MW  of  installed  capacity  and  LTA  generation  of 

5,372 GWh on a proportionate basis.

Solar

•  Our solar operations include 545 solar facilities globally with 1,787 MW of installed capacity and 974 GWh of LTA generation 

on a proportionate basis.

Storage 

•  Our storage operations have 2,698 MW of installed capacity at four pumped storage facilities in North America and Europe.

Energy Contracts

•  We purchase a portion of BEP’s power generated in North America (predominantly in New York) pursuant to a long-term 

contract at predetermined prices, thereby increasing the stability of BEP’s revenue profile. 

•  We sell the power into the open market and also earn ancillary revenues, such as capacity fees and renewable power credits 

and premiums. This provides us with increased participation in future increases or decreases in power prices. 

•  We substantially transferred our North American energy marketing function (formerly Brookfield Energy Marketing Inc., or 
BEMI) to BEP on October 31, 2018 along with our long-term power contract in Ontario. BEP will assume all the benefits of 
the contract, some of which previously accrued to us. This transfer was paid for by a reduction of the price paid to BEP on 
the New York contract which we continue to hold. Under the New York contract, we are required to purchase power that BEP 
generates at certain of its New York assets at a fixed price. Based on LTA, we will purchase approximately 3,600 GWh of 
power each year. The fixed price that we are required to pay BEP will gradually step down over time resulting in an approximate 
$20/MWh reduction by 2026 until the contract expiry in 2046. Refer to Part 5 of this MD&A for additional information.

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
59     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

Revenues in our Renewable Power segment are 87% contracted over an average contract term of 14 years, on a proportionate 
basis, with pricing that is inflation linked. Combining this with a stable cost profile, we are able to achieve consistent growth year 
over year within our existing business. In addition, we consistently identify capital development projects that enable us to put 
capital to work to provide an additional source of same-store growth. Our development pipeline represents over 8,000 MW of 
potential capacity globally, of which 151 MW are currently under construction or in late stage of development that we expect to 
contribute an incremental $15 million to BEP’s FFO when commissioned. We also have a strong track record of adding to our 
renewable power business through acquisitions and will continue to seek out these opportunities.

We believe that the growing global demand for low-carbon energy will lead to continued growth opportunities for us in the future. 
In 2019, we intend to remain focused on progressing our key priorities including on surfacing margin expansion opportunities, 
progressing our development pipeline and assessing select contracting opportunities across the portfolio. We believe the investment 
environment for renewable power remains favorable and we expect to continue to advance our pipeline of opportunities.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table disaggregates segment revenues and our share of FFO and common equity of entities in our Renewable Power 
segment. We have provided additional detail, where referenced, to explain significant movements from the prior period. 

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brookfield Renewable Partners1..............
Energy contracts2 .....................................
Realized disposition gains .......................

Ref
.
i

ii

iii

Revenues

FFO

Common Equity

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

3,864

$

2,826

$

381

$

336

$

4,749

$

(102)

—

(38)

—

(91)

38

(76)

10

553

—

2017

4,143

801

—

3,762

$

2,788

$

328

$

270

$

5,302

$

4,944

$

$

1.  Brookfield’s interest in BEP consists of 129.7 million redemption-exchange units, 56.1 million Class A limited partnership units and 2.7 million general partnership units; 

together representing an economic interest of 61% of BEP. Segment revenues at BEP include $840 million (2017 – $147 million) revenue from TERP.

2.  Known as Brookfield Energy Marketing prior to the internalization of the function by BEP effective October 31, 2018. Refer to Reference ii below for more information.

Compared to the prior year, revenues and FFO  generated by our renewable power operations increased by $974 million and 
$58 million, respectively. Contributions from recent acquisitions, favorable price increases and cost reductions were partially 
offset by lower generation across same-store assets compared to the prior year which benefited from above average generation. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    60

i.  Brookfield Renewable Partners

The following table disaggregates BEP’s generation and FFO by business line to facilitate analysis of the year-over-year variances 
in FFO: 

Actual
Generation (GWh)1

Long-Term
Average (GWh)1

FFO

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(GIGAWATT HOURS AND $ MILLIONS)
Hydroelectric ......................................................

Wind ...................................................................

Solar....................................................................

Storage and other................................................

Corporate ............................................................

Attributable to unitholders..................................
Non-controlling interests and other2...................
Segment reallocation3.........................................
Brookfield’s interest ...........................................

2018

20,305

4,176

753

519

—

2017

21,051

2,533

56

328

—

2018

20,389

4,731

724

—

—

20,421

$

2,777

53

—

—

25,753

23,968

25,844

23,251

2017

2018

2017

$

671

160

72

32

(259)

676

(290)

(5)

686

105

2

19

(231)

581

(245)

—

336

$

381

$

1.  Proportionate to BEP; refer to definition of Proportionate basis generation in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
2. 
Includes incentive distributions paid to Brookfield of $40 million (2017 – $30 million) as the general partner of BEP.
3.  Segment reallocation refers to disposition gains, net of NCI, included in BEP’s operating FFO that we reclassify to realized disposition gains. This allows us to present 

FFO attributable to unitholders on the same basis as BEP.

BEP’s FFO for the year was $676 million, of which our share was $381 million, compared to $336 million in 2017. Generation 
for the year totaled 25,753 GWh, which is consistent with the LTA. This represents a 7% increase compared to the prior year, but 
a 2% decrease on a same-store basis excluding the impact of acquisitions.

Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric FFO decreased by $15 million to $671 million due to:

• 

• 

• 

a $43 million decrease in North American FFO as generation was 5% below the prior year (3% above LTA). This decrease 
was partially offset by cost reduction initiatives; and

the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange at our Brazilian operations which more than offset contributions from stronger 
generation and higher average revenue per MWh due to re-contracting initiatives, leading to a decrease in FFO of $6 million 
compared to the prior year; partially offset by

an increase of $34 million in our Colombian business as revenue per MWh increased by 23% attributable to inflation indexation, 
renegotiation efforts of certain of our power purchase agreements, higher market prices and cost reduction initiatives, slightly 
offset by lower generation.

Wind

Wind operations’ FFO increased by $55 million to $160 million due to:

• 

• 

a full year of contributions from wind assets acquired as part of the TERP and TerraForm Global businesses in the fourth 
quarter of 2017 and a portfolio of European wind assets acquired in the second quarter of 2018; and

contributions  from  our  recently  commissioned  development  projects  and  improved  realized  pricing  from  re-contracting 
initiatives; partially offset by

• 

a decrease in foreign exchange rates in Brazil and lower same-store generation across our European and Brazilian portfolios.

Solar 

FFO from our solar operations increased by $70 million over the prior year due to contributions from our acquisitions of TERP 
and TerraForm Global in the fourth quarter of 2017 as well as the acquisition of a portfolio of European solar assets in the second 
quarter of 2018.

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
61     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
Storage and Other

Storage and other activities contributed $32 million of FFO this year compared to $19 million in the prior year. The increase is 
due to improved capacity pricing and generation at our existing pumped storage facility in North America. 

Corporate

The corporate FFO deficit increased by $28 million due to increased preferred share unit distributions as a result of the completed 
preferred share unit issuance in the first quarter of 2018 and higher interest expense from increased borrowings to fund growth in 
the business.

ii.  Energy Contracts

During the year, we purchased 7,417 GWh from BEP at $69 per MWh, compared to 9,566 GWh at $68 per MWh in the prior 
year, which we sold through contracted and uncontracted channels for an average of $56 per MWh compared to $60 per MWh in 
the prior year.

As a result of the negative margins realized on the sale of power purchased in certain markets, we incurred an FFO deficit of 
$91 million in 2018 compared to $76 million in the prior year. The increase in our FFO deficit this year was mainly attributable 
to lower realized pricing on generation sold.

iii.  Realized Disposition Gains

Realized disposition gains relate to the sale of a 25% interest in select Canadian hydroelectric assets in Ontario and British Columbia 
in the fourth quarter of 2018 as well as to a development asset in Europe. 

Common Equity

Common  equity  in  our  Renewable  Power  segment  increased  to  $5.3  billion  at  December 31,  2018  from  $4.9  billion  at 
December 31, 2017 as revaluation gains on our property, plant and equipment and contributions from FFO were partially offset 
by depreciation, distributions paid to investors and unfavorable foreign exchange.  

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    62

Business Overview

•  We own and operate infrastructure assets primarily through our 30% economic ownership interest in BIP, which is listed on 

the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges and had a market capitalization of $13.8 billion at December 31, 2018.

•  BIP is one of the largest globally diversified owners and operators of infrastructure in the world.

•  We also have direct investments in sustainable resource operations.

Principal Operations

Utilities

•  Our regulated transmission business includes ~2,000 km of natural gas pipelines in Brazil, ~2,200 km of transmission lines 
in North and South America1, and ~2,700 km of greenfield electricity transmission under development in South America.

•  We  own  and  operate  6.6  million  connections,  predominantly  electricity  and  natural  gas  connections,  and  approximately 

1.1 million smart meters in our regulated distribution business.

•  Our regulated terminal operations includes ~85 million tons per annum of coal handling capacity.

• 

These businesses typically generate long-term returns on a regulated or contractual asset base which increase with capital we 
invest to upgrade and/or expand our systems. 

Transport

•  We operate ~5,500 km of railroad track in Western Australia and ~4,800 km of railroad track in South America.

•  Our toll road operations include ~4,200 km of motorways in Brazil, Chile, Peru and India.

•  Our ports operations include 37 terminals in North America, the U.K., Australia and across Europe.

• 

These operations are comprised of networks that provide transportation for freight, bulk commodities and passengers, for 
which we are paid an access fee. This includes businesses with price ceilings as a result of regulation, such as our rail and 
toll road operations, as well as unregulated businesses, such as our ports. 

Energy

•  We own and operate ~15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines, primarily in the U.S., and 600 billion cubic feet of 

natural gas storage in the U.S. and Canada. 

• 

• 

In our district energy business we deliver ~3.4 million pounds per hour of heating and 336,000 tons of cooling capacity, as 
well as servicing ~24,900 natural gas, water and wastewater connections. 

These  operations  are  comprised  of  businesses,  typically  unregulated  or  subject  to  price  ceilings,  that  provide  energy 
transmission and storage services, with profitability based on the volume and price achieved for the provision of these services.

Data Infrastructure

•  We own and operate ~7,000 multi-purpose communication towers and active rooftop sites and 5,500 km of fiber backbone 

located in France.

• 

• 

In our data storage business, we manage 33 data centers with ~1.3 million square feet of raised floors and 103 MW of critical 
load capacity.

These businesses provide essential services and critical infrastructure to media broadcasting and telecom sectors and are 
secured by long-term inflation-linked contracts.

1.  On March 15, 2018 we sold ~10,700 km of regulated transmission lines in South America. 
63     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

Our  infrastructure  business  owns  and  operates  assets  that  are  critical  to  the  global  economy.  Our  expertise  in  managing  and 
developing such assets make us ideal partners for the stakeholders who rely on these assets. Our goal is to continue demonstrating 
our stewardship of critical infrastructure which should enable us to participate in future opportunities to acquire high-quality 
infrastructure assets.

FFO in our Infrastructure segment is approximately 95% contracted or regulated with pricing that is inflation-linked. Approximately 
75% of FFO should capture inflationary tariff increases and 40% should benefit from GDP growth by capturing increased volumes. 
As a result, we are able to achieve consistent growth year to year within our existing business. In addition, we have been consistently 
able to identify capital development projects that enable us to put capital to work to provide an additional source of growth. At 
the end of 2018, total capital to be commissioned in the next two to three years is ~$2.2 billion. Our backlog, coupled with inflation-
indexation and higher volumes from our GDP sensitive businesses, should result in another year of robust same-store growth at 
the higher end of our long-term 6-9% growth targets. Furthermore, we plan to close three secured transactions in the first half of 
2019, investing approximately $700 million. These new investments should be contributing fully to results by the second half 
of the year, generating attractive going-in FFO yields.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table disaggregates segment revenues and our share of FFO and common equity of entities in our Infrastructure 
segment. We have provided additional detail, where referenced, to explain significant movements from the prior period. 

Revenues

FFO

Common Equity

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners1 ......
Sustainable resources and other ...........

Realized disposition gains....................

Ref
.
i

ii

iii

$

$

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

4,752

$

3,625

$

327

$

316

$

1,916

$

266

—

246

—

5,018

$

3,871

$

31

244

602

29

—

971

—

$

345

$

2,887

$

2,834

2017

2,098

736

—

1.  Brookfield’s interest in BIP consists of 115.8 million redemption-exchange units, 0.2 million limited partnership units and 1.6 million general partnership units together 

representing an economic interest of 30% of BIP.

Revenues generated by our Infrastructure segment increased by $1.1 billion and FFO excluding realized disposition gains increased
by $13 million compared to the prior year due to same-store growth and initial contributions from recent acquisitions. We deployed 
a significant amount of capital during the second half of 2018, and while these businesses have started to generate value, they 
have not yet had a significant impact on our results.

These increases were partially offset by the absence of a full year of contributions from our Chilean electricity transmission 
business and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    64

i.  Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

The following table disaggregates BIP’s FFO excluding realized gains by business line to facilitate analysis of the year-over-year 
variances:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Utilities............................................................................................................................................................ $
Transport .........................................................................................................................................................

Energy.............................................................................................................................................................

Data infrastructure ..........................................................................................................................................

Corporate ........................................................................................................................................................

Attributable to unitholders ..............................................................................................................................
Non-controlling interests and other1 ...............................................................................................................
Brookfield’s interest........................................................................................................................................ $

2018

2017

$

576

518

269

77

(209)

1,231

(904)

327

$

610

532

209

76

(257)

1,170

(854)

316

1. 

Includes incentive distributions paid to Brookfield of $136 million (2017 – $113 million) as the general partner of BIP.

BIP’s FFO in 2018 was $1.2 billion, of which our share was $327 million compared to $316 million in the prior year. 

Results from our data infrastructure (formerly “communications”) business line was fairly consistent with the prior year. Key 
variances for our utilities, transport, energy and corporate businesses are described below.

Utilities

FFO of $576 million was $34 million lower than the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the impact of the sale of our Chilean electricity transmission business in the first quarter of 2018;

increased borrowing costs from the issuance of debt by our Brazilian regulated gas transmission business; and

the impact of lower foreign exchange rates; partially offset by

a full year of contributions from our Brazilian regulated gas transmission business, acquired during the second quarter of 
2017; and

5%  same-store  growth  on  a  constant  currency  basis,  primarily  due  to  strong  connection  activity  at  our  U.K.  regulated 
distribution business.

Transport

FFO in our transport segment of $518 million was $14 million lower than the prior year due to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

lower ore volumes in our Australian rail business; 

the expiry of one of our state concessions in our Brazilian toll road business; and

the impact of lower foreign exchange rates; partially offset by

5% same-store growth on a constant currency basis relating to higher tariffs and initial contributions from our recently acquired 
toll roads in India.

Energy

FFO from our energy operations of $269 million was $60 million higher than the prior year due to:

• 

• 

initial contributions from acquisitions, including our North American residential infrastructure and Canadian natural gas 
midstream businesses; and

higher transportation volumes from newly secured contracts in our North American natural gas transmission business; partially 
offset by

• 

lower natural gas price spreads that reduced margins at our gas storage business.

65     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Corporate

The FFO deficit of $209 million is lower than last year’s deficit of $257 million due to:

• 

• 

• 

lower base management fees due to lower capitalization values;

lower interest expense due to lower draws on the corporate credit facility; and

higher investment income earned by investing proceeds received from the sale of our Chilean electricity transmission  business. 

ii.  Sustainable Resources and Other

FFO in the current period was largely in line with the prior year as same-store growth offset the impact of unfavorable exchange rates.

iii.  Realized Disposition Gains

BIP sold its investment in a Chilean electricity transmission business during the first quarter of 2018, realizing disposition gains 
of $244 million. 

Common Equity

Common equity in our Infrastructure segment was fairly consistent at $2.9 billion as at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $2.8 billion) 
as contributions from earnings and the impact of the annual revaluation of PP&E were offset by distributions paid.

This equity is primarily our investment in property, plant and equipment and certain concessions, which are recorded as intangible 
assets. Our PP&E is recorded at fair value and revalued annually while concessions are considered intangible assets under IFRS 
and therefore recorded at historical cost and amortized over the life of the concession. Accordingly, a smaller portion of our equity 
is impacted by revaluation compared to our Real Estate and Renewable Power segments, where a larger portion of the balance 
sheet is subject to revaluations.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    66

Business Overview

•  We own and operate private equity assets primarily through our 68% interest in BBU. BBU is listed on the New York and 

Toronto Stock Exchanges and had a market capitalization of $3.9 billion at December 31, 2018.

•  BBU focuses on owning and operating high-quality businesses that benefit from barriers to entry and/or low production costs.

•  We also own certain businesses directly, including a 42% interest in Norbord which is one of the world’s largest producers 

of oriented strand board (“OSB”).

Operations

Business Services

•  We own and operate a road fuel distribution and marketing business with significant import and storage infrastructure, provide 
services to residential real estate brokers through franchise arrangements under a number of brands in Canada and facilities 
management services for corporate and government investors with over 320 million square feet of managed real estate. 

•  We provide contracting services with a focus on high-quality construction of large-scale and complex landmark buildings 
and social infrastructure. Construction projects are generally delivered through contracts, whereby we take responsibility for 
design, program, procurement and construction at a defined price. Our backlog currently stands at $8 billion, with a weighted 
average remaining project life of 1.8 years. 

•  Other operations in our business services include entertainment facilities in the Greater Toronto Area, financial advisory, 

logistics and wireless broadband.

Infrastructure Services

•  We are the leading provider of services to the global power generation industry, which includes providing original equipment 
or technology for approximately 50% of global nuclear capacity and servicing two thirds of the world’s nuclear reactors. 

•  We also provide services to the offshore oil production industry, operating in the North Sea, Canada and Brazil, 

Industrial Operations

•  Our industrial portfolio is comprised of capital intensive businesses with significant barriers to entry that require technical 

operating expertise. 

•  We own and operate a leading manufacturer of a broad range of high quality graphite electrodes and a manufacturer of 

returnable plastics packaging.

•  We own a water distribution, collection and treatment business which operates through long-term concessions and public-

private partnerships, and services 15 million customers in Brazil.

•  Our mining activities include interests in specialty metal and aggregates mining operations in Canada, including a palladium 

mine in northern Ontario with ~15,000 tonnes per day of processing capacity.

•  We own and operate a natural gas exploration and production business, and a contract drilling and well servicing business in 

western Canada.

67     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

Our private equity business utilizes Brookfield’s expertise in evaluating investments, operating and financing businesses as well 
as turnaround execution. BBU has made excellent progress since listing as a publicly listed partnership in 2016 with most of its 
value today generated from diverse services and industrial operations. We expect this trend to continue as we move forward with 
recently announced initiatives and continue to expand our operations.

Within our business services segment, we have grown our facilities management globally and signed a definitive agreement to 
sell our interest in GIS for $1 billion in March 2019. We are also increasing the earnings potential of several recent acquisitions 
across our portfolio through operational improvements, tuck-in acquisitions and expanding into new regions and product lines. 
Our construction services business is one of the strongest operators globally and we continue to win new work and maintain 
a strong backlog in core markets as we focus on returning to more historical levels of profitability. Our recent acquisition of a  
provider of a high speed fixed wireless broadband in rural Ireland, provides us an initial entry point into technology services, an 
area of huge potential growth given the increasing number of opportunities.

Within our infrastructure services segment, we recently acquired Westinghouse, a service provider to the power generation industry. 
We continue to work with the management team to implement our business plan to further enhance profitability by strengthening 
the supply chain and enhancing focus on customers.

Within our industrial operations segment, we monetized a number of assets this year, including the sale of a portion of our holdings 
in our graphite electrode manufacturing business through an IPO and secondary offering and the sale of our Australian Energy 
operations. Looking ahead, our graphite electrode manufacturing business continues to find operational improvements at its plants 
and optimizing remaining sales. We also continue to progress initiatives at our water distribution and sewage treatment operations, 
including safety performance, completion of our water quality assurance program, expanding our lending relationships, reducing 
overall borrowing costs and accelerating capital expenditures to increase the scope of operations. 

Given the significant liquidity and flexible investment approach, we believe BBU is well positioned for further growth in any 
economic environment. In the fourth quarter of 2018, BBU entered into a definitive agreement alongside institutional partners to 
acquire Johnson Controls’ power solutions business, a market leader in the production of automotive batteries. In January 2019, 
BBU also entered into a definitive agreement alongside institutional partners to acquire up to a 100% interest in Healthscope 
Limited, the second largest private health operator in Australia and the largest pathology services provider in New Zealand.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table disaggregates segment revenues and our share of FFO and common equity of entities in our Private Equity 
segment, and summarizes realized disposition gains. We have provided additional detail, where referenced, to explain significant 
movements from the prior year. 

Revenues

FFO

Common Equity

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brookfield Business Partners1..............
Norbord ................................................

Other investments.................................

Realized disposition gains....................

Ref
.
i

ii

iii

iv

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

$

36,982

$

22,803

$

—

288

—

1,680

94

—

$

37,270

$

24,577

$

223

243

34

295

795

$

$

35

$

2,017

$

219

(3)

82

1,287

975

—

2017

2,064

1,364

787

—

333

$

4,279

$

4,215

1.  Brookfield’s  interest  in  BBU  consists  of  63.1  million  redemption-exchange  units,  24.8  million  limited  partnership  units  and  eight  general  partnership  units  together 

representing an economic interest of 68% of BBU.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    68

Revenues generated from our private equity operations increased by $12.7 billion primarily as a result of a full year of revenues 
contributed by our road fuel distribution business which was acquired in May 2017. Included in this business’s revenues and direct 
costs are significant flow-through duty amounts that are passed through to the customers and recorded gross in both accounts, 
without impact to margin generated by the business. In addition to the above, revenues increased due to improved pricing at our 
graphite electrode manufacturing business, the acquisition of Westinghouse, which is a leading service provider to the power 
generation industry and the consolidation of our services provider to the offshore oil production industry beginning in the third 
quarter of 2018.

These increases were partially offset by the deconsolidation of our investment in Norbord in the fourth quarter of 2017 after we 
sold our controlling stake in the business. We now record our share of Norbord’s income through the equity accounted income 
line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

FFO, prior to disposition gains, increased by $249 million to $500 million due to:

• 

• 

strong performance across multiple operations, particularly improved pricing at our graphite electrode manufacturing business;

contributions from recent acquisitions in 2018, most notably Westinghouse which we acquired in the third quarter of 2018, 
and a full year of contributions from businesses we acquired during 2017, most notably our service provider to the offshore 
oil production industry; partially offset by

• 

higher management and performance fees due to increases in BBU’s capitalization value since the prior year.

i.  Brookfield Business Partners

The following table disaggregates BBU’s FFO by business line to facilitate analysis of the year-over-year variances in FFO: 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Business services1 ........................................................................................................................................... $
Infrastructure services1 ...................................................................................................................................
Industrial operations1 ......................................................................................................................................
Corporate ........................................................................................................................................................
Attributable to unitholders ..............................................................................................................................
Performance fees.............................................................................................................................................
Non-controlling interests ................................................................................................................................
Segment reallocation and other2 .....................................................................................................................
Brookfield’s interest........................................................................................................................................ $

2018
131
195
470
(63)
733
(278)
(146)
(86)
223

$

$

2017
92
21
163
(24)
252
(142)
(25)
(50)
35

1.  BBU reclassified its segments during the year. Comparative figures have been restated to conform with the new segment presentation.
2.  Segment reallocation and other refers to disposition gains, net of NCI, included in BBU’s operating FFO that we reclassify to realized disposition gains. This allows us 

to present FFO attributable to unitholders on the same basis as BBU.

BBU generated $733 million of FFO, of which our share was $223 million, compared to $35 million in the prior year.

Business Services

In 2018, we combined our construction services with our business services operations and restated our comparative results. Our 
current year FFO increased by $39 million to $131 million. Excluding gains on assets sold that we reclassify to realized disposition 
gains, FFO decreased by $7 million due to:

• 

• 

• 

the absence of contributions from our recently sold real estate brokerage services business; and

lower diesel margins at our road fuel distribution business; partially offset by

contributions from acquisitions since the prior year, most notably our entertainment facilities in Ontario.

Infrastructure Services

FFO increased primarily due to the acquisition of Westinghouse. Current year FFO of $195 million includes:

• 

• 

contributions from new project activities at Westinghouse; and

a full year of contributions from our service provider to the offshore oil production industry, as well as receipt of a one-time 
customer settlement at this business.

69     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Industrial Operations

During the year, FFO from our industrial operations increased by $307 million to $470 million. Excluding disposition gains that 
are reclassified out of our operating results, FFO increased by $275 million. The increase is due to strong pricing and operational 
performance at our graphite electrode manufacturing business and our palladium mining operations.

Corporate

The  Corporate  FFO  deficit  increased  by  $39  million  to  $63  million  as  increases  in  BBU’s  capitalization  value  led  to  higher 
management fees. In addition, we incurred more operating expenses due to growth in the business.

Performance Fees

BBU pays performance fees quarterly based on the volume-weighted average increase in BBU’s unit price above the previous 
threshold on which fees were paid. During the year, BBU paid $278 million in performance fees which we record as income in 
our Asset Management segment.

ii.  Norbord 

Our share of Norbord’s FFO increased by $24 million to $243 million as higher volumes were partially offset by a decrease in 
North American benchmark average OSB prices and our lower ownership of the business during the year.

iii.  Other Investments 

FFO from other investments increased by $37 million to $34 million primarily due to the direct investment in our service provider 
to the offshore oil production industry which we made in the third quarter of 2017.

iv.  Realized Disposition Gains

Realized disposition gains recorded in the current year include the partial sell down of our graphite electrode manufacturing 
business through a series of public offerings and a share buyback, the sale of our Australian energy operations and the sale of a 
joint venture interest in a real estate brokerage services business.

In the prior year, we recognized disposition gains relating to the sale of our bath and shower products manufacturing business and 
the sale of Norbord shares as part of a secondary bought deal offering. This gain was partially offset by a loss on the sale of an 
oil and gas producer in western Canada.

Common Equity 

Common equity in our Private Equity segment increased by $64 million to $4.3 billion as at December 31, 2018. Contributions 
from operating performance were partially offset by an adjustment to opening equity as the adoption of IFRS 15 affected our 
construction services business. The assets held in these operations are recorded at amortized cost, with depreciation recorded on 
a  quarterly  basis,  with  the  exception  of  investments  in  financial  assets,  which  are  carried  at  fair  value  based  predominantly 
on quoted prices.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    70

Business Overview

•  Our residential development businesses operate predominantly in North America and Brazil.

•  Our North American business is conducted through Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., is active in 12 principal markets 

in Canada and the U.S. and controls over 88,000 lots. 

•  Our Brazilian business includes construction, sales and marketing of a broad range of residential and commercial office units, 

with a primary focus on middle income residential units in Brazil’s largest markets of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Outlook and Growth Initiatives

In our North American residential business, we are actively working on closing our backlog of $612 million while growing our 
mixed-use development business and evaluating other built forms to keep us in step with the changing preferences and requirements 
of our consumer base. 

Residential real estate development in Brazil remains challenging following years of industry overdevelopment. However, recently 
implemented regulatory changes and a new government are expected to positively impact the industry going forward. We remain 
focused on developing high margin projects in select key markets and excelling in all operational areas.

Summary of Operating Results

The following table disaggregates segment revenues, FFO and common equity into the amounts attributable to the two principal 
operating regions of our wholly owned residential development businesses:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
North America................................................. $
Brazil and other...............................................

$

Revenues

2018

2,213

470

2,683

$

$

2017

2,062

385

2,447

$

$

FFO

2018

161

(112)

49

$

$

Common Equity

2017

169

(135)

34

$

$

2018

1,758

848

2,606

$

$

2017

1,711

1,204

2,915

North America

FFO from our North American operations of $161 million was $8 million lower than the prior year.

Housing operations contributed $6 million less FFO than the prior year as:

•  U.S. housing operations’ gross margin improved by $27 million, resulting primarily from a 25% increase in the number of 

home closings; offset by

•  A decrease in Canadian housing operations margins of $33 million due to a 14% decrease in the number of home closings 

compared to the prior year.

FFO from our land development operations improved by $5 million due to higher prices and more land closings in the U.S. partially 
offset by lower prices in our Canadian market.

In addition, higher selling, general and administrative expenses and current taxes impacted FFO in 2018. 

As at December 31, 2018, we had 88 active housing communities (2017 – 81) and 30 active land communities (2017 – 28). 

71     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Brazil and Other

FFO from our Brazilian operations improved by $23 million to a loss of $112 million in the current year due to:

• 

• 

improved margins and a one-time gain recognized on sales of completed inventory; and

the impact of foreign exchange, as the weakening of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar reduced the deficit; partially 
offset by 

• 

a decrease in the number of units closed compared to the prior year.

Our Brazilian operations were affected by the adoption of IFRS 15, the new revenue recognition accounting standard (see Note 2 
to the consolidated financial statements). Recognition of revenue is now delayed until keys are delivered to the client, whereas 
previously revenue was recognized when the building was completed. 

Our  focus  over  the  past  two  years  has  been  delivering  projects  and  selling  remaining  inventory  of  units  associated  with 
projects launched prior to the economic downturn. During 2018, we completed and delivered six projects as compared to 16 projects 
in 2017. We continued to sell down the remaining inventory in 2018, however, overall contributions from these sales were below 
the level required to cover fixed costs, including marketing expenses. 

We began 2018 with 19 projects under construction and as of December 31, 2018, we have 22 projects under construction, of 
which 20 relate to new projects launched since late 2016 which command higher margins than older projects.

Common Equity

Common equity was $2.6 billion at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $2.9 billion) and consists largely of residential development 
inventory which is carried at historical cost, or the lower of cost and market, notwithstanding the length of time that we may have 
held these assets and created value through the development process. The decrease in the equity balance as at December 31, 2018
is primarily attributable to the impact of the Brazilian real weakening compared to the U.S. dollar. Additionally, equity in our 
Residential segment is inclusive of a $15 million adjustment that reduced common equity as at January 1, 2018 due to the adoption 
of the new revenue recognition standard discussed above.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    72

Business Overview 

•  Our corporate activities consist of allocating capital to our operating business groups, principally through our listed partnerships 
(BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU) and directly held investments. We also support the development of new private fund products and 
can support transactions initiated by our subsidiaries. We fund this capital from free cash flow generation and the issuance 
of corporate borrowings and preferred shares.

•  We also hold cash and financial assets as part of our liquidity management operations and enter into financial contracts to 

manage our foreign currency and interest rate risks.

Summary of Operating Results 

The following table disaggregates segment revenues, FFO and common equity into the principal assets and liabilities within our 
corporate operations and associated FFO to facilitate analysis:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Corporate cash and financial assets, net............... $
Corporate borrowings...........................................
Preferred equity1...................................................
Other corporate investments ................................

Corporate costs and taxes/net working capital.....

Revenues

FFO

Common Equity

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

17

—

—

171

—

$

193

$

11

$

145

$

2,275

$

—

—

169

—

(323)

—

(1)

(163)

(261)

—

9

(39)

(6,409)

(4,168)

43

1,081

2017

2,255

(5,659)

(4,192)

41

(338)

$

188

$

362

$

(476) $

(146) $

(7,178) $

(7,893)

1.  FFO excludes preferred share distributions of $151 million (2017 – $145 million).

Our portfolio of corporate cash and financial assets is generally recorded at fair value with changes recognized quarterly through 
net income, unless the underlying financial investments are classified as fair value through other comprehensive income, in which 
case changes in value are recognized in other comprehensive income. Loans and receivables are typically carried at amortized 
cost. As at December 31, 2018, our portfolio of corporate cash and financial assets includes $1.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents 
(2017 – $807 million).

Our corporate cash and financial assets generated FFO of $11 million which was $134 million lower than the prior year. Market 
conditions in the fourth quarter resulted in mark-to-market losses in our portfolio. These losses were partially offset by gains on 
the settlement of certain derivatives as well as interest income from a direct loan that was funded in the second half of 2017.

Corporate borrowings are generally issued with fixed interest rates. Many of these borrowings are denominated in Canadian dollars 
and therefore the carrying value fluctuates with changes in the exchange rate. A number of these borrowings have been designated 
as hedges of our Canadian dollar net investments within our other segments, resulting in the majority of the currency revaluation 
being recognized in other comprehensive income. The $323 million FFO loss reported through corporate borrowings reflects the 
interest expense on those borrowings. This increased from the prior year as a result of $1.6 billion of corporate debt issued since 
the third quarter of 2017.

Preferred equity does not revalue under IFRS. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we purchased approximately one million preferred 
shares across different series through the normal-course issuer bid (“NCIB”) program, resulting in a $24 million decrease in the 
amount outstanding.

73     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

We describe cash and financial assets, corporate borrowings and preferred equity in more detail within Part 4 – Capitalization 
and Liquidity.

Net working capital includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, other assets and other liabilities and was in an asset position 
of $1.1 billion as at December 31, 2018 (2017 – liability of $338 million). Included within this balance are net deferred income 
tax assets of $1.9 billion (2017 – $590 million). Our deferred tax assets increased following the acquisition of a business in the 
first quarter of 2018 with net operating losses as well as the recognition in the fourth quarter of previously unrecognized loss 
carryforwards that will offset future projected taxable income. FFO includes corporate costs and cash taxes which increased due 
to continued expansion of business activity and cash taxes paid during the current year as opposed to a recovery in the prior year.

The common equity deficit in our Corporate segment of $7.2 billion at December 31, 2018 is lower than the prior year deficit of 
$7.9 billion primarily due to the increase in deferred tax assets as well as the weakening of the Canadian dollar relative to the 
U.S. dollar, which reduced the translated value of our Canadian dollar denominated debt. This was partially offset by $1.1 billion 
of corporate debt issued during the year.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    74

PART 4 – CAPITALIZATION AND LIQUIDITY

CAPITALIZATION

We review key components of our capitalization in the following sections. In several instances we have disaggregated the balances 
into the amounts attributable to our operating segments in order to facilitate discussion and analysis. 

Consolidated Capitalization1 – reflects the full capitalization of wholly-owned and partially-owned entities that we consolidate 
in our financial statements. At December 31, 2018, consolidated capitalization increased compared to the prior year largely due 
to acquisitions, which resulted in additional associated borrowings, working capital balances and non-controlling interests.

Corporate Capitalization1 – reflects the amount of debt held in the corporate segment and our issued and outstanding common 
and preferred shares. Corporate debt includes unsecured bonds and, from time to time, draws on revolving credit facilities. At   
December 31, 2018, 77% of our corporate capitalization was common and preferred equity, which totaled $29.8 billion (2017 – 
$28.2 billion). 

Capitalization at Our Share1 – reflects our proportionate exposure of debt and equity balances in consolidated entities and our 
share of the debt and equity in our equity accounted investments. 

The following table presents our capitalization on a consolidated, corporate and our share basis:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Corporate borrowings...............................

Ref
.
i

Non-recourse borrowings

Subsidiary borrowings...........................

Property-specific borrowings ................

i

i

Accounts payable and other .....................

Deferred income tax liabilities .................

Subsidiary equity obligations...................
Liabilities associated with assets

classified as held for sale......................

Equity

Non-controlling interests......................

Preferred equity....................................

Common equity....................................

ii

iii

Corporate

Consolidated

Our Share

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

$

6,409

$

5,659

$

6,409

$

5,659

$

6,409

$

2017

5,659

5,711

30,210

41,580

10,880

5,204

1,648

—

—

6,409

2,299

197

—

—

—

4,168

25,647

29,815

—

—

5,659

2,140

160

—

—

—

4,192

24,052

28,244

8,600

103,209

118,218

23,989

12,236

3,876

63,721

9,009

78,389

17,965

11,409

3,661

5,174

35,943

47,526

10,297

4,425

1,658

812

1,424

262

703

67,335

4,168

25,647

97,150

51,628

4,192

24,052

79,872

—

4,168

25,647

29,815

—

4,192

24,052

28,244

Total capitalization ...................................

$

38,720

$

36,203

$ 256,281

$ 192,720

$

93,983

$

88,259

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.
75     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
i.  Borrowings

Corporate Borrowings

Average Rate

Average Term (Years)

Consolidated

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Term debt ......................................................

Revolving facilities .......................................

Deferred financing costs ...............................

Total ..............................................................

2018

4.5%

—%

n/a

2017

4.6%

1.6%

n/a

2018

10

4

n/a

2017

2018

10

4

n/a

$

$

6,450

$

—

(41)

2017

5,594

103

(38)

6,409

$

5,659

As at December 31, 2018, corporate borrowings included term debt of $6.5 billion (2017 – $5.6 billion) which had an average 
term to maturity of 10 years (2017 – 10 years). Term debt consists of public and private bonds, all of which are fixed rate and 
have maturities ranging from April 2019 until 2047. These financings provide an important source of long-term capital and are 
appropriately matched to our long-term asset profile.

The increase in term debt compared to the prior year is due to the issuance of $650 million of 3.9% notes, ¥10 billion of 1.42% 
notes and $350 million of 4.7% notes with maturities of 2028, 2038 and 2047, respectively. This is partially offset by $238 million 
of foreign currency depreciation and repayments of $103 million on the corporate revolving facility.

Subsequent to December 31, 2018, we issued $1 billion of 4.85% notes with a 2029 maturity. 

We had no commercial paper or bank borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $103 million). Commercial paper 
and bank borrowings are pursuant to, or backed by, $1.9 billion of committed revolving term credit facilities with terms ranging 
from one to five years. As at December 31, 2018, $68 million of the facilities were utilized for letters of credit (2017 – $79 million). 

Subsidiary Borrowings

We  endeavor  to  capitalize  our  principal  subsidiaries  to  enable  continuous  access  to  the  debt  capital  markets,  usually  on  an 
investment-grade basis, thereby reducing the demand for capital from the Corporation.

Average Rate

Average Term

Consolidated

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Real estate .....................................................

Renewable power..........................................

Infrastructure.................................................

Private equity ................................................

Residential development ...............................

Total ..............................................................

2018

4.4%

4.0%

3.6%

3.9%

6.2%

4.5%

2017

3.3%

4.5%

3.1%

3.9%

6.3%

4.1%

2018

2017

2018

2

5

5

1

4

4

2

6

4

2

5

4

$

2,504

$

2,328

1,993

52

1,723

$

8,600

$

2017

3,214

1,665

2,102

380

1,648

9,009

Subsidiary borrowings generally have no recourse to the Corporation but are recourse to its principal subsidiaries (primarily BPY, 
BEP, BIP and BBU). Subsidiary borrowings decreased by $409 million as our subsidiaries repaid amounts drawn on their credit 
facilities with proceeds from capital recycling programs. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    76

 
 
Property-Specific Borrowings

As  part of our financing strategy, the majority of our debt capital is in the form of  property-specific borrowings  and project 
financings and is denominated in local currencies that have recourse only to the assets being financed and have no recourse to 
the Corporation or the listed partnerships.

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Real estate .....................................................
Renewable power..........................................
Infrastructure.................................................
Private equity and other ................................
Residential development ...............................
Total ..............................................................

Average Rate

Average Term

Consolidated

2018
4.7%
5.4%
5.2%
6.2%
8.0%
5.0%

2017
4.4%
5.9%
4.7%
6.7%
9.6%
4.9%

2018
4
10
6
6
2
6

2017
4
9
8
6
2
6

$

$

2018
63,494
14,233
14,334
10,820
328
103,209

$

$

2017
37,235
14,230
9,010
2,898
348
63,721

Property-specific borrowings have increased by $39.5 billion since December 31, 2017. The additional borrowings in our real 
estate operations are primarily related to the consolidation of GGP following privatization and the acquisitions of Forest City, an 
extended-stay  hospitality  business  and  a  U.K.  student  housing  business.  The  additional  borrowings  in  our  renewable  power 
operations  are  primarily  related  to  the  acquisition  of  a  European  solar  and  wind  portfolio. The  additional  borrowings  in  our 
infrastructure operations are primarily related to additional financings at our Brazilian regulated gas transmission business. The 
additional borrowings in our private equity operations are primarily related to the acquisition of a service provider to the power 
generation industry and additional financings at our graphite electrode manufacturing business. In addition to acquisitions, the 
remainder of the increase in consolidated borrowings is driven by drawings on new or existing subscription facilities and additional 
debt assumed for growth capital expenditures. These increases were partially offset by asset sales across the business.

Fixed and Floating Interest Rate Exposure

Many of our borrowings, including all corporate borrowings recourse to the Corporation, are fixed rate, long-term financings. The 
remainder of our borrowings are at floating rates; however, from time to time, we enter into interest rate contracts to swap our 
floating rate debt to fixed rates.

As at December 31, 2018, 69% of our share of debt outstanding, reflecting swaps, was fixed rate. Accordingly, changes in interest 
rates are typically limited to the impact of refinancing borrowings at prevailing market rates or changes in the level of debt as a 
result of acquisitions and dispositions.

The following table presents the fixed and floating rates of interest expense:

Fixed Rate

Floating Rate

2018

2017

2018

2017

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Corporate borrowings .............
Subsidiary borrowings ............
Property-specific borrowings..
Total ........................................

Average Rate

Consolidated
6,409
4.5% $
5,296
4.8%
39,318
4.9%
4.9% $ 51,023

Average Rate

Consolidated
5,556
4.6% $
4,800
4.8%
33,106
5.0%
5.0% $ 43,462

Average Rate

Consolidated
—
—% $
3,304
4.0%
63,891
5.1%
5.0% $ 67,195

Average Rate

Consolidated
103
1.6% $
4,209
3.2%
30,615
4.8%
4.6% $ 34,927

The average floating rate associated with our property-specific borrowings was impacted by higher underlying floating rate indices 
in the first half of 2018. 

ii.  Preferred Equity

Preferred  equity  is  comprised  of  perpetual  preferred  shares  and  represents  permanent  non-participating  equity  that  provides 
leverage to our common equity. The shares are categorized by their principal characteristics in the following table:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Fixed rate-reset ....................................................................................... Perpetual
Fixed rate................................................................................................ Perpetual
Floating rate............................................................................................ Perpetual
Total........................................................................................................

Term 

2018
4.3%
4.8%
2.9%
4.2%

2017
4.2% $
4.8%
2.3%
4.1% $

2018
2,893
744
531
4,168

$

$

2017
2,912
749
531
4,192

Average Rate

77     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
 
 
Fixed rate-reset preferred shares are issued with an initial fixed rate coupon that is reset after an initial period, typically five years, 
at a predetermined spread over the Canadian five-year government bond yield. The average reset spread as at December 31, 2018
was 284 basis points.

During the year, we repurchased 26,509, 203,460 and 829,266 of our perpetual floating, fixed and fixed rate-reset preferred shares, 
respectively, with a face value of $24 million.

iii.  Common Equity

Issued and Outstanding Shares

Changes in the number of issued and outstanding common shares during the years are as follows:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Outstanding at beginning of year .........................................................................................................................

Issued (repurchased)

Repurchases......................................................................................................................................................
Long-term share ownership plans1...................................................................................................................
Dividend reinvestment plan and others............................................................................................................

Outstanding at end of year ...................................................................................................................................
Unexercised options and other share-based plans1 ..............................................................................................
Total diluted shares at end of year........................................................................................................................

1. 

Includes management share option plan and restricted stock plan.

2018

958.8

(9.6)

5.7

0.2

955.1

42.1

997.2

2017

958.2

(3.5)

3.8

0.3

958.8

47.5

1,006.3

The company holds 37.5 million Class A shares (2017 – 30.6 million) purchased by consolidated entities in respect of long-term 
share ownership programs, which have been deducted from the total amount of shares outstanding at the date acquired. Diluted 
shares outstanding include 3.9 million (2017 – 9.2 million) shares issuable in respect of these plans based on the market value of 
the Class A shares at December 31, 2018 and 2017, resulting in a net reduction of 33.6 million (2017 – 21.4 million) diluted 
shares outstanding.

During 2018, 4.5 million options were exercised, of which 2.0 million were exercised on a net-settled basis, resulting in the 
cancellation of 2.5 million vested options.

The cash value of unexercised options was $1.1 billion as at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $994 million) based on the proceeds that 
would be paid on exercise of the options.

As of March 25, 2019, the Corporation had outstanding 955,802,479 Class A shares and 85,120 Class B shares. Refer to Note 21 
to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on equity.

LIQUIDITY

Corporate Liquidity

We maintain significant liquidity at the corporate level. Our primary sources of liquidity, which we refer to as core liquidity, consist 
of:

•  Cash and financial assets, net of deposits and other associated liabilities; and

•  Undrawn committed credit facilities.

We further assess overall liquidity inclusive of our principal subsidiaries BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU because of their role in funding 
acquisitions  both  directly  and  through  our  managed  funds.  Overall  core  liquidity  at  year  end  was  $10.8  billion,  or  inclusive 
of investor commitments to our private funds, was $34.4 billion at the end of the period, as we continue to pursue a number of  
attractive investment opportunities.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    78

Capital Requirements 

The Corporation has very few non-discretionary capital requirements. Our largest normal course capital requirement is our debt 
maturities. Periodically, we will also fund acquisitions and seed new investment strategies. At the listed partnership level, the 
largest normal course capital requirements are debt maturities and the pro-rata share of private fund capital calls. New acquisitions 
are primarily funded through the private funds or listed partnerships that we manage. We endeavor to structure these entities so 
that they are predominantly self-funding, preferably on an investment-grade basis, and in almost all circumstances do not rely on 
financial support from the Corporation. 

In the case of private funds, the necessary equity capital is obtained by calling on commitments made by the limited partners in 
each fund, which include commitments made by our listed partnerships. In the case of our real estate, infrastructure and private 
equity funds, these commitments are expected to be funded by BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU. Subsequent to year end, the Corporation 
committed $2.75 billion to our flagship real estate fund alongside BPY. In the case of listed partnerships, capital requirements are 
funded through their own resources and access to capital markets, which may be supported by us from time to time through 
participation in equity offerings or bridge financings. 

At the asset level, we schedule ongoing capital expenditure programs to maintain the operating capacity of our assets at existing 
levels, which we refer to as sustaining capital expenditures, and which are typically funded by, and represent a relatively small 
proportion of, the operating cash flows within each business. The timing of these expenditures is discretionary; however, we 
believe it is important to maintain the productivity of our assets in order to optimize cash flows and value accretion.

Core and Total Liquidity

The following table presents core liquidity of the Corporation and operating segments:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Corporate

Real 
Estate

Renewable
Power

Cash and financial assets, net .............. $

2,275

$

65

$

Undrawn committed credit facilities ...

Core liquidity .....................................

1,867

4,142

1,980

2,045

Uncalled private fund commitments....

—

12,326

286

971

1,257

1,302

Infrastructure

$

238

$

1,418

1,656

3,788

 Private
Equity

Total
2018

2017

888

825

1,713

6,159

$

3,752

$

3,218

7,061

10,813

23,575

4,839

8,057

18,591

Total liquidity ..................................... $

4,142

$ 14,371

$

2,559

$

5,444

$

7,872

$ 34,388

$ 26,648

1.  See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

As at December 31, 2018, the Corporation’s core liquidity was $4.1 billion, consisting of $2.3 billion in cash and financial assets, 
net of deposits and other liabilities and $1.9 billion in undrawn credit facilities. The Corporation’s liquidity is readily available 
for use without any material tax consequences. We utilize this liquidity to support our asset management business which includes 
supporting the activities of our listed partnerships and private funds, as well as seeding new investment products.

The Corporation also has the ability to raise additional liquidity through the issuance of securities and sale of holdings of listed 
investments in our principal subsidiaries and other holdings including from those listed on page 81. However, this is not included 
in our core liquidity as we are generally able to finance our operations and capital requirements through other means. 

The Corporation generates significant cash available for distribution or reinvestment. Our primary sources of recurring cash flows 
include:

• 

Fee related earnings from our asset management activities and proceeds in the form of realized carried interest from asset 
sales within private funds.

•  Distributions from invested capital, in particular our listed partnerships. 

•  Other invested capital earnings: comprised of our wholly-owned investments offset by corporate interest expense, corporate 

costs and taxes and dividends paid on preferred shares.

79     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
During 2018, we generated $2.4 billion of cash available for distribution or reinvestment, inclusive of:

• 

• 

• 

• 

$1.1 billion fee related earnings;

$188 million realized carried interest, net;

$1.7 billion of distributions from our listed partnerships and other investments; partially offset by

other invested capital earnings, including preferred share dividends paid, which resulted in expenses of $596 million.

The Corporation paid $575 million in cash dividends on its common equity during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Earnings and distributions received by the Corporation are available for distribution or reinvestment and are as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
1) Asset management FFO

Fee revenues ......................................................................................................................................... $
Direct costs ...........................................................................................................................................
Fee related earnings ..............................................................................................................................
Realized carried interest .......................................................................................................................

2) Distributions from investments

Listed partnerships................................................................................................................................
Corporate cash and financial assets ......................................................................................................
Other investments .................................................................................................................................

3) Other invested capital earnings ........................................................................................................
Corporate borrowings ...........................................................................................................................
Corporate costs and taxes .....................................................................................................................
Other wholly owned investments .........................................................................................................

Preferred share dividends .....................................................................................................................
Cash available for distribution and/or reinvestment................................................................................. $

Five-Year Cash Available for Distribution and/or Reinvestment
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (MILLIONS)

2018

2017

1,693
(564)
1,129
188
1,317

1,339
156
203
1,698

(323)
(163)
41
(445)
(151)
2,419

$

$

1,368
(472)
896
74
970

1,218
75
58
1,351

(261)
(39)
23
(277)
(145)
1,899

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    80

The following table shows the quoted market value of the company’s listed securities and annual cash distributions based on 
current distribution policies for each entity:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER UNIT AMOUNTS)

Distributions from investments

Listed partnerships ............................
Brookfield Property Partners4 ........
Brookfield Renewable Partners......

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners..

Brookfield Business Partners .........

Corporate cash and financial assets5 .
Other investments .............................
Norbord6 .........................................
Other7..............................................

Ownership
%

Brookfield
Owned Units 

Distributions 
Per Unit1 

Quoted 
Value2

Distributions 
(Current Rate)3

Distributions
(Actual)

54%

61%

30%

68%

522.3

$

188.4

117.7

87.9

1.32

2.06

2.01

0.25

$

8,855

$

4,879

4,063

2,671

various

various

various

2,275

42%

various

34.8

various

1.17

925

various

various

$

729

388

237

22

1,376

218

41

62

103

725

370

222

22

1,339

156

167

36

203

Total ....................................................................................................................................................... $

1,697

$

1,698

1.  Based on current distribution policies.
2.  Quoted value represents the value of Brookfield owned units as at market close on December 31, 2018.
3.  Distributions (current rate) are calculated by multiplying units held as at December 31, 2018 by distributions per unit. Actual dividends may differ due to timing of dividend 

increases and payment of special dividends, which are not factored into the current rate calculation. See definition in Glossary of Terms beginning on page 108.

4.  BPY’s quoted value includes $435 million of preferred shares. Fully diluted ownership is 51%, assuming conversion of convertible preferred shares held by a third party. 

BPY’s distributions include $64 million of preferred share dividends received by the Corporation.
Includes cash and cash equivalents and financial assets net of deposits.

5. 
6.  Actual distribution received from Norbord in 2018 was higher than distributions at the current rate due to a C$4.50/share special dividend paid in the third quarter.
7.  Other includes cash distributions from Acadian and from our 27.5% interest in a BAM-sponsored real estate venture in New York.

REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

The following table summarizes the consolidated statements of cash flows within our consolidated financial statements:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Operating activities ....................................................................................................................................... $
Financing activities .......................................................................................................................................

Investing activities ........................................................................................................................................

2018

5,159

$

18,136

(19,833)

2017

4,005

8,185

(11,394)

Change in cash and cash equivalents ............................................................................................................ $

3,462

$

796

This statement reflects activities within our consolidated operations and therefore excludes activities within non-consolidated 
entities.

Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities totaled $5.2 billion in 2018, a $1.2 billion increase from 2017. Operating cash flows prior to 
non-cash working capital and residential inventory were $6.2 billion during 2018, $1.1 billion higher than 2017 due to the benefits 
of same-store growth from our existing operations and the contributions from assets acquired during the last twelve months, 
partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Financing Activities

The company generated $18.1 billion of cash flows from financing activities during 2018, as compared to $8.2 billion in 2017. 
Our subsidiaries issued $43.5 billion (2017 – $26.3 billion) and repaid $28.2 billion (2017 – $21.6 billion) of property-specific 
and subsidiary borrowings, for a net issuance of $15.3 billion (2017 – $4.7 billion) during the year. We raised $9.3 billion of capital 
from our institutional private fund partners and other investors to fund their portion of acquisitions, arranged $3.3 billion of short-
term borrowings backed by private fund commitments, and returned $9.4 billion to our investors in the form of either distributions 
or returns of capital. Most of the activity related to acquisitions across our various operating segments. 

81     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Investing Activities

During 2018, we invested $33.4 billion and generated proceeds of $13.5 billion from dispositions for net cash deployed in investing 
activities of $19.9 billion. This compares to net cash deployed of $12.0 billion during the same period in 2017. We acquired 
$22.3 billion of consolidated subsidiaries within our real estate, infrastructure, renewable power and private equity operations, as 
well as $953 million of equity accounted investments during the year. Refer to our Acquisitions of Consolidated Entities in Note 5 
to the consolidated financial statements for further details. We continued to acquire and sell financial assets, which represent a net 
outflow of $527 million, relating to investments in debt and equity securities as well as contract assets associated with managing 
currency risk.

Sustaining capital expenditures in the company’s renewable power operations were $181 million (2017 – $140 million), in its  
real estate operations were $434 million (2017 – $223 million) and in its infrastructure operations were $110 million (2017 – 
$927 million). 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The following table presents the contractual obligations of the company by payment periods:

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)

Recourse Obligations

Payments Due by Period

Less than 1
Year

1 – 3 
Years

4 – 5
Years 

After 5
Years 

$

441

$

5,271

$

1,043

Total 

6,409

2,299

Corporate borrowings.............................................. $

440

$

Accounts payable and other ....................................
Interest expense1

1,044

Corporate borrowings ...........................................

278

257

198

535

Non-recourse Obligations

Principal repayments

Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities

Property-specific borrowings.............................

10,764

Subsidiary borrowings .......................................

Subsidiary equity obligations ...............................

Accounts payable and other

Capital lease obligations.......................................

Accounts payable and other..................................

Commitments ..........................................................

Operating leases ......................................................
Interest expense1,2

Non-recourse borrowings .....................................

Subsidiary equity obligations ...............................

395

185

25

13,293

1,395

516

5,126

151

30,892

3,163

1,417

51

2,758

1,117

834

8,124

307

1.  Represents the aggregate interest expense expected to be paid over the term of the obligations.
2.  Variable interest rate payments have been calculated based on current rates.

14

504

22,527

2,106

356

28

1,330

215

661

5,820

218

1,697

3,014

39,026

2,936

1,918

145

4,060

356

7,823

7,324

209

103,209

8,600

3,876

249

21,441

3,083

9,834

26,394

885

The  recourse  obligations,  those  amounts  that  have  recourse  to  the  Corporation,  which  are  due  in  less  than  one  year  totaled 
$1.8 billion (2017 – $1.0 billion). Corporate borrowings of $440 million due in April 2019 have been pre-funded through a corporate 
debt  issuance  completed  in  January  2019,  while  the  remaining  will  be  funded  through  working  capital  and  cash  flows  from 
operating activities.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    82

The Corporation entered into arrangements in 2014 with respect to $1.8 billion of exchangeable preferred equity units issued by 
BPY, which are redeemable in equal tranches of $600 million in 2021, 2024 and 2026, respectively. The preferred equity units 
are exchangeable into equity units of BPY at $25.70 per unit, at the option of the holder, at any time up to and including the 
maturity date. BPY may redeem the preferred equity units after specified periods if the BPY equity unit price exceeds predetermined 
amounts. At maturity, the preferred equity units will be converted into BPY equity units at the lower of $25.70 or the then market 
price of a BPY equity unit. In order to provide the purchaser with enhanced liquidity, the Corporation has agreed to purchase the 
preferred equity units for cash at the option of the holder, for the initial purchase price plus accrued and unpaid dividends. In order 
to decrease dilution risk to BPY, the Corporation has agreed with the holder and BPY that if the price of a BPY equity unit is less 
than 80% of the exchange price of $25.70 at the redemption date of the 2021 and 2024 tranches, the Corporation will acquire the 
preferred equity units subject to redemption, at the redemption price, and to exchange these preferred equity units for preferred 
equity units with similar terms and conditions, including redemption date, as the 2026 tranche. Accordingly, commitments in 2018
include $178 million, which represents the carrying value of the exchange option at the time of issuance in respect of BPY’s 
subsidiary preferred units, and the remaining $1.6 billion was recorded within subsidiary equity obligations.

Commitments of $3.1 billion (2017 – $2.6 billion) represent various contractual obligations assumed in the normal course of 
business by our various operating subsidiaries. These included commitments to provide bridge financing and letters of credit and 
guarantees provided in respect of power sales contracts and reinsurance obligations. These commitments shall be funded through 
the cash flows of the company’s subsidiaries.

The company and its consolidated subsidiaries execute agreements that provide for indemnifications and guarantees to third parties 
in transactions or dealings such as business dispositions, business acquisitions, sales of assets, provision of services, securitization 
agreements and underwriting and agency agreements. The company has also agreed to indemnify its directors and certain of its 
officers and employees. The nature of substantially all of the indemnification undertakings prevents the company from making a 
reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount the company could be required to pay third parties, as in most cases the 
agreements do not specify a maximum amount, and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, 
the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Neither the company nor its consolidated subsidiaries have 
made significant payments in the past, nor do they expect at this time to make any significant payments under such indemnification 
agreements in the future. 

The company periodically enters into joint venture, consortium or other arrangements that have contingent liquidity rights in favor 
of the company or its counterparties. These include buy sell arrangements, registration rights and other customary arrangements. 
These agreements generally have embedded protective terms that mitigate the risk to us. The amount, timing and likelihood of 
any  payments  by  the  company  under  these  arrangements  is,  in  most  cases,  dependent  on  either  future  contingent  events  or 
circumstances applicable to the counterparty and therefore cannot be determined at this time. 

We have also committed to purchase power produced by certain of BEP’s hydroelectric assets as previously described on page 59. 

EXPOSURES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

As discussed elsewhere in this MD&A, we utilize various financial instruments in our business to manage risk and make better 
use of our capital. The fair values of these instruments that are reflected on our balance sheets are disclosed in Note 6 to our 
consolidated financial statements.

83     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

PART 5 – ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

ACCOUNTING POLICIES, ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

Overview

We are a Canadian corporation and, as such, we prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. 

We present our consolidated balance sheets on a non-classified basis, meaning that we do not distinguish between current and 
long-term assets or liabilities. We believe this classification is appropriate given the nature of our business strategy.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to select appropriate accounting policies and to make judgments 
and estimates that affect the carried amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date 
of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could 
differ from those estimates.

In  making  judgments  and  estimates,  management  relies  on  external  information  and  observable  conditions,  where  possible, 
supplemented by internal analysis, as required. These estimates have been applied in a manner consistent with the prior year and 
there  are  no  known  trends,  commitments,  events  or  uncertainties  that  we  believe  will  materially  affect  the  methodology  or 
assumptions utilized in this report. As we update the fair values of our investment property portfolios quarterly, with gains reflected 
in net income, we discuss judgments and estimates relating to the key valuation metrics below.

For further reference on accounting policies, including new and revised standards issued by the IASB and judgments and estimates, 
see our significant accounting policies contained in Note 2 of the December 31, 2018 consolidated financial statements. 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

We adopted IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”) and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”) effective 
January 1, 2018.

The adoption of IFRS 15, which applies to nearly all contracts with customers and specifies how and when revenue should be 
recognized, required the application of significant critical estimates and judgments. We adopted the standard using the modified 
retrospective approach in which a cumulative catch-up adjustment was recorded through opening equity on January 1, 2018 as if 
the standard had always been in effect and whereby comparative periods were not restated. The adoption of IFRS 15 resulted in 
a $280 million reduction to opening total equity, attributable primarily to our construction services business in the Private Equity 
segment. Under IFRS 15, revenue from construction services contracts will continue to be recognized over time; however, a higher 
threshold of probability must be achieved prior to recognizing revenue from variable consideration such as incentives and claims 
and variations resulting from contract modifications. Under the superseded standards, revenue was recognized when it was probable 
that work performed would result in revenue; under IFRS 15, revenue is recognized when it is highly probable that a significant 
reversal of revenue will not occur for these modifications.

IFRS 9 establishes principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities and includes new guidance 
which aligns hedge accounting more closely with risk management. It does not fully change the types of hedging relationships or 
the  requirement  to  measure  and  recognize  ineffectiveness;  however,  it  allows  more  hedging  strategies  that  are  used  for  risk 
management purposes to qualify for hedge accounting, introducing greater judgment to assess the effectiveness of a hedging 
relationship. We adopted the standard on January 1, 2018 using transitional provisions permitting us to not restate prior period 
comparative information, recording an insignificant adjustment to opening equity.

Refer  to  the Accounting  Judgments  subsection  within  Part  5  of  this  MD&A  for  additional  information  relating  to  these  new 
accounting standards and to Note 2(b) of our 2018 consolidated financial statements for the impact of the adoption and an overview 
of the new accounting policies.

Consolidated Financial Information

IFRS uses a control-based model to determine if consolidation is required. Therefore, we are deemed to control an investment if 
we (1) exercise power over the investee; (2) are exposed to variable returns from our involvement with the investee; and (3) have 
the ability to use our power to affect the amount of the returns. Due to the ownership structure of many of our subsidiaries, we 
control entities in which we hold only a minority economic interest. Please refer to Part 2 of this MD&A for additional information.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    84

Accounting Estimates

The significant estimates used in determining the recorded amounts for assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements 
include the following:

i. 

Investment Properties

We classify the majority of the property assets within our Real Estate segment as investment properties. We determine investment 
property valuations by undertaking one of two accepted methods: (i) discounting the expected future cash flows, generally over 
a term of 10 years including a terminal value based on the application of a terminal capitalization rate, typically used for our office, 
retail and logistics assets; or (ii) undertaking a direct capitalization approach, typically used for our multifamily, triple net lease, 
self-storage, student housing and manufactured housing assets, whereby a capitalization rate is applied to current cash flows. 
Investment property valuations are updated quarterly, with gains or losses on revaluation reflected in net income.

Our valuations are prepared at the individual property level by internal investment professionals with the appropriate expertise in 
the respective industry, geography and asset type.

The majority of underlying cash flows in the models are comprised of contracted leases, many of which are long-term, with our 
core office portfolio having a combined 94% occupancy level and an average 8.3-year lease life, while our core retail portfolio 
has an occupancy rate of 97%. The models also include property-level assumptions for renewal probabilities, future leasing rates 
and capital expenditures. These are reviewed as part of the business planning process and external market data is utilized when 
determining the cash flows associated with lease renewals.

The valuation models must also be updated to reflect the appropriate discount rates and capitalization rates at the asset level. We 
verify our discount and terminal rate inputs by comparing to market data, third-party reports, research material and broker opinions. 
In certain circumstances, these rates are prepared by third-party consultants. For core retail properties, we utilize discount rates 
and capitalization rates provided by an independent third party. When using a direct capitalization method, we use an industry-
supported market capitalization rate and apply that to individual property cash flows on a forward-looking basis up to twelve 
months, a back-looking basis, or a combination of the two to determine investment property values. Additionally, each year we 
sell a number of assets, which also provides support for our valuations, as we typically contract at prices comparable to IFRS values.

Once complete, the valuations are subject to various layers of review at the regional and business group senior management level, 
including an in-depth quantitative and qualitative review by the portfolio manager of the respective asset class. Once approved 
by the investment teams, the respective portfolio managers present the valuations to the real estate group senior management for 
final approval.

We test the outcome of our process by having a number of our properties externally appraised each year, including appraisals for 
core office properties, at least on a three-year rotating basis. We compare the results of the external appraisals to our internally 
prepared values and reconcile significant differences when they arise. During 2018, 93 of our properties were externally appraised, 
representing $36 billion of assets; external appraisals were within 1% of management’s valuations.

The valuations are most sensitive to changes in cash flows, which include assumptions relating to lease renewal probabilities, 
downtime, capital expenditures, future leasing rates and associated leasing costs; discount rates; and terminal capitalization rates. 
The key valuation metrics of our real estate assets at the end of 2018 and 2017 are summarized below.

AS AT DEC. 31
Discount rate............................................

Terminal capitalization rate .....................

Investment horizon (years) ......................

Core Office

2018

6.8%

5.7%

11

2017

6.9%

5.8%

11

Core Retail1
2018

2017

7.1%

6.0%

12

n/a

n/a

n/a

LP Investments
and Other

Weighted Average

2018

7.5%

6.9%

8

2017

7.3%

7.0%

9

2018

7.2%

6.1%

10

2017

7.1%

6.2%

10

1.  After obtaining control of GGP on August 28, 2018, we are now consolidating multiple investment properties in our core retail operations. Please see Note 5 of the 

consolidated financial statements for additional information.

85     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
The determination of fair value requires the use of estimates which have been applied in a manner consistent with that in the prior 
year. There are currently no known trends, events or uncertainties that we reasonably believe could have a sufficiently pervasive 
impact across our businesses, which are diversified by asset class, geography and market, to materially affect the methodologies 
or assumptions used to determine the estimated fair values. Discount rates and capitalization rates are inherently uncertain and 
may be impacted by, among other things, movements in interest rates in the geographies and markets in which the assets are 
located. Changes in estimates across different geographies and markets, such as discount rates and terminal capitalization rates, 
often move independently of one another and not necessarily in the same direction or to the same degree. Furthermore, impacts 
on our estimated values from changes in discount rates, terminal capitalization rates and cash flows are usually inversely correlated 
as the circumstances that typically give rise to increased interest rates (e.g. strong economic growth, inflation) usually give rise 
to increased cash flows at the asset level.

The following table presents the impact on the fair value of our consolidated investment properties as at December 31, 2018 from a 
25-basis point change to the relevant unobservable inputs. For properties valued using the discounted cash flow method, the basis 
point change in valuation metrics relates to a change in discount and terminal capitalization rates. For properties valued using the 
direct capitalization approach, the basis point change in valuation metrics relates to a change in the overall capitalization rate.

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)

Core office

Fair Value

Sensitivity

United States........................................................................................................................................

$

15,237

$

Canada .................................................................................................................................................

Australia...............................................................................................................................................

Europe..................................................................................................................................................

Brazil....................................................................................................................................................

4,245

2,391

1,331

329

Core retail...............................................................................................................................................

17,607

LP Investments and other

LP Investments office ..........................................................................................................................

LP Investments retail ...........................................................................................................................

Logistics...............................................................................................................................................

Mixed-use ............................................................................................................................................

Multifamily ..........................................................................................................................................

Triple net lease.....................................................................................................................................

Self-storage ..........................................................................................................................................

Student housing ...................................................................................................................................

Manufactured housing .........................................................................................................................

Other investment properties.................................................................................................................

8,438

3,414

183

12,086

4,151

5,067

931

2,417

2,369

4,113

837

329

201

—

10

612

517

143

8

140

255

176

30

82

104

220

Total......................................................................................................................................................... $

84,309

$

3,664

ii.  Revaluation Method for PP&E

Within our Infrastructure and Renewable Power segments, we revalue our PP&E using a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) approach; 
our Real Estate hospitality assets are valued using the depreciated replacement cost method. PP&E within our Private Equity 
segment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. 

Assets subject to the revaluation approach are revalued annually following a bottom-up approach, starting at the operating level 
with local professionals, and involving multiple levels of review, including by senior management. Changes in fair value are 
reported through other comprehensive income as revaluation surplus. Underlying cash flows used in DCF models are subject to 
detailed reviews as part of the business planning, with discount rates and other key variable inputs reviewed for reasonability and 
the models reviewed for mathematical accuracy. Key inputs are frequently compared to third-party reports commissioned by the 
respective entities to assess reasonability. In addition, comparable market transactions are analyzed to consider for benchmarking. 
Additional information about the revaluation methodology and current year results is provided below.

When determining the carrying value of PP&E using the revaluation method, the company uses the following assumptions and 
estimates: the timing of forecasted revenues; future sales prices and associated expenses; future sales volumes; future regulatory 
rates; maintenance and other capital expenditures; discount rates; terminal capitalization rates; terminal valuation dates; useful 
lives; and residual values. Determination of the fair value of PP&E under development includes estimates in respect of the timing 
and cost to complete the development. This process is further discussed in Part 2 of this MD&A.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    86

Renewable Power

Perpetual renewable power assets, such as many of our hydroelectric facilities, are revalued using 20-year discounted cash flow 
models with a terminal value that is determined, where appropriate, using the Gordon growth model. For assets with finite lives, 
such as wind and solar farms, the cash flow model is based on the estimated remaining service life and the residual asset value is 
used to represent the terminal value. Key inputs into the models, which include forward merchant power prices, energy generation 
estimates, operating and capital expenditures, tax rates, terminal capitalization rates and discount rates are assessed on an asset-
by-asset  basis  as  part  of  the  bottom-up  preparation  and  review  process. The  key  inputs  that  affect  cash  flow  projections  are 
outlined below:

• 

• 

• 

To determine estimated future energy pricing, we consider the contract pricing for the proportion of our revenue that is subject 
to power purchase agreements. Long-term pricing is driven by the economics required to support new entrants into the various 
power markets in which we operate. Our long-term view is anchored to the cost of securing new energy from renewable 
sources  to  meet  future  demand  growth  by  the  year  2025  in  North America  and  Colombia,  2023  in  Europe  and  2022  in 
Brazil. The year of new entry is viewed as the point when generators must build additional capacity to maintain system 
reliability  and  provide  an  adequate  level  of  reserve  generation  with  the  retirement  of  older  coal-fired  plants  and  rising 
environmental compliance costs in North America and Europe, and overall increasing demand in Colombia and Brazil. Once 
the year of new entrant is determined, data from industry sources, as well as inputs from our development teams, is used to 
model the all-in cost of the expected technology mix of new construction, and the resulting market price required to support 
its  development. For  the  North American  and  European  businesses,  we  have  estimated  our  renewable  power  assets  will 
contract at discount to new-build wind prices (the most likely source of new renewable generation in those regions). In Brazil 
and Colombia, the estimate of future electricity prices is based on a similar approach as applied in North America using a 
forecast of the all-in cost of development. For the remaining pricing, referred to as merchant pricing, we use a mix of external 
data and our own estimates to derive the price curves.

Short-term merchant revenue forecasts consist of four years of externally sourced broker quotes in North America, two years 
of gas pricing in Europe and a combination of short-term contracts and local market pricing in South America. Short-term 
pricing is linked by linear extrapolation to long-term power views.

Energy generation forecasts are based on LTA for which we have significant historical data. LTA for hydroelectric facilities 
is based on third-party engineering reports commissioned during asset acquisitions and financing activities. These studies 
are based on statistical models supported by decades of historical river flow data. Similarly, LTA for wind facilities is based 
on third-party wind resource studies completed prior to construction or acquisition. LTA for solar facilities is based on third-
party irradiance level studies at the location of our project sites during construction or acquisition. 

•  Capital expenditure forecasts rely on independent engineering reports commissioned from reputable third-party firms during 

underwriting or financings.

Our discount rates, which are adjusted based on asset level and regional considerations, are compared to those used by third-party 
valuators for reasonability. 

Review of our models also includes assessing comparable market transactions and reviewing third-party valuator reports. We 
compare EBITDA multiples and value per MW at the asset level to recent market transactions, and on a portfolio basis, we compare 
the valuation multiples to our most comparable competitors in the market and the resulting book value of our equity after revaluation 
to our share price in the market. Specifically, we have noted from reviews of market transactions in the U.S. northeast that the 
multiples paid for the asset indicate that market participants likely share our view on escalating power prices in the region. We 
also confirm the reasonability of our values through the use of a third-party valuator which provides an opinion on the valuation 
method  and  results.  Each  year  we  have  a  valuation  report  provided  on  approximately  one-third  of  the  assets,  providing  a 
reasonableness opinion in the range of +/- 10%. We compare our valuations to this report, along with other inputs, ensuring that 
they are within the reasonable range.

In 2018, the fair value of the PP&E in our Renewable Power segment increased by $5.6 billion, primarily attributable to the 
release of acquisition risk premiums factored into the initial valuations of PP&E held by Isagen, TERP and Terraform Global 
following successful integration into our operations and the impact of the U.S. tax reform, partially offset by the weakening of 
foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar.

87     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The key valuation metrics of our hydroelectric, wind and solar generating facilities at the end of 2018 and 2017 are summarized 
below:

AS AT DEC. 31
Discount rate

North America
2018

Brazil

Colombia

Europe

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Contracted...............................
Uncontracted...........................
Terminal capitalization rate1......
Exit date.....................................

4.8 – 5.6% 4.9 – 6.0%
6.4 – 7.2% 6.5 – 7.6%
6.1 – 7.1% 6.2 – 7.5%
2037

2039

8.9%

9.6% 11.3% 4.0 – 4.3% 4.1 – 4.5%
9.0%
10.3% 10.2% 10.9% 12.6% 5.8 – 6.1% 5.9 – 6.3%
n/a
2031

10.4% 12.6%
2038
2037

n/a
2032

n/a
2033

n/a
2047

1.  The terminal capitalization rate applies only to hydroelectric assets in North America and Colombia.

The following table presents the impact on fair value of property, plant and equipment in our Renewable Power segment as at 
December 31,  2018  from  a  25-basis  point  change  in  discount  and  terminal  capitalization  rates,  as  well  as  a  5%  change  in 
electricity prices:

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
25 bps change in discount and terminal capitalization rates1

North America................................................................................................................................................................. $
Colombia.........................................................................................................................................................................
Brazil...............................................................................................................................................................................
Europe.............................................................................................................................................................................

5% change in electricity prices

North America.................................................................................................................................................................
Colombia.........................................................................................................................................................................
Brazil...............................................................................................................................................................................
Europe.............................................................................................................................................................................

1.  Terminal capitalization rate applies only to hydroelectric assets in North America and Colombia.

1,230
215
80
20

1,150
440
100
20

Terminal values are included in the valuation of hydroelectric assets in the United States and Canada. For the hydroelectric assets in 
Brazil, cash flows have been included based on the duration of the authorization or useful life of a concession asset plus a one-
time  30-year  renewal  term  for  the  majority  of  the  hydroelectric  assets.  The  weighted-average  remaining  duration  at 
December 31, 2018,  including  a  one-time  30-year  renewal  for  applicable hydroelectric  assets,  is  29  years  (2017  –  15  years). 
Consequently, there is no terminal value attributed to the hydroelectric assets in Brazil.

Energy Contracts

We substantially transferred our North American energy marketing function (formerly Brookfield Energy Marketing Inc., or BEMI) 
to BEP on October 31, 2018 along with our long-term power contract in Ontario. BEP will assume all the benefits of the contract, 
some of which previously accrued to us. The value of the net benefits transferred to BEP was paid for by a reduction of the price 
paid by us to BEP on the New York contract which we continue to hold. Under the New York contract, we are required to purchase 
power that BEP generates at certain of its New York assets at a fixed price. Based on LTA, we purchase approximately 3,600 GWh 
of power each year. The fixed price that BAM is required to pay BEP will gradually step down over time by $3/MWh from 2021 
to 2025 and $5/MWh in 2026 resulting in an approximate $20/MWh reduction by 2026 which will continue until the contract 
expires in 2046.

As a result of the transfer described above, the New York power contract is the only power contract that remains in place between 
BAM and BEP. The contract is valued annually based on price curves as at December 31 incorporating revised discount rates as 
required. As at December 31, 2018, the contract was valued using weighted-average forward power price estimates of approximately 
$69/MWh in years 1-10 and $125/MWh in years 11-20, using a discount rate of approximately 7.2%. 

Infrastructure

Our infrastructure assets, revalued using DCF models, are generally subject to contractual and regulatory frameworks that underpin 
the cash flows. We also include the benefits of development projects for existing in-place assets to the extent that they have been 
determined to be feasible, typically by external parties, and have received the appropriate approvals. We are unable to include the 
benefits of development projects within our business that are not considered improvements to existing PP&E.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    88

The underlying cash flow models supporting the revaluation process include a number of different inputs and variables with risks 
mitigated through controls incorporated in the bottom-up preparation and review process. Inputs are reviewed for qualitative and 
quantitative  considerations  and  the  mechanical  accuracy  is  tested  by  appropriate  finance  and  investment  professionals.  Once 
complete, the portfolio management team presents the valuations to the infrastructure CEO, COO and CFO for approval.

As part of our process, we analyze comparable market transactions that we can consider for the purposes of benchmarking our 
analysis. Metrics such as the implied current year or forward-looking EBITDA multiples are reviewed against market transactions 
to assess whether our valuations are appropriate. On an overall segment level, we also assess whether the inputs used in the models 
are consistent amongst asset classes and geographies, where applicable, or that asset specific differences are supportable considering 
transactions in a given asset class or market.

We obtain third-party appraisals on the assets that are held through private funds on a three-year rotating basis. These appraisals 
are not directly utilized in the financial statements, rather they are used to confirm that management’s assumptions in determining 
fair value are within a reasonable range.

On  an  aggregate  basis,  the  value  of  the  appraised  assets  is  greater  than  the  book  value  because  a  significant  portion  of  our 
infrastructure operations assets such as public service concessions are classified as intangible assets. These intangible assets are 
carried at amortized cost, subject to impairment tests, and are amortized over their useful lives. In addition, we have contracted 
growth  projects  within  our  businesses  that  cannot  be  included  in  IFRS  fair  value  unless  these  relate  to  improvements  on 
existing PP&E.

Within our Infrastructure segment, we reported valuation gains of $472 million in 2018. The increase was primarily due to growth 
capital deployed in the year, higher cash flows in our U.K. regulated distribution business and increased volumes following the 
completion of development initiatives across the portfolio.

The key valuation metrics of our utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure operations are summarized below:

AS AT DEC. 31

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Utilities

Transport

Energy

Data Infrastructure

Discount rate .................................

7 – 14%

7 – 12% 10 – 13% 10 – 15% 12 – 15% 12 – 15% 13 – 15%

Terminal capitalization multiples ..
Investment horizon / Termination
valuation date (years) ..................

Real Estate 

8x – 22x

7x – 21x

9x – 14x

9x – 14x

10x – 14x

8x – 13x

 10x – 11x

10 – 20

10 – 20

10 – 20

10 – 20

10

10

10

n/a

n/a

n/a

Fair  values  of  our  hospitality  properties,  primarily  hotel  and  resort  operations,  are  assessed  annually  using  the  depreciated 
replacement cost method, which factors in age, physical condition and construction costs of the properties. Fair values of hospitality 
properties are also reviewed in reference to each asset’s enterprise value which is determined using a discounted cash flow model. 
These  valuations  are  generally  prepared  by  external  valuation  professionals  using  information  provided  by  management  of 
the operating business. The fair value estimates for hospitality properties represent the estimated fair value of the PP&E of the 
hospitality business only and do not include, for example, any associated intangible assets.

Revaluation within our real estate PP&E increased the fair value of our hospitality assets by $245 million. The increase was due 
to capital improvements completed during the year which improved the physical condition and replacement cost of the properties.

iii.  Sustainable Resources 

The  fair  value  of  standing  timber  and  agricultural  assets  is  based  on  the  following  estimates  and  assumptions:  the  timing  of 
forecasted revenues and prices; estimated selling costs; sustainable felling plans; growth assumptions; silviculture costs; discount 
rates; terminal capitalization rates; and terminal valuation dates. 

iv.  Financial Instruments 

Financial assets, financial contracts and other contractual arrangements that are treated as derivatives are recorded at fair value in 
our financial statements and changes in their value are recorded in net income or other comprehensive income, depending on their 
nature and business purpose. The more significant and more common financial contracts and contractual arrangements employed 
in our business that are fair valued include: interest rate contracts, foreign exchange contracts and agreements for the sale of 
electricity. Financial assets and liabilities may be classified as level 1, 2 or 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Refer to Note 6 – Fair 
Value of Financial Instruments within the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

89     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Estimates and assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments are: equity and commodity prices; future 
interest rates; the credit worthiness of the company relative to its counterparties; the credit risk of the company’s counterparties; 
estimated future cash flows; the amount of the liability and equity components of compound financial instruments; discount rates 
and volatility utilized in option valuations.

v. 

Inventory 

The company estimates the net realizable value of its inventory using estimates and assumptions about future selling prices and 
future development costs. 

vi.  Other 

Other estimates and assumptions utilized in the preparation of the company’s consolidated financial statements are: the assessment 
or determination of net recoverable amount; oil and gas reserves; depreciation and amortization rates and useful lives; estimation 
of recoverable amounts of cash-generating units for impairment assessments of goodwill and intangible assets; ability to utilize 
tax losses and other tax measurements; fair value of assets held as collateral and the percentage of completion for construction 
contracts. Equity accounted investment, which follow the same accounting principles as our consolidated operations, include 
amounts recorded at fair value and amounts recorded at amortized cost or cost, depending on the nature of the underlying assets.

Accounting Judgments 

Management is required to make critical judgments when applying its accounting policies. The following judgments have the 
most significant effect on the consolidated financial statements:

i.  Control or Level of Influence 

When determining the appropriate basis of accounting for the company’s investees, the company makes judgments about the 
degree of influence that it exerts directly or through an arrangement over the investees’ relevant activities. This may include 
the ability to elect investee directors or appoint management. Control is obtained when the company has the power to direct the 
relevant investing, financing and operating decisions of an entity and does so in its capacity as principal of the operations, rather 
than as an agent for other investors. Operating as a principal includes having sufficient capital at risk in any investee and exposure 
to the variability of the returns generated as a result of the decisions of the company as principal. Judgment is used in determining 
the sufficiency of the capital at risk or variability of returns. In making these judgments, the company considers the ability of other 
investors to remove the company as a manager or general partner in a controlled partnership. Refer to Part 2 of this MD&A for 
additional information.

ii.  Investment Properties

When applying the company’s accounting policy for investment properties, judgment is applied in determining whether certain 
costs are additions to the carrying amount of the property and, for properties under development, identifying the point at which 
practical completion of the property occurs and identifying the directly attributable borrowing costs to be included in the carrying 
value of the development property. 

iii.  Property, Plant and Equipment 

The company’s accounting policy for its property, plant and equipment requires critical judgments over the assessment of carrying 
value, whether certain costs are additions to the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment as opposed to repairs and 
maintenance,  and  for  assets  under  development  the  identification  of  when  the  asset  is  capable  of  being  used  as  intended 
and identifying the directly attributable borrowing costs to be included in the asset’s carrying value.

For assets that are measured using the revaluation method, judgment is required when estimating future prices, volumes, discount 
and capitalization rates. Judgment is applied when determining future electricity prices considering broker quotes for the years in 
which there is a liquid market available and, for the subsequent years, our best estimate of electricity prices from renewable sources 
that would allow new entrants into the market.

iv.  Identifying Performance Obligations for Revenue Recognition

Management is required to identify performance obligations relating to contracts with customers at the inception of each contract. 
IFRS 15, the new revenue recognition standard, requires a contract’s transaction price to be allocated to each distinct performance 
obligation when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Judgment is used when assessing the pattern of delivery of the 
product or service to determine if revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time. For certain service contracts 
recognized over time, judgment is required to determine if revenue from variable consideration such as incentives, claims and 
variations from contract modifications has met the required probability threshold to be recognized.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    90

Management also uses judgment to determine whether contracts for the sale of products and services have distinct performance 
obligations that should be accounted for separately or as a single performance obligation. Goods and services are considered 
distinct if (1) a customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily 
available to the customer; and (2) the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable 
from other promises in the contract.

Additional details about revenue recognition policies across our operating segments are included in Note 2(b) of the consolidated 
financial statements.

v.  Common Control Transactions 

The purchase and sale of businesses or subsidiaries between entities under common control are not specifically addressed in IFRS 
and accordingly, management uses judgment when determining a policy to account for such transactions taking into consideration 
other guidance in the IFRS framework and pronouncements of other standard-setting bodies. The company’s policy is to record 
assets and liabilities recognized as a result of transfers of businesses or subsidiaries between entities under common control at 
carrying value. Differences between the carrying amount of the consideration given or received and the carrying amount of the 
assets and liabilities transferred are recorded directly in equity. 

vi.  Indicators of Impairment 

Judgment is applied when determining whether indicators of impairment exist when assessing the carrying values of the company’s 
assets, including: the determination of the company’s ability to hold financial assets; the estimation of a cash-generating unit’s future 
revenues and direct costs; the determination of discount and capitalization rates; and when an asset’s carrying value is above the 
value derived using publicly traded prices which are quoted in a liquid market.

vii.  Income Taxes 

The company makes judgments when determining the future tax rates applicable to subsidiaries and identifying the temporary 
differences that relate to each subsidiary. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected 
to apply during the period when the assets are realized or the liabilities settled, using the tax rates and laws enacted or substantively 
enacted at the consolidated balance sheet dates. The company measures deferred income taxes associated with its investment 
properties based on its specific intention with respect to each asset at the end of the reporting period. Where the company has a 
specific intention to sell a property in the foreseeable future, deferred taxes on the building portion of an investment property are 
measured based on the tax consequences that would follow the disposition of the property. Otherwise, deferred taxes are measured 
on the basis that the carrying value of the investment property will be recovered substantially through use.

viii. Classification of Non-Controlling Interests in Limited-Life Funds 

Non-controlling interests in limited-life funds are classified as liabilities (subsidiary equity obligations) or equity (non-controlling 
interests) depending on whether an obligation exists to distribute residual net assets to non-controlling interests on liquidation in 
the form of cash or another financial asset or assets delivered in kind. Judgment is required to determine what the governing 
documents of each entity require or permit in this regard. 

ix.  Other 

Other critical judgments include the determination of effectiveness of financial hedges for accounting purposes, the likelihood 
and timing of anticipated transactions for hedge accounting and the determination of functional currency.

91     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIONS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

Assessment and Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Management has evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018
and based on that assessment concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, our internal control over financial reporting was effective. 
Refer to Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our internal control 
over  financial  reporting  during  the  year  ended  December 31,  2018  that  have  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to 
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure 
controls and procedures (as defined in the applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws) as of December 31, 2018. Based on that 
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were 
effective as of December 31, 2018 in providing reasonable assurance that material information relating to the company and our 
consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities. 

Declarations Under the Dutch Act of Financial Supervision

The members of the Corporate Executive Board, as defined in the Dutch Act of Financial Supervision (“Dutch Act”), as required 
by section 5:25c, paragraph 2, under c of the Dutch Act confirm that to the best of their knowledge: 

• 

• 

The 2018 consolidated financial statements accompanied by this MD&A give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position, and profit or loss of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidated financial statements 
taken as whole; and

The management report included in this MD&A gives a true and fair review of the information required under the Dutch Act 
regarding  the  company  and  the  undertakings  included  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  taken  as  a  whole  as  of 
December 31, 2018, and of the development and performance of the business for the financial year then ended.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

In the normal course of operations, we enter into transactions on market terms with related parties, including consolidated and 
equity accounted entities, which have been measured at exchange value and are recognized in the consolidated financial statements, 
including,  but  not  limited  to:  manager  or  partnership  agreements;  base  management  fees,  performance  fees  and  incentive 
distributions; loans, interest and non-interest bearing deposits; power purchase and sale agreements; capital commitments to private 
funds; the acquisition and disposition of assets and businesses; derivative contracts; and the construction and development of assets. 

There were no significant related party transactions during the years ended December 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    92

PART 6 – BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND RISKS 

This section contains a review of certain aspects of the business environment and risks that could affect our performance.

The following is a review of certain risks that could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of 
operations, cash flows and the value of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not previously known to the company, 
or that the company currently deems immaterial, may also impact our operations and financial results.

a)  Volatility in the Trading Price of Our Class A Shares

The trading price of our Class A shares is subject to volatility due to market conditions and other factors and cannot be predicted.

Our shareholders may not be able to sell their Class A shares at or above the price at which they purchased such shares due to 
trading price fluctuations in the capital markets. The trading price could fluctuate significantly in response to factors both related 
and unrelated to our operating performance and/or future prospects, including, but not limited to: (i) variations in our operating 
results and financial condition; (ii) actual or prospective changes in government laws, rules or regulations affecting our businesses; 
(iii) material announcements by us, our affiliates or our competitors; (iv) market conditions and events specific to the industries 
in which we operate; (v) changes in general economic conditions; (vi) changes in the values of our investments (including in the 
market price of our listed partnerships and other publicly traded affiliates) or changes in the amount of distributions, dividends or 
interest paid in respect of investments; (vii) differences between our actual financial and operating results and those expected by 
investors and analysts; (viii) changes in analysts’ recommendations or earnings projections; (ix) changes in the extent of analysts’ 
interest in covering the Corporation and its publicly traded affiliates; (x) the depth and liquidity of the market for our Class A shares; 
(xi) dilution from the issuance of additional equity; (xii) investor perception of our businesses and the industries in which we 
operate; (xiii) investment restrictions; (xiv) our dividend policy; (xv) the departure of key executives; (xvi) sales of Class A shares 
by senior management or significant shareholders; and (xvii) the materialization of other risks described in this section.

b)  Reputation

Actions or conduct that have a negative impact on investors’ or stakeholders’ perception of us could adversely impact our ability 
to attract and/or retain investor capital and generate fee revenue.

The growth of our asset management business relies on continuous fundraising for various private and public investment products. 
We depend on our business relationships and our reputation for integrity and high-calibre asset management services to attract 
and retain investors and advisory clients, and to pursue investment opportunities for us and the public and private entities we 
manage. If we are unable to continue to raise capital from third-party investors, either privately, publicly or both, and otherwise 
are unable to pursue our investment opportunities, this could materially reduce our revenue and cash flow and adversely affect 
our financial condition.

Poor performance of any kind could damage our reputation with current and potential investors in our managed entities, making 
it more difficult for us to raise new capital. Investors may decline to invest in current and future managed entities and may withdraw 
their investments from our managed entities as a result of poor performance in the entity in which they are invested, and investors 
in our private funds may demand lower fees for new or existing funds, all of which would decrease our revenue.

Because of our various lines of businesses and investment products, some of which have overlapping mandates, we may be subject 
to a number of actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest greater than that to which we would otherwise be subject if we 
had just one line of business or investment product. These conflicts may be magnified for an asset manager that has many different 
capital sources available to pursue investment opportunities, including investor capital and the Corporation’s own capital. In 
addition, the senior management team of the Corporation and its affiliates has their own capital invested in Class A shares, directly 
and indirectly, and may have financial exposures with respect to their own investments which could lead to potential conflicts if 
such investments are similar to those made by the Corporation or on behalf of investors in entities managed by the Corporation. 
In addressing these conflicts, we have implemented certain policies and procedures that may be ineffective at mitigating actual, 
potential or perceived conflicts of interest, or reduce the positive synergies that we cultivate across our businesses. It is also possible 
that actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest could give rise to investor dissatisfaction, litigation, regulatory enforcement 
actions or other detrimental outcomes. Appropriately dealing with conflicts of interest for an asset manager like us is complex 
and difficult and our reputation could be damaged if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with actual, potential or 
perceived conflicts of interest. There has been enhanced regulatory scrutiny of asset manager conflicts in the markets in which 
we operate and in the U.S. in particular. Such regulatory scrutiny can lead to fines, penalties and other negative consequences. 
Regulatory scrutiny of, or litigation in connection with, conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, 
business,  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations  in  a  number  of  ways,  including  an  inability  to  adequately  capitalize 
existing managed  entities  or  raise  new  managed  entities,  including  private  funds,  and  a  reluctance  of  counterparties  to  do 
business with us.

93     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The governing agreements of our private funds provide that, subject to certain conditions, third-party investors in these funds will 
have the right to remove us as general partner or to accelerate the liquidation date of the fund for convenience. Any negative impact 
to our reputation would be expected to increase the likelihood that a private fund could be terminated by investors for convenience. 
This effect would be magnified if, as is often the case, an investor is invested in more than one fund. Such an event, were it to 
occur, would result in a reduction in the fees we would earn from such fund, particularly if we are unable to maximize the value 
of the fund’s investments during the liquidation process or in the event of the triggering of a “claw-back” for fees already paid 
out to us as general partner.

We could be negatively impacted if there is misconduct or alleged misconduct by our personnel or those of our portfolio companies 
in which we and our managed entities invest, including historical misconduct  prior to our  investment. Risks associated with 
misconduct at our portfolio companies is heightened in cases where we do not have legal control or significant influence over a 
particular portfolio company or are not otherwise involved in actively managing a portfolio company. In such situations, given 
our  ownership  position  and  affiliation  with  the  portfolio  company,  we  may  still  be  negatively  impacted  from  a  reputational 
perspective through this association. In addition, even where we have control over a portfolio company, if it is a newly acquired 
portfolio company that we are in the process of integrating then we may face reputational risks related to historical or current 
misconduct or alleged misconduct at such portfolio company for a period of time. We may also face increased risk of misconduct 
to the extent our capital allocated to emerging markets and distressed companies increases. If we face allegations of improper 
conduct by private litigants or regulators, whether the allegations are valid or invalid or whether the ultimate outcome is favorable 
or unfavorable to us, such allegations may result in negative publicity and press speculation about us, our investment activities or 
the asset management industry in general, which could harm our reputation and may be more damaging to our business than to 
other types of businesses.

We are subject to a number of obligations and standards arising from our asset management business and our authority over the 
assets we manage. The violation of these obligations and standards by any of our employees may adversely affect our partners 
and our business and reputation. Our business often requires that we deal with confidential matters of great significance to the 
companies in which we may invest and to other third parties. If our employees were to improperly use or disclose confidential 
information, or a security breach results in an inadvertent disclosure of such information, we could suffer serious harm to our 
reputation, financial position and current and future business relationships. It is not always possible to detect or deter employee 
misconduct or security breaches, and the precautions we take in this regard may not be effective.

Implementation of new investment and growth strategies involves a number of risks that could result in losses and harm our 
professional reputation, including the risk that the expected results are not achieved, that new strategies are not appropriately 
planned for or integrated, that new strategies may conflict with, detract from or compete against our existing businesses, and that 
the investment process, controls and procedures that we have developed will prove insufficient or inadequate. Furthermore, our 
strategic initiatives may include joint ventures, in which case we will be subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we 
may be dependent upon and subject to liability, losses or reputational damage relating to systems, controls and personnel that are 
not under our complete control or under the control of another.

c)  Asset Management

Investment  returns  could  be  lower  than  target  returns  due  to  inappropriate  allocation  of  capital  or  ineffective  investment 
management, or growth in fee bearing capital could be adversely impacted by poor product development or marketing efforts.

Our value investing strategy focuses on acquiring high-quality businesses on a value basis, executing operational improvements 
and exiting through a competitive process that optimizes value. The successful execution of our investing strategy is uncertain as 
it requires suitable opportunities, careful timing and business judgment, as well as the resources to complete asset purchases and 
restructure them, if required, notwithstanding difficulties experienced in a particular industry.

Our approach to investing entails adding assets to our existing businesses when the competition for assets is weakest; typically, 
when depressed economic conditions exist in the market relating to a particular entity or industry. Such an investing style carries 
with it inherent risks when investments are made in either markets or industries that are undergoing some form of dislocation. In 
addition, there is no certainty that we will be able to identify suitable or sufficient opportunities that meet our investment criteria 
and be able to acquire additional high-quality assets at attractive prices to supplement our growth in a timely manner, or at all. 
We may fail to value opportunities accurately or to consider all relevant factors that may be necessary or helpful in evaluating an 
opportunity, may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquisition up to standards established for its intended market 
position, may be exposed to unexpected risks and costs associated with our investments, including risks arising from alternative 
technologies that could impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our business in a particular industry, and/or may be unable 
to quickly and effectively integrate new acquisitions into our existing operations or exit from the investment on favorable terms.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    94

In addition, liabilities may exist that we or our managed entities do not discover in due diligence prior to the consummation of an 
acquisition, or circumstances may exist with respect to the entities or assets acquired that could lead to future liabilities and, in 
each case, we or our managed entities may not be entitled to sufficient, or any, recourse against the contractual counterparties to 
an acquisition. The failure of a newly acquired business to perform according to expectations could have a material adverse effect 
on our assets, liabilities, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Alternatively, we may be required to 
sell a business before it has realized our expected level of returns for such business.

We pursue investment opportunities that involve business, regulatory, legal and other complexities. Our tolerance for complexity 
presents risks, as such transactions can be more difficult, expensive and time consuming to finance and execute, and have a higher 
risk of execution failure. It can also be more difficult to manage or realize value from the assets acquired in such transactions and 
such transactions sometimes entail a higher level of regulatory scrutiny or a greater risk of contingent liabilities.

If any of our managed entities perform poorly, our fee-based revenue, cash available for distribution and/or carried interest would 
decline. Moreover, we could experience losses on our capital invested in our managed entities. Accordingly, our expected returns 
on these investments may be less than we have assumed in forecasting the value of our business. Certain of our investments may 
be concentrated in particular asset types or geographic regions, which could exacerbate any negative performance of one or more 
of our managed entities to the extent those concentrated investments are in assets or regions that experience a market dislocation.

Our business depends on our ability to fundraise third-party capital. Competition from other asset managers for raising public and 
private capital is intense, with competition based on a variety of factors, including investment performance, the quality of service 
provided to investors, the quality and availability of investment products, investor liquidity and willingness to invest, and reputation. 
Poor investment performance could hamper our ability to compete for these sources of capital or force us to reduce our management 
fees. If poor investment returns or changes in investment mandates prevent us from raising further capital from our existing 
partners, we may need to identify and attract new investors in order to maintain or increase the size of our private funds, and there 
are no assurances that we can find new investors. Certain institutional investors may prefer to in source and make direct investments; 
therefore,  becoming  competitors  and  ceasing  to  be  clients  and/or  make  new  capital  commitments.  As  competition  and 
disintermediation in the asset management industry increases, we may face pressure to reduce management fees and/or carried 
interest. If we cannot raise capital from third-party investors, we may be unable to deploy capital into investments and collect 
management fees, and potentially collect carried interest or transaction fees, which would materially reduce our revenue and cash 
flows and adversely affect our financial condition.

In pursuing investment returns, we and our managed entities face competition from other investors. Each of our businesses is 
subject to competition in varying degrees and our competitors may have certain competitive advantages over us. Some of our 
competitors may have higher risk tolerances, different risk assessments, lower return thresholds, a lower cost of capital, or a lower 
effective tax rate (or no tax rate at all), all of which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and to bid more 
aggressively than us for investments. We may lose investment opportunities in the future if we do not match investment prices, 
structures and terms offered by our competitors, some of whom may have synergistic businesses which allow them to consider 
bidding a higher price than we can reasonably offer. Moreover, if we are forced to compete with other investment firms on the 
basis  of  price,  we  may  not  be  able  to  maintain  our  current  asset  management  fee  structures,  including  with  respect  to  base 
management fees, carried interest or other terms. Some of our competitors may be more successful than us in the development 
and implementation of new or alternative technology that impacts the demand for, or use of, the businesses or assets that we own 
and operate. These pressures could reduce investment returns and negatively affect our overall results of operations, cash flows 
and financial condition. While we attempt to deal with competitive pressures by leveraging our asset management strengths and 
operating capabilities and compete on more than just price, there is no guarantee these measures will be successful, and we may 
have difficulty competing for investment opportunities, particularly those offered through auction or other competitive processes.

d)  Laws, Rules and Regulations

Failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in financial penalties, loss of business, and/or damage to our reputation.

There are many laws, governmental rules and regulations and listing exchange rules that apply to us, our affiliates, our assets and 
our businesses. Changes in these laws, rules and regulations, or their interpretation by governmental agencies or the courts, could 
adversely affect our business, assets or prospects, or those of our affiliates, customers, clients or partners. The failure of us, our 
publicly listed affiliates, or the entities that we manage to comply with these laws, rules and regulations, or with the rules and 
registration requirements of the respective stock exchanges on which we and they are listed could adversely affect our reputation 
and financial condition.

95     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Our  asset  management  business,  including  our  investment  advisory  and  broker-dealer  business,  is  subject  to  substantial  and 
increasing  regulatory  compliance  obligations  and  oversight,  and  this  higher  level  of  scrutiny  may  lead  to  more  regulatory 
enforcement  actions.  There  continues  to  be  uncertainty  regarding  the  appropriate  level  of  regulation  and  oversight  of  asset 
management businesses in a number of jurisdictions in which we operate. The financial services industry has been the subject of 
heightened scrutiny, and the SEC has specifically focused on asset managers. The introduction of new legislation and increased 
regulation may result in increased compliance costs and could materially affect the manner in which we conduct our business and 
adversely affect our profitability. Although there may be some areas where governments in certain jurisdictions have proposed 
deregulation, it is difficult to predict the timing and impact of any such deregulation, and we may not materially benefit from any 
such changes.

Our asset management business is not only regulated in the United States, but also in other jurisdictions where we conduct operations 
including the EU, the U.K., Canada, Brazil and Australia. Similar to the environment in the U.S., the current environment in 
jurisdictions outside the U.S. in which we operate has become subject to further regulation. Governmental agencies around the 
world have proposed or implemented a number of initiatives and additional rules and regulations that could adversely affect our 
asset management business, and governmental agencies may propose or implement further rules and regulations in the future. 
These rules and regulations may impact how we market our managed entities in these jurisdictions and introduce compliance 
obligations with respect to disclosure and transparency, as well as restrictions on investor distributions. Such regulations may also 
prescribe certain capital requirements on our managed entities, and conditions on the leverage our managed entities may employ 
and the liquidity these managed entities must have. Compliance with additional regulatory requirements will impose additional 
compliance burdens and expense for us and could reduce our operating flexibility and fundraising opportunities.

We acquire and develop primarily real estate, renewable power, infrastructure, business services and industrial assets. In doing 
so, we must comply with extensive and complex municipal, state or provincial, national and international regulations. These 
regulations can result in uncertainty and delays, and impose on us additional costs, which may adversely affect our results of 
operations. Changes in these laws may negatively impact us and our businesses or may benefit our competitors or their businesses.

Additionally, liability under such laws, rules and regulations may occur without our fault. In certain cases, parties can pursue legal 
actions against us to enforce compliance as well as seek damages for non-compliance or for personal injury or property damage. 
Our insurance may not provide sufficient coverage in the event that a successful claim is made against us.

Our broker-dealer business is regulated by the SEC, the various Canadian provincial securities commissions, as well as self-
regulatory  organizations. These  regulatory  bodies  may  conduct  administrative  or  enforcement  proceedings  that  can  result  in 
censure, fine, suspension or expulsion of a broker-dealer, its directors, officers or employees. Such proceedings, whether or not 
resulting  in  adverse  findings,  can  require  substantial  expenditures  and  can  have  an  adverse  impact  on  the  reputation  of  a 
broker dealer.

The advisors of certain of our managed entities are registered as investment advisors with the SEC. Registered investment advisors 
are subject to the requirements and regulations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which grants U.S. supervisory agencies 
broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict the carrying on of business for failure to comply with laws 
or regulations. If such powers are exercised, the possible sanctions that may be imposed include the suspension of individual 
employees, limitations on the activities in which the investment advisor may engage, suspension or revocation of the investment 
advisor’s registration, censure and fines. Compliance with these requirements and regulations results in the expenditure of resources, 
and a failure to comply could result in investigations, financial or other sanctions, and reputational damage.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “40 Act”) and the rules promulgated thereunder provide certain protections to investors 
and impose certain restrictions on entities that are deemed “investment companies” under the 40 Act. We are not currently, nor 
do we intend to become, registered as an investment company under the 40 Act. To ensure that we are not deemed to be an 
investment company, we may be required to materially restrict or limit the scope of our operations or plans and the types of 
acquisitions that we may make and we may need to modify our organizational structure or dispose of assets that we would not 
otherwise dispose of. If we were required to register as an investment company, we would, among other things, be restricted from 
engaging in certain business activities (or have conditions placed on our business activities) and issuing certain securities, be 
required to limit the amount of investments that we make as principal and face other limitations on our activities.

e)  Governmental Investigations and Anti-Bribery and Corruption

Our policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws, including anti-bribery and corruption laws, 
may not be effective in all instances to prevent violations and as a result we may be subject to related governmental investigations.

We are from time to time subject to various governmental investigations, audits and inquiries, both formal and informal. These 
investigations, regardless of their outcome, can be costly, divert management attention, and damage our reputation. The unfavorable 
resolution of such investigations could result in criminal liability, fines, penalties or other monetary or non-monetary sanctions 
and could materially affect our business or results of operations.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    96

There is an increasing global focus on the implementation and enforcement of anti-bribery and corruption legislation, and this 
focus has heightened the risks that we face in this area, particularly as we expand our operations globally. We are subject to a 
number of laws and regulations governing payments and contributions to public officials or other third parties, including restrictions 
imposed by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions, such as the U.K. Bribery Act, the 
Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, and the Brazilian Clean Company Act. This increased global focus on anti-
bribery and corruption enforcement may also lead to more investigations, both formal and informal, in this area, the results of 
which cannot be predicted.

Different laws and regulations that are applicable to us may contain conflicting provisions, making our compliance more difficult. 
If we fail to comply with such laws and regulations, we could be exposed to claims for damages, financial penalties, reputational 
harm, incarceration of our employees, restrictions on our operations and other liabilities, which could negatively affect our operating 
results and financial condition. In addition, we may be subject to successor liability for violations under these laws and regulations 
or other acts of bribery committed by entities in which we or our managed entities invest.

Instances of bribery, fraud, accounting irregularities and other improper, illegal or corrupt practices can be difficult to detect, in 
particular when conducting due diligence in connection with acquisitions, and fraud and other deceptive practices can be widespread 
in certain jurisdictions. We invest in emerging market countries that may not have established stringent anti-bribery and corruption 
laws and regulations, where existing laws and regulations may not be consistently enforced, or that are perceived to have materially 
higher  levels  of  corruption  according  to  international  rating  standards.  Due  diligence  on  investment  opportunities  in  these 
jurisdictions is frequently more challenging because consistent and uniform commercial practices in such locations may not have 
developed or do not meet international standards. Bribery, fraud, accounting irregularities and corrupt practices can be especially 
difficult to detect in such locations. When acquiring assets in distress, the quality of financial information of the target may also 
make it difficult to identify irregularities.

f)  Foreign Exchange and Other Financial Exposures

Foreign exchange rate fluctuations could adversely impact our aggregate foreign currency exposure and hedging strategies may 
not be effective.

We have pursued and intend to continue to pursue growth opportunities in international markets, and often invest in countries 
where the U.S. dollar is not the local currency. As a result, we are subject to foreign currency risk due to potential fluctuations in 
exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. A significant depreciation in the value of the currency utilized 
in one or more countries where we have a significant presence may have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations 
and financial position. In addition, we are active in certain markets whose economic growth is dependent on the price of commodities 
and the currencies in these markets can be more volatile as a result.

Our businesses are impacted by changes in currency rates, interest rates, commodity prices and other financial exposures. We 
selectively utilize financial instruments to manage these exposures, including credit default swaps and other derivatives to hedge 
certain of our financial positions. However, a significant portion of these risks may remain unhedged. We may also choose to 
establish unhedged positions in the ordinary course of business.

There is no assurance that hedging strategies, to the extent they are used, will fully mitigate the risks they are intended to offset. 
Additionally, derivatives that we use are also subject to their own unique set of risks, including counterparty risk with respect to 
the financial well-being of the party on the other side of these transactions and a potential requirement to fund mark-to-market 
adjustments. Our financial risk management policies may not ultimately be effective at managing these risks.

The Dodd-Frank Act and similar laws in other jurisdictions impose rules and regulations governing oversight of the over-the-
counter derivatives market and its participants. These regulations may impose additional costs and regulatory scrutiny on us. If 
our derivative transactions are required to be executed through exchanges or regulated facilities, we will face incremental collateral 
requirements in the form of initial margin and require variation margin to be cash settled on a daily basis. Such an increase in 
margin requirements (relative to bilateral agreements), were it to occur, perhaps combined with a more restricted list of securities 
that qualify as eligible collateral, would require us to hold larger positions in cash and treasuries, which could reduce income. We 
cannot predict the effect of changing derivatives legislation on our hedging costs, our hedging strategy or its implementation, or 
the risks that we hedge. Regulation of derivatives may increase the cost of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives 
to  protect  against  operational  risk  and  reduce  the  liquidity  of  the  derivatives  market,  all  of  which  may  reduce  our  use  of 
derivatives and result in the increased volatility and decreased predictability of our cash flows.

97     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

g)  Temporary Investments

We may be unable to syndicate, assign or transfer financial commitments entered into in support of our asset management franchise.

We periodically enter into agreements that commit us to acquire assets or securities in order to support our asset management 
franchise. For example, we may acquire an asset suitable for a particular managed entity that we are fundraising and warehouse 
that asset through the fundraising period before transferring the asset to the managed entity for which it was intended. Or, as 
another example, for a particular acquisition transaction we may commit capital as part of a consortium alongside certain of our 
managed entities with the expectation that we will syndicate or assign all or a portion of our own commitment to other investors 
prior to, at the same time as, or subsequent to, the anticipated closing of the transaction. In all of these cases, our support is intended 
to be of a temporary nature and we engage in this activity in order to further the growth and development of our asset management 
franchise.  By  leveraging  the  Corporation’s  financial  position  to  make  temporary  investments  we  can  execute  on  investment 
opportunities prior to obtaining all third-party equity financing that we seek, and these opportunities may otherwise not be available 
without the Corporation’s initial equity participation.

While it is often our intention in these arrangements that the Corporation’s direct participation be of a temporary nature, we may 
be unable to syndicate, assign or transfer our interest as we intended and therefore may be required to take or keep ownership of 
an asset for an extended period. This would increase the amount of our own capital deployed to certain assets and could have an 
adverse impact on our liquidity, which may reduce our ability to pursue further acquisitions or meet other financial commitments.

h)  Interest Rates

Rising interest rates could increase our interest costs and adversely affect our financial performance.

A number of our long-life assets are interest rate sensitive. Increases in interest rates will, other things being equal, decrease the 
value of an asset by reducing the present value of the cash flows expected to be produced by such asset. As the value of an asset 
declines  as  a  result  of  interest  rate  increases,  certain  financial  and  other  covenants  under  credit  agreements  governing  such 
asset could be breached, even if we have satisfied and continue to satisfy our payment obligations thereunder. Such a breach could 
result in negative consequences on our financial performance and results of operations.

Additionally, any of our debt or preferred shares that are subject to variable interest rates, either as an obligation with a variable 
interest rate or as an obligation with a fixed interest rate that resets into a variable interest rate in the future, are subject to interest 
rate risk.  Further, the value of any debt or preferred share that is subject to a fixed interest rate will be determined based on the 
prevailing interest rates and, accordingly, this type of debt or preferred share is also subject to interest rate risk.

In addition, interest rates currently remain at low levels in many jurisdictions in which we operate. These rates may remain relatively 
low, but they may rise significantly at some point in the future, either gradually or abruptly. A sudden or unexpected increase in 
interest rates may cause certain market dislocations that could negatively impact our financial performance. Interest rate increases 
would also increase the amount of cash required to service our obligations and our earnings could be adversely impacted as a 
result thereof.

The Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. has announced that it will cease to compel banks to participate in LIBOR after 2021. 
This change to the administration of LIBOR, and any other reforms to benchmark interest rates, could create risks and challenges 
for us, the entities that we manage, and our portfolio companies. The discontinuance of, or changes to, benchmark interest rates 
may  require  adjustments  to  agreements  to  which  we  and  other  market  participants  are  parties,  as  well  as  to  related  systems 
and processes.

i)  Financial and Liquidity

Cash may not be available to meet our financial obligations when due or enable us to capitalize on investment opportunities when 
they arise.

We employ debt and other forms of leverage in the ordinary course of business to enhance returns to our investors and finance 
our operations. We are therefore subject to the risks associated with debt financing and refinancing, including but not limited to 
the following: (i) our cash flow may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest; (ii) payments of principal 
and interest on borrowings may leave us with insufficient cash resources to pay operating expenses and dividends; (iii) if we are 
unable to obtain committed debt financing for potential acquisitions or can only obtain debt at high interest rates or on other 
unfavorable terms, we may have difficulty completing acquisitions or may generate profits that are lower than would otherwise 
be the case; (iv) we may not be able to refinance indebtedness at maturity due to company and market factors such as the estimated 
cash flow produced by our assets, the value of our assets, liquidity in the debt markets, and/or financial, competitive, business and 
other factors; and (v) if we are able to refinance our indebtedness, the terms of a refinancing may not be as favorable as the original 
terms for such indebtedness. If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness on acceptable terms, or at all, we may need to utilize 
available liquidity, which would reduce our ability to pursue new investment opportunities, or we may need to dispose of one or 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    98

more of our assets on disadvantageous terms, or raise equity, thereby causing dilution to existing shareholders. Regulatory changes 
may also result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to credit.

The terms of our various credit agreements and other financing documents require us to comply with a number of customary 
financial and other covenants, such as maintaining debt service coverage and leverage ratios, adequate insurance coverage and 
certain credit ratings. These covenants may limit our flexibility in conducting our operations and breaches of these covenants 
could result in defaults under the instruments governing the applicable indebtedness, even if we have satisfied and continue to 
satisfy our payment obligations.

A large proportion of our capital is invested in physical assets and securities that can be hard to sell, especially if market conditions 
are poor. Further, because our investment strategy can entail our having representation on public portfolio company boards, we 
may be restricted in our ability to effect sales during certain time periods. A lack of liquidity could limit our ability to vary our 
portfolio or assets promptly in response to changing economic or investment conditions. Additionally, if financial or operating 
difficulties of other owners result in distress sales, such sales could depress asset values in the markets in which we operate. The 
restrictions inherent in owning physical assets could reduce our ability to respond to changes in market conditions and could 
adversely affect the performance of our investments, our financial condition and results of operations.

Because there is significant uncertainty in the valuation of, or in the stability of the value of illiquid or non-public investments, 
the fair values of such investments do not necessarily reflect the prices that would actually be obtained when such investments 
are realized. Realizations at values significantly lower than the values at which investments have been recorded would result in 
losses, a decline in asset management fees and the potential loss of carried interest and incentive fees.

We enter into financing commitments in the normal course of business, which we may be required to fund. Additionally, from 
time to time, we may guarantee the obligations of other entities that we manage and/or invest in. If we are required to fund these 
commitments and are unable to do so, this could result in damages being pursued against us or a loss of opportunity through default 
under contracts that are otherwise to our benefit.

j)  Human Capital

Ineffective  maintenance  of  our  culture,  or  ineffective  management  of  human  capital  could  adversely  impact  our  asset 
management business and financial performance.

In all of our markets, we face competition in connection with the attraction and retention of qualified employees. Our ability to 
compete effectively in our businesses will depend upon our ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate our existing 
employees. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified employees this could limit our ability to compete successfully and 
achieve our business objectives, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our senior management team has a significant role in our success and oversees the execution of our value investing strategy. Our 
ability to retain and motivate our management team or attract suitable replacements should any members of our management team 
leave is dependent on, among other things, the competitive nature of the employment market and the career opportunities and 
compensation that we can offer.

We may experience departures of key professionals in the future. We cannot predict the impact that any such departures will have 
on  our  ability  to  achieve  our  objectives,  and  such  departures  could  adversely  impact  our  financial  condition  and  cash  flow. 
Competition for the best human capital is intense and the loss of services from key members of the management team or a limitation 
in their availability could adversely impact our financial condition and cash flow. Furthermore, such a loss could be negatively 
perceived  in  the  capital  markets.  Our  human  capital  risks  may  be  exacerbated  by  the  fact  that  we  do  not  maintain  any  key 
person insurance.

Our senior management team possesses substantial experience and expertise and has strong business relationships with investors 
in our managed entities and other members of the business communities and industries in which we operate. As a result, the loss 
of these personnel could jeopardize our relationships with investors in our managed entities and other members of the business 
communities and industries in which we operate and result in the reduction of our assets under management or fewer investment 
opportunities. The conduct of our businesses and the execution of our strategy rely heavily on teamwork. Our continued ability 
to respond promptly to opportunities and challenges as they arise depends on co-operation and co-ordination across our organization 
and our team-oriented management structure, which may not materialize in the way we expect.

A portion of the workforce in some of our businesses is unionized. If we are unable to negotiate acceptable collective bargaining 
agreements with any of our unions as existing agreements expire we could experience a work stoppage, which could result in a 
significant disruption to the affected operations, higher ongoing labor costs and restrictions on our ability to maximize the efficiency 
of our operations, all of which could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

99     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

k)  Geopolitical

Political  instability,  changes  in  government  policy,  or  unfamiliar  cultural  factors  could  adversely  impact  the  value  of 
our investments.

We are subject to geopolitical uncertainties in all jurisdictions in which we operate. We make investments in businesses that are 
based outside of North America and we may pursue investments in unfamiliar markets, which may expose us to additional risks 
not typically associated with investing in North America. We may not properly adjust to the local culture and business practices 
in such markets, and there is the prospect that we may hire personnel or partner with local persons who might not comply with 
our culture and ethical business practices; either scenario could result in the failure of our initiatives in new markets and lead to 
financial losses for us and our managed entities. There are risks of political instability in several of our major markets and in other 
parts of the world in which we conduct business from factors such as political conflict, income inequality, refugee migration, 
terrorism, the potential break-up of political-economic unions (or the departure of a union member - e.g., Brexit) and political 
corruption; the materialization of one or more of these risks could negatively affect our financial performance. For example, 
although the long-term impact on economic conditions is uncertain, Brexit may have an adverse effect on the rate of economic 
growth in the U.K. and continental Europe.

Any existing or new operations may be subject to significant political, economic and financial risks, which vary by country, and 
may include: (i) changes in government policies, including protectionist policies, or personnel; (ii) changes in general economic 
conditions; (iii) restrictions on currency transfer or convertibility; (iv) changes in labor relations; (v) political instability and civil 
unrest; (vi) less developed or efficient financial markets than in North America; (vii) the absence of uniform accounting, auditing 
and financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements; (viii) less government supervision and regulation; (ix) a 
less developed legal or regulatory environment; (x) heightened exposure to corruption risk; (xi) political hostility to investments 
by  foreign  investors;  (xii)  less  publicly  available  information  in  respect  of  companies  in  non-North  American  markets; 
(xiii) adversely higher or lower rates of inflation; (xiv) higher transaction costs; (xv) difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations 
and expropriation or confiscation of assets; and (xvi) fewer investor protections.

Unforeseen political events in markets where we have significant investors and/or where we own and operate assets or may look 
to for further growth of our businesses, such as the U.S., Brazilian, European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets, may create 
economic uncertainty that has a negative impact on our financial performance. Such uncertainty could cause disruptions to our 
businesses, including affecting the business of and/or our relationships with our investors, customers and suppliers, as well as 
altering the relationship among tariffs and currencies, including the value of the British pound and the Euro relative to the U.S. 
dollar. Disruptions and uncertainties could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. In addition, 
political outcomes in the markets in which we operate may also result in legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws 
and regulations, which can contribute to general economic uncertainty. Economic uncertainty impacting us and our managed 
entities  could  be  exacerbated  by  near-term  political  events,  including  those  in  the  U.S.,  Brazil,  Europe,  Middle  East, Asia 
and elsewhere.

l)  Economic Conditions

Unfavorable  economic  conditions  or  changes  in  the  industries  in  which  we  operate  could  adversely  impact  our 
financial performance.

We are exposed to local, regional, national and international economic conditions and other events and occurrences beyond our 
control, including, but not limited to, the following: credit and capital market volatility; business investment levels; government 
spending levels; consumer spending levels; changes in laws, rules or regulations; trade barriers; commodity prices; currency 
exchange rates and controls; national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts or security operations); 
changes in interest rates; inflation rates; the rate and direction of economic growth; and general economic uncertainty. On a global 
basis, certain industries and sectors have created capacity that anticipated higher growth, which has caused volatility across all 
markets, including commodity markets, which may have a negative impact on our financial performance.

Unfavorable economic conditions could affect the jurisdictions in which our entities are formed and where we own assets and 
operate businesses, and may cause a reduction in: (i) securities prices; (ii) the liquidity of investments made by us and our managed 
entities; (iii) the value or performance of the investments made by us and our managed entities; and (iv) the ability of us and our 
managed entities to raise or deploy capital, each of which could adversely impact our financial condition.

In general, a decline in economic conditions, either in the markets or industries in which we participate, or both, will result in 
downward pressure on our operating margins and asset values as a result of lower demand and increased price competition for 
the services and products that we provide. In particular, given the importance of the U.S. to our operations, an economic downturn 
in this market could have a significant adverse effect on our operating margins and asset values.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    100

Many of our private funds have a finite life that may require us to exit an investment made in a fund at an inopportune time. 
Volatility in the exit markets for these investments, increasing levels of capital required to finance companies to exit and rising 
enterprise value thresholds to go public or complete a strategic sale can all contribute to the risk that we will not be able to exit a 
private  fund  investment  successfully.  We  cannot  always  control  the  timing  of  our  private  fund  investment  exits  or  our 
realizations upon exit.

If global economic conditions deteriorate, our investment performance could suffer, resulting in, for example, the payment of less 
or no carried interest to us. The payment of less or no carried interest to us could cause our cash flow from operations to decrease, 
which could materially adversely affect our liquidity position and the amount of cash we have on hand to conduct our operations. 
A reduction in our cash flow from operations could, in turn, require us to rely on other sources of cash such as the capital markets 
which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or debt and other forms of leverage.

In addition, in an economic downturn, there is an increased risk of default by counterparties to our investments and other transactions. 
In these circumstances, it is more likely that such transactions will fail or perform poorly, which may in turn have a material 
adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.

m)  Tax

Reassessments by tax authorities or changes in tax laws could create additional tax costs for us.

Our structure is based on prevailing taxation law and practice in the local jurisdictions in which we operate. Any change in tax 
policy, tax legislation (including in relation to taxation rates), the interpretation of tax policy or legislation or practice in these 
jurisdictions could adversely affect the return we earn on our investments, the level of capital available to be invested by us or 
our managed entities and the willingness of investors to invest in our managed entities. This risk would include any reassessments 
by tax authorities on our tax returns if we were to incorrectly interpret or apply any tax policy, legislation or practice.

Taxes and other constraints that would apply to our operating entities in such jurisdictions may not apply to local institutions or 
other parties such as state-owned enterprises, and such parties may therefore have a significantly lower effective cost of capital 
and a corresponding competitive advantage in pursuing acquisitions. There are a number of factors that could increase our effective 
tax rates, which would have a negative impact on our net income, including, but not limited to, changes in the valuation of our 
deferred tax assets and liabilities and any reassessment of taxes by a taxation authority.

Governments around the world are increasingly seeking to regulate multinational companies and their use of differential tax rates 
between jurisdictions. This effort includes a greater emphasis by various nations to co-ordinate and share information regarding 
companies and the taxes they pay. Governmental taxation policies and practices could adversely affect us and, depending on the 
nature of such policies and practices, could have a greater impact on us than on other companies. As a result of this increased 
focus on the use of tax planning by multinational companies, we could face reputational risk as a result of negative media coverage 
of our tax planning.

The Corporation endeavors to be considered a “qualified foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for the 
Corporation’s  dividends  to  therefore  be  considered  generally  eligible  for  “qualified  dividend”  treatment  in  the  U.S. Whether 
dividends paid by the Corporation will in fact be treated as “qualified dividends” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for a 
particular shareholder of the Corporation will depend on that shareholder’s specific circumstances, including, but not limited to, 
the shareholder’s holding period for shares of the Corporation on which dividends are received. The Corporation provides no 
assurances  that  any  or  all  of  its  dividends  paid  to  shareholders  will  be  treated  as  “qualified  dividends”  for  U.S.  federal 
income tax purposes.

n)  Financial Reporting and Disclosures

Deficiencies in our public company financial reporting and disclosures could adversely impact our reputation.

As we expand the size and scope of our business, there is a greater susceptibility that our financial reporting and other public 
disclosure documents may contain material misstatements and that the controls we maintain to attempt to ensure the complete 
accuracy of our public disclosures may fail to operate as intended. The occurrence of such events could adversely impact our 
reputation and financial condition.

Management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  to  give  our 
stakeholders assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external 
purposes in accordance with IFRS. However, the process for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial 
reporting has inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error. Our internal controls over financial reporting may not 
prevent or detect misstatements in our financial disclosures on a timely basis, or at all. Some of these processes may be new for 
certain subsidiaries in our structure and in the case of acquisitions may take time to be fully implemented.

101     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports 
filed or submitted under Canadian and U.S. securities laws is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods 
specified. Our policies and procedures governing disclosures may not ensure that all material information regarding us is disclosed 
in a proper and timely fashion, or that we will be successful in preventing the disclosure of material information to a single person 
or a limited group of people before such information is generally disseminated.

o)  Health, Safety and the Environment

Inadequate or ineffective health and safety programs could result in injuries to employees or the public and, as with ineffective 
management of environmental and sustainability issues, could damage our reputation, adversely impact our financial performance 
and may lead to regulatory action.

The ownership and operation of some of the assets held in our portfolio companies carry varying degrees of inherent risk or liability 
related to worker health and safety and the environment, including the risk of government-imposed orders to remedy unsafe 
conditions and contaminated lands and potential civil liability. Compliance with health, safety and environmental standards and 
the requirements set out in the relevant licenses, permits and other approvals obtained by the portfolio companies is crucial.  

Our portfolio companies have incurred and will continue to incur significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with 
health, safety and environmental standards, to obtain and comply with licenses, permits and other approvals, and to assess and 
manage potential liability exposure. Nevertheless, they may be unsuccessful in obtaining or maintaining an important license, 
permit or other approval or become subject to government orders, investigations, inquiries or other proceedings (including civil 
claims) relating to health, safety and environmental matters, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Health, safety and environmental laws and regulations can change rapidly and significantly, and we and/or our portfolio companies 
may  become  subject  to  more  stringent  laws  and  regulations  in  the  future.  The  occurrence  of  any  adverse  health,  safety  or 
environmental event, or any changes, additions to, or more rigorous enforcement of, health, safety and environmental standards, 
licenses, permits or other approvals could have a significant impact on operations and/or result in material expenditures.

Owners and operators of real assets may become liable for the costs of removal and remediation of certain hazardous substances 
released or deposited on or in their properties, or at other locations regardless of whether or not the owner and operator caused 
the  release  or  deposit  of  such  hazardous  materials. These  costs  could  be  significant  and  could  reduce  cash  available  for  our 
businesses. The failure to remove or remediate such substances, if any, could adversely affect our ability to sell our assets or to 
borrow using these assets as collateral, and could potentially result in claims or other proceedings.

Certain of our businesses are involved in using, handling or transporting substances that are toxic, combustible or otherwise 
hazardous to the environment and may be in close proximity to environmentally sensitive areas or densely populated communities. 
If a leak, spill or other environmental incident occurred, it could result in substantial fines or penalties being imposed by regulatory 
authorities, revocation of licenses or permits required to operate the business, the imposition of more stringent conditions in those 
licenses or permits or legal claims for compensation (including punitive damages) by affected stakeholders.

There is increasing stakeholder interest in environment, social and governance (“ESG”) factors and how they are managed. ESG 
factors include carbon footprints, human capital and labor management, corporate governance, gender diversity and privacy and 
data security, among others. Increasingly, investors and lenders are incorporating ESG factors into their investment or lending 
process, respectively, alongside traditional financial considerations. Investors or potential investors in our managed entities or in 
Brookfield may not invest given certain industries in which we operate. If we are unable to successfully integrate ESG factors 
into our practices, we may incur a higher cost of capital or lower interest in our debt and/or equity securities.

Global ESG challenges such as carbon footprints, privacy and data security, demographic shifts and regulatory pressures are 
introducing new risk factors for us that we may not have dealt with previously. If we are unable to successfully manage our ESG 
compliance, this could have a negative impact on our reputation and our ability to raise future public and private capital, and could 
be detrimental to our economic value and the value of our managed entities.

p)  Catastrophic Event/Loss, Climate Change, and Terrorism (including Cyber Terrorism)

Catastrophic events (or combination of events), such as earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, terrorism/sabotage, or fire, as well as 
cyber terrorism, could adversely impact our financial performance.

Our  assets  under  management could  be  exposed  to  effects  of  catastrophic  events,  such  as  severe  weather  conditions,  natural 
disasters, major accidents, acts of malicious destruction, sabotage, war or terrorism, which could materially adversely impact 
our operations.

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Ongoing changes to the physical climate in which we operate may have an impact on our businesses. Changes in weather patterns 
or extreme weather (such as floods, hurricanes and other storms) may impact hydrology and/or wind levels, thereby influencing 
power generation levels, affect other of our businesses or damage our assets. Further, rising sea levels could, in the future, affect 
the value of any low-lying coastal real assets that we may own or develop, result in the imposition of new property taxes or increase 
property insurance rates. Climate change may also give rise to changes in regulations and consumer sentiment that could have a 
negative impact on our operations by increasing the costs of operating our business. The adverse effects of climate change and 
related regulation at provincial or state, federal and international levels could have a material adverse effect on our business, 
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Our commercial office portfolio is concentrated in large metropolitan areas, some of which have been or may be perceived to be 
threatened by terrorist attacks or acts of war. Furthermore, many of our properties consist of high-rise buildings which may also 
be subject to this actual or perceived threat. The perceived threat of a terrorist attack or outbreak of war could negatively impact 
our ability to lease office space in our real estate portfolio. Renewable power and infrastructure assets such as roads, railways, 
power generation facilities and ports, may also be targeted by terrorist organizations or in acts of war. Any damage or business 
interruption costs as a result of uninsured or underinsured acts of terrorism or war could result in a material cost to us and could 
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operation. Adequate terrorism insurance may not be available at 
rates we believe to be reasonable in the future. These risks could be heightened by foreign policy decisions of the U.S. (where we 
have significant operations) and other influential countries or general geopolitical conditions.

We rely on certain information technology systems, including the systems of others with whom we do business, which may be 
subject to cyber terrorism intended to obtain unauthorized access to our proprietary information and that of our business partners, 
destroy data or disable, degrade or sabotage these systems, through the introduction of computer viruses, fraudulent emails, cyber-
attacks or other means. Such acts of cyber terrorism could originate from a variety of sources including our own employees or 
unknown third parties. In addition, cyber security has become a top priority for regulators around the world. There can be no 
assurance that measures implemented to protect the integrity of these systems will provide adequate protection, and a compromise 
in these systems could go undetected for a significant period of time. If these information systems are compromised, we could 
suffer  a  disruption  in  one  or  more  of  our  businesses  and  experience,  among  other  things,  financial  loss;  a  loss  of  business 
opportunities; misappropriation or unauthorized release of confidential or personal information; damage to our systems and those 
with whom we do business; violations of privacy and other laws, litigation, regulatory penalties or remediation and restoration 
costs; as well as increased costs to maintain our systems. This could have a negative impact on our operating results and cash 
flows and result in reputational damage.

q)  Dependence on Information Technology Systems

The failure of our information technology systems could adversely impact our reputation and financial performance.

We operate in businesses that are dependent on information systems and technology. Our information systems and technology 
may not continue to be able to accommodate our growth and the cost of maintaining such systems may increase from its current 
level, either of which could have a material adverse effect on us.

We rely on third-party service providers to manage certain aspects of our business, including for certain information systems and 
technology, data processing systems, and the secure processing, storage and transmission of information. Any interruption or 
deterioration in the performance of these third parties or failures of their information systems and technology could impair the 
quality of our operations and could adversely affect our business and reputation.

r)  Litigation

We and our affiliates may become involved in legal disputes in Canada, the U.S. and internationally that could adversely impact 
our financial performance and reputation.

In the normal course of our operations, we become involved in various legal actions, including claims relating to personal injury, 
property damage, property taxes, land rights and contract and other commercial disputes. The investment decisions we make in 
our asset management business and the activities of our investment professionals on behalf of the portfolio companies of our 
managed entities may subject us, our managed entities and our portfolio companies to the risk of third-party litigation. Further, 
we have significant operations in the U.S. which may, as a result of the prevalence of litigation in the U.S., be more susceptible 
to legal action than certain of our other operations.

Management of our litigation matters is generally handled by legal counsel in the business unit most directly impacted by the 
litigation, and not by a centralized legal department. As a result, the management of litigation that we face may not always be 
appropriate or effective.

103     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The final outcome with respect to outstanding, pending or future litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and the resolution 
of such actions may have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of our operations in a particular quarter or fiscal 
year. Any litigation may consume substantial amounts of our management’s time and attention, and that time and the devotion of 
these resources to litigation may, at times, be disproportionate to the amounts at stake in the litigation. Even if ultimately unsuccessful 
against us, any litigation has the potential to adversely affect our business, including by damaging our reputation.

s)  Insurance

Losses not covered by insurance may be large, which could adversely impact our financial performance.

We carry various insurance policies on our assets. These policies contain policy specifications, limits and deductibles that may 
mean that such policies do not provide coverage or sufficient coverage against all potential material losses. We may also self-
insure a portion of certain of these risks, and therefore the company may not be able to recover from a third-party insurer in the 
event that the company, if it had asset insurance coverage from a third party, could make a claim for recovery. There are certain 
types of risk (generally of a catastrophic nature such as war or environmental contamination) that are either uninsurable or not 
economically insurable. Further, there are certain types of risk for which insurance coverage is not equal to the full replacement 
cost of the insured assets. Should any uninsured or underinsured loss occur, we could lose our investment in, and anticipated 
profits and cash flows from, one or more of our assets or operations.

We also carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (D&O insurance) for losses or advancement of defense costs in the event 
a legal action is brought against the company’s directors, officers or employees for alleged wrongful acts in their capacity as 
directors, officers or employees. Our D&O insurance contains certain customary exclusions that may make it unavailable for the 
company in the event it is needed; and in any case our D&O insurance may not be adequate to fully protect the company against 
liability for the conduct of its directors, officers or employees. We may also self-insure a portion of our D&O insurance, and 
therefore the company may not be able to recover from a third-party insurer in the event that the company, if it had D&O insurance 
from a third-party insurer, could make a claim for recovery.

For economic efficiency and other reasons, the Corporation and its affiliates may enter into insurance policies as a group which 
are intended to provide coverage for the entire group. Where group policies are in place, any payments under such policy could 
have a negative impact on other entities covered under the policy as they may not be able to access adequate insurance in the event 
it is needed. While management attempts to design coverage limits under group policies to ensure that all entities covered under 
a policy have access to sufficient insurance coverage, there are no guarantees that these efforts will be effective in obtaining 
this result.

t)  Credit and Counterparty Risk

Inability to collect amounts owing to us could adversely impact financial performance.

Third parties may not fulfill their payment obligations to us, which could include money, securities or other assets, thereby impacting 
our  operations  and  financial  results.  These  parties  include  deal  and  trading  counterparties,  governmental  agencies,  portfolio 
company customers and financial intermediaries. Third parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of 
liquidity, operational failure, general economic conditions or other reasons.

We have business lines whose models are to earn investment returns by loaning money to distressed companies, either privately 
or via an investment in publicly traded debt securities. As a result, we actively take heightened credit risk in other entities from 
time to time and whether we realize satisfactory investment returns on these loans is uncertain and may be beyond our control. If 
some of these debt investments fail, our financial performance could be negatively impacted.

Investors in our private funds make capital commitments to these vehicles through the execution of subscription agreements. 
When a private fund makes an investment, these capital commitments are then satisfied by our investors via capital contributions. 
Investors in our private funds may default on their capital commitment obligations, which could have an adverse impact on our 
earnings or result in other negative implications to our businesses such as the requirement to redeploy our own capital to cover 
such obligations. This impact would be magnified if the investor that does so is in multiple funds.

u)  Real Estate 

We face risks specific to our real estate activities.

We invest in commercial properties and are therefore exposed to certain risks inherent in the commercial real estate business. 
Commercial real estate investments are subject to varying degrees of risk depending on the nature of the property. These risks 
include changes in general economic conditions (such as the availability and cost of mortgage capital), local conditions (such as 
an oversupply of space or a reduction in demand for real estate in the markets in which we operate), the attractiveness of the 
properties to tenants, competition from other landlords and our ability to provide adequate maintenance at an economical cost.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    104

Certain expenditures, including property taxes, maintenance costs, mortgage payments, insurance costs and related charges, must 
be made whether or not a property is producing sufficient income to service these expenses. Our commercial properties are typically 
subject to mortgages which require debt service payments. If we become unable or unwilling to meet mortgage payments on any 
property, losses could be sustained as a result of the mortgagee’s exercise of its rights of foreclosure or of sale.

Continuation of rental income is dependent on favorable leasing markets to ensure expiring leases are renewed and new tenants 
are found promptly to fill vacancies. It is possible that we may face a disproportionate amount of space expiring in any one year. 
Additionally, rental rates could decline, tenant bankruptcies could increase and tenant renewals may not be achieved, particularly 
in the event of an economic slowdown.

Our retail real estate operations are susceptible to any economic factors that have a negative impact on consumer spending. Lower 
consumer spending would have an unfavorable effect on the sales of our retail tenants, which could result in their inability or 
unwillingness to make all payments owing to us, and on our ability to keep existing tenants and attract new tenants. Significant 
expenditures  associated  with  each  equity  investment  in  real  estate  assets,  such  as  mortgage  payments,  property  taxes  and 
maintenance costs, are generally not reduced when there is a reduction in income from the investment, so our income and cash 
flow would be adversely affected by a decline in income from our retail properties. In addition, low occupancy or sales at our 
retail properties, as a result of competition or otherwise, could result in termination of or reduced rent payable under certain of 
our retail leases, which could adversely affect our retail property revenues.

Our hospitality and multifamily businesses are subject to a range of operating risks common to these industries. The profitability 
of our investments in these industries may be adversely affected by a number of factors, many of which are outside our control. 
For example, our hospitality business faces risks relating to hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural and man-made 
disasters,  the  potential  spread  of  contagious  diseases  such  as  the  Zika  virus,  and  insect  infestations  more  common  to  rental 
accommodations. Such factors could limit or reduce the demand for or the prices our hospitality properties are able to obtain for 
their accommodations or could increase our costs and therefore reduce the profitability of our hospitality businesses. There are 
numerous housing alternatives which compete with our multifamily properties, including other multifamily properties as well as 
condominiums and single-family homes. This competitive environment could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease 
apartment homes at our present properties or any newly developed or acquired real estate, as well as on the rents realized.

v)  Renewable Power

We face risks specific to our renewable power activities.

Our renewable power operations are subject to changes in the weather, hydrology and price, but also include risks related to 
equipment or dam failure, counterparty performance, water rental costs, land rental costs, changes in regulatory requirements and 
other material disruptions.

The revenues generated by our power facilities are correlated to the amount of electricity generated, which in turn is dependent 
upon available water flows, wind, irradiance and other elements beyond our control. Hydrology, wind and irradiance levels vary 
naturally from year to year and may also change permanently because of climate change or other factors. It is therefore possible 
that low water, wind and irradiance levels at certain of our power generating operations could occur at any time and potentially 
continue for indefinite periods.

A portion of our renewable power revenue is tied, either directly or indirectly, to the wholesale market price for electricity, which 
is impacted by a number of external factors beyond our control. Additionally, a portion of the power we generate is sold under 
long-term power purchase agreements, shorter-term financial instruments and physical electricity contracts which are intended to 
mitigate the impact of fluctuations in wholesale electricity prices; however, they may not be effective in achieving this outcome. 
Certain of our power purchase agreements will be subject to re-contracting in the future. If the price of electricity in power markets 
is declining at the time of such re-contracting, it may impact our ability to re-negotiate or replace these contracts on terms that are 
acceptable to us.

In our renewable power operations there is a risk of equipment failure due to wear and tear, latent defect, design error or operator 
error, among other things. The occurrence of such failures could result in a loss of generating capacity and repairing such failures 
could require the expenditure of significant capital and other resources. Failures could also result in exposure to significant liability 
for damages due to harm to the environment, to the public generally or to specific third parties.

In certain cases, some catastrophic events may not excuse us from performing our obligations pursuant to agreements with third 
parties and we may be liable for damages or suffer further losses as a result.

105     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

w)  Infrastructure

We face risks specific to our infrastructure activities.

Our infrastructure operations include utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure, timberlands and agriculture operations. Our 
infrastructure  assets  include  toll  roads,  telecommunication  towers,  electricity  transmission  systems,  coal  terminal  operations, 
electricity and gas  distribution companies, rail networks,  ports and data centers. The  principal risks  facing the regulated and 
unregulated businesses comprising our infrastructure operations relate to government regulation, general economic conditions 
and other material disruptions, counterparty performance, capital expenditure requirements and land use.

Many of our infrastructure operations are subject to forms of economic regulation, including with respect to revenues. If any of 
the respective regulators in the jurisdictions in which we operate decide to change the tolls or rates we are allowed to charge, or 
the amounts of the provisions we are allowed to collect, we may not be able to earn the rate of return on our investments that we 
had planned, or we may not be able to recover our initial cost.

General economic conditions affect international demand for the commodities handled and services provided by our infrastructure 
operations and the goods produced and sold by our timberlands and agriculture businesses. A downturn in the economy generally, 
or specific to any of our infrastructure businesses, may lead to bankruptcies or liquidations of one or more large customers, which 
could reduce our revenues, increase our bad debt expense, reduce our ability to make capital expenditures or have other adverse 
effects on us.

Some of our infrastructure operations have customer contracts as well as concession agreements in place with public and private 
sector clients. Our operations with customer contracts could be adversely affected by any material change in the assets, financial 
condition or results of operations of such customers. Protecting the quality of our revenue streams through the inclusion of take-
or-pay or guaranteed minimum volume provisions into our contracts, is not always possible or fully effective.

Our infrastructure operations may require substantial capital expenditures to maintain our asset base. Any failure to make necessary 
expenditures to maintain our operations could impair our ability to serve existing customers or accommodate increased volumes. 
In addition, we may not be able to recover investments in capital expenditures based upon the rates our operations are able to charge.

x)  Private Equity

We face risks specific to our private equity activities.

The principal risks for our private equity businesses are potential loss of invested capital as well as insufficient investment or fee 
income to cover operating expenses and cost of capital. In addition, these investments are typically cyclical and illiquid and 
therefore may be difficult to monetize, limiting our flexibility to react to changing economic or investment conditions.

Unfavorable economic conditions could negatively impact the ability of investee companies to repay debt. Even with our support, 
adverse economic conditions facing our investee companies may adversely impact the value of our investments or deplete our 
financial or management resources. These investments are also subject to the risks inherent in the underlying businesses, some of 
which are facing difficult business conditions and may continue to do so for the foreseeable future. These risks are compounded 
by recent growth, as new acquisitions have increased the scale and scope of our operations, including in new geographic areas 
and industry sectors, and we may have difficulty managing these additional operations.

We may invest in companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in 
work-outs, liquidations, spin-offs, reorganizations, bankruptcies and similar transactions. Such an investment entails the risk that 
the transaction will be unsuccessful, will take considerable time or will result in a distribution of cash or new securities the value 
of which may be less than the purchase price of the securities in respect of which such distribution is received. In addition, if an 
anticipated transaction does not occur, we may be required to sell our investment at a loss. Investments in businesses we target 
may become subject to legal and/or regulatory proceedings and our investment may be adversely affected by external events 
beyond our control, leading to legal, indemnification or other expenses.

We have several companies that operate in the highly competitive service industry. The revenues and profitability of these companies 
are largely dependent on the awarding of new contracts. A wide variety of micro and macroeconomic factors affecting our clients 
and over which we have no control can impact whether and when these companies receive new contracts. In our construction 
business, the ability of the private or public sector to fund projects could adversely affect the awarding or timing of new contracts 
and margins. If an expected contract award is delayed or not received, or if an ongoing contract is cancelled, our construction 
business could incur significant costs. Alternative technologies could impact the demand for, or use of, our services and could 
impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our businesses in this industry.

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Our infrastructure services operations include investments in nuclear servicing and marine transportation. The nuclear power 
generation industry is politically sensitive and opposition to particular projects could lead to increased regulation and/or more 
onerous operating requirements. A future accident at a nuclear reactor could result in the shutdown of existing plants or impact 
the continued acceptance by the public and regulatory authorities of nuclear energy and the future prospects for nuclear generators. 
Accidents, terrorism, natural disasters or other incidents occurring at nuclear facilities or involving shipments of nuclear materials 
could reduce the demand for nuclear services. Marine transportation and oil production is inherently risky, particularly in the 
extreme conditions in which many of our vessels operate. An incident involving significant loss of product or environmental 
contamination by any of our vessels could harm our reputation and business.

We have industrial operations that are substantially dependent upon the prices we receive for the resources we produce. Those 
prices  depend  on  factors  beyond  our  control,  and  commodity  price  declines  can  have  a  significant  negative  impact  on  these 
operations. Sustained depressed levels or future declines of the price of resources such as oil, gas, limestone and palladium and 
other metals may adversely affect our operating results and cash flows. For these types of businesses, it can be difficult or expensive 
to obtain insurance. Our industrial operations can face labour disruptions and economically unfavorable collective bargaining 
agreements, as well as exposure to occupational health and safety and accident risks.

Unforeseen political events in markets where we own and operate assets and may look to for further growth, such as Brazil, India 
and China, may create economic uncertainty. Such uncertainty could cause disruptions to our businesses, including affecting the 
business  of  and/or  our  relationships  with  our  customers  and  suppliers,  as  well  as  altering  the  relationship  among  tariffs  and 
currencies. In addition, political outcomes in the markets in which we operate may also result in legal uncertainty and potentially 
divergent national laws and regulations, which can contribute to general economic uncertainty. Economic uncertainty impacting 
us  and  our  managed  entities  could  be  exacerbated  by  near-term  political  events,  including  those  in  Brazil,  India,  China 
and elsewhere.

y)  Residential Development

We face risks specific to our residential development and mixed-use activities.

Our residential homebuilding and land development operations are cyclical and significantly affected by changes in general and 
local economic and industry conditions, such as consumer confidence, employment levels, availability of financing for homebuyers, 
household debt, levels of new and existing homes for sale, demographic trends and housing demand. Competition from rental 
properties and resale homes, including homes held for sale by investors and foreclosed homes, may reduce our ability to sell new 
homes, depress prices and reduce margins for the sale of new homes.

Virtually all of our homebuilding customers finance their home acquisitions through mortgages. Even if potential customers do 
not need financing, changes in interest rates or the unavailability of mortgage capital could make it harder for them to sell their 
homes to potential buyers who need financing, resulting in a reduced demand for new homes. Rising mortgage rates or reduced 
mortgage availability could adversely affect our ability to sell new homes and the prices at which we can sell them. Our Canadian 
markets continue to be  materially impacted by  recent changes to  mortgage qualification rules that introduced  stress tests  for 
homebuyers and government policies relating to the Ontario real estate market. In the United States, significant expenses incurred 
for purposes of owning a home, including mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes, generally are deductible expenses for 
an individual’s U.S. federal and, in some cases, state income taxes. However, in 2017 mortgage interest deductibility was reduced 
significantly for both federal and state taxes, which may adversely impact demand for and sales prices of new homes.

The current economic environment also continues to impact the industry for retail and office properties in our mixed-use projects. 
As we depend on office, retail, and apartment tenants to generate income from these mixed-use projects, our results of operations 
and cash flows may be adversely affected by vacancies and tenant defaults or bankruptcy in our mixed-use properties, and we 
may be unable to renew leases or re-lease space in our mixed-use properties as leases expire.

We hold land for future development and may in the future acquire additional land holdings. The risks inherent in purchasing, 
owning and developing land increase as the demand for new homes decreases. Real estate markets are highly uncertain, and the 
value of undeveloped land has fluctuated significantly and may continue to fluctuate. In addition, land carrying costs can be 
significant and can result in losses or reduced profitability. As a result, we hold certain land, and may acquire additional land, in 
our development pipeline at a cost we may not be able to fully recover or at a cost which precludes profitable development.

Our residential development and mixed-use business is susceptible to adverse weather conditions, other environmental conditions, 
and natural disasters, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. For example, in fiscal 2017, Hurricane 
Harvey disrupted our businesses in Texas, which resulted in temporary reductions in sales and closings and while none of our 
U.S. properties were directly affected by the recent significant wildfires throughout Southern California, we could experience 
labor shortages, construction delays, or utility company delays, which in turn could impact our results.

107     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The below summarizes certain terms relating to our business that are made throughout the MD&A and it defines IFRS performance 
measures, non-IFRS performance measures and key operating measures that we use to analyze and discuss our results.

References 

“Brookfield,” the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. 
The  “Corporation”  refers  to  our  asset  management  business  which  is  comprised  of  our  asset  management  and  corporate 
business segments.

We refer to investors in the Corporation as shareholders and we refer to investors in our private funds and listed partnerships 
as investors.

We use asset manager to refer to our asset management segment which offers a variety of investment products to our investors:

•  We have 42 active funds across major asset classes; real estate, infrastructure/renewable power and private equity. These 
funds include core, credit, value-add and opportunistic closed-end funds and core long-life funds. We refer to these funds as 
our private funds.

•  We refer to BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU as our listed partnerships.

•  We refer to our public securities group as public securities. This group manages fee bearing capital through numerous funds 

and separately managed accounts, focused on fixed income and equity securities.

Throughout the MD&A and consolidated financial statements, the following operating companies, joint ventures and associates, 
and their respective subsidiaries, will be referenced as follows: 

•  Acadian – Acadian Timber Corp.

•  BPY – Brookfield Property Partners L.P.

•  BBU – Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

•  BPR – Brookfield Property REIT Inc. (formerly GGP Inc.)

•  BEMI – Brookfield Energy Marketing Inc.

•  GGP – GGP Inc.

•  BEP – Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.

•  Norbord – Norbord Inc.

•  BIP – Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.

•  TerraForm Power (“TERP”) – TerraForm Power, Inc.

Performance Measures

Definitions of performance measures, including IFRS, non-IFRS and operating measures, are presented below in alphabetical 
order. We have specifically identified those measures which are IFRS or non-IFRS measures; the remainder are operating measures.

Assets under management (“AUM”) refers to the total fair value of assets that we manage, on a gross asset value basis, including 
assets for which we earn management fees and those for which we do not. AUM is calculated as follows: (i) for investments that 
Brookfield consolidates for accounting purposes or actively manages, including investments of which Brookfield or a controlled 
investment vehicle is the largest shareholder or the primary operator or manager, at 100% of the investment’s total assets on a fair 
value basis; and (ii) for all other investments, at Brookfield’s or its controlled investment vehicle’s, as applicable, proportionate 
share of the investment’s total assets on a fair value basis. Brookfield’s methodology for determining AUM may differ from the 
methodology employed by other alternative asset managers and Brookfield’s AUM presented herein may differ from our AUM 
reflected in other public filings and/or our Form ADV and Form PF. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    108

Base management fees, which are determined by contractual arrangements, are typically equal to a percentage of fee bearing 
capital and are accrued quarterly. Base management fees, including private fund base fees and listed partnership base fees, are 
IFRS measures.

Private fund base fees are typically earned on fee bearing capital from third-party investors only and are earned on invested 
and/or uninvested fund capital, depending on the stage of the fund life. 

Listed partnership base fees are earned on the total capitalization, including debt and market capitalization, of the listed 
partnerships, which includes our investment. Base fees for BPY, BEP and TERP include a quarterly fixed fee amount of 
$12.5 million, $5 million and $3 million, respectively. BPY and BEP each pay additional fees of 1.25% on the increase in 
market capitalization above their initial capitalization of $11.5 billion and $8 billion, respectively. TERP pays an additional 
fee of 1.25% on the increase above initial per unit price at the time of acquisition. Base fees for BPR, BIP and BBU are 
1.25% of total capitalization. BPR capital is subject to a 12-month fee waiver which will expire at the end of August 2019.

Capitalization at “our share” is a non-IFRS measure and presents our share of debt and other obligations based on our ownership 
percentage of the related investments. We use this measure to provide insight into the extent to which our capital is leveraged 
in each investment, which is an important component of enhancing shareholders returns. This may differ from our consolidated 
leverage because of the varying levels of ownership that we have in consolidated and equity accounted investments, that in turn 
have  different  degrees  of  leverage.  We  also  use  capitalization  at  our  share  to  make  financial  risk  management  decisions 
at the Corporation.  

A reconciliation of consolidated liabilities and equity to capitalization at our share is provided below:

AS AT DEC. 31
2018
(MILLIONS)
Total consolidated liabilities and equity ......................................................................................................... $ 256,281
Add: our share of debt of investments in associates.......................................................................................

9,533

2017

$ 192,720

10,875

Less: non-controlling interests’ share of liabilities

Non-recourse borrowings ...........................................................................................................................

(80,225)

(47,684)

Liabilities associated with assets held for sale............................................................................................

Accounts payable and other........................................................................................................................

Deferred tax liabilities ................................................................................................................................

Subsidiary equity obligations......................................................................................................................

(550)

(13,692)

(7,811)

(2,218)

(606)

(7,200)

(6,205)

(2,013)

Non-controlling interests ................................................................................................................................

(67,335)

(51,628)

Total capitalization at our share ...................................................................................................................... $

93,983

$

88,259

Carried interest is an IFRS measure that is a contractual arrangement whereby we receive a fixed percentage of investment gains 
generated within a private fund provided that the investors receive a pre-determined minimum return. Carried interest is typically 
paid towards the end of the life of a fund after the capital has been returned to investors and may be subject to clawback until all 
investments have been monetized and minimum investment returns are sufficiently assured.

Realized carried interest is an IFRS measure and represents our share of investment returns based on realized gains within 
a private fund. Realized carried interest earned is recognized when an underlying investment is profitably disposed of and 
the fund’s cumulative returns are in excess of preferred returns, in accordance with the respective terms set out in the fund’s 
governing agreements, and when the probability of clawback is remote. We include realized carried interest when determining 
our Asset Management segment results within our consolidated financial statements. 

Realized carried interest, net is a non-IFRS measure and represents realized carried interest after direct costs, which include 
employee expenses and cash taxes.

Carry eligible capital represents the capital committed, pledged or invested in the private funds that we manage and which entitle 
us to earn carried interest. Carry eligible capital includes both invested and uninvested (i.e. uncalled) private fund amounts as well 
as those amounts invested directly by investors (co-investments) if those entitle us to earn carried interest. We believe this measure 
is useful to investors as it provides additional insight into the capital base upon which we have potential to earn carried interest 
once minimum investment returns are sufficiently assured.

Adjusted carry eligible capital excludes uncalled fund commitments and funds that have not yet reached their preferred 
return,  as  well  as  co-investments  and  separately  managed  accounts  that  are  subject  to  lower  carried  interest  than  our 
standard funds.

109     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

A reconciliation from carry eligible capital to adjusted carry eligible capital is provided below:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Carry eligible capital....................................................................................................................................... $
Less:

2018

2017

58,309

$

42,357

Uncalled private fund commitments...........................................................................................................

(21,883)

(18,591)

Co-investments and other ...........................................................................................................................

Funds not yet at target preferred return ......................................................................................................

(6,108)

(9,442)

(2,383)

(2,508)

Adjusted carry eligible capital ........................................................................................................................ $

20,876

$

18,875

Cash  available  for  distribution  and/or  reinvestment  is  a  non-IFRS  measure  that  provides  insight  into  earnings  received  by 
the Corporation that are available for distribution to common shareholders or to be reinvested into the business. It is calculated 
as the sum of our Asset Management segment FFO (i.e. fee related earnings and realized carried interest, net); distributions from 
our listed partnerships, other investments that pay regular cash distributions and distributions from our corporate cash and financial 
assets; other invested capital earnings, which include FFO from our residential operations, energy contracts, sustainable resources 
and other real estate, private equity, corporate investments that do not pay regular cash distributions, corporate costs and corporate 
interest expense; net of preferred share dividend payments.

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Asset management FFO ................................................................................................................................. $
Distributions received from investments........................................................................................................

2018

1,317

$

1,698

2017

970

1,351

Other invested capital earnings

Corporate borrowings.................................................................................................................................

Corporate costs and taxes ...........................................................................................................................

Other wholly-owned investments...............................................................................................................

Preferred share dividends ...............................................................................................................................

(323)

(163)

41

(445)

(151)

(261)

(39)

23

(277)

(145)

Cash available for distribution and/or reinvestment....................................................................................... $

2,419

$

1,899

Consolidated capitalization reflects the full capitalization of wholly owned and partially owned entities that we consolidate in 
our financial statements. Our consolidated capitalization includes 100% of the debt of the consolidated entities even though in many 
cases we only own a portion of the entity and therefore our pro-rata exposure to this debt is much lower. In other cases, this basis 
of presentation excludes the debt of partially owned entities that are accounted for following the equity method, such as our 
investments in Canary Wharf and several of our infrastructure businesses.

Core liquidity represents the amount of cash, financial assets and undrawn credit lines at the Corporation, listed partnerships and 
directly-held investments. We use core liquidity as a key measure of our ability to fund future transactions and capitalize quickly 
on opportunities as they arise. Our core liquidity also allows us to backstop the transactions of our various businesses as necessary 
and fund the development of new activities that are not yet suitable for our investors. 

Total  liquidity  represents  the  sum  of  core  liquidity  and  uncalled  private  fund  commitments  and  is  used  to  pursue  new 
transactions.

Corporate capitalization represents the amount of debt issued by the Corporation, accounts payable and deferred tax liability in 
our Corporate segment as well as our issued and outstanding common and preferred shares. 

Distributions (current rate) represents the distributions that we would receive during the next twelve months based on the current 
distribution rates of the investments that we currently hold. The dividends from our listed investments are calculated by multiplying 
the number of shares held by the most recently announced distribution policy. The yield on cash and financial assets portfolio is 
equal to 8% of the weighted average balance of the last four quarters of our corporate cash and financial assets. Distributions on 
our unlisted investments are calculated based on the quarterly distributions received in the most recent fiscal year.

Economic ownership interest represents the company’s proportionate equity interest in our listed partnerships which can include 
redemption-exchange units (“REUs”), Class A limited partnership units, special limited partnership units and general partnership 
units in each subsidiary, where applicable, as well as any units or shares issued in subsidiaries that are exchangeable for units in 
our listed partnerships (“exchange units”). REUs and exchange units share the same economic attributes as the Class A limited 
partnership units in all respects except for our redemption right, which the listed partnership can satisfy through the issuance of 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    110

Class A limited partnership units. The REUs, general partnership units and exchange units participate in earnings and distributions 
on a per unit basis equivalent to the per unit participation of the Class A limited partnership units of the subsidiary. 

Fee bearing capital represents the capital committed, pledged or invested in the listed partnerships, private funds and public 
securities that we manage which entitles us to earn fee revenues. Fee bearing capital includes both called (“invested”) and uncalled 
(“pledged” or “committed”) amounts. When reconciling period amounts we utilize the following definitions:

• 

Inflows include capital commitments and contributions to our private and public securities funds and equity issuances in our 
listed partnerships.

•  Outflows represent distributions and redemptions of capital from within the public securities capital.

•  Distributions represent quarterly distributions from listed partnerships as well as returns of committed capital (excluding 

market valuation adjustments), redemptions and expiry of uncalled commitments within our private funds. 

•  Market  activity  includes  gains  (losses)  on  portfolio  investments,  listed  partnerships  and  public  securities  based  on 

market prices.

•  Other include changes in net non-recourse leverage included in the determination of listed partnership capitalization and the 

impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on non-U.S. dollar commitments. 

Fee related earnings is an IFRS measure that is comprised of fee revenues less direct costs associated with earning those fees, 
which include employee expenses and professional fees as well as business related technology costs, other shared services and 
taxes. We use this measure to provide additional insight into the operating profitability of our asset management activities.

Fee revenues is an IFRS measure and includes base management fees, incentive distributions, performance fees and transaction 
fees presented within our Asset Management segment. Many of these items do not appear in consolidated revenues because they 
are earned from consolidated entities and are eliminated on consolidation. 

Funds from operations (“FFO”) is a key measure of our financial performance. We use FFO to assess operating results and the 
performance of our businesses on a segmented basis. While we use segment FFO as our segment measure of profit and loss 
(see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements), the sum of FFO for all our segments, or total FFO, is a non-IFRS measure. 
The following table reconciles total FFO to net income:  

Total

Per Share

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Net income........................................................................................................ $
Realized disposition gains recorded as fair value changes or equity ...............

Non-controlling interest in FFO .......................................................................

Financial statement components not included in FFO

Equity accounted fair value changes and other non-FFO items ....................

Fair value changes..........................................................................................

Depreciation and amortization.......................................................................

Deferred income taxes ...................................................................................

2018

2017

7,488

$

4,551

$

1,445

(6,015)

1,284

(1,794)

3,102

(1,109)

1,116

(4,964)

856

(421)

2,345

327

$

2018

7.51

1.48

(6.15)

1.31

(1.84)

3.17

(1.13)

Total FFO.......................................................................................................... $

4,401

$

3,810

$

4.35

$

2017

4.50

1.14

(5.07)

0.87

(0.43)

2.39

0.34

3.74

We use FFO to assess our performance as an asset manager and separately as an investor in our assets. FFO includes the fees that 
we earn from managing capital as well as our share of revenues earned and costs incurred within our operations, which include 
interest expense and other costs. Specifically, FFO includes the impact of contracts that we enter into to generate revenue, including 
asset management agreements, power sales agreements and contracts that our operating businesses enter into such as leases and 
take or pay contracts, and sales of inventory. FFO also includes the impact of changes in borrowings or the cost of borrowings as 
well as other costs incurred to operate our business.  

We use realized disposition gains and losses within FFO in order to provide additional insight regarding the performance of 
investments on a cumulative realized basis, including any unrealized fair value adjustments that were recorded in equity and not 
otherwise reflected in current period FFO, and believe it is useful to investors to better understand variances between reporting 
periods. We exclude depreciation and amortization from FFO as we believe that the value of most of our assets typically increases 
over time, provided we make the necessary maintenance expenditures, the timing and magnitude of which may differ from the 
amount of depreciation recorded in any given period. In addition, the depreciated cost base of our assets is reflected in the ultimate 
realized disposition gain or loss on disposal. As noted above, unrealized fair value changes are excluded from FFO until the period 

111     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
in which the asset is sold. We also exclude deferred income taxes from FFO because the vast majority of the company’s deferred 
income tax assets and liabilities are a result of the revaluation of our assets under IFRS.   

Our definition of FFO may differ from the definition used by other organizations, as well as the definition of FFO used by the 
Real  Property  Association  of  Canada  (“REALPAC”)  and  the  National  Association  of  Real  Estate  Investment  Trusts,  Inc. 
(“NAREIT”), in part because the NAREIT definition is based on U.S. GAAP, as opposed to IFRS. The key differences between 
our definition of FFO and the determination of FFO by REALPAC and/or NAREIT are that we include the following: realized 
disposition gains or losses and cash taxes payable or receivable on those gains or losses, if any; foreign exchange gains or losses 
on monetary items not forming part of our net investment in foreign operations; and foreign exchange gains or losses on the sale 
of an investment in a foreign operation. We do not use FFO as a measure of cash generated from our operations. 

Incentive distributions is an IFRS measure that is determined by contractual arrangements; incentive distributions are paid to us 
by BPY, BEP, BIP and TERP and represent a portion of distributions paid by listed partnerships above a predetermined hurdle. 
Incentive distributions are accrued on the record date of the associated distributions of the entity. 

A summary of our distribution hurdles and current distribution rates is as follows: 

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP).......................................... $

Current 
Distribution Rate1
2.01

Distribution Hurdles 
(per unit)2
0.88

0.81 / $

$

Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP).............................................

Brookfield Property Partners (BPY) ................................................

2.06

1.32

1.50 /

1.10 /

1.69

1.20

Incentive
Distributions

15% / 25%

15% / 25%

15% / 25%

1.  Current rate based on February 2019 announced distribution rates.
2.  We are also entitled to earn a portion of increases in distributions by TERP, based on distribution hurdles of $0.93 and $1.05. TERP's current annual distribution has not 

yet reached the first hurdle.

Invested  capital  consists  of  investments  in  our  listed  partnerships,  other  listed  securities,  unlisted  investments  and  corporate 
working capital. Our invested capital provides us with FFO and cash distributions.

Invested capital, net consists of invested capital and leverage. 

Leverage represents the amount of corporate borrowings and perpetual preferred shares held by the company.

Long-term average (“LTA”) generation is used in our Renewable Power segment and is determined based on expected electrical 
generation from its assets in commercial operation during the year. For assets acquired or reaching commercial operation during 
the year, LTA generation is calculated from the acquisition or commercial operation date. In Brazil, assured generation levels are 
used as a proxy for LTA. We compare LTA generation to actual generation levels to assess the impact on revenues and FFO of 
hydrology, wind generation levels and irradiance, which vary from one period to the next.

Performance fees is an IFRS measure. Performance fees are paid to us when we exceed predetermined investment returns within 
BBU and on certain public securities portfolios. BBU performance fees are accrued quarterly based on the volume-weighted 
average increase in BBU unit price over the previous threshold, whereas performance fees within public securities funds are 
typically determined on an annual basis. Performance fees are not subject to clawback. 

Proportionate basis generation is used in our Renewable Power segment to describe the total amount of power generated by 
facilities held by BEP, at BEP’s respective economic ownership interest percentage.

Realized disposition gains/losses is a component of FFO and includes gains or losses arising from transactions during the reporting 
period together with any fair value changes and revaluation surplus recorded in prior periods, presented net of cash taxes payable 
or receivable. Realized disposition gains include amounts that are recorded in net income, other comprehensive income and as 
ownership changes in our consolidated statements of equity, and exclude amounts attributable to non-controlling interests unless 
otherwise noted. We use realized disposition gains/losses to provide additional insight regarding the performance of investments 
on a cumulative realized basis, including any unrealized fair value adjustments that were recorded in prior periods and not otherwise 
reflected in current period FFO, and believe it is useful to investors to better understand variances between reporting periods. 

Same-store or same-property represents the earnings contribution from assets or investments held throughout both the current 
and  prior  reporting  period  on  a  constant  ownership  basis. We  utilize  same-store  analysis  to  illustrate  the  growth  in  earnings 
excluding the impact of acquisitions or dispositions. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    112

Unrealized carried interest is the change in accumulated unrealized carried interest from prior period and represents the amount 
of carried interest generated during the period. We use this measure to provide insight into the value our investments have created 
in the period.

Accumulated unrealized carried interest is based on carried interest that would be receivable under the contractual formula 
at the period end date as if a fund was liquidated and all investments had been monetized at the values recorded on that date. 
We use this measure to provide insight into our potential to realize carried interest in the future. Details of components of our 
accumulated unrealized carried interest are included in the definition of unrealized carried interest below.

Accumulated unrealized carried interest, net is after direct costs, which include employee expenses and taxes. 

The following table identifies the inputs of accumulated unrealized carried interest to arrive at unrealized carried interest 
generated in the period: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
2018

Adjusted Carry 
Eligible 
Capital1

Adjusted 
Multiple of 
Capital2

Fund Target 
Carried 
Interest3

Current 
Carried 
Interest4

Real Estate....................................................................... $
Infrastructure .................................................................

Private Equity .................................................................

2017

Real Estate........................................................................ $
Infrastructure ....................................................................

Private Equity ...................................................................

$

8,534

10,022

2,320

20,876

7,542

9,613

1,720

2016
Real Estate........................................................................ $
Infrastructure ....................................................................

Private Equity ...................................................................

5,376

5,777

1,321

$

18,875

$

12,474

1.8x

1.4x

2.5x

1.8x

1.4x

2.7x

1.8x

1.4x

1.5x

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

20%

17%

17%

20%

16 %

14 %

20 %

12 %

16 %

6 %

1.  Excludes uncalled private fund commitments, co-investment capital and funds that have not met their preferred return.
2.  Adjusted Multiple of Capital represents the ratio of total distributions plus estimates of remaining value to the equity invested, and reflects performance net of fund 
management fees and expenses, before carried interest. Our core, credit and value add funds pay management fees of 0.90 – 1.50% and our opportunistic and private 
equity funds pay fees of 1.50 – 2.00%. Funds typically incur fund expenses of approximately 0.35% of carry eligible capital annually.
3.  Fund target carried interest percentage is the target carry average of the funds within adjusted carry eligible capital as at each period end.
4.  When a fund has achieved its preferred return, we earn an accelerated percentage of the additional fund profit until we have earned the fund target carried interest 

percentage. Funds in their early stage of earning carry will not yet have earned the full percentage of total fund profit to which we are entitled.

The following table summarizes the unrealized carried interest generated in the current and prior year periods: 

Accumulated Unrealized Carried Interest

Change

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Real Estate ........................................................... $

2018

1,087

$

Infrastructure........................................................

Private Equity ......................................................

Accumulated unrealized carried interest .............
Less: associated expenses1...................................
Accumulated unrealized carry, net ...................... $

Add: realized carried interest, net........................

Unrealized carried interest, net ............................

725

674

2,486

(754)

$

2017

904

559

616

2,079

(649)

2016

2018 vs 2017

2017 vs 2016

503

348

47

898

(322)

576

$

$

183

166

58

407

(105)

302

188

490

$

$

401

211

569

1,181

(327)

854

74

928

1,732

$

1,430

$

1.  Carried  interest  generated  is  subject  to  taxes  and  long-term  incentive  expenses  to  investment  professionals. These  expenses  are  typically  30  –  35%  of  carried 

interest generated.

113     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL 
REPORTING 

Management of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Brookfield) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal 
control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the 
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and effected by the Board of Directors, management and other personnel 
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for 
external  purposes  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  issued  by  the  International Accounting 
Standards Board as defined in Regulation 240.13a-15(f) or 240.15d-15(f). 

Management assessed the effectiveness of Brookfield’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based 
on the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concludes that, as of December 31, 2018, Brookfield’s 
internal control over financial reporting is effective. Management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial 
reporting for Brookfield Property REIT (formerly, GGP Inc.), Forest City Realty Trust, 666 Fifth Avenue, Extended-Stay Hotel 
Portfolio, Saeta Yield S.A., Gas Natural, S.A. ESP, NorthRiver Midstream Inc., Enercare Inc., Dawn Acquisitions LLC (Evoque), 
Schoeller Allibert Group B.V., Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. and Westinghouse Electric Company which were acquired during 
2018, and whose total assets, net assets, revenues and net income on a combined basis constitute approximately 27%, 29%, 8% 
and 8% respectively, of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

Brookfield’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, has been audited by Deloitte LLP, the Independent 
Registered  Public  Accounting  Firm,  who  also  audited  Brookfield’s  consolidated  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended 
December 31,  2018. As  stated  in  the  Report  of  Independent  Registered  Public Accounting  Firm,  Deloitte  LLP  expressed  an 
unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Brookfield’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. 

J. Bruce Flatt
Chief Executive Officer

Brian D. Lawson
Chief Financial Officer

March 26, 2019

Toronto, Canada

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    114

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

We  have  audited  the  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  of  Brookfield  Asset  Management  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (the 
“Company”) as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued 
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, 
in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established 
in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 of the Company and our report 
dated March 26, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. 

As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment 
the internal control over financial reporting at Brookfield Property REIT (formerly, GGP Inc.), Forest City Realty Trust, Extended-
Stay Hotel Portfolio, 666 Fifth Avenue, Gas Natural, S.A. ESP, NorthRiver Midstream Inc., Enercare Inc., Dawn Acquisitions 
LLC, Schoeller Allibert Group B.V., Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., Westinghouse Electric Company and Saeta Yield S.A., which 
were acquired during 2018 and whose financial statements constitute, in aggregate, 27% of total assets, 29% of net assets, 8% of 
revenues, and 8% of net income of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018. 
Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at Brookfield Property REIT (formerly, GGP 
Inc.), Forest City Realty Trust, Extended-Stay Hotel Portfolio, 666 Fifth Avenue, Gas Natural, S.A. ESP, NorthRiver Midstream 
Inc., Enercare Inc., Dawn Acquisitions LLC, Schoeller Allibert Group B.V., Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., Westinghouse Electric 
Company and Saeta Yield S.A. 

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment 
of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal 
Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial 
reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with 
respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities 
and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material 
respects.  Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  assessing  the  risk  that  a 
material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed 
risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides 
a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

115     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability 
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain 
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets 
of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are 
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable 
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that 
could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because 
of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

/s/ Deloitte LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 

Toronto, Canada 
March 26, 2019

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    116

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and other financial information in this Annual Report have been prepared 
by  the  company’s  management  which  is  responsible  for  their  integrity,  consistency,  objectivity  and  reliability. To  fulfill  this 
responsibility, the company maintains policies, procedures and systems of internal control to ensure that its reporting practices 
and accounting and administrative procedures are appropriate to provide a high degree of assurance that is relevant and reliable 
financial information is produced and assets are safeguarded. These controls include the careful selection and training of employees, 
the establishment of well-defined areas of responsibility and accountability for performance, and the communication of policies 
and code of conduct throughout the company. In addition, the company maintains an internal audit group that conducts periodic 
audits of the company’s operations. The Chief Internal Auditor has full access to the Audit Committee. 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and, where appropriate, reflect estimates based on management’s judgment. 
The financial information presented throughout this Annual Report is generally consistent with the information contained in the 
accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

Deloitte LLP, the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm appointed by the shareholders, have audited the consolidated 
financial statements set out on pages 119 through 200 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the 
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) to enable them to express to the board of directors 
and shareholders their opinion on the consolidated financial statements. Their report is set out on the following page. 

The consolidated financial statements have been further reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors acting through its Audit 
Committee, which is comprised of directors who are neither officers nor employees of the company. The Audit Committee, which 
meets  with  the  auditors  and  management  to  review  the  activities  of  each  and  reports  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  oversees 
management’s responsibilities for the financial reporting and internal control systems. The auditors have full and direct access to 
the Audit Committee and meet periodically with the committee both with and without management present to discuss their audit 
and related findings. 

J. Bruce Flatt
Chief Executive Officer

Brian D. Lawson
Chief Financial Officer

March 26, 2019

Toronto, Canada

117     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Brookfield Asset  Management  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (the 
“Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes 
in equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively 
referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial 
position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the 
two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by 
the International Accounting Standards Board.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in 
Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission and our report dated March 26, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over 
financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable 
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error 
or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether 
due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, 
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial 
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Deloitte LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants 
Licensed Public Accountants 

March 26, 2019
Toronto, Canada 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1971.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    118

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Assets

Note  

2018

2017

Cash and cash equivalents..................................................................................................

Other financial assets..........................................................................................................

Accounts receivable and other ...........................................................................................

Inventory ............................................................................................................................

Assets classified as held for sale ........................................................................................

Equity accounted investments ............................................................................................

Investment properties .........................................................................................................

Property, plant and equipment............................................................................................

Intangible assets .................................................................................................................

Goodwill.............................................................................................................................

Deferred income tax assets.................................................................................................

Total Assets ..........................................................................................................................

Liabilities and Equity

Corporate borrowings.........................................................................................................

Accounts payable and other ...............................................................................................

Liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale...............................................

Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities...................................................................

Deferred income tax liabilities ...........................................................................................

Subsidiary equity obligations .............................................................................................

Equity

Preferred equity.................................................................................................................

Non-controlling interests...................................................................................................

Common equity.................................................................................................................

Total equity .......................................................................................................................

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

9

18

15

19

21

21

21

$

8,390

$

6,227

16,931

6,989

2,185

33,647

84,309

67,294

18,762

8,815

2,732

5,139

4,800

11,973

6,311

1,605

31,994

56,870

53,005

14,242

5,317

1,464

$

$

256,281

$

192,720

6,409

$

23,989

812

111,809

12,236

3,876

4,168

67,335

25,647

97,150

5,659

17,965

1,424

72,730

11,409

3,661

4,192

51,628

24,052

79,872

Total Liabilities and Equity................................................................................................

$

256,281

$

192,720

119     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Revenues ...............................................................................................................................

Direct costs............................................................................................................................

Other income and gains.........................................................................................................

Note

22

23

Equity accounted income ......................................................................................................

10

Expenses

Interest...............................................................................................................................

Corporate costs..................................................................................................................

Fair value changes.................................................................................................................

24

Depreciation and amortization ..............................................................................................

Income taxes .........................................................................................................................

15

Net income ............................................................................................................................

Net income attributable to:

Shareholders......................................................................................................................

Non-controlling interests...................................................................................................

Net income per share:

Diluted...............................................................................................................................

Basic..................................................................................................................................

21

21

2018

$

56,771

$

(45,519)

1,166

1,088

(4,854)

(104)

1,794

(3,102)

248

7,488

3,584

3,904

7,488

3.40

3.47

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2017

40,786

(32,388)

1,180

1,213

(3,608)

(95)

421

(2,345)

(613)

4,551

1,462

3,089

4,551

1.34

1.37

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    120

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Net income ............................................................................................................................

Note

2018

$

7,488

$

2017

4,551

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Items that may be reclassified to net income

Financial contracts and power sale agreements ..............................................................

Marketable securities ......................................................................................................

Equity accounted investments.........................................................................................

10

Foreign currency translation ...........................................................................................

Income taxes ...................................................................................................................

15

Items that will not be reclassified to net income

Revaluations of property, plant and equipment ..............................................................

Revaluation of pension obligations.................................................................................

Equity accounted investments.........................................................................................

Marketable securities ......................................................................................................

12

17

10

Income taxes ...................................................................................................................

15

Other comprehensive income................................................................................................

Comprehensive income.........................................................................................................

Attributable to:

Shareholders

Net income ......................................................................................................................

Other comprehensive income..........................................................................................

Comprehensive income...................................................................................................

Non-controlling interests

Net income ......................................................................................................................

Other comprehensive income..........................................................................................

Comprehensive income...................................................................................................

$

$

$

$

$

(20)

(34)

(29)

(3,254)

(90)

(3,427)

6,290

(19)

547

94

(1,324)

5,588

2,161

9,649

$

3,584

406

3,990

3,904

1,755

5,659

$

$

$

$

278

95

6

439

11

829

934

4

509

—

314

1,761

2,590

7,141

1,462

849

2,311

3,089

1,741

4,830

121     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

Common
Share
Capital

Contributed
Surplus

Retained
Earnings

Ownership     
Changes1 

Revaluation
Surplus

Currency
Translation

Other
Reserves2

Common
Equity

Preferred
Equity

Non-
controlling
Interests

Total
Equity

$

4,428

$

263

$

11,864

$

1,459

$

6,881

$

(878)

$

35

$

24,052

$

4,192

$

51,628

$

79,872

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income

(215)

—

—

—

11,649

1,459

6,881

(878)

—

4,428

—

—

—

—

—

—

29

—

—

29

—

263

—

—

—

—

—

—

3,584

—

3,584

(575)

(151)

—

(44)

(344)

52

—

8

(33)

114

2,595

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,060

1,060

—

—

—

—

—

(814)

(814)

(385)

675

—

(959)

(959)

—

—

—

—

—

4

(955)

(3)

32

—

305

305

—

—

—

—

—

(30)

275

(218)

—

(84)

(302)

23,834

4,192

51,544

79,570

3,584

406

3,990

(575)

(151)

—

(359)

19

(1,111)

1,813

—

—

—

—

—

—

(24)

—

—

(24)

3,904

1,755

5,659

—

—

7,488

2,161

9,649

(575)

(151)

(6,709)

(6,709)

6,663

6,280

7

10,171

15,791

26

9,060

17,580

AS AT AND FOR THE
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
2018 (MILLIONS)

Balance as at

December 31, 2017..

Changes in accounting 
policies3 ...................

Adjusted balance as at
January 1, 2018........

Changes in period:

Net income..................

Other comprehensive

income .....................

Comprehensive

income .....................

Shareholder

distributions

Common equity ......

Preferred equity ......

Non-controlling

interests................

Other items

Equity issuances,

net of redemptions

Share-based

compensation .......

Ownership changes.

Total change in period

Balance as at

December 31, 2018..

$

4,457

$

271

$

14,244

$

645

$

7,556

$

(1,833)

$

307

$

25,647

$

4,168

$

67,335

$

97,150

1. 
2. 

Includes gains or losses on changes in ownership interests of consolidated subsidiaries.
Includes changes in fair value of marketable securities, cash flow hedges, actuarial changes on pension plans and equity accounted other comprehensive income, net of 
associated income taxes.

3.  See financial statement Note 2(b).

Common
Share
Capital

Contributed
Surplus

Retained
Earnings

Ownership
Changes1 

Revaluation
Surplus

Currency
Translation

Other
Reserves2

Common
Equity

Preferred
Equity

Non-
controlling
Interests

Total
Equity

$

4,390

$

234

$

11,490

$

1,199

$

6,750

$

(1,256)

$

(308)

$

22,499

$

3,954

$

43,235

$

69,688

Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income

—

—

—

—

—

—

38

—

—

38

—

—

—

—

—

—

(23)

52

—

29

1,462

—

1,462

(642)

(145)

—

(118)

(31)

(152)

374

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

260

260

—

237

237

—

—

—

—

—

(106)

131

—

280

280

—

—

—

—

—

98

—

332

332

—

—

—

—

—

11

1,462

849

2,311

(642)

(145)

—

(103)

21

111

378

343

1,553

—

—

—

—

—

—

238

—

—

238

3,089

1,741

4,830

—

—

4,551

2,590

7,141

(642)

(145)

(4,907)

(4,907)

7,193

4

1,273

8,393

7,328

25

1,384

10,184

$

4,428

$

263

$

11,864

$

1,459

$

6,881

$

(878)

$

35

$

24,052

$

4,192

$

51,628

$

79,872

AS AT AND FOR THE
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
2017 (MILLIONS)

Balance as at

December 31, 2016..

Changes in period:

Net income..................

Other comprehensive

income .....................

Comprehensive

income .....................

Shareholder

distributions

Common equity ......

Preferred equity ......

Non-controlling

interests................

Other items

Equity issuances,

net of redemptions

Share-based

compensation .......

Ownership changes.

Total change in period

Balance as at

December 31, 2017..

1. 
2. 

Includes gains or losses on changes in ownership interests of consolidated subsidiaries.
Includes changes in fair value of marketable securities, cash flow hedges, actuarial changes on pension plans and equity accounted other comprehensive income, net of 
associated income taxes.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    122

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Operating activities
Net income ..........................................................................................................................
Other income and gains.......................................................................................................
Share of undistributed equity accounted earnings ..............................................................
Fair value changes...............................................................................................................
Depreciation and amortization ............................................................................................
Deferred income taxes ........................................................................................................
Investments in residential inventory ...................................................................................
Net change in non-cash working capital balances ..............................................................

Financing activities
Corporate borrowings arranged ..........................................................................................
Corporate borrowings repaid ..............................................................................................
Commercial paper and bank borrowings, net .....................................................................
Non-recourse borrowings arranged.....................................................................................
Non-recourse borrowings repaid.........................................................................................
Non-recourse credit facilities, net .......................................................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations issued...................................................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations redeemed .............................................................................
Capital provided from non-controlling interests.................................................................
Capital repaid to non-controlling interests..........................................................................
Preferred equity issuance ....................................................................................................
Preferred equity redemptions ..............................................................................................
Common shares issued........................................................................................................
Common shares repurchased ..............................................................................................
Distributions to non-controlling interests ...........................................................................
Distributions to shareholders ..............................................................................................

Investing activities
Acquisitions
Investment properties........................................................................................................
Property, plant and equipment ..........................................................................................
Equity accounted investments...........................................................................................
Financial assets and other .................................................................................................
Acquisition of subsidiaries................................................................................................
Dispositions
Investment properties........................................................................................................
Property, plant and equipment ..........................................................................................
Equity accounted investments...........................................................................................
Financial assets and other .................................................................................................
Disposition of subsidiaries ................................................................................................
Restricted cash and deposits ...............................................................................................

Cash and cash equivalents
Change in cash and cash equivalents ..................................................................................
Net change in cash classified within assets held for sale....................................................
Foreign exchange revaluation .............................................................................................
Balance, beginning of year..................................................................................................
Balance, end of year............................................................................................................

Supplemental cash flow disclosures

Income taxes paid...............................................................................................................
Interest paid ........................................................................................................................

123     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Note

2018

2017

$

24

15

$

7,488
(1,166)
(294)
(1,794)
3,102
(1,109)
258
(1,326)
5,159

1,090
—
(103)
43,541
(28,243)
3,291
212
(485)
9,306
(2,643)
—
(17)
11
(389)
(6,709)
(726)
18,136

(2,879)
(1,962)
(953)
(5,288)
(22,269)

4,311
787
2,163
4,523
1,729
5
(19,833)

3,462
(1)
(210)
5,139
8,390

980
4,712

$

$

$

$

4,551
(1,180)
(481)
(421)
2,345
327
19
(1,155)
4,005

1,284
(434)
103
26,251
(21,636)
819
419
(347)
9,488
(2,295)
241
(7)
15
(124)
(4,907)
(685)
8,185

(2,114)
(1,690)
(2,718)
(4,623)
(10,336)

2,906
66
889
2,843
2,834
549
(11,394)

796
(20)
64
4,299
5,139

402
3,374  

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

1.  CORPORATE INFORMATION

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (the “Corporation”) is a global alternative asset management company. References in these 
financial statements to “Brookfield,” “us,” “we,” “our” or “the company” refer to the Corporation and its direct and indirect 
subsidiaries  and  consolidated  entities. The  company  owns  and  operates  assets  with  a  focus  on  real  estate,  renewable  power, 
infrastructure and private equity. The Corporation is listed on the New York, Toronto and Euronext stock exchanges under the 
symbols BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. The Corporation was formed by articles of amalgamation under the Business 
Corporations Act (Ontario) and is registered in Ontario, Canada. The registered office of the Corporation is Brookfield Place, 
181 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T3.

2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a)  Statement of Compliance

These  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

These financial statements were authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors of the company on March 26, 2019.

b)  Adoption of Accounting Standards

The company has applied new and revised standards issued by the IASB that are effective for the period beginning on or after 
January 1, 2018 resulting in a $302 million reduction to opening total equity. The new standards were applied as follows:

i.  Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”), specifies how and when revenue should be recognized and requires 
disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from customer contracts. The 
company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative catch-up adjustment booked 
to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 as if the standard had always been in effect. 

The standard is applied only to contracts that are not completed as at January 1, 2018 and we availed ourselves of the practical 
expedient that permits adopters of the standard to not apply the requirements for contract modifications retrospectively for contracts 
that were modified before January 1, 2018. Where available, the company has also elected the practical expedient available under 
IFRS 15 for measuring progress toward complete satisfaction of a performance obligation and for disclosure requirements of 
remaining performance obligations. This permits the company to recognize revenue in the amount to which we have the right to 
invoice such that the company has a right to the consideration in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer 
for performance completed to date.

Comparative  information  has  not  been  restated  and  continues  to  be  reported  under  the  accounting  standards  in  effect  for 
those periods.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    124

This change in accounting policy affected our opening equity as follows:

(MILLIONS)

Assets

Balance at 
December 31, 2017

IFRS 15
Adjustments

Balance at 
January 1, 2018

Accounts receivable and other .................................................... $

11,973

$

(368) $

Inventory .....................................................................................

Equity accounted investments.....................................................

Deferred income tax assets .........................................................

Other assets .................................................................................

6,311

31,994

1,464

140,978

258

(3)

42

—

Total assets .................................................................................... $

192,720

$

(71) $

Liabilities

Accounts payable and other ........................................................ $

17,965

$

208

$

Deferred income tax liabilities....................................................

Other liabilities............................................................................

Total liabilities...............................................................................

Equity

Preferred equity...........................................................................

Non-controlling interests.............................................................

Common equity...........................................................................

Total equity ...................................................................................

11,409

83,474

112,848

4,192

51,628

24,052

79,872

1

—

209

—

(83)

(197)

(280)

11,605

6,569

31,991

1,506

140,978

192,649

18,173

11,410

83,474

113,057

4,192

51,545

23,855

79,592

Total liabilities and equity............................................................. $

192,720

$

(71) $

192,649

The $280 million reduction in opening total equity is primarily due to the following:

•  within our Private Equity segment, an increase of $120 million in the contract work in progress liability and the reduction of 
$125 million of accounts receivable. The impact on opening total equity was $265 million. These adjustments were primarily 
the  result  of construction  contracts  for  which  the  cost-to-cost  input  method  was  adopted  to  measure  progress  towards 
the satisfaction of performance obligations and for which variable consideration will only be recognized when it is highly 
probable that revenue from such amounts will not be reversed; and

•  within our Residential segment, a reduction of $190 million of accounts receivable, and increases of $250 million in inventory 
and $90 million in deferred revenue. The impact on opening total equity was $15 million. These adjustments were primarily 
the result of our Brazilian residential homebuilding business for which customers have the ability to cancel their contract 
prior to the transfer of possession and recent legal cases support that control of the asset does not take place until the client 
takes possession of the unit. 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, revenues were $273 million higher than they would have been under the superseded 
standard. The difference is primarily due to:

• 

• 

our residential homebuilding business in Brazil, where revenues were $150 million higher under IFRS 15 due to the impact 
on the timing of revenue recognition which resulted in additional units considered sold during 2018; and

our Private Equity segment, which recognized additional revenues of $91 million in our construction services business and 
an incremental $32 million in our infrastructure services and industrial operations businesses. 

The adoption of IFRS 15 did not have a material effect on our other operations, and there was no material impact to our other 
financial statement accounts as at and for the year ended December 31, 2018.

125     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Revenue Recognition Policies by Segment

Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes amounts collected on behalf 
of third parties. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service (or a bundle of goods and 
services) to the customer and is the unit of account in IFRS 15. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance 
obligation and recognized as revenue, as, or when, the performance obligation is satisfied. The company recognizes revenue when 
it transfers control of a product or service to a customer. 

The company recognizes revenue from the following major sources: 

Asset Management

The  company’s  primary  asset  management  revenue  streams,  which  include  base  management  fees,  incentive  fees  (including 
incentive distributions and performance fees) and realized carried interest, are satisfied over time. A significant portion of our 
asset management revenue is inter-segment in nature and thus eliminated on consolidation; that which survives is recorded as 
revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The company earns base management fees in accordance with contractual arrangements with our private funds, listed partnerships 
and public securities’ investment vehicles. Fees are typically equal to a percentage of fee-bearing capital within the respective 
fund or entity and are accrued quarterly. These fees are earned over the period of time that the management services are provided 
and are allocated to the distinct services provided by the company during the reporting period.

Incentive distributions and performance fees are incentive payments to reward the company for meeting or exceeding certain 
performance  thresholds  of  managed  entities.  Incentive  distributions,  paid  to  us  by  our  listed  partnerships,  are  determined  by 
contractual arrangements and represent a portion of distributions paid by the listed partnerships above a predetermined hurdle. 
They are accrued as revenue on the respective partnerships’ distribution record dates if that hurdle has been achieved. BBU pays 
performance fees if the growth in its market value exceeds a predetermined threshold, with the value based on the quarterly volume-
weighted average price of publicly traded units. These fees are accrued on a quarterly basis subject to the performance of the 
listed vehicle.

Carried interest is a performance fee arrangement in which we receive a percentage of investment returns, generated within a 
private fund on carry eligible capital, based on a contractual formula. We are eligible to earn carried interest from a fund once 
returns exceed the fund’s contractually defined performance hurdles at which point we earn an accelerated percentage of the 
additional fund profit until we have earned the percentage of total fund profit, net of fees and expenses, to which we are entitled. 
We defer recognition of carried interest as revenue until the fund’s cumulative returns exceed its preferred returns and when the 
probability of clawback is remote, which is generally met when an underlying fund investment is profitably disposed of. Typically 
carried interest is not recognized as revenue until the fund is near the end of its life.

Real Estate

Revenue from hospitality operations is generated by providing accommodation, food and beverage and leisure facilities to hotel 
guests. Revenue from accommodation is recognized over the period that the guest stays at the hotel; food and beverage revenue 
as well as revenue from leisure activities is recognized when goods and services are provided.

Real estate rental income is recognized in accordance with IAS 17, Leases. As the company retains substantially all the risks and 
benefits of ownership of its investment properties, it accounts for leases with its tenants as operating leases and begins recognizing 
revenue when the tenant has a right to use the leased asset. The total amount of contractual rent to be received from operating 
leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease; a straight line or free rent receivable, as applicable, is 
recorded as a component of investment property representing the difference between rental revenue recorded and the contractual 
amount received. Percentage participating rents are recognized when tenants’ specified sales targets have been met. 

Renewable Power

Revenue is earned by selling electricity sourced from our power generating facilities. It is derived from the output delivered and 
capacity provided at rates specified under contract terms or at prevailing market rates if the sale is uncontracted. Performance 
obligations are satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes benefits as we deliver electricity and 
related products. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    126

We also sell power and related products under bundled arrangements. Energy, capacity and renewable credits within power purchase 
agreements (“PPA”) are considered to be distinct performance obligations. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct 
performance obligation and recognized as revenue over time as the performance obligation is satisfied. The sale of energy and 
capacity are distinct goods that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer as measured by the output method. 
Renewable credits are performance obligations satisfied at a point in time. Measurement of satisfaction and transfer of control to 
the customer of renewable credits in a bundled arrangement coincides with the pattern of revenue recognition of the underlying 
energy generation.

Infrastructure

Our infrastructure revenue is predominantly recognized over time as services are rendered. Performance obligations are satisfied 
based on actual usage or throughput depending on the terms of the arrangement. Contract progress is determined using a cost-to-
cost input method. Any upfront payments that are separable from the recurring revenue are recognized over time for the period 
the services are provided.

In addition, we have certain contracts where we earn revenue at a point in time when control of the product ultimately transfers 
to the customer, which for our sustainable resources operations coincides with product delivery.

Private Equity

Revenue from our private equity operations primarily consists of: (i) sales of goods or products which are recognized as revenue 
when the product is shipped and title passes to the customer; and (ii) the provision of services which are recognized as revenue over 
the period of time that they are provided. 

Revenue recognized over a period of time is determined using the cost-to-cost input method to measure progress towards satisfaction 
of the performance obligations as the work performed on the contracts creates or enhances an asset that is controlled by the 
customer. A contract asset is recognized as costs are incurred and reclassified to accounts receivable when invoiced. A contract 
liability is recognized if payments are received before work is completed. Variable consideration, such as claims, incentives and 
variations resulting from contract modifications, is included in the transaction price when it is highly probable that such revenue 
will not reverse, which is when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

Residential

Revenue from residential land sales, sales of homes and the completion of residential condominium projects is recognized at the 
point in time when our performance obligations are met. Performance obligations are satisfied when we transfer title over a product 
to a customer and all material conditions of the sales contract have been met. If title of a property transfers but material future 
development is required, revenue will be delayed until the point in time at which the remaining performance obligations are satisfied.

Corporate Activities and Other

Dividend and interest income from other financial assets are recognized as revenue when declared or on an accrual basis using 
the effective interest method, in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”).

Interest revenue from loans and notes receivable, less a provision for uncollectable amounts, is recorded on the accrual basis using 
the effective interest method, in accordance with IFRS 9.

ii.  Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 establishes principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities that will present relevant and 
useful information to users of financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of an entity’s future 
cash flows. This new standard also includes new guidance which aligns hedge accounting more closely with risk management. It 
does not fully change the types of hedging relationships or the requirement to measure and recognize ineffectiveness; however, 
it allows more hedging strategies that are used for risk management purposes to qualify for hedge accounting. The company 
adopted  the  standard  on  January  1,  2018  and  applied  IFRS  9  retrospectively,  using  transitional  provisions  that  allowed  the 
company to not restate prior period comparative information, recording an insignificant adjustment to opening equity. The company 
has elected to use IFRS 9 hedge accounting. The standard is applied only to financial instruments held as at January 1, 2018. 
Comparative  information  has  not  been  restated  and  continues  to  be  reported  under  the  accounting  standards  in  effect 
for those periods. 

127     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Classification of Financial Instruments

The company classifies its financial assets as fair value through profit and loss (“FVTPL”), fair value through other comprehensive 
income (“FVTOCI”) and amortized cost according to the company’s business objectives for managing the financial assets and 
based on the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The company classifies its financial liabilities as amortized 
cost or FVTPL. 

• 

• 

• 

Financial instruments that are not held for the sole purpose of collecting contractual cash flows are classified as FVTPL and 
are initially recognized at their fair value and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Gains and losses 
recorded on each revaluation date are recognized within net earnings. Transaction costs of financial assets classified as FVTPL 
are expensed in profit or loss.

Financial assets classified as FVTOCI are initially recognized at their fair value and are subsequently measured at fair value 
at each reporting date. The cumulative gains or losses related to FVTOCI equity instruments are not reclassified to profit or 
loss on disposal, whereas the cumulative gains or losses on all other FVTOCI assets are reclassified to profit or loss on 
disposal, when there is a significant or prolonged decline in fair value or when the company acquires a controlling or significant 
interest in the underlying investment and commences equity accounting or consolidating the investment. The cumulative 
gains or losses on all FVTOCI liabilities are reclassified to profit or loss on disposal.

Financial instruments that are held for the purpose of collecting contractual cash flows that are solely payments of principal 
and interest are classified as amortized cost and are initially recognized at their fair value and are subsequently measured at 
amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Transaction costs of financial instruments classified as amortized cost 
are capitalized and amortized in profit or loss on the same basis as the financial instrument.

Expected credit losses associated with debt instruments carried at amortized cost and FVOCI are assessed on a forward-looking 
basis. The impairment methodology applied depends on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk. Impairment 
charges are recognized in profit or loss based on the expected credit loss model.

The following table presents the types of financial instruments held by the company within each financial instrument classification 
under IAS 39 and IFRS 9:

Financial Instrument Type

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Other financial assets

Government bonds

Corporate bonds

Fixed income securities and other

Common shares and warrants

Loan and notes receivable
Accounts receivable and other1

Financial Liabilities

Corporate borrowings

Property-specific borrowings

Subsidiary borrowings
Accounts payable and other1
Subsidiary equity obligations

1. 

Includes derivative instruments.

IAS 39

Measurement

IFRS 9

Loans and receivables

Amortized cost

FVTPL, Available for sale

FVTPL, Available for sale

FVTPL, Available for sale

FVTPL, Available for sale

FVTPL, FVTOCI

FVTPL, FVTOCI

FVTPL, FVTOCI

FVTPL, FVTOCI

FVTPL, Loans and receivables

FVTPL, Amortized cost

FVTPL, Loans and receivables

FVTPL, FVTOCI, Amortized cost

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables

Amortized cost

Amortized cost

Amortized cost

FVTPL, Loans and receivables

FVTPL, Amortized cost

FVTPL, Loans and receivables

FVTPL, Amortized cost

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    128

Other Financial Assets

Other financial assets are recognized on their trade date and initially recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in 
net  income  or  other  comprehensive  income  in  accordance  with  their  classification.  Fair  values  of  financial  instruments  are 
determined by reference to quoted bid or ask prices, as appropriate. Where bid and ask prices are unavailable, the closing price 
of the most recent transaction of that instrument is used. 

Other financial assets also include loans and notes receivable which are recorded initially at fair value and, with the exception of 
loans and notes receivable designated as FVTPL, are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, 
less any applicable provision for impairment. A provision for impairment is established when there is objective evidence that the 
company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Loans and receivables 
designated as FVTPL are recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in net income in the period in which they arise.

Allowance for Credit Losses

For financial assets classified as amortized cost or debt instruments as FVTOCI, at each reporting period, the company assesses 
if there has been a significant increase in credit risk since the asset was originated to determine if a 12-month expected credit loss 
or a life-time expected credit loss should be recorded regardless of whether there has been an actual loss event. The company uses 
unbiased, probability-weighted loss scenarios which consider multiple loss scenarios based on reasonable and supportable forecasts 
in order to calculate the expected credit losses. These changes have not had a material impact on the company’s consolidated 
financial statements as at January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. 

The company assesses the carrying value of FVTOCI and amortized cost securities for impairment when there is objective evidence 
that the asset is impaired such as when an asset is in default. Impaired financial assets continue to record life-time expected credit 
losses; however interest revenue is calculated based on the net amortized carrying amount after deducting the loss allowance. 
When  objective  evidence  of  impairment  exists,  losses  arising  from  impairment  are  reclassified  from  accumulated  other 
comprehensive income to net income.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Accounting 

The company selectively utilizes derivative financial instruments primarily to manage financial risks,  including interest rate, 
commodity  and  foreign  exchange  risks.  Derivative  financial  instruments  are  recorded  at  fair  value  within  the  company’s 
consolidated financial statements. Hedge accounting is applied when the derivative is designated as a hedge of a specific exposure 
and there is assurance that it will continue to be effective as a hedge based on an expectation of offsetting cash flows or fair values. 
Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when the derivative no longer qualifies as a hedge or the hedging relationship is 
terminated.  Once  discontinued,  the  cumulative  change  in  fair  value  of  a  derivative  that  was  previously  recorded  in  other 
comprehensive income by the application of hedge accounting is recognized in net income over the remaining term of the original 
hedging  relationship.  The  assets  or  liabilities  relating  to  unrealized  mark-to-market  gains  and  losses  on  derivative  financial 
instruments are recorded in accounts receivable and other or accounts payable and other, respectively. 

Items Classified as Hedges 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts designated as hedges of currency risks relating to a net 
investment in a subsidiary or an associate are included in equity. Gains or losses are reclassified into net income in the period in 
which the subsidiary or associate is disposed of or to the extent that the hedges are ineffective. Where a subsidiary is partially 
disposed, and control is retained, any associated gains or costs are reclassified within equity to ownership changes. Derivative 
financial instruments that are designated as hedges to offset corresponding changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities and 
cash flows are measured at their estimated fair value with changes in fair value recorded in net income or as a component of equity, 
as applicable. Unrealized gains and losses on interest rate contracts designated as hedges of future variable interest payments are 
included in equity as a cash flow hedge when the interest rate risk relates to an anticipated variable interest payment. The periodic 
exchanges of payments on interest rate swap contracts designated as hedges of debt are recorded on an accrual basis as an adjustment 
to interest expense. The periodic exchanges of payments on interest rate contracts designated as hedges of future interest payments 
are amortized into net income over the term of the corresponding interest payments. Unrealized gains and losses on electricity 
contracts  designated  as  cash  flow  hedges  of  future  power  generation  revenue  are  included  in  equity  as  a  cash  flow  hedge. 
The periodic exchanges of payments on power generation commodity swap contracts designated as hedges are recorded on a 
settlement basis as an adjustment to power generation revenue.

Certain hedge accounting relationships relating to aggregated foreign currency exposures qualify for hedge accounting under this 
new standard and the company has completed the hedge documentation for these relationships in order to apply hedge accounting 
to these relationships prospectively, commencing on January 1, 2018.

129     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Items Not Classified as Hedges 

Derivative financial instruments that are not designated as hedges are carried at their estimated fair value, and gains and losses 
arising from changes in fair value are recognized in net income in the period in which the change occurs. Realized and unrealized 
gains and losses on equity derivatives used to offset changes in share prices in respect of vested deferred share units and restricted 
share units are recorded together with the corresponding compensation expense. Realized and unrealized gains on other derivatives 
not designated as hedges are recorded in revenues, direct costs or corporate costs, as applicable. Realized and unrealized gains 
and losses on derivatives which are considered economic hedges, and where hedge accounting is not able to be elected, are recorded 
in fair value changes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

iii.  Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration

IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration (“IFRIC 22”) clarifies that the date of foreign currency 
transactions for purposes of determining the exchange rate to use on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income (or 
part thereof) is the date on which an entity initially recognizes the non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from the 
payment or receipt of advance consideration. The interpretation is effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and 
may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. The company adopted the standard using the prospective approach, and there 
is no material impact.

c)  Future Changes in Accounting Standards

i.  Leases

In January 2016, the IASB published a new standard: IFRS 16 Leases (“IFRS 16”). Under IFRS 16, a contract is, or contains, a 
lease if it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. For leasees, 
the new standard brings most leases on balance sheet, eliminating the distinction between operating and finance leases. While 
adopting IFRS 16 will not impact underlying cash flows, there is expected to be a change in the timing and classification of items 
reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as operating expenses for leases will be presented as interest expense (to 
adjust the value of the lease liability) and amortization expense (to adjust the value of the right-of-use asset). Right-of-use assets 
will be tested for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of assets. This will replace the previous requirement to 
recognize a provision for onerous lease contracts. Lessor accounting, however, remains largely unchanged and the distinction 
between operating and finance leases is retained. IFRS 16 supersedes IAS 17 Leases and related interpretations and is effective 
for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Management has substantially completed its assessment of existing contractual arrangements in order to identify the population 
of leases that will be capitalized under the new standard. Management has also calculated the present value of the identified 
obligations by determining the appropriate incremental borrowing rates for each contract. At this time, management has nearly 
finalized the documented analysis and assessment of the potential impact to IT systems and internal controls and has drafted a 
preliminary version of the disclosures required by the new standard. Prior to adopting the standard in the first quarter of 2019, 
management  needs  to  complete  its  assessment  of  leases  held  by  certain  consolidated  subsidiaries  acquired  in  the  fourth 
quarter of 2018.

We will be adopting IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach which will result in a one-time adjustment to opening 
equity as of January 1, 2019 as if the standard had always been in effect; comparative periods will not be restated. We will be 
applying certain practical expedients and transition reliefs as permitted by the standard; specifically we have elected to apply 
practical expedients associated with short-term and low value leases that allow the company to record operating expenses on such 
leases on a straight-line basis without having to capitalize the lease arrangement. The adoption of IFRS 16 is expected to result 
in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $3 billion as at January 1, 2019, excluding the impact 
relating to the subsidiaries for which the assessment is in progress; the equity impact is not expected to be material.

ii.  Uncertainty Over Income Tax Treatments

In June 2017, the IASB published IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments (“IFRIC 23”), effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The interpretation requires an entity to assess whether it is probable that a tax authority 
will accept an uncertain tax treatment used, or proposed to be used, by an entity in its income tax filings and to exercise judgment 
in determining whether each tax treatment should be considered independently or whether some tax treatments should be considered 
together. The decision should be based on which approach provides better predictions of the resolution of the uncertainty. An 
entity also has to consider whether it is probable that the relevant authority will accept each tax treatment, or group of tax treatments, 
assuming that the taxation authority with the right to examine any amounts reported to it will examine those amounts and will 
have full knowledge of all relevant information when doing so. The interpretation may be applied on either a fully retrospective 
basis or a modified retrospective basis without restatement of comparative information. The company does not expect a material 
impact on its consolidated financial statements.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    130

iii.  Business Combinations

In October 2018, the IASB issued an amendment to IFRS 3 Business Combinations (“IFRS 3”), effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after January 1, 2020. The amendment clarifies the definition of a business and assists companies in determining 
whether an acquisition is a business combination or an acquisition of a group of assets. The amendment emphasizes that the output 
of a business is to provide goods and services to customers and also provide supplementary guidance. The company will adopt 
the standard prospectively and is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

d)  Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. 

i.  Subsidiaries 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and its subsidiaries, which are the entities over which 
the company exercises control. Control exists when the company is able to exercise power over the investee, is exposed to variable 
returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to use its power over the investee to affect the amount of its 
returns. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date control is obtained and continue to be consolidated until the date when control 
is lost. The company includes 100% of its subsidiaries’ revenues and expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and 
100% of its subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with non-controlling interests in the equity of 
the company’s subsidiaries included within the company’s equity. All intercompany balances, transactions, unrealized gains and 
losses are eliminated in full.

The company continually reassesses whether or not it controls an investee, particularly if facts and circumstances indicate there 
is a change to one or more of the control criteria previously mentioned. In certain circumstances when the company has less than 
a majority of the voting rights of an investee, it has power over the investee when the voting rights are sufficient to give it the 
practical  ability  to  direct  the  relevant  activities  of  the  investee  unilaterally.  The  company  considers  all  relevant  facts  and 
circumstances in assessing whether or not the company’s voting rights are sufficient to give it control of an investee. 

Certain of the company’s subsidiaries are subject to profit sharing arrangements, such as carried interest, between the company 
and the non-controlling equity holders, whereby the company is entitled to a participation in profits, as determined under the 
agreements. The attribution of net income amongst equity holders in these subsidiaries reflects the impact of these profit sharing 
arrangements when the attribution of profits as determined in the agreement is no longer subject to adjustment based on future 
events and correspondingly reduces non-controlling interests’ attributable share of those profits. 

Gains or losses resulting from changes in the company’s ownership interest of a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control 
are accounted for as equity transactions and are recorded within ownership changes as a component of equity. When we dispose 
of all or part of a subsidiary resulting in a loss of control, the difference between the carrying value of what is sold and the proceeds 
from disposition is recognized within other income and gains in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

Refer to Note 2(p) for an explanation of the company’s accounting policy for business combinations and to Note 4 for additional 
information on subsidiaries of the company with significant non-controlling interests. 

ii.  Associates and Joint Ventures 

Associates are entities over which the company exercises significant influence. Significant influence is the power to participate 
in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but without control or joint control over those policies. Joint ventures 
are joint arrangements whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have the rights to the net assets of the joint 
arrangement. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control over an arrangement, which exists only when decisions 
about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. The company accounts for associates and 
joint ventures using the equity method of accounting within equity accounted investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

Interests in associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method are initially recognized at cost. At the time of 
initial recognition, if the cost of the associate or joint venture is lower than the proportionate share of the investment’s underlying 
fair value, the company records a gain on the difference between the cost and the underlying fair value of the investment in net 
income. If the cost of the associate or joint venture is greater than the company’s proportionate share of the underlying fair value, 
goodwill relating to the associate or joint venture is included in the carrying amount of the investment. Subsequent to initial 
recognition, the carrying value of the company’s interest in an associate or joint venture is adjusted for the company’s share of 
comprehensive income and distributions of the investee. Profit and losses resulting from transactions with an associate or joint 
venture are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on the interests of unrelated investors in the investee. The 
carrying value of associates or joint ventures is assessed for impairment at each balance sheet date. Impairment losses on equity 
accounted investments may be subsequently reversed in net income. Further information on the impairment of long-lived assets 
is available in Note 2(m).

131     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

iii.  Joint Operations 

A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the assets, 
and obligations for the liabilities, related to the arrangement. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an 
arrangement which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of parties sharing control. 
The company recognizes only its assets, liabilities and share of the results of operations of the joint operation. The assets, liabilities 
and results of joint operations are included within the respective line items of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated 
Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. 

e)  Foreign Currency Translation 

The U.S. dollar is the functional and presentation currency of the company. Each of the company’s subsidiaries, associates, joint 
ventures and joint operations determines its own functional currency and items included in the consolidated financial statements 
of each subsidiary, associate, joint venture and joint operation are measured using that functional currency. 

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated at the rate of 
exchange prevailing at the reporting date and revenues and expenses at average rates during the period. Gains or losses on translation 
are accumulated as a component of equity. On the disposal of a foreign operation, or the loss of control, joint control or significant 
influence, the component of accumulated other comprehensive income relating to that foreign operation is reclassified to net 
income. Gains or losses on foreign currency denominated balances and transactions that are designated as hedges of net investments 
in these operations are reported in the same manner. 

Foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities of the company are translated using the rate of exchange prevailing 
at the reporting date and non-monetary assets and liabilities measured at fair value are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at 
the date when the fair value was determined. Revenues and expenses are measured at average rates during the period. Gains or 
losses on translation of these items are included in net income. Gains or losses on transactions which hedge these items are also 
included in net income. Foreign currency denominated non-monetary assets and liabilities, measured at historic cost, are translated 
at the rate of exchange at the transaction date. 

f)  Cash and Cash Equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities 
of three months or less. 

g)  Related Party Transactions 

In the normal course of operations, the company enters into various transactions on market terms with related parties. The majority 
of  transactions  with  related  parties  are  between  consolidated  entities  and  eliminate  on  consolidation.  The  company  and  its 
subsidiaries may also transact with entities over which the company has significant influence or joint control. Amounts owed to 
and  by  associates  and  joint  ventures  are  not  eliminated  on  consolidation.  The  company’s  subsidiaries  with  significant  non-
controlling interests are described in Note 4 and its associates and joint ventures are described in Note 10.

In addition to our subsidiaries and equity accounted investments, we consider key management personnel, the Board of Directors 
and material shareholders to be related parties. See additional details in Note 28.

h)  Operating Assets 

i. 

Investment Properties 

The company uses the fair value method to account for real estate classified as investment properties. A property is determined 
to be an investment property when it is principally held either to earn rental income or for capital appreciation, or both. Investment 
properties  also  include  properties  that  are  under  development  or  redevelopment  for  future  use  as  investment  property. 
Investment properties are initially measured at cost including transaction costs, or at fair value if acquired in a business combination. 
Subsequent to initial recognition, investment properties are carried at fair value. Gains or losses arising from changes in fair value 
are included in net income during the period in which they arise.

Fair values are completed by undertaking one of two accepted approaches: (i) discounting the expected future cash flows, generally 
over a term of 10 years including a terminal value based on the application of a capitalization rate to estimated year 11 cash flows, 
typically used for our office, retail and logistics assets; or (ii) undertaking a direct capitalization approach for certain of our LP 
investments and directly held multifamily assets whereby a capitalization rate is applied to estimated current year cash flows. The 
future cash flows of each property are based upon, among other things, rental income from current leases and assumptions about 
rental income from future leases reflecting current conditions, less future cash outflows relating to such current and future leases. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    132

Commercial developments are also measured using a discounted cash flow model, net of costs to complete, as of the balance sheet 
date. Development sites in the planning phases are measured using comparable market values for similar assets. 

ii.  Property, Plant and Equipment 

The company uses the revaluation method of accounting for certain classes of property, plant and equipment as well as certain 
assets which are under development for future use as property, plant and equipment. Property, plant and equipment measured 
using the revaluation method is initially measured at cost, or at fair value if acquired in a business combination, and subsequently 
carried at its revalued amount, being the fair value at the date of the revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation 
and any accumulated impairment losses. Revaluations are performed on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year, commencing 
in the first year subsequent to the date of acquisition, unless there is an indication that assets are impaired. Where the carrying 
amount of an asset increases as a result of a revaluation, the increase is recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated 
in equity in revaluation surplus, unless the increase reverses a previously recognized impairment recorded through net income, in 
which case that portion of the increase is recognized in net income. 

Where the carrying amount of an asset decreases, the decrease is recognized in other comprehensive income to the extent of any 
balance  existing  in  revaluation  surplus  in  respect  of  the  asset,  with  the  remainder  of  the  decrease  recognized  in  net  income. 
Depreciation of an asset commences when it is available for use. On loss of control or partial disposition of an asset measured 
using the revaluation method, all accumulated revaluation surplus or the portion disposed of, respectively, is transferred into 
retained earnings or ownership changes, respectively.

Property, plant and equipment held in our Private Equity segment is measured at cost. Land is carried at cost whereas finite-life 
assets such as buildings and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if 
any. Depreciation is calculated on a systematic basis over the assets’ useful life.

Depreciation methods and useful lives are reassessed at least annually regardless of the measurement method used. 

Renewable Power 

Renewable power generating assets, including assets under development, are classified as property, plant and equipment and are 
accounted for using the revaluation method. The company determines the fair value of its renewable power generating assets using 
discounted cash flow analysis, which includes estimates of forecasted revenue, operating costs, maintenance and other capital 
expenditures.  Discount  rates  are  selected  for  each  facility  giving  consideration  to  the  expected  proportion  of  contracted  to 
uncontracted revenue and markets into which power is sold. 

For perpetual assets, such as many of our hydroelectric facilities, the first 20 years of cash flow are discounted with a residual 
value based on the terminal value cash flows. For assets with finite lives, which include wind and solar farms, the company 
discounts projected cash flows over the assets’ estimated remaining service lives. The fair value and estimated remaining service 
lives are reassessed on an annual basis.

Depreciation on renewable power generating assets is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated service lives of the 
assets, which are as follows: 

(YEARS)

Useful Lives

Dams ...................................................................................................................................................................................

Up to 115

Penstocks ............................................................................................................................................................................

Powerhouses .......................................................................................................................................................................

Hydroelectric generating units............................................................................................................................................

Wind generating units .........................................................................................................................................................

Solar generating units .........................................................................................................................................................

Other assets .........................................................................................................................................................................

Up to 60

Up to 115

Up to 115

Up to 41

Up to 30

Up to 60

Cost is allocated to the significant components of power generating assets and each component is depreciated separately. 

133     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The  depreciation  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  in  our  Brazilian  renewable  power  operations  is  based  on  the  duration  of 
the authorization or the useful life of a concession. The weighted-average remaining duration at December 31, 2018 is 29 years
(2017 – 15 years). Land rights are included as part of the concession or authorization and are subject to depreciation. In June of 
2018,  the  federal  government  of  Brazil  provided  further  clarification  to  a  law  that  was  passed  in  2016,  which  resulted  in 
Brookfield Renewable including a one-time thirty year concession renewal period in the valuation of certain of its hydroelectric 
facilities in Brazil.

Infrastructure 

Utilities, transport, communication and energy assets within our infrastructure operations as well as assets under development 
classified as property, plant and equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are accounted for using the revaluation method. 
The company determines the fair value of its utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure assets using discounted cash flow 
analyses, which include estimates of forecasted revenue, operating costs, maintenance and other capital expenditures. Valuations 
are performed internally on an annual basis. Discount rates are selected for each asset, giving consideration to the volatility and 
geography of its revenue streams.

Depreciation on utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure assets is calculated on a straight-line or declining balance basis 
over the estimated service lives of the components of the assets, which are as follows: 

(YEARS)

Buildings.............................................................................................................................................................................

Transmission stations, towers and related fixtures .............................................................................................................

Leasehold improvements ....................................................................................................................................................

Plant and equipment............................................................................................................................................................

Network systems.................................................................................................................................................................

Track ...................................................................................................................................................................................

District energy systems.......................................................................................................................................................

Gas storage assets ...............................................................................................................................................................

Useful Lives

Up to 75

Up to 40

Up to 50

Up to 40

Up to 65

Up to 40

Up to 50

Up to 50

The fair value and the estimated remaining service lives are reassessed annually. 

Public service concessions that provide the right to charge users for a service in which the service and fee is regulated by the 
grantor are accounted for as intangible assets. 

In our sustainable resources operations, land used in the production of standing timber, as well as bridges and roads used in 
sustainable resources production, are accounted for using the revaluation method and included in property, plant and equipment. 
Bridges, roads and equipment are depreciated over their useful lives, generally 3 to 30 years. 

Real Estate – Hospitality Assets 

Hospitality operating assets within our real estate operations are classified as property, plant and equipment and are accounted for 
using the revaluation method. The company determines the fair value for these assets by using a depreciated replacement cost 
method based on the age, physical condition and the construction costs of the assets. Fair value of hospitality properties are also 
reviewed in reference to each hospitality asset’s enterprise value which is determined using a discounted cash flow model. 

Depreciation on hotel assets is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each component of the asset 
as follows: 

(YEARS)

Buildings and improvements ..............................................................................................................................................

Equipment and fixtures.......................................................................................................................................................

Useful Lives

Up to 45

Up to 20

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    134

Private Equity

The company accounts for its private equity property, plant and equipment using the cost model. Costs include expenditures that 
are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Depreciation of an asset commences when it is available for use. PP&E is 
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each component of the asset as follows:

(YEARS)

Buildings.............................................................................................................................................................................

Leasehold improvements ....................................................................................................................................................

Machinery and equipment ..................................................................................................................................................

Oil and gas related equipment ............................................................................................................................................

Vessels.................................................................................................................................................................................

Useful Lives

Up to 50

Up to 40

Up to 20

Up to 10

Up to 35

Oil and natural gas pre-licensing costs incurred before the legal right to explore a specific area have been obtained are expensed 
in the period in which they are incurred. Once the legal right to explore has been acquired and development and exploration costs 
commence, attributable costs are capitalized. The net carrying value of oil and gas properties is depleted using a unit-of-production 
method based on estimated proved, plus probable oil and natural gas reserves. 

iii.  Inventory

Private Equity

Fuel inventories within our Private Equity segment are traded in active markets and are purchased with the view to resell in the 
near future, generating a profit from fluctuations in prices or margins. As a result, fuel inventories are carried at market value by 
reference to prices in a quoted active market, in accordance with the commodity broker-trader exemption granted by IAS 2, 
Inventories. Changes in fair value less costs to sell are recognized in direct costs. Fuel products that are held for extended periods 
in  order  to  benefit  from  future  anticipated  increases  in  fuel  prices  or  located  in  territories  where  no  active  market  exists  are 
recognized at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Products and chemicals used in the production of biofuels are valued at 
the lower of cost and net realizable value.

Real Estate 

Residential development lots, homes and residential condominium projects are recorded in inventory. Residential development 
lots are recorded at the lower of cost, which includes pre-development expenditures and capitalized borrowing costs and net 
realizable value, which the company determines as the estimated selling price of the inventory in the ordinary course of business 
in its completed state, less estimated expenses, including holding costs, costs to complete and costs to sell. 

Homes and other properties held for sale, which include properties subject to sale agreements, are recorded at the lower of cost 
and net realizable value in inventory. Costs are allocated to the salable acreage of each project or subdivision in proportion to the 
anticipated revenue. 

Residential Development

Inventories consist of land held for development, land under development, homes under construction, completed homes and model 
homes. In addition to direct land acquisitions, land development and improvement costs and home construction costs, costs also 
include interest, real estate taxes and direct overhead related to development and construction, which are capitalized to inventory 
during  the  period  beginning  with  the  commencement  of  development  and  ending  with  the  completion  of  construction  or 
development. Indirect costs are allocated to homes or lots based on the number of units in a community.

Land and housing assets are recorded at the lower of cost and net realizable value, which the company determines as the estimated 
selling price of the inventory in the ordinary course of business in its completed state, less estimated expenses, including holding 
costs, costs to complete and costs to sell.

Sustainable Resources

Harvested timber is included in inventory and is measured at the lower of fair value less estimated costs to sell at the time of 
harvest and net realizable value.

135     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

iv.  Sustainable Resources – Standing Timber and Other Agricultural Assets

Sustainable resources consist of standing timber and other agricultural assets and are measured at fair value after deducting the 
estimated selling costs and are recorded in accounts receivable and other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Estimated selling 
costs include commissions, levies, delivery costs, transfer taxes and duties. The fair value of standing timber is calculated using 
the present value of anticipated future cash flows for standing timber before tax and terminal dates of 30 years. Fair value is 
determined based on felling plans, assessments regarding growth, timber prices and felling and silviculture costs. Changes in fair 
value are recorded in net income in the period of change. The company determines fair value of its standing timber using external 
valuations on an annual basis. 

i)  Fair Value Measurement 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date, regardless of whether that price is directly observable or estimated using another valuation 
technique. In estimating the fair value of an asset or a liability, the company takes into account the characteristics of the asset or 
liability  if  market  participants  would  take  those  characteristics  into  account  when  pricing  the  asset  or  liability  at  the 
measurement date. 

Fair value measurement is disaggregated into three hierarchical levels: Level 1, 2 or 3. Fair value hierarchical levels are directly 
based on the degree to which the inputs to the fair value measurement are observable. The levels are as follows: 

Level 1 –  Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. 

Level 2 –  Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability 
through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the asset or liability’s anticipated 
life. 

Level 3 –  Inputs are unobservable and reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the 
asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and 
the risk inherent in the inputs in determining the estimate. 

Refer to the investment properties and revaluation of property, plant and equipment explanations for the approach taken to determine 
the fair value of these operating assets.

Further information on fair value measurements is available in Notes 6, 7, 11 and 12. 

j)  Accounts Receivable 

Trade receivables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest 
method, less an allowance for expected credit losses for uncollectability. 

k)  Intangible Assets 

Finite life intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses and are 
amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Amortization is recorded within depreciation and amortization 
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

Certain of the company’s intangible assets have an indefinite life as there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset 
is expected to generate cash flows. Indefinite life intangible assets are recorded at cost unless an impairment is identified which 
requires a write-down to its recoverable amount. 

Indefinite life intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may 
be an impairment. Any impairment of the company’s indefinite life intangible assets is recorded in net income in the period in 
which the impairment is identified. Impairment losses on intangible assets may be subsequently reversed in net income. 

Infrastructure

Intangible assets within our Infrastructure segment primarily consist of service concession arrangements that are accounted for 
as intangible assets under IFRIC 12, Service Concession Arrangements (“IFRIC 12”). Concession arrangements were mostly 
acquired through acquisitions of gas transmission, terminal and toll road businesses and are amortized on a straight line basis over 
the term of the arrangement.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    136

The intangible asset at the Australian regulated terminal operation relates to use of a specific coal port terminal for a contractual 
length of time and is amortized over the life of the contractual arrangement with 82 years remaining on a straight-line basis. The 
intangible assets at the Brazilian regulated gas transmission operation relate to pipeline concession contracts, amortized on a 
straight-line basis over the life of the contractual arrangement. The intangible assets at the Chilean, Indian and Peruvian toll roads 
relate to the right to operate a road and charge users a specified tariff for a contractual length of time and is amortized over the 
life of the contractual arrangement with an average of 15, 15 and 24 years remaining, respectively.

Refer to Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information on these concession arrangements.

The intangible assets at our residential infrastructure operation comprise contractual customer relationships, customer contracts, 
proprietary technology and brands. The contractual customer relationships and customer contracts represent ongoing economic 
benefits  from  leasing  customers  and  annuity-based  management  agreements.  Proprietary  technology  is  recognized  for  the 
development of new metering technology, which allows the business to generate revenue through its sub-metering business. Brands 
represent the intrinsic value customers place on the operation’s various brand names. Brands are classified as having an indefinite 
life and are subject to annual impairment reviews. The remaining intangible assets are amortized straight-line over 10 to 20 years.

Private Equity

Our  private  equity  operations  include  intangible  assets  across  a  number  of  operating  companies. The  majority  are  finite  life 
intangibles with the following useful lives:

(YEARS)

Water and sewage concession agreements..........................................................................................................................

Brand names .......................................................................................................................................................................

Computer software..............................................................................................................................................................

Customer relationships .......................................................................................................................................................

Patents and trademarks .......................................................................................................................................................

Proprietary technology........................................................................................................................................................

Product development costs .................................................................................................................................................

Distribution networks .........................................................................................................................................................

Loyalty program .................................................................................................................................................................

Useful Lives

Up to 40

Up to 20

Up to 10

Up to 30

Up to 40

Up to 15

Up to 5

Up to 25

Up to 15

Real Estate

Intangible  assets  in  our  real  estate  segment  are  primarily  trademarks  associated  with  hospitality  assets.  These  assets  have 
indefinite lives.

l)  Goodwill 

Goodwill represents the excess of the price paid for the acquisition of an entity over the fair value of the net identifiable tangible 
and intangible assets and liabilities acquired. Goodwill is allocated to the cash-generating unit to which it relates. The company 
identifies cash-generating units as identifiable groups of assets that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets 
or groups of assets.

Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be an impairment. 
Impairment is determined for goodwill by assessing if the carrying value of a cash-generating unit, including the allocated goodwill, 
exceeds its recoverable amount determined as the greater of the estimated fair value less costs to sell and the value in use. Impairment 
losses recognized in respect of a cash-generating unit are first allocated to the carrying value of goodwill and any excess is allocated 
to the carrying amount of assets in the cash-generating unit. Any goodwill impairment is recorded in income in the period in which 
the  impairment  is  identified.  Impairment  losses  on  goodwill  are  not  subsequently  reversed.  On  disposal  of  a  subsidiary,  any 
attributable amount of goodwill is included in determination of the gain or loss on disposal. 

137     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

m)  Impairment of Long-Lived Assets 

At each balance sheet date or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment, the company assesses 
whether its assets, other than those measured at fair value with changes in value recorded in net income, have any indication of 
impairment. An impairment is recognized if the recoverable amount, determined as the higher of the estimated fair value less costs 
of disposal and the discounted future cash flows generated from use and eventual disposal from an asset or cash-generating unit, 
is less than their carrying value. Impairment losses are recorded as fair value changes within the Consolidated Statements of 
Operations. The projections of future cash flows take into account the relevant operating plans and management’s best estimate 
of the most probable set of conditions anticipated to prevail. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount 
of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the lesser of the revised estimate of its recoverable amount and the carrying 
amount that would have been recorded had no impairment loss been recognized previously. 

n)  Subsidiary Equity Obligations 

Subsidiary equity obligations include subsidiary preferred equity units, subsidiary preferred shares and capital securities as well 
as limited-life funds and redeemable fund units. 

Subsidiary preferred equity units and capital securities are preferred shares that may be settled by a variable number of common 
equity units upon their conversion by the holders or the company. These instruments, as well as the related accrued distributions, 
are  classified  as  liabilities  at  amortized  cost  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets.  Dividends  or  yield  distributions  on  these 
instruments are recorded as interest expense. To the extent conversion features are not closely related to the underlying liability 
the instruments are bifurcated into debt and equity components. 

Limited-life funds represent the interests of others in the company’s consolidated funds that have a defined maximum fixed life 
where the company has an obligation to distribute the residual interests of the fund to fund partners based on their proportionate 
share of the fund’s equity in the form of cash or other financial assets at cessation of the fund’s life. 

Redeemable fund units represent interests of others in consolidated subsidiaries that have a redemption feature that requires the 
company to deliver cash or other financial assets to the holders of the units upon receiving a redemption notice. 

Limited-life  funds  and  redeemable  fund  units  are  classified  as  liabilities  and  recorded  at  fair  value  within  subsidiary  equity 
obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value are recorded in net income in the period of the change. 

o)  Income Taxes 

Current income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be paid to tax authorities, net of recoveries, based 
on the tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Current and deferred income tax relating to 
items recognized directly in equity are also recognized in equity. Deferred income tax liabilities are provided for using the liability 
method on temporary differences between the tax bases and carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets 
are recognized for all deductible temporary differences and for the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses, to 
the extent that it is probable that deductions, tax credits and tax losses can be utilized. The carrying amount of deferred income 
tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent it is no longer probable that the income tax assets will 
be recovered. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year 
when the asset is realized or the liability settled, based on the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted 
at the balance sheet date. 

p)  Business Combinations 

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of a business acquisition is measured at the 
aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued 
in exchange for control of the acquiree. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are recognized at 
their fair values at the acquisition date, except for non-current assets that are classified as held for sale which are recognized and 
measured at fair value less costs to sell. The interest of non-controlling shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the 
non-controlling  shareholders’  proportion  of  the  net  fair  value  of  the  identifiable  assets,  liabilities  and  contingent 
liabilities recognized. 

To the extent the fair value of consideration paid exceeds the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets, the 
excess is recorded as goodwill. To the extent the fair value of consideration paid is less than the fair value of net identifiable 
tangible and intangible assets, the excess is recognized in net income. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    138

When a business combination is achieved in stages, previously held interests in the acquired entity are re-measured to fair value 
at the acquisition date, which is the date control is obtained, and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized in net income, 
other than amounts transferred directly to retained earnings. Amounts arising from interests in the acquiree prior to the acquisition 
date that have previously been recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to net income. Transaction costs are 
recorded as an expense within fair value changes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

q)  Other Items 

i.  Capitalized Costs 

Capitalized costs related to assets under development and redevelopment include all eligible expenditures incurred in connection 
with the acquisition, development and construction of the asset until it is available for its intended use. These expenditures consist 
of costs that are directly attributable to these assets.

Borrowing costs are capitalized when such costs are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying 
asset. A qualifying asset is an asset that takes a substantial period of time to prepare for its intended use. 

ii.  Share-based Payments 

The company issues share-based awards to certain employees and non-employee directors. The cost of equity-settled share-based 
transactions, comprised of share options, restricted shares and escrowed shares, is determined as the fair value of the award on 
the grant date using a fair value model. The cost of equity-settled share-based transactions is recognized as each tranche vests and 
is  recorded  in  contributed  surplus  as  a  component  of  equity. The  cost  of  cash-settled  share-based  transactions,  comprised  of 
Deferred Share Units (“DSUs”) and Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”), is measured as the fair value at the grant date, and expensed 
on a proportionate basis consistent with the vesting features over the vesting period with the recognition of a corresponding liability. 
The liability is recorded as a provision within accounts payable and other and measured at each reporting date at fair value with 
changes in fair value recognized in net income. 

iii.  Provisions 

A provision is a liability of uncertain timing that is recognized when the company has a present obligation as a result of a past 
event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation. The company’s significant provisions consist of pensions and other long-term and post-employment 
benefits, warranties on some products or services, obligations to retire or decommission tangible long-lived assets and the cost of 
legal claims arising in the normal course of operations. 

a.  Pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefits 

The company offers pension and other post-employment benefit plans to employees of certain of its subsidiaries, with certain of 
these subsidiaries offering defined benefit plans. Defined benefit pension expenses, which include the current year’s service cost, 
are included in direct costs. For each defined benefit plan, we recognize the present value of our defined benefit obligations less 
the fair value of the plan assets as a defined benefit liability reported in accounts payable and other on our Consolidated Balance 
Sheets. The company’s obligations under its defined benefit pension plans are determined periodically through the preparation of 
actuarial valuations. 

b.  Other Long-Term Incentive Plans 

The company provides long-term incentive plans to certain employees whereby the company allocates a portion of the amounts 
realized through subsidiary profit sharing agreements to its employees. The cost of these plans is recognized over the requisite 
service period, provided it is probable that the vesting conditions will be achieved, based on the underlying subsidiary profit 
sharing arrangement. The liability is recorded within accounts payable and other and measured at each reporting date with the 
corresponding expense recognized in direct costs. 

c.  Warranties, Asset Retirement, Legal and Other 

Certain consolidated entities offer warranties on the sale of products or services. A provision is recorded to provide for future 
warranty costs based on management’s best estimate of probable warranty claims. 

Certain consolidated entities have legal obligations to retire tangible long-lived assets. A provision is recorded at each reporting 
date to provide for the estimated fair value of the asset retirement obligation upon decommissioning of the asset period. 

139     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

In the normal course of operations, the company may become involved in legal proceedings. Management analyzes information 
about these legal matters and provides provisions for probable contingent losses, including estimated legal expenses to resolve 
the matters. Internal and external legal counsel are used in order to estimate the probability of an unfavorable outcome and the 
amount of loss. 

r)  Critical Estimates and Judgments

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the carried amounts of 
certain assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses 
recorded during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

In  making  estimates  and  judgments,  management  relies  on  external  information  and  observable  conditions,  where  possible, 
supplemented by internal analysis as required. These estimates and judgments have been applied in a manner consistent with prior 
periods and there are no known trends, commitments, events or uncertainties that the company believes will materially affect the 
methodology or assumptions utilized in making estimates and judgments in these consolidated financial statements. 

i.  Critical Estimates 

The significant estimates used in determining the recorded amount for assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements 
include the following:

a. 

Investment Properties 

The critical assumptions and estimates used when determining the fair value of commercial properties are: the timing of rental 
income from future leases reflecting current market conditions, less assumptions of future cash costs in respect of current and 
future leases; maintenance and other capital expenditures; discount rates; terminal capitalization rates; and terminal valuation 
dates. Properties under development are recorded at fair value using a discounted cash flow model which includes estimates in 
respect of the timing and cost to complete the development. 

Further information on investment property estimates is provided in Note 11. 

b.  Revaluation Method for Property, Plant and Equipment 

When  determining  the  carrying  value  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  using  the  revaluation  method,  the  company  uses  the 
following critical assumptions and estimates: the timing of forecasted revenues; future sales prices and associated expenses; future 
sales volumes; future regulatory rates; maintenance and other capital expenditures; discount rates; terminal capitalization rates; 
terminal valuation dates; useful lives; and residual values. Determination of the fair value of property, plant and equipment under 
development includes estimates in respect of the timing and cost to complete the development. 

Further information on estimates used in the revaluation method for property, plant and equipment is provided in Note 12. 

c.  Financial Instruments 

Estimates and assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments are: equity and commodity prices; future 
interest rates; the credit worthiness of the company relative to its counterparties; the credit risk of the company’s counterparties; 
estimated future cash flows; the amount of the liability and equity components of compound financial instruments; discount rates 
and volatility utilized in option valuations. 

Further information on estimates used in determining the carrying value of financial instruments is provided in Notes 6, 25 and 26. 

d. 

Inventory 

The company estimates the net realizable value of its inventory using estimates and assumptions about future development costs, 
costs to hold and future selling costs. 

e.  Sustainable Resources 

The  fair  value  of  standing  timber  and  agricultural  assets  is  based  on  the  following  estimates  and  assumptions:  the  timing  of 
forecasted revenues and prices; estimated selling costs; sustainable felling plans; growth assumptions; silviculture costs; discount 
rates; terminal capitalization rates; and terminal valuation dates. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    140

f.  Other 

Other estimates and assumptions utilized in the preparation of the company’s consolidated financial statements are: the assessment 
or determination of net recoverable amount; oil and gas reserves; depreciation and amortization rates and useful lives; estimation 
of recoverable amounts of cash-generating units for impairment assessments of goodwill and intangible assets; ability to utilize tax 
losses and other tax measurements; fair value of assets held as collateral and the percentage of completion for construction contracts. 

ii.  Critical Judgments 

Management is required to make critical judgments when applying its accounting policies. The following judgments have the 
most significant effect on the consolidated financial statements: 

a.  Control or Level of Influence 

When determining the appropriate basis of accounting for the company’s investees, the company makes judgments about the 
degree of influence that it exerts directly or through an arrangement over the investees’ relevant activities. This may include 
the ability to elect investee directors or appoint management. Control is obtained when the company has the power to direct the 
relevant investing, financing and operating decisions of an entity and does so in its capacity as principal of the operations, rather 
than as an agent for other investors. Operating as a principal includes having sufficient capital at risk in any investee and exposure 
to the variability of the returns generated as a result of the decisions of the company as principal. Judgment is used in determining 
the sufficiency of the capital at risk or variability of returns. In making these judgments, the company considers the ability of other 
investors to remove the company as a manager or general partner in a controlled partnership. 

b. 

Investment Properties 

When applying the company’s accounting policy for investment properties, judgment is applied in determining whether certain 
costs are additions to the carrying amount of the property and, for properties under development, identifying the point at which 
practical completion of the property occurs and identifying the directly attributable borrowing costs to be included in the carrying 
value of the development property. 

c.  Property, Plant and Equipment 

The company’s accounting policy for its property, plant and equipment requires critical judgments over the assessment of carrying 
value, whether certain costs are additions to the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment as opposed to repairs and 
maintenance,  and  for  assets  under  development  the  identification  of  when  the  asset  is  capable  of  being  used  as  intended 
and identifying the directly attributable borrowing costs to be included in the asset’s carrying value. 

For assets that are measured using the revaluation method, judgment is required when estimating future prices, volumes, discount 
and capitalization rates. Judgment is applied when determining future electricity prices considering broker quotes for the years in 
which there is a liquid market available and, for the subsequent years, our best estimate of electricity prices from renewable sources
that would allow new entrants into the market. 

d. 

Identifying Performance Obligations for Revenue Recognition 

Management is required to identify performance obligations relating to contracts with customers at the inception of each contract. 
IFRS 15, the new revenue recognition standard, requires a contract’s transaction price to be allocated to each distinct performance 
obligation and subsequently recognized into income when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Judgment is used when 
assessing the pattern of delivery of the product or service to determine if revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over 
time. For certain service contracts recognized over time, judgment is required to determine if revenue from variable consideration 
such as incentives, claims and variations from contract modifications has met the required probability threshold to be recognized.

Management also uses judgment to determine whether contracts for the sale of products and services have distinct performance 
obligations that should be accounted for separately or as a single performance obligation. Goods and services are considered 
distinct if (1) a customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily 
available to the customer; and (2) the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable 
from other promises in the contract.

Additional details about revenue recognition policies across our operating segments are included in Note 2(b) of the consolidated 
financial statements.

141     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

e.  Common Control Transactions 

The purchase and sale of businesses or subsidiaries between entities under common control are not specifically addressed in IFRS 
and accordingly, management uses judgment when determining a policy to account for such transactions taking into consideration 
other guidance in the IFRS framework and pronouncements of other standard-setting bodies. The company’s policy is to record 
assets and liabilities recognized as a result of transfers of businesses or subsidiaries between entities under common control at 
carrying value. Differences between the carrying amount of the consideration given or received and the carrying amount of the 
assets and liabilities transferred are recorded directly in equity. 

f. 

Indicators of Impairment 

Judgment is applied when determining whether indicators of impairment exist when assessing the carrying values of the company’s 
assets, including: the determination of the company’s ability to hold financial assets; the estimation of a cash-generating unit’s future 
revenues and direct costs; the determination of discount and capitalization rates; and when an asset’s carrying value is above the 
value derived using publicly traded prices which are quoted in a liquid market. 

g. 

Income Taxes 

The company makes judgments when determining the future tax rates applicable to subsidiaries and identifying the temporary 
differences that relate to each subsidiary. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected 
to apply during the period when the assets are realized or the liabilities settled, using the tax rates and laws enacted or substantively 
enacted at the consolidated balance sheet dates. The company measures deferred income taxes associated with its investment 
properties based on its specific intention with respect to each asset at the end of the reporting period. Where the company has a 
specific intention to sell a property in the foreseeable future, deferred taxes on the building portion of an investment property are 
measured based on the tax consequences that would follow the disposition of the property. Otherwise, deferred taxes are measured 
on the basis the carrying value of the investment property will be recovered substantially through use.

h.  Classification of Non-Controlling Interests in Limited-Life Funds 

Non-controlling interests in limited-life funds are classified as liabilities (subsidiary equity obligations) or equity (non-controlling 
interests) depending on whether an obligation exists to distribute residual net assets to non-controlling interests on liquidation in 
the form of cash or another financial asset or assets delivered in kind. Judgment is required to determine what the governing 
documents of each entity require or permit in this regard. 

i.  Other 

Other critical judgments include the determination of effectiveness of financial hedges for accounting purposes; the likelihood 
and timing of anticipated transactions for hedge accounting; and the determination of functional currency.

3.  SEGMENTED INFORMATION

a)  Operating Segments 

Our operations are organized into five operating business groups in addition to our corporate and asset management activities, 
which collectively represent seven operating segments for internal and external reporting purposes. We measure performance 
primarily using Funds from Operations (“FFO”) generated by each operating segment and the amount of capital invested by 
the Corporation in each segment using common equity by segment.

Our operating segments are as follows:

i.  Asset management operations include managing our listed partnerships, private funds and public securities on behalf of our 
investors and ourselves. We generate contractual base management fees for these activities as well as incentive distributions 
and performance income, including performance fees, transaction fees and carried interest. Common equity in our asset 
management segment is immaterial. 

ii.  Real estate operations include the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other 

properties. 

iii.  Renewable power operations include the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and 

other power generating facilities. 

iv. 

Infrastructure operations include the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure 
and sustainable resource assets. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    142

v.  Private equity operations include a broad range of industries, and are mostly focused on business services, infrastructure 

services and industrial operations. 

vi.  Residential development operations consist of homebuilding, condominium development and land development. 

vii.  Corporate activities include the investment of cash and financial assets, as well as the management of our corporate leverage, 
including corporate borrowings and preferred equity, which fund a portion of the capital invested in our other operations. 
Certain corporate costs such as technology and operations are incurred on behalf of our operating segments and allocated to 
each operating segment based on an internal pricing framework. 

b)  Segment Financial Measures

FFO is a key measure of our financial performance and our segment measure of profit and loss. It is utilized by our Chief Operating 
Decision Maker in assessing operating results and the performance of our businesses on a segmented basis. We define FFO as net 
income excluding fair value changes, depreciation and amortization and deferred income taxes, net of non-controlling interests. 
When determining FFO, we include our proportionate share of the FFO from equity accounted investments on a fully diluted 
basis. FFO also includes realized disposition gains and losses, which are gains or losses arising from transactions during the 
reporting period, adjusted to include associated fair value changes and revaluation surplus recorded in prior periods, taxes payable 
or receivable in connection with those transactions and amounts that are recorded directly in equity, such as ownership changes. 

We use FFO to assess our performance as an asset manager and as an investor in our assets. FFO from our asset management 
segment includes fees, net of the associated costs, that we earn from managing capital in our listed partnerships, private funds and 
public securities accounts. We are also eligible to earn incentive payments in the form of incentive distributions, performance fees 
or carried interest. As an investor in our assets, our FFO represents the company’s share of revenues less costs incurred within our 
operations, which include interest expenses and other costs. Specifically, it includes the impact of contracts that we enter into to 
generate revenues, including power sales agreements, contracts that our operating businesses enter into such as leases and take or 
pay contracts and sales of inventory. FFO includes the impact of changes in leverage or the cost of that financial leverage and 
other costs incurred to operate our business. 

We use realized disposition gains and losses within FFO in order to provide additional insight regarding the performance of 
investments on a cumulative realized basis, including any unrealized fair value adjustments that were recorded in equity and not 
otherwise reflected in current period FFO, and believe it is useful to investors to better understand variances between reporting 
periods. We exclude depreciation and amortization from FFO as we believe that the value of most of our assets typically increases 
over time, provided we make the necessary maintenance expenditures, the timing and magnitude of which may differ from the 
amount of depreciation recorded in any given period. In addition, the depreciated cost base of our assets is reflected in the ultimate 
realized disposition gain or loss on disposal. As noted above, unrealized fair value changes are excluded from FFO until the period 
in which the asset is sold. We also exclude deferred income taxes from FFO because the vast majority of the company’s deferred 
income tax assets and liabilities are a result of the revaluation of our assets under IFRS.   

Our definition of FFO may differ from the definition used by other organizations, as well as the definition of FFO used by the 
Real  Property  Association  of  Canada  (“REALPAC”)  and  the  National  Association  of  Real  Estate  Investment  Trusts,  Inc. 
(“NAREIT”), in part because the NAREIT definition is based on U.S. GAAP, as opposed to IFRS. The key differences between 
our definition of FFO and the determination of FFO by REALPAC and/or NAREIT are that we include the following: realized 
disposition gains or losses and cash taxes payable or receivable on those gains or losses, if any; foreign exchange gains or losses 
on monetary items not forming part of our net investment in foreign operations; and foreign exchange gains or losses on the sale 
of an investment in a foreign operation. We do not use FFO as a measure of cash generated from our operations. 

We  illustrate  how  we  derive  FFO  for  each  operating  segment  and  reconcile  total  FFO  to  net  income  in  Note  3(c)(v)  of  the 
consolidated financial statements. 

Segment Balance Sheet Information

We use common equity by segment as our measure of segment assets when reviewing our deconsolidated balance sheet because 
it is utilized by our Chief Operating Decision Maker for capital allocation decisions.

143     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Segment Allocation and Measurement

Segment measures include amounts earned from consolidated entities that are eliminated on consolidation. The principal adjustment 
is to include asset management revenues charged to consolidated entities as revenues within the company’s Asset Management 
segment with the corresponding expense recorded as corporate costs within the relevant segment. These amounts are based on 
the in-place terms of the asset management contracts between the consolidated entities. Inter-segment revenues are determined 
under terms that approximate market value.

The company allocates the costs of shared functions that would otherwise be included within its corporate activities segment, such 
as information technology and internal audit, pursuant to formal policies.

c)  Reportable Segment Measures

AS AT AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
External revenues................ $

Asset
Management

Real Estate

Renewable
Power

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Residential
Development

Corporate
Activities

Total
Segments

Note

187

$

8,075

$

3,751

$

5,013

$

36,828

$

2,683

$

234

$

56,771

Inter-segment revenues .......

Segmented revenues............

FFO from equity accounted
investments .......................

Interest expense...................

Current income taxes ..........

Funds from operations ........

Common equity...................

Equity accounted

investments .......................

Additions to non-current 

assets1 ...............................

1,760

1,947

—

—

—

1,317

328

—

—

41

8,116

945

(2,464)

(213)

1,786

17,423

22,949

11

3,762

46

(930)

(32)

328

5,302

685

5

5,018

846

(586)

(326)

602

2,887

7,636

442

37,270

526

(520)

(186)

795

4,279

1,943

51,111

3,729

10,524

10,139

—

2,683

15

(57)

(45)

49

(46)

188

(6)

(323)

(59)

(476)

2,606

(7,178)

395

124

39

190

2,213

i

ii

iii

iv

v

58,984

2,372

(4,880)

(861)

4,401

25,647

33,647

75,817

1. 

Includes equity accounted investments, investment properties, property, plant and equipment, sustainable resources, intangible assets and goodwill.

AS AT AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DEC. 31, 2017
(MILLIONS)
External revenues................ $

Asset
Management

Real Estate

Renewable
Power

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Residential
Development

Corporate
Activities

Total
Segments

Note

286

$

6,824

$

2,788

$

3,859

$

24,220

$

2,447

$

362

$

40,786

Inter-segment revenues .......

Segmented revenues............

FFO from equity accounted
investments .......................

Interest expense...................

Current income taxes ..........

Funds from operations ........

Common equity...................

Equity accounted

investments .......................

Additions to non-current 

assets1 ...............................

1,181

1,467

—

—

—

970

312

—

—

38

6,862

904

(1,901)

(63)

2,004

16,725

19,597

10,025

—

2,788

23

(691)

(39)

270

4,944

509

7,555

12

3,871

904

(453)

(111)

345

2,834

8,793

7,991

357

24,577

229

(237)

(84)

333

4,215

2,387

6,307

—

2,447

1

(83)

(46)

34

—

362

8

(261)

57

(146)

2,915

(7,893)

346

74

362

328

1,588

i

ii

iii

iv

v

42,374

2,069

(3,626)

(286)

3,810

24,052

31,994

32,280

1. 

Includes equity accounted investments, investment properties, property, plant and equipment, sustainable resources, intangible assets and goodwill.

i. 

Inter-Segment Revenues

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the adjustment to external revenues when determining segmented revenues consists of 
asset management revenues earned from consolidated entities totaling $1.8 billion (2017 – $1.2 billion), revenues earned on 
construction projects between consolidated entities totaling $430 million (2017 – $357 million), and interest income and other 
revenues  totaling  $23  million  (2017  –  $19  million),  which  were  eliminated  on  consolidation  to  arrive  at  the  company’s 
consolidated revenues.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    144

ii.  FFO from Equity Accounted Investments

The company determines FFO from its equity accounted investments by applying the same methodology utilized in adjusting net 
income of consolidated entities. The following table reconciles the company’s consolidated equity accounted income to FFO from 
equity accounted investments:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Consolidated equity accounted income ............................................................................................................. $
Non-FFO items from equity accounted investments1 .......................................................................................
FFO from equity accounted investments........................................................................................................... $

2018

1,088

1,284

2,372

$

$

2017

1,213

856

2,069

1.  Adjustment to back out non-FFO expenses (income) that are included in consolidated equity accounted income including depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes 

and fair value changes from equity accounted investments.

iii.  Interest Expense

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the adjustment to interest expense consists of interest on loans between consolidated 
entities totaling $26 million (2017 – $18 million) that is eliminated on consolidation, along with the associated revenue.

iv.  Current Income Taxes

Current income taxes are included in FFO but are aggregated with deferred income taxes in income tax expense on the company’s 
Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations.  The  following  table  reconciles  consolidated  income  taxes  to  current  income  taxes 
by segment: 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current tax expense ........................................................................................................................................... $

2018

(861) $

Deferred income tax recovery (expense)...........................................................................................................

1,109

Income tax recovery (expense).......................................................................................................................... $

248

$

v.  Reconciliation of Net Income to Total FFO

The following table reconciles net income to total FFO:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Net income .........................................................................................................................................

Note

2018

$

7,488

$

Realized disposition gains in fair value changes or equity ................................................................

vi

Non-controlling interests in FFO .......................................................................................................

Financial statement components not included in FFO

Equity accounted fair value changes and other non-FFO items ......................................................

Fair value changes ...........................................................................................................................

Depreciation and amortization.........................................................................................................

Deferred income taxes .....................................................................................................................

1,445

(6,015)

1,284

(1,794)

3,102

(1,109)

2017

(286)

(327)

(613)

2017

4,551

1,116

(4,964)

856

(421)

2,345

327

Total FFO ...........................................................................................................................................

$

4,401

$

3,810

vi.  Realized Disposition Gains

Realized disposition gains include gains and losses recorded in net income arising from transactions during the current period, 
adjusted to include fair value changes and revaluation surplus recorded in prior periods in connection with the assets sold. Realized 
disposition gains also include amounts that are recorded directly in equity as changes in ownership, as opposed to net income, 
because they result from a change in ownership of a consolidated entity.

The realized disposition gains recorded in fair value changes, revaluation surplus or directly in equity were $1.4 billion for the 
year ended December 31, 2018 (2017 – $1.1 billion), of which $1.1 billion relates to prior periods (2017 – $1.0 billion), $242 million
has been recorded directly in equity as changes in ownership (2017 – $nil) and $95 million has been recorded in fair value changes 
(2017 – $78 million). 

145     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

d)  Geographic Allocation

The company’s revenues by location of operations are as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
United Kingdom ................................................................................................................................................ $
United States......................................................................................................................................................
Canada ...............................................................................................................................................................
Australia ............................................................................................................................................................
Brazil .................................................................................................................................................................
Other Europe .....................................................................................................................................................
Asia....................................................................................................................................................................
Colombia ...........................................................................................................................................................
Other ..................................................................................................................................................................

$

2018
23,684
9,756
6,422
4,968
4,048
3,275
1,643
1,594
1,381
56,771

2017
15,106
8,284
5,883
4,405
3,206
617
1,119
970
1,196
40,786

$

$

The company’s consolidated assets by location are as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
United States...................................................................................................................................................... $ 128,808

2018

2017

$

84,860

Canada ...............................................................................................................................................................

United Kingdom ................................................................................................................................................

Brazil .................................................................................................................................................................

Australia ............................................................................................................................................................

Other Europe .....................................................................................................................................................

Asia....................................................................................................................................................................

Colombia ...........................................................................................................................................................

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................

27,850

23,093

22,539

13,309

13,250

10,479

9,862

7,091

21,897

20,005

23,931

14,501

3,979

8,089

7,362

8,096

$ 256,281

$ 192,720

4.  SUBSIDIARIES 

The following table presents the details of the company’s subsidiaries with significant non-controlling interests: 

AS AT DEC. 31

Jurisdiction of
Formation

Brookfield Property Partners L.P. (“BPY”).............................................................

Bermuda

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (“BEP”) .........................................................

Bermuda

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (“BIP”) ......................................................

Bermuda

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (“BBU”) ............................................................

Bermuda

Ownership Interest Held by 
Non-Controlling Interests1, 2

2018

46.2%

39.5%

70.5%

32.0%

2017

30.6%

39.8%

70.1%

32.0%

1.  Control and associated voting rights of the limited partnerships (BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU) resides with their respective general partners which are wholly owned subsidiaries 
of the company. The company’s general partner interest is entitled to earn base management fees and incentive payments in the form of incentive distribution rights or 
performance fees.

2.  The company’s ownership interest in BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU includes a combination of redemption-exchange units (REUs), Class A limited partnership units, special 
limited partnership units, general partnership units and units or shares that are exchangeable for units in our listed partnerships, in each subsidiary, where applicable. Each 
of BPY, BEP, BIP and BBU’s partnership capital includes its Class A limited partnership units whereas REUs and general partnership units are considered non-controlling 
interests for the respective partnerships. REUs share the same economic attributes in all respects except for the redemption right attached thereto. The REUs and general 
partnership units participate in earnings and distributions on a per unit basis equivalent to the per unit participation of the Class A limited partnership units of the subsidiary.

During 2018, the ownership interest held by non-controlling interests in BPY increased from 30.6% to 46.2% primarily as a result 
of  equity  issued  to  GGP’s  shareholders  as  consideration  when  GGP  was  privatized  in  the  third  quarter. This  increase  in  the 
proportion of BPY held by NCI was partially offset by the impact of BPY units acquired by BAM and BPY during the third and 
fourth quarters. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    146

The  table  below  presents  the  exchanges  on  which  the  company’s  subsidiaries  with  significant  non-controlling  interests  were 
publicly listed as of December 31, 2018: 

BPY..............................................................................................................................................

BPY.UN

BEP ..............................................................................................................................................

BEP.UN

BIP ...............................................................................................................................................

BIP.UN

BBU ............................................................................................................................................. BBU.UN

N/A

BEP

BIP

BBU

BPY

N/A

N/A

N/A

TSX

NYSE

Nasdaq

The following table outlines the composition of accumulated non-controlling interests presented within the company’s consolidated 
financial statements: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
BPY ................................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

2017

31,580

$

19,736

BEP....................................................................................................................................................................

BIP.....................................................................................................................................................................

BBU...................................................................................................................................................................

Individually immaterial subsidiaries with non-controlling interests .................................................................

12,457

12,752

4,477

6,069

10,139

11,376

4,000

6,377

$

67,335

$

51,628

All publicly listed entities are subject to independent governance. Accordingly, the company has no direct access to the assets of 
these subsidiaries. Summarized financial information with respect to the company’s subsidiaries with significant non-controlling 
interests is set out below. The summarized financial information represents amounts before intra-group eliminations: 

BPY

BEP

BIP

BBU

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current assets........................................... $ 7,114

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

$ 3,912

$ 1,961

$ 1,666

$ 2,276

$ 1,512

$ 9,781

$ 6,433

Non-current assets ................................... 115,406

80,435

32,142

29,238

34,304

27,965

17,537

Current liabilities .....................................

(10,306)

(11,829)

(1,689)

(2,514)

(2,417)

(1,564)

(9,016)

Non-current liabilities..............................

(65,474)

(37,394)

(15,208)

(14,108)

(19,495)

(14,439)

(11,808)

Non-controlling interests .........................

(31,580)

(19,736)

(12,457)

(10,139)

(12,752)

(11,376)

(4,477)

9,371

(5,690)

(4,050)

(4,000)

Equity attributable to Brookfield ............. $ 15,160

$ 15,388

$ 4,749

$ 4,143

$ 1,916

$ 2,098

$ 2,017

$ 2,064

Revenues.................................................. $ 7,239

$ 6,135

$ 2,982

$ 2,625

$ 4,652

$ 3,535

$ 37,168

$ 22,823

Net income attributable to:

Non-controlling interests....................... $ 2,356

$ 2,234

Shareholders..........................................

1,298

234

$ 3,654

$ 2,468

$

$

401

2

403

$

$

103

(52)

51

Other comprehensive income (loss)
attributable to:

Non-controlling interests....................... $

(122) $

Shareholders..........................................

(294)

$

(416) $

532

348

880

$ 2,292

$

972

786

564

$ 3,264

$ 1,350

$

$

$

$

724

82

806

$

$

569

$ 1,106

5

97

574

$ 1,203

$

$

296

(81)

215

(859) $

(86)

(945) $

269

54

323

$

$

(292) $

(96)

64

45

(388) $

109

147     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The summarized cash flows of the company’s subsidiaries with material non-controlling interests are as follows: 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Cash flows from (used in):

BPY

BEP

BIP

BBU

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Operating activities ............................... $ 1,357

$

639

$ 1,103

$

928

$ 1,362

$ 1,481

$ 1,341

$

290

Financing activities ...............................

8,873

1,248

(1,080)

Investing activities ................................

(8,406)

(1,886)

(624)

(27)

(328)

4,418

3,814

3,561

1,353

(5,564)

(5,721)

(3,999)

(1,595)

Distributions paid to non-controlling
interests in common equity.................... $

427

$

255

$

244

$

227

$

558

$

489

$

11

$

9

5.  ACQUISITIONS OF CONSOLIDATED ENTITIES

a)  Completed During 2018

The following table summarizes the balance sheet impact as a result of business combinations that occurred in the year ended 
December 31, 2018. No material changes were made to the provisional allocations:

(MILLIONS)
Cash and cash equivalents ................... $
Accounts receivable and other.............
Inventory..............................................
Equity accounted investments .............
Investment properties...........................
Property, plant and equipment .............
Intangible assets...................................
Goodwill ..............................................
Deferred income tax assets ..................
Total assets...........................................
Less:
Accounts payable and other...............
Non-recourse borrowings ..................
Deferred income tax liabilities...........
Non-controlling interests1..................

Net assets acquired .............................. $

Real Estate
1,056
2,247
150
12,379
33,024
1,748
54
96
220
50,974

(2,177)
(18,218)
(58)
(2,603)

(23,056)
27,918

Consideration2...................................... $

26,759

$

$

$

Infrastructure
71
511
23
15
—
2,945
3,208
2,905
—
9,678

(591)
(1,484)
(839)
(544)

(3,458)
6,220

6,220

$

$

$

Private Equity
658
2,267
686
329
—
4,913
2,942
971
38
12,804

(3,654)
(3,668)
(157)
(515)

(7,994)
4,810

4,810

Renewable
Power and
Other
388
623
5
29
—
2,970
386
186
582
5,169

(715)
(2,023)
(210)
(22)

(2,970)
2,199

1,807

$

$

$

$

$

$

Total 
2,173
5,648
864
12,752
33,024
12,576
6,590
4,158
840
78,625

(7,137)
(25,393)
(1,264)
(3,684)

(37,478)
41,147

39,596

1. 

Includes non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations measured as the proportionate share of fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities on the 
date of acquisition. For certain business combinations in our Private Equity segment, non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations are measured at 
the proportionate fair value of the total net assets on date of acquisition.

2.  Total  consideration,  including  amounts  paid  by  non-controlling  interests  that  participated  in  the  acquisition  as  investors  in  Brookfield-sponsored  private  funds  or  as                      

co-investors. 

Brookfield recorded $5.1 billion of revenue and $711 million of net income in 2018 from the acquired operations as a result of 
the acquisitions made during the year. If the acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the year, they would have contributed 
$12.6 billion and $1.8 billion to total revenue and net income, respectively.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    148

(MILLIONS)
Cash and cash
equivalents............... $
Accounts receivable
and other ..................
Inventory....................
Equity accounted
investments ..............
Investment properties
Property, plant and
equipment ................
Intangible assets.........

Goodwill ....................
Deferred income tax
assets........................
Total assets.................

Less:

Accounts payable
and other ...............
Non-recourse
borrowings ............
Deferred income tax
liabilities................
Non-controlling 
interests1................

The following table summarizes the balance sheet impact as a result of significant business combinations that occurred in 2018. 
The valuations of the assets acquired are still under evaluation and as such the business combinations have been accounted for on 
a provisional basis.

Real Estate

Private
Equity

Infrastructure

666 Fifth

GGP

Forest City Westinghouse

NorthRiver

Enercare

Evoque

Renewable
Power
Saeta Yield

— $

424

$

451

$

250

$

10

$

24

$

— $

11

—

—

1,292

—

—

—

—

592

—

10,829

17,991

56

—

—

—

960

89

1,467

9,397

—

—

—

—

1,303

29,892

12,364

1,854

626

7

—

931

2,683

213

7

6,571

55

—

—

—

1,442

157

524

—

2,188

187

—

—

—

669

1,863

1,260

23

4,026

3

—

—

—

440

221

463

—

1,127

187

216

—

14

—

2,724

258

115

—

3,514

(4)

—

—

—

(4)

(691)

(1,119)

(2,645)

(13,147)

(3,664)

(11)

—

(1,882)

(15,731)

14,161

13,240

$

$

$

$

(633)

(5,416)

6,948

6,948

$

$

(3)

(81)

(7)

(2,736)

3,835

3,835

$

$

(46)

—

(235)

(877)

(186)

(472)

—

(232)

1,956

1,956

$

$

—

(1,584)

2,442

2,442

$

$

(24)

(320)

—

—

—

(24)

1,103

1,103

$

$

(1,906)

(174)

—

(2,400)

1,114

1,114

Net assets acquired .... $

1,299

Consideration2 ........... $

1,299

1. 

Includes non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations measured as the proportionate share of fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities on the 
date of acquisition. For certain business combinations in our Private Equity segment, non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations are measured at 
the proportionate fair value of the total net assets on date of acquisition.

2.  Total  consideration,  including  amounts  paid  by  non-controlling  interests  that  participated  in  the  acquisition  as  investors  in  Brookfield-sponsored  private  funds  or  as                      

co-investors. 

On June 12, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, along with institutional investors, acquired a 95% interest in Saeta Yield, S.A. 
(“Saeta Yield”) for total cash consideration of $1.1 billion, funded through an equity issuance at the subsidiary, amounts drawn 
on a non-recourse credit facility and available cash on hand. The acquisition resulted in $115 million of goodwill due to the 
recognition of a deferred tax liability because the tax bases of the net assets are lower than their acquisition date fair value. None 
of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded 
if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $407 million and $63 million, respectively. 

On August 1, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% interest in Westinghouse 
Electric Company (“Westinghouse”). Total consideration paid was $3.8 billion in cash, with $886 million provided by the subsidiary 
and  its  partners  and  the  balance  funded  through  asset  level  debt  raised  concurrently  on  closing.  On  acquisition,  goodwill 
of $213 million  was  recognized,  which  represents  future  growth  the  subsidiary  expects  to  receive  from  the  integration 
of Westinghouse’s operations; this goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. Total revenues and net losses that would 
have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $3.9 billion and $239 million, respectively.

149     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

On August 3, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% leasehold interest in 
666 Fifth Avenue, a commercial office asset in New York, for total consideration of $1.3 billion. Total revenues and net income 
that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $84 million and $85 million, 
respectively.

On August 28, 2018, a subsidiary of the company acquired all outstanding shares of GGP other than those shares already held by 
the subsidiary for total consideration of $13.2 billion, plus the payment of a pre-closing dividend of $9.05 billion. The pre-closing 
dividend was funded by financing activity and proceeds from the sales of partial interests in certain properties within GGP. 

•  A new entity, Brookfield Property REIT (“BPR”), was formed to hold the GGP assets; BPR issued 161 million shares to GGP 
shareholders as consideration. BPR shares, which are structured to provide an economic return equivalent to that of BPY 
units, are presented as non-controlling interests within equity.

• 

• 

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination achieved in stages. Our existing equity interest in GGP was 
remeasured to its fair value of $7.8 billion immediately prior to the completion of the transaction based on our interest in the 
fair value of GGP’s identifiable net assets and liabilities. As a result of this remeasurement, a loss of approximately $502 million
was recognized in fair value changes.

Total consideration of $13.2 billion is made up of our existing equity investment of $7.8 billion, new equity, in the form of 
88  million  BPY  LP  units  and  161  million  BPR  Class A  shares,  issued  to  GGP’s  shareholders  totaling  $5.2  billion,  cash 
consideration of $200 million and share-based payment awards to GGP employees with a fair value of $28 million. On 
acquisition, we recognized a bargain purchase gain of $921 million in fair value changes as the agreed upon transaction price 
and the fair value of the consideration transferred was less than the aggregate fair value of the assets acquired net of the 
liabilities assumed.

• 

Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are 
$1.8 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

On October 1, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% interest in NorthRiver 
Midstream Inc. (“NorthRiver”), a western Canadian natural gas gathering and processing business, for total cash consideration 
of $2.0 billion. The acquisition was funded through cash on hand and asset level debt raised concurrently on closing. On acquisition, 
goodwill  of  $524  million  was  recognized,  which  represents  the  potential  for  obtaining  long-term  contracts  for  the  business’ 
unutilized capacity and production growth in certain locations. None of the goodwill acquired is deductible for tax purposes. Total 
revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $246 million
and $16 million, respectively.

On October 16, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% interest in Enercare Inc. 
(“Enercare”), a North American residential energy infrastructure business, for total consideration of $2.4 billion. The acquisition 
was funded through $2.2 billion of cash with the remainder through equity issued to certain Enercare shareholders. On acquisition, 
goodwill of $1.3 billion was recognized, which represents potential growth prospects and a strong market position as a key provider 
of residential energy infrastructure in North America. None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for tax purposes. Total revenues 
and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $949 million and 
$5 million, respectively.

On December 7, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% interest in Forest City 
Realty Trust, Inc. (“Forest City”) for total cash consideration of $6.9 billion. The acquisition was funded through cash on hand 
and asset level debt raised concurrently on closing. The non-controlling interest acquired represents equity in partially-owned and 
consolidated operations which are not attributable to Forest City. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded 
if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $1.1 billion and $381 million, respectively.

On December 31, 2018, a subsidiary of the company, together with institutional investors, acquired a 100% interest in Evoque 
Data  Center  Solutions  (“Evoque”), AT&T’s  large-scale  data  center  business,  for  total  cash  consideration  of  $1.1  billion. The 
acquisition was funded through cash on hand and asset level debt raised concurrently on closing. On acquisition, goodwill of 
$463 million was recognized, which is largely reflective of potential customer growth, arising from the business’ position as one 
of the largest colocation providers in the United States and the increasing rate of worldwide data consumption. All of the goodwill 
is deductible for income tax purposes. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred 
at the beginning of the year are $321 million and $6 million, respectively.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    150

In addition to the significant business combinations described above, we acquired a number of businesses across the organization 
in 2018. These include:

•  On February 1, 2018, a subsidiary of the company in our Real Estate segment acquired a portfolio of 15 student housing 

properties in the U.K. for total consideration of $752 million. 

•  On February 1, 2018, a subsidiary of the company in our Real Estate segment acquired a portfolio of 105 extended-stay hotel 

properties across the U.S. for total consideration of $764 million. 

•  On March 9, 2018, the company obtained control over an entity, previously held as an equity-accounted investment. The 
company recognized a bargain purchase gain of $393 million as a result of the recognition of deferred tax assets which were 
not previously utilized. 

•  On May 15, 2018, a subsidiary of the company in our Private Equity segment acquired, together with institutional investors, 
a 70% interest in Schoeller Allibert Group B.V (“Schoeller”) for total consideration of $231 million. Total revenues and net 
loss  that  would  have  been  recorded  if  the  transaction  had  occurred  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  are  $635  million  and 
$27 million, respectively.

•  On June 1, 2018, a subsidiary of the company in our Infrastructure segment, along with institutional investors, acquired a 
55% interest in Gas Natural, S.A. ESP (“Gas Natural”), for total consideration of $522 million. The future growth arising 
from the business’ position as a key distributor of natural gas in Colombia gave rise to goodwill of $621 million, the remainder 
of the goodwill is due to the difference between the book value and tax bases of the assets acquired. None of the goodwill 
recognized  is  deductible  for  income  tax  purposes. Total  revenues  and  net  income  that  would  have  been  recorded  if  the 
transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $884 million and $70 million, respectively.

•  On July 3, 2018, a subsidiary of the company in our Private Equity segment, together with institutional investors, exercised 
its general partner option to obtain an additional 2% voting interest in the general partner of Teekay Offshore (“Teekay”), 
granting it control of the entity. Our equity interest in Teekay was remeasured to fair value immediately prior to obtaining 
control, resulting in a gain of approximately $206 million. Total consideration paid was $653 million, $651 million of which  
was the fair market value of our existing investment. Total assets acquired are $5.3 billion and include $3.7 billion in property 
plant and equipment. Total liabilities assumed are $4.1 billion and include $3.3 billion of non-recourse borrowings. Goodwill 
of $547 million represents benefits we expect to receive from the integration of the operations; none of the goodwill recognized 
is deductible for income tax purposes. The value of assets and liabilities acquired are still under evaluation and accounted 
for on a provisional basis. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at 
the beginning of the year are $1.3 billion and $214 million, respectively. 

151     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

b)  Completed During 2017 

The following table summarizes the balance sheet impact as a result of business combinations that occurred in 2017. No material 
changes were made to the provisional allocations disclosed in the 2017 consolidated financial statements:

(MILLIONS)

Renewable 
Power

Private 
Equity

Infrastructure

Real Estate 
and Other

Cash and cash equivalents.................................................... $

Accounts receivable and other .............................................

Inventory ..............................................................................

Equity accounted investments..............................................

Investment properties ...........................................................

762

980

—

—

—

Property, plant and equipment..............................................

6,923

Intangible assets ...................................................................

Goodwill...............................................................................

Deferred income tax assets...................................................

27

—

18

Total assets ...........................................................................

8,710

$

335

$

89

$

2,393

701

231

—

501

2,870

342

59

7,432

345

—

—

—

100

5,515

815

—

6,864

Less:

Accounts payable and other .................................................

Non-recourse borrowings ..................................................

Deferred income tax liabilities ..........................................
Non-controlling interests1..................................................

(1,391)

(4,902)

(59)

(830)

(7,182)

Net assets acquired............................................................... $

1,528

Consideration2 ...................................................................... $

1,528

(2,109)

(1,678)

(806)

(826)

(5,419)

2,013

2,006

$

$

(222)

(30)

(957)

(477)

(1,686)

5,178

5,178

$

$

$

$

$

39

134

3

—

5,851

281

—

—

—

Total

1,225

3,852

704

231

5,851

7,805

8,412

1,157

77

6,308

29,314

(169)

(1,955)

(45)

(123)

(2,292)

4,016

3,845

$

$

(3,891)

(8,565)

(1,867)

(2,256)

(16,579)

12,735

12,557

Includes non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations measured as the proportionate share of fair value of the assets and liabilities on the date of acquisition.

1. 
2.  Total  consideration,  including  amounts  paid  by  non-controlling  interests  that  participated  in  the  acquisition  as  investors  in  Brookfield-sponsored  private  funds  or  as                      

co-investors. 

Brookfield recorded $15.9 billion of revenue and $694 million of net income in 2017 from the acquired operations as a result of 
the acquisitions made during the year. If the acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the year, they would have contributed 
$25.5 billion and $1.0 billion to total revenue and net income, respectively.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    152

The following table summarizes the balance sheet impact as a result of significant business combinations that occurred in 2017: 

(MILLIONS)

TerraForm 
Power 

TerraForm 
Global

BRK Greenergy

NTS

Manufactured 
Housing

Houston 
Center

Mumbai 
Office 
Portfolio

Renewable Power

Private Equity

Infrastructure

Real Estate

$

296

$

28

$

89

$

Cash and cash equivalents ......... $

Accounts receivable and other...

Inventory....................................

Equity accounted investments ...

Investment properties ................

$

149

707

—

—

—

611

266

—

—

—

Property, plant and equipment...

5,678

1,208

Intangible assets.........................

Goodwill ....................................

Deferred income tax assets........

—

—

—

—

—

18

1,043

1,290

10

109

—

200

2,467

17

50

650

114

—

154

212

92

9

Total assets.................................

6,534

2,103

4,192

2,549

Less:

317

—

—

—

—

5,515

804

—

6,725

16

79

—

—

$ — $

22

—

—

11

12

—

—

2,107

825

679

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2,202

847

702

Accounts payable and other....

Non-recourse borrowings .......

Deferred income tax liabilities
Non-controlling interests1 .......

(1,239)

(3,714)

(33)

(829)

(142)

(227)

(1,744)

(1,188)

(1,468)

(15)

(1)

(746)

(745)

(210)

(52)

(81)

(5,815)

(1,346)

(3,186)

(2,087)

Net assets acquired .................... $

719

Consideration2 ........................... $

719

$

$

757

$ 1,006

757

$ 1,006

$

$

462

462

$

$

(202)

—

(946)

(477)

(1,625)

5,100

5,100

$

$

(36)

(28)

(1,261)

—

(30)

(1,327)

875

768

$

$

—

—

—

(28)

819

819

$

$

(44)

(511)

(45)

—

(600)

102

102

Includes non-controlling interests recognized on business combinations measured as the proportionate share of fair value of the assets and liabilities on the date of acquisition.

1. 
2.  Total  consideration,  including  amounts  paid  by  non-controlling  interests  that  participated  in  the  acquisition  as  investors  in  Brookfield-sponsored  private  funds  or  as                      

co-investors. 

On March 9, 2017, a subsidiary of the company acquired Manufactured Housing, a portfolio of manufactured housing communities 
in the U.S., for total consideration of $768 million, including $578 million cash consideration with the remainder funded through 
debt financing. The acquisition was made through a Brookfield-sponsored real estate fund and generated a bargain purchase gain 
of $107 million recorded in fair value changes as a result of changes in the underlying market conditions subsequent to signing 
the purchase and sale agreement in the second quarter of 2016. Excluding the impact of the bargain purchase gain, total revenues 
and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are $237 million and 
$86 million, respectively. 

On April 4, 2017, we acquired a 90% ownership interest in Nova Transportadora do Sudeste S.A. (“NTS”), a Brazilian regulated 
gas transmission business, alongside our institutional partners. Total consideration paid by the consortium was $5.1 billion, which 
consists of a cash consideration of $4.2 billion and deferred consideration of less than $1.0 billion payable five years from the 
close of the transaction. Upon acquisition of NTS, an additional deferred tax liability of $893 million was recorded. The deferred 
income tax liability arose as the tax bases of the net assets acquired were lower than their fair values. The inclusion of this liability 
in the net book value of the acquired business gave rise to goodwill of $804 million which is recoverable so long as the tax 
circumstances that gave rise to the goodwill do not change. To date, no such changes have occurred. None of the goodwill recognized 
is deductible for income tax purposes. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred 
at the beginning of the year are $1.3 billion and $660 million, respectively. 

On April 25, 2017, a subsidiary of the company acquired a 70% interest in BRK Ambiental Participações S.A. (“BRK”), a Brazilian 
water treatment business, together with institutional investors, for total consideration of $1.0 billion. BRK owns several other 
investments, all at different ownership levels. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had 
occurred at the beginning of the year are $758 million and $64 million, respectively. 

153     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

On May 10, 2017, a subsidiary of the company acquired an 85% ownership interest of Greenergy Fuels Holdings Ltd. (“Greenergy”), 
a U.K. road fuel provider, together with our institutional partners. The acquisition was made for total consideration of $462 million.  
Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the year are   
$19.8 billion and $26 million, respectively. 

On October 16, 2017, a subsidiary of the company, along with its institutional partners, acquired a 51% interest in TerraForm 
Power, Inc., a large scale diversified portfolio of solar and wind assets located predominantly in the U.S., for total consideration 
of $719 million. Total revenues and net loss that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the 
year are $622 million and $46 million, respectively. 

On December 1, 2017, a subsidiary of the company acquired Houston Center, a 4.2 million square foot mixed-use office and retail 
complex in Houston, Texas, for total consideration of  $819 million , including $175 million cash consideration with the remainder 
funded through debt financing. Total revenues and net income that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at 
the beginning of the year are $120 million and $26 million, respectively. 

On December 7, 2017, a subsidiary of the company acquired a portfolio of 14 office properties with 2.7 million square feet of 
office  space  in  Mumbai,  India  (“Mumbai  Office  Portfolio”),  for  total  consideration  of  $102  million. Total  revenues  and  net 
income that  would  have  been  recorded  if  the  transaction  had  occurred  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  are  $53  million  and 
$1 million, respectively. 

On December 28, 2017, a subsidiary of the company, along with its institutional partners, acquired a 100% interest in TerraForm 
Global, Inc., a large scale diversified portfolio of solar and wind assets located predominantly in Asia and South America, for total 
consideration of $757 million. Total revenues and net loss that would have been recorded if the transaction had occurred at the 
beginning of the year are $249 million and $33 million, respectively. 

6.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Financial instrument disclosures as at December 31, 2018 are in accordance with IFRS 9; prior period amounts have not been 
restated (refer to Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information). 

a)  Financial Instrument Classification 

The following tables list the company’s financial instruments by their respective classification as at December 31, 2018 and 2017:

Fair Value 
Through 
Profit or Loss

Fair Value
Through OCI

Amortized
Cost

Total

— $

— $

8,390

$

8,390

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
Financial assets1
Cash and cash equivalents........................................................... $
Other financial assets

Government bonds....................................................................
Corporate bonds........................................................................
Fixed income securities and other ............................................
Common shares and warrants...................................................
Loans and notes receivable.......................................................

Accounts receivable and other2 ...................................................

68
536
570
689
50
1,913
2,113

20
96
311
1,690
—
2,117
—

$

4,026

$

2,117

$

Financial liabilities
Corporate borrowings.................................................................. $

Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities

Property-specific borrowings ...................................................
Subsidiary borrowings..............................................................

Accounts payable and other2 .......................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations ......................................................

$

— $

— $

6,409

—
—
—
3,362
1,725
5,087

$

—
—
—
—
—
— $

103,209
8,600
111,809
20,627
2,151
140,996

—
273
156
—
1,768
2,197
10,449

21,036

88
905
1,037
2,379
1,818
6,227
12,562

27,179

6,409

103,209
8,600
111,809
23,989
3,876
146,083

$

$

$

1.  Financial assets include $7.2 billion of assets pledged as collateral.
2. 

Includes derivative instruments which are elected for hedge accounting, totaling $1.5 billion included in accounts receivable and other and $465 million included in accounts 
payable and other, for which changes in fair value are recorded in other comprehensive income.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    154

AS AT DEC. 31, 2017
(MILLIONS)
Measurement basis
Financial assets1
Cash and cash equivalents ...................................................... $
Other financial assets

Government bonds ...............................................................
Corporate bonds ...................................................................
Fixed income securities and other........................................
Common shares and warrants ..............................................
Loans and notes receivable ..................................................

Accounts receivable and other2...............................................

Fair Value 
Through 
Profit or Loss
(Fair Value)

Available for
Sale
(Fair Value)

Loans and
Receivables/
Other Financial
Liabilities
(Amortized Cost)

Total

— $

— $

5,139

$

5,139

34
382
230
585
63
1,294
1,383

15
253
432
1,247
—
1,947
—

—
8
—
—
1,551
1,559
8,233

$

2,677

$

1,947

$

14,931

Financial liabilities
Corporate borrowings ............................................................. $
Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities

Property-specific borrowings ...............................................
Subsidiary borrowings .........................................................

Accounts payable and other2...................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations..................................................

$

— $

— $

5,659

—
—
—
3,841
1,559
5,400

$

—
—
—
—
—
— $

63,721
9,009
72,730
14,124
2,102
94,615

49
643
662
1,832
1,614
4,800
9,616

19,555

5,659

63,721
9,009
72,730
17,965
3,661
100,015

$

$

$

1.  Financial assets include $4.1 billion of assets pledged as collateral.
2. 

Includes derivative instruments which are elected for hedge accounting, totaling $630 million included in accounts receivable and other and $950 million included in 
accounts payable and other, for which changes in fair value are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”) financial assets are presented in the 
Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period in which they arise. Dividends from FVTPL and fair value through other 
comprehensive  income  (“FVTOCI”)  financial  assets  are  recognized  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  when  the 
company’s right to receive payment is established. Interest on FVTOCI financial assets is calculated using the effective interest 
method and reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

FVTOCI debt and equity securities are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through 
other comprehensive income. As at December 31, 2018, the unrealized gains and losses relating to the fair value of FVTOCI 
securities amounted to $212 million (2017 – available for sale gains of $26 million) and $152 million (2017 – available for sale 
losses of $nil), respectively. 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, $nil of net deferred losses (2017 – $69 million) previously recognized in accumulated 
other comprehensive income were reclassified to net income as a result of the disposition or impairment of certain of our FVTOCI 
financial assets that are not equity instruments. 

Included in cash and cash equivalents is $7.7 billion (2017 – $4.5 billion) of cash and $685 million (2017 – $635 million) of short-
term deposits as at December 31, 2018.

155     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

b)  Carrying and Fair Value 

The following table provides the carrying values and fair values of financial instruments as at December 31, 2018 and 2017:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Financial assets

2018

2017

Carrying 

Value  Fair Value 

Carrying 

Value  Fair Value 

Cash and cash equivalents ..................................................................................... $

8,390

$

8,390

$

5,139

$

5,139

Other financial assets

Government bonds ...............................................................................................

Corporate bonds ...................................................................................................

Fixed income securities and other........................................................................

Common shares and warrants ..............................................................................

Loans and notes receivable ..................................................................................

88

905

1,037

2,379

1,818

6,227

Accounts receivable and other ...............................................................................

12,562

$

27,179

Financial liabilities

Corporate borrowings ............................................................................................ $

6,409

Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities

88

905

1,037

2,379

1,818

6,227

12,562

27,179

6,467

$

$

$

$

Property-specific borrowings ..............................................................................

103,209

104,291

Subsidiary borrowings.........................................................................................

8,600

8,557

Accounts payable and other ...................................................................................

Subsidiary equity obligations.................................................................................

111,809

112,848

23,989

3,876

23,989

3,876

49

643

662

1,832

1,614

4,800

9,616

19,555

5,659

63,721

9,009

72,730

17,965

3,661

49

643

662

1,832

1,657

4,843

9,616

19,598

6,087

65,399

9,172

74,571

17,965

3,661

$

$

$ 146,083

$ 147,180

$ 100,015

$ 102,284

The current and non-current balances of other financial assets are as follows: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $

Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

3,382

2,845

6,227

$

$

2017

2,568

2,232

4,800

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    156

 
c)  Fair Value Hierarchy Levels

The  following  table  categorizes  financial  assets  and  liabilities,  which  are  carried  at  fair  value,  based  upon  the  fair  value 
hierarchy levels:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Financial assets

Other financial assets

2018

2017

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Government bonds................................................... $

— $

88

$

— $

— $

49

$

Corporate bonds.......................................................

Fixed income securities and other ...........................

—

22

Common shares and warrants..................................

1,928

Loans and notes receivables ....................................

Accounts receivable and other ...................................

—

44

$

1,994

Financial liabilities

Accounts payable and other ....................................... $

Subsidiary equity obligations .....................................

$

81

—

81

632

369

229

46

1,990

3,354

2,622

85

$

$

2,707

$

—

490

222

4

79

795

659

1,640

2,299

$

$

$

127

20

1,586

—

15

1,748

134

—

$

$

508

233

—

62

1,155

2,007

3,003

—

$

$

134

$

3,003

$

$

$

$

—

—

409

246

1

213

869

704

1,559

2,263

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3.

Fair values of financial instruments are determined by reference to quoted bid or ask prices, as appropriate. If bid and ask prices 
are unavailable, the closing price of the most recent transaction of that instrument is used. In the absence of an active market, fair 
values are determined based on prevailing market rates for instruments with similar characteristics and risk profiles or internal or 
external valuation models, such as option pricing models and discounted cash flow analysis, using observable market inputs.

The  following  table  summarizes  the  valuation  techniques  and  key  inputs  used  in  the  fair  value  measurement  of  Level  2 
financial instruments:

(MILLIONS)
Type of Asset/Liability
Derivative assets/Derivative

liabilities (accounts receivable/
accounts payable) ......................

Carrying Value

Dec. 31, 2018 Valuation Techniques and Key Inputs

$

1,990/ Foreign currency forward contracts – discounted cash flow model – forward 
exchange rates (from observable forward exchange rates at the end of the 
reporting period) and discounted at credit adjusted rate

(2,622)

Interest rate contracts – discounted cash flow model – forward interest rates 
(from observable yield curves) and applicable credit spreads discounted at a 
credit adjusted rate

Energy  derivatives  –  quoted  market  prices,  or  in  their  absence  internal 
valuation models, corroborated with observable market data

Other financial assets ....................

1,364 Valuation models based on observable market data

Redeemable fund units

(subsidiary equity obligations) ..

(85) Aggregated market prices of underlying investments

Fair values determined using valuation models requiring the use of unobservable inputs (Level 3 financial assets and liabilities) 
include assumptions concerning the amount and timing of estimated future cash flows and discount rates. In determining those 
unobservable inputs, the company uses observable external market inputs such as interest rate yield curves, currency rates and 
price and rate volatilities, as applicable, to develop assumptions regarding those unobservable inputs.

157     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
 
 
The following table summarizes the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement 
of Level 3 financial instruments:

(MILLIONS)
Type of Asset/Liability
Fixed income securities and

other .....................................

Carrying Value
Dec. 31, 2018

Valuation
Techniques
490 Discounted cash

$

flows

Significant
Unobservable Inputs
•  Future cash flows

•  Discount rate

Common shares (common

shares and warrants) ............

222 Black-Scholes
model

•  Volatility

Relationship of Unobservable
Inputs to Fair Value
•  Increases (decreases) in

future cash flows increase
(decrease) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in 
discount rate decrease 
(increase) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in

volatility increase (decreases)
fair value

•  Term to maturity

•  Increases (decreases) in term

to maturity increase
(decrease) fair value

•  Risk free interest rate

•  Increases (decreases) in the 

risk-free interest rate increase 
(decrease) fair value

•  Future cash flows

•  Increases (decreases) in

Limited-life funds (subsidiary
equity obligations) ...............

(1,640) Discounted cash
flows

•  Discount rate

•  Terminal

capitalization rate

•  Investment horizon

Derivative assets/Derivative

liabilities (accounts
receivable/payable) ..............

79/   Discounted cash

  •  Future cash flows

flows

(659)

•  Forward exchange

rates (from
observable forward
exchange rates at the
end of the reporting
period)

•  Discount rate

future cash flows increase
(decrease) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in 
discount rate decrease 
(increase) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in
terminal capitalization
rate decrease (increase) fair
value

•  Increases (decreases) in the

investment horizon decrease
(increase) fair value
  •  Increases (decreases) in

future cash flows increase
(decrease) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in the
forward exchange rate
increase (decrease) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in
discount rate decrease
(increase) fair value

The following table presents the changes in the balance of financial assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 for the years ended 
December 31, 2018 and 2017:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Balance, beginning of year...................................................................................

2018

2017

Financial 
Assets 
869

$

Financial 
Liabilities 
2,263
$

Financial 
Assets 
1,739

$

Financial 
Liabilities 
1,449
$

Fair value changes in net income .........................................................................
Fair value changes in other comprehensive income1 ...........................................
Additions, net of disposals ...................................................................................

(113)

(2)

41

(89)

(48)

173

(313)

5

(562)

(2)

67

749

Balance, end of year.............................................................................................

$

795

$

2,299

$

869

$

2,263

1. 

Includes foreign currency translation.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    158

 
The following table categorizes liabilities measured at amortized cost, but for which fair values are disclosed based upon the fair 
value hierarchy levels: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Corporate borrowings................................................. $

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

6,376

$

91

$

— $

6,087

$

— $

—

Property-specific borrowings .....................................

Subsidiary borrowings................................................

Subsidiary equity obligations .....................................

6,918

3,640

—

30,214

2,355

—

67,159

2,562

2,151

2,123

3,825

—

24,502

2,030

—

38,774

3,317

2,102

2018

2017

Fair values of Level 2 and Level 3 liabilities measured at amortized cost but for which fair values are disclosed are determined 
using valuation techniques such as adjusted public pricing and discounted cash flows. 

d)  Hedging Activities 

The company uses derivatives and non-derivative financial instruments to manage or maintain exposures to interest, currency, 
credit and other market risks. Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value. For certain derivatives which are 
used to manage exposures, the company determines whether hedge accounting can be applied. Hedge accounting is applied 
when the derivative is designated as a hedge of a specific exposure and there is assurance that it will continue to be highly 
effective  as  a  hedge  based  on  an  expectation  of  offsetting  cash  flows  or  fair  value.  Hedge  accounting  is  discontinued 
prospectively when the derivative no longer qualifies as a hedge or the hedging relationship is terminated. Once discontinued, 
the cumulative change in fair value of a derivative that was previously recorded in other comprehensive income by the 
application of hedge accounting is recognized in profit or loss over the remaining term of the original hedging relationship 
as amounts related to the hedged item are recognized in profit or loss. The assets or liabilities relating to unrealized mark-
to-market  gains  and  losses  on  derivative  financial  instruments  are  recorded  in  financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities, 
respectively.

i.  Cash Flow Hedges 

The company uses the following cash flow hedges: energy derivative contracts to hedge the sale of power; interest rate swaps to 
hedge the variability in cash flows or future cash flows related to a variable rate asset or liability; and equity derivatives to hedge 
long-term compensation arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2018, pre-tax net unrealized gains of $38 million (2017 –
 $42 million) were recorded in other comprehensive income for the effective portion of the cash flow hedges. As at December 31, 
2018, there was an unrealized derivative asset balance of $468 million relating to derivative contracts designated as cash flow 
hedges (2017 – $349 million asset). 

ii.  Net Investment Hedges 

The company uses foreign exchange contracts and foreign currency denominated debt instruments to manage its foreign currency 
exposures arising from net investments in foreign operations. For the year ended December 31, 2018, unrealized pre-tax net gains 
of $999 million (2017 – net unrealized losses of $748 million) were recorded in other comprehensive income for the effective portion 
of hedges of net investments in foreign operations. As at December 31, 2018, there was an unrealized derivative asset balance of 
$523 million relating to derivative contracts designated as net investment hedges (2017 – liability balance of $676 million).

e)  Netting of Financial Instruments

Financial assets and liabilities are offset with the net amount reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets where the company 
currently has a legally enforceable right to offset and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the 
liability simultaneously. 

159     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
The company enters into derivative transactions under International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) master netting 
agreements. In general, under such agreements the amounts owed by each counterparty on a single day are aggregated into a single 
net amount that is payable by one party to the other. The agreements provide the company with the legal and enforceable right to 
offset these amounts and accordingly the following balances are presented net in the consolidated financial statements: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Gross amounts of financial instruments before netting ......................................... $
Gross amounts of financial instruments set-off in Consolidated Balance Sheets..

2018

2,367

(254)

Net amount of financial instruments in Consolidated Balance Sheets .................. $

2,113

2017

1,605

(223)

1,382

$

$

2018

1,873

(250)

1,623

$

$

2017

2,124

(267)

1,857

$

$

Accounts Receivable 
and Other

Accounts Payable 
and Other

7.   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Accounts receivable ...........................................................................................................................

Prepaid expenses and other assets ......................................................................................................

Restricted cash....................................................................................................................................

Sustainable resources .........................................................................................................................

Note

2018

(a)

(a)

(b)

(c)

$

9,167

$

5,508

1,923

333

2017

7,209

3,350

1,024

390

Total....................................................................................................................................................

$

16,931

$

11,973

The current and non-current balances of accounts receivable and other are as follows: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $
Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

2018

11,911

5,020

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

16,931

2017

8,492

3,481

11,973

$

$

a)  Accounts Receivable and Other Assets

The increase in accounts receivable and other during 2018 is primarily due to business combinations, with significant contributions 
from Westinghouse, Forest City and the privatization of GGP. This increase was partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange. 

Accounts receivable includes contract assets of $641 million. Contract assets relate primarily to work-in-progress on our long-
term construction services contracts for which customers have not yet been billed.

b)  Restricted Cash 

Restricted cash primarily relates to the company’s real estate, renewable power and private equity financing arrangements including 
defeasement of debt obligations, debt service accounts and deposits held by the company’s insurance operations. 

c)  Sustainable Resources 

The company held 1.7 million acres of consumable freehold timberlands at December 31, 2018 (2017 – 1.7 million), representing 
40.3 million cubic meters (2017 – 40.6 million) of mature timber and timber available for harvest. Additionally, the company 
provides management services to approximately 1.3 million acres (2017 – 1.3 million) of licensed timberlands. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    160

 
The following table presents the change in the balance of timberlands and other agricultural assets: 

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, beginning of year ................................................................................................................................ $
Additions, net of disposals ................................................................................................................................

Fair value adjustments.......................................................................................................................................

Decrease due to harvest .....................................................................................................................................

Foreign currency changes..................................................................................................................................

2018

390

$

21

42

(89)

(31)

Balance, end of year .......................................................................................................................................... $

333

$

2017

387

78

21

(103)

7

390

The carrying values are based on external appraisals completed annually as at December 31. The appraisals utilize a combination 
of the discounted cash flow and sales comparison approaches to arrive at the estimated value. The significant unobservable inputs 
(Level 3) included in the discounted cash flow models used when determining the fair value of standing timber and agricultural 
assets include: 

Valuation
Techniques
Discounted
cash flow
analysis

Significant
Unobservable Inputs
•  Future cash flows 

Relationship of Unobservable Inputs
to Fair Value
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  future  cash 
flows increase (decrease) fair value

•  Timber / agricultural 

•  Increases (decreases) in price increase 

prices

(decrease) fair value

•  Discount rate /

terminal
capitalization rate

•  Increases (decreases) in discount rate or 
terminal  capitalization  rate  decrease 
(increase) fair value

•  Exit Date

•  Increases  (decreases) 

in  exit  date 

decrease (increase) fair value

Mitigating Factors
•  Increases (decreases) in cash flows tend to 
be accompanied by increases (decreases) in 
discount  rates  that  may  offset  changes 
in fair value from cash flows

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  price  tend  to  be 
accompanied  by  increases  (decreases)  in 
discount  rates  that  may  offset  changes 
in fair value from price

•  Decreases (increases) in discount rates or 
terminal  capitalization  rates  tend  to  be 
accompanied  by  increases  (decreases)  in 
cash flows that may offset changes in fair 
value from rates

•  Increases (decreases) in the exit date tend 
to  be  the  result  of  changing  cash  flow 
profiles  that  may  result  in  higher  (lower) 
growth in cash flows prior to stabilizing in 
the terminal year

Key valuation assumptions include a weighted-average discount and terminal capitalization rate of 5.7% (2017 – 5.7%), and 
terminal valuation dates of 30 years (2017 – 30 years). Timber and agricultural asset prices were based on a combination of forward 
prices available in the market and price forecasts. 

161     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

8.   INVENTORY 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Residential properties under development ........................................................................................................ $

2018

2,001

$

Land held for development................................................................................................................................

Completed residential properties.......................................................................................................................
Industrial products and other1 ............................................................................................................................
Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

1,794

1,398

1,796

6,989

$

2017

2,245

1,922

917

1,227

6,311

1. 

Industrial products and other includes fuel inventory of $585 million (2017 – $612 million).

The current and non-current balances of inventory are as follows: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $

Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

4,578

2,411

6,989

$

$

2017

3,585

2,726

6,311

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the company recognized $25.7 billion (2017 – $15.2 billion) of inventory relating to 
cost of goods sold and a $22 million recovery of previously impaired inventory (2017 – $37 million impairment expense). The 
carrying amount of inventory pledged as collateral at December 31, 2018 was $3.5 billion (2017 – $2.9 billion).

9.  HELD FOR SALE

The following is a summary of the assets and liabilities classified as held for sale as at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 
2017:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Assets

Real
Estate

Renewable
Power

Private
Equity

2018
Total 

Cash and cash equivalents ............................................................... $

Accounts receivables and other .......................................................

Investment properties ......................................................................

Property, plant and equipment.........................................................

Equity accounted investments .........................................................

Other long-term assets.....................................................................

13

4

617

—

568

—

Assets classified as held for sale ....................................................... $

1,202

Liabilities

Accounts payable and other............................................................. $

Non-recourse borrowings of managed entities................................

Liabilities associated with assets classified as held for sale.............. $

11

259

270

$

$

$

$

8

75

—

749

—

88

920

173

360

533

$

— $

21

$

33

—

30

—

—

63

9

—

9

$

$

$

112

617

779

568

88

2,185

193

619

812

$

$

$

$

$

$

2017
Total

20

44

1,007

490

—

44

1,605

212

1,212

1,424

As at December 31, 2018, assets held for sale within the company’s Real Estate segment include ten office assets in the U.S., three
office  assets  in  Brazil,  two  triple-net  lease  assets  in  the  U.S.  and  an  equity  accounted  investment  within  the  LP  Investments 
portfolio. Within our Renewable Power segment, we are currently holding for sale portfolios of wind and solar assets in South 
Africa, Thailand and Malaysia. 

During the year, the company sold certain assets and subsidiaries, including our Chilean electricity transmission business for 
proceeds of $1.3 billion, a core office property in Toronto for proceeds of $660 million, a portfolio of self-storage properties 
for proceeds of $1.3 billion and a U.S. logistics portfolio for proceeds of $3.4 billion.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    162

10.  EQUITY ACCOUNTED INVESTMENTS 

The following table presents the ownership interests and carrying values of the company’s investments in associates and joint 
ventures, all of which are accounted for using the equity method: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Real estate

Associates

Ownership Interest1

Carrying Value

2018

2017

2018

2017

Core office ........................................................................................................
Core retail2........................................................................................................
LP Investments and other .................................................................................

7 – 23% 10 – 23% $

n/a

34%

6 – 90% 12 – 90%

$

107

n/a

1,173

123

8,845

1,563

Joint ventures

Core office ........................................................................................................
Core retail2........................................................................................................
LP Investments and other .................................................................................

15 – 56% 15 – 56%

12 – 68%

n/a

12 – 90% 12 – 90%

Infrastructure

Associates

Utilities .............................................................................................................

11 – 50% 11 – 39%

Transport...........................................................................................................

26 – 58% 26 – 58%

Data infrastructure ............................................................................................

45%

45%

Other .................................................................................................................

22 – 50% 20 – 40%

Joint ventures

Energy...............................................................................................................

Other .................................................................................................................

50%

50%

50%

50%

Private equity

Associates

Norbord.............................................................................................................

42%

40%

Other .................................................................................................................

13 – 90% 14 – 90%

Renewable power and other

Renewable power associates ...............................................................................
Other equity accounted investments3 ..................................................................

14 – 60% 16 – 50%

18 – 85% 12 – 85%

8,258

11,159

2,252

22,949

8,112

n/a

954

19,597

339

4,100

1,705

232

1,121

139

7,636

1,287

656

1,943

685

434

1,119

1,279

4,639

1,607

162

1,013

93

8,793

1,364

1,023

2,387

509

708

1,217

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

33,647

$

31,994

1. 

Joint ventures or associates in which the ownership interest is greater than 50% represent investments for which control is either shared or does not exist resulting in the 
investment being equity accounted.

2.  On August 28, 2018, a subsidiary of the company acquired all outstanding shares of GGP Inc. other than those shares previously held by the company and its affiliates. At 
this time, the company took control of the entity and it ceased to be accounted for using the equity method. There are a number of joint ventures within our core retail 
operations that are now included in the company’s consolidated financial results. Refer to Note 5 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the 
acquisition of GGP Inc.

3.  Carrying value of joint ventures in other equity accounted investments is $395 million (2017 – $346 million).

163     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The following tables presents the change in the balance of investments in associates and joint ventures: 

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Real
Estate

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Balance, beginning of year.................................... $ 19,597

$

8,793

$

2,387

Renewable
Power
and Other
1,217

$

2018 Total

2017 Total

$

31,994

$

24,977

Net additions (disposals).......................................

(8,068)

Acquisitions through business combinations........

12,379

Share of comprehensive income ...........................

980

Distributions received ...........................................

(1,519)

Foreign exchange ..................................................

(420)

(811)

15

303

(121)

(543)

(638)

328

128

(221)

(41)

(255)

30

195

(42)

(26)

(9,772)

12,752

1,606

(1,903)

(1,030)

5,063

231

1,728

(732)

727

Balance, end of year ............................................ $ 22,949

$

7,636

$

1,943

$

1,119

$

33,647

$

31,994

Disposals, net of additions, of $9.8 billion in 2018 relate primarily to the GGP privatization. On completing the step-up acquisition, 
we recognized a $502 million fair value loss as we wrote down the carrying amount immediately prior to acquiring control and 
we derecognized our $7.8 billion investment in GGP. Other disposals during the year include the sales of our Chilean electricity 
transmission business and an Australian energy operation, as well as the reclassification of our service provider to the offshore 
oil production industry and two entities in our Real Estate and Corporate segments to consolidated subsidiaries. These were partially 
offset by new investments in a European student housing portfolio and a gaming operations business in Ontario. 

Acquisitions of equity accounted investments through business combinations relate primarily to the $10.8 billion of joint ventures 
held within GGP that we are consolidating after completing the step-up acquisition as well as $1.5 billion of joint ventures held 
by a diversified U.S. REIT that was acquired in the fourth quarter.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    164

The  following  table  presents  current  and  non-current  assets,  as  well  as  current  and  non-current  liabilities  of  the  company’s 
investments in associates and joint ventures: 

2018

2017

Current
Assets

Non-
Current
Assets

Current
Liabilities

Non-
Current
Liabilities

Current
Assets

Non-
Current
Assets

Current
Liabilities

Non-
Current
Liabilities

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Real estate

Associates

Core office................................... $

Core retail....................................

LP Investments and other ............

15

—

86

Joint ventures

Core office...................................

1,789

Core retail....................................

LP Investments and other ............

832

686

Infrastructure

Associates

Utilities ........................................

289

Transport .....................................

1,507

Data infrastructure.......................

Other............................................

Joint ventures

Energy .........................................

Other............................................

447

118

165

13

$

1,998

$

—

3,430

33,245

40,136

11,645

2,227

15,676

6,692

659

5,034

216

Private equity

Associates ......................................

Norbord .......................................

Other............................................

509

930

4,574

2,187

Renewable power and other

Renewable power associates..........
Other equity accounted
investments ..................................

182

2,845

1,081

53

12

—

56

2,766

734

776

325

1,871

438

117

144

5

363

628

93

142

$

457

$

18

$

1,671

$

14

$

456

— 1,028

966

410

37,840

6,554

948

204

13,063

2,788

13,998

16,537

5,256

1,531

31,351

2,225

13,762

n/a

166

n/a

3,312

n/a

343

n/a

803

1,391

6,358

2,902

117

2,813

89

631

1,532

464

40

139

17

9,068

16,876

6,281

371

4,741

228

756

1,387

561

36

139

8

4,891

6,951

2,968

121

2,716

51

1,204

1,140

709

2,001

2,374

18,122

356

3,124

728

13,192

974

152

153

800

2,536

60

115

90

1,080

100

$ 8,649

$ 130,617

$

8,470

$ 54,354

$ 9,639

$ 141,385

$ 10,306

$ 63,670

Certain of the company’s investments in associates are subject to restrictions on the extent to which they can remit funds to 
the company in the form of cash dividends or repay loans and advances as a result of borrowing arrangements, regulatory restrictions 
and other contractual requirements.

165     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The following table presents total revenues, net income and other comprehensive income (“OCI”) of the company’s investments 
in associates and joint ventures:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Real estate

Associates

2018

Net
Income

Revenue

OCI

Revenue

2017

Net
Income

Core office............................................................. $

60

$

71

$

— $

41

$

116

$

Core retail..............................................................

LP Investments and other......................................

1,536

545

(1,013)

301

Joint ventures

Core office.............................................................

1,559

Core retail..............................................................

LP Investments and other......................................

889

342

1,544

449

487

Infrastructure

Associates

Utilities..................................................................

Transport ...............................................................

Data infrastructure.................................................

Other......................................................................

Joint ventures

Energy ...................................................................

Other......................................................................

Private equity

Associates

Norbord .................................................................

Other......................................................................

Renewable power and other .......................................

Renewable power associates....................................

Other equity accounted investments........................

541

3,673

804

84

695

75

2,424

1,947

491

133

92

(309)

64

83

92

19

248

148

79

44

(15)

191

(34)

—

(2)

110

(826)

244

363

—

(29)

(21)

(36)

469

(3)

2,405

586

1,439

n/a

160

1,164

3,723

783

45

681

73

498

2,548

65

194

(591)

320

1,066

n/a

222

101

196

58

(9)

15

17

(8)

710

11

23

OCI

—

12

103

5

n/a

16

779

704

435

(181)

(1)

14

5

(76)

59

4

Certain of the company’s investments are publicly listed entities with active pricing in a liquid market. The fair value based on 
the publicly listed price of these equity accounted investments in comparison to the company’s carrying value is as follows: 

$

15,798

$

2,399

$

411

$

14,405

$

2,247

$

1,878

2018

2017

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
GGP1 ......................................................................................................................
Norbord .................................................................................................................. $

Other ......................................................................................................................

$

Public
Price
n/a

Carrying
Value
n/a

$

925

36

961

$

$

1,287

—

Public
Price
7,570

1,176

286

Carrying
Value
8,844

$

1,364

201

1,287

$

9,032

$

10,409

1.  Our investment in GGP was consolidated as at December 31, 2018 and therefore has not been included in current year figures.

At December 31, 2018, the company performed a review to determine if there is any objective evidence that its investment in 
Norbord was impaired. As a result of this review, management determined there is no objective evidence of impairment of Norbord 
at December 31, 2018.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    166

11.  INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 

The following table presents the change in the fair value of the company’s investment properties: 

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Fair value, beginning of year............................................................................................................................. $

2018

2017

56,870

$

54,172

Additions ...........................................................................................................................................................

Acquisitions through business combinations ....................................................................................................
Dispositions1......................................................................................................................................................
Fair value changes .............................................................................................................................................

Foreign currency translation..............................................................................................................................

3,069

33,024

(8,555)

1,610

(1,709)

593

5,851

(6,169)

1,021

1,402

Fair value, end of year ....................................................................................................................................... $

84,309

$

56,870

1. 

Includes amounts reclassified to held for sale.

Investment properties include the company’s office, retail, multifamily, logistics and other properties as well as higher-and-better- 
use land within the company’s sustainable resources operations. Acquisitions and additions of $36.1 billion relate mainly to business 
combinations completed during the year. The step-up acquisition of GGP within our Real Estate segment accounted for $18.0 billion
of this increase. GGP was previously an equity accounted investment, but effective August 28, 2018, began to meet the criteria 
for  control  and  was  consolidated  for  financial  statement  purposes.  During  the  fourth  quarter,  the  acquisition  of  a  diversified 
U.S. REIT with office, multifamily and retail assets in our real estate segment added a further $9.4 billion of investment properties 
to the company’s portfolio. Other acquisitions and additions include additions to our existing U.K. student housing portfolio, an 
office building in New York and capital investments to enhance or expand numerous properties throughout our portfolio.

Dispositions of $8.6 billion in 2018 relate primarily to the sale of core office properties, a portfolio of storage properties and a 
U.S. logistics portfolio.

Investment properties generated $5.4 billion (2017 – $4.4 billion) in rental income and incurred $2.1 billion (2017 – $1.6 billion) 
in direct operating expenses. Most of our investment properties are pledged as collateral for the non-recourse borrowings at their 
respective properties. 

The following table presents our investment properties measured at fair value: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Core office .........................................................................................................................................................

2018

2017

United States ................................................................................................................................................... $

15,237

$

14,827

Canada ............................................................................................................................................................

Australia..........................................................................................................................................................

Europe.............................................................................................................................................................

Brazil...............................................................................................................................................................

4,245

2,391

1,331

329

Core retail ..........................................................................................................................................................

17,607

LP Investments and other ..................................................................................................................................

LP Investments office .....................................................................................................................................

LP Investments retail ......................................................................................................................................

Logistics..........................................................................................................................................................

8,438

3,414

183

Mixed-use .......................................................................................................................................................

12,086

Multifamily .....................................................................................................................................................

Triple net lease................................................................................................................................................

Self-storage .....................................................................................................................................................

Student housing ..............................................................................................................................................

Manufactured housing ....................................................................................................................................

Other investment properties............................................................................................................................

4,151

5,067

931

2,417

2,369

4,113

4,597

2,480

1,040

327

—

6,275

3,412

1,942

2,315

3,925

4,804

1,854

1,353

2,206

5,513

$

84,309

$

56,870

167     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are utilized when determining the fair value of investment properties. The significant 
Level 3 inputs include:

Valuation 
Technique
Discounted cash 
flow analysis1

Significant Unobservable
Inputs
•  Future cash flows – 

primarily driven by net 
operating income

Relationship of
Unobservable Inputs to Fair
Value
•  Increases (decreases) in 

future cash flows increase 
(decrease) fair value

•  Discount rate

•   Increases (decreases) in
discount rate decrease
(increase) fair value

•  Terminal capitalization 

•   Increases (decreases) in

rate

terminal capitalization rate
decrease (increase) fair
value

•  Investment horizon

•  Increases (decreases) in the 
investment horizon decrease 
(increase) fair value

Mitigating Factors
•  Increases (decreases) in cash flows tend to be 
accompanied  by  increases  (decreases)  in 
discount rates that may offset changes in fair 
value from cash flows

•  Increases (decreases) in discount rates tend to 
be  accompanied  by  increases  (decreases)  in 
cash flows that may offset changes in fair value 
from discount rates

•  Increases (decreases) in terminal capitalization 
rates  tend  to  be  accompanied  by  increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may  offset 
changes 
terminal 
capitalization rates

fair  value 

from 

in 

in 

•  Increases  (decreases) 

investment 
horizon tend to be the result of changing cash 
flow profiles that may result in higher (lower) 
growth in cash flows prior to stabilizing in the 
terminal year

the 

1.  Certain investment properties are valued using the direct capitalization method instead of a discounted cash flow model. Under the direct capitalization method, a capitalization 

rate is applied to estimated current year cash flows. 

The company’s investment properties are diversified by asset type, asset class, geography and markets. Therefore, there may be 
mitigating factors in addition to those noted above such as changes to assumptions that vary in direction and magnitude across 
different geographies and markets.

The following table summarizes the key valuation metrics of the company’s investment properties:

2018
Terminal
Capitalization
Rate

Discount
Rate

Investment
Horizon
(years)

Discount 
Rate

2017
Terminal
Capitalization
Rate

Investment
Horizon
(years)

AS AT DEC. 31

Core office

United States..........................

Canada ...................................

Australia ................................

Brazil .....................................

Core retail.................................

LP Investments and other

6.9%

6.0%

7.0%

9.6%

7.1%

LP Investments office ............

10.2%

LP Investments retail .............

Logistics ................................

Mixed-use ..............................
Multifamily1 ..........................
Triple net lease1 .....................
Self-storage1 ..........................
Student housing1....................
Manufactured housing1..........
Other investment properties1 .

8.9%

9.3%

7.8%

4.8%

6.3%

5.7%

5.6%

5.4%

7.0%

5.6%

5.4%

6.2%

7.7%

6.0%

7.0%

7.8%

8.3%

5.4%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

12

10

10

6

12

6

9

10

10

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

7.0%

6.1%

7.0%

9.7%

n/a

10.2%

9.0%

6.8%

8.4%

4.8%

6.4%

5.8%

5.8%

5.8%

5.8%

5.8%

5.5%

6.1%

7.6%

n/a

7.5%

8.0%

6.2%

5.3%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

13

10

10

7

n/a

7

10

10

10

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1.  Multifamily, triple net lease, self-storage, student housing, manufactured housing and other investment properties are valued using the direct capitalization method. The 

rates presented as the discount rate represent the overall implied capitalization rate. The terminal capitalization rate and the investment horizon are not applicable.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    168

12.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The company’s property, plant and equipment relates to the operating segments as shown below:

Renewable 
Power (a) 

Infrastructure (b)

Real Estate (c)

Private Equity 
and Other (d)

Total

2018

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Costs ............................ $26,108
Accumulated fair value
changes ......................
Accumulated
depreciation................
Total ............................. $38,871

18,260

(5,497)

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

$24,991

$12,059

$ 9,253

$ 7,713

$ 5,854

$ 9,027

$ 4,050

$54,907

$44,148

13,280

3,480

3,272

1,045

798

(434)

(231)

22,351

17,119

(4,681)

(1,889)

(1,622)

(1,106)

(873)

(1,472)

(1,086)

(9,964)

(8,262)

$33,590

$13,650

$10,903

$ 7,652

$ 5,779

$ 7,121

$ 2,733

$67,294

$53,005

1. 

Includes amounts reclassified to held for sale.

Renewable Power, Infrastructure and Real Estate segments carry property, plant and equipment assets at fair value, classified 
as Level  3  in  the  fair  value  hierarchy  due  to  the  use  of  significant  unobservable  inputs  when  determining  fair  value. 
Private Equity and  other  segments  carry  property,  plant  and  equipment  assets  at  amortized  cost. As  at  December  31,  2018, 
$50.5 billion (2017 – $38.3 billion) of property, plant and equipment, at cost, were pledged as collateral for the property debt at 
their respective properties. 

a)  Renewable Power

Our renewable power property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

Hydroelectric

Wind1

Solar and Other

Total

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Cost, beginning of year .................................... $ 14,667
Additions, net of disposals and assets
reclassified as held for sale ............................
Acquisitions through business combinations ...

2018

189

—

Foreign currency translation ............................

(988)

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

$ 14,382

$ 7,622

$ 3,285

$ 2,702

$

364

$ 24,991

$ 18,031

256

—

29

(21)

(273)

(684)

—

1,184

4,585

1,784

2,338

(516)

2,968

(209)

25

(138)

— (1,335)

(17)

6,923

54

Cost, end of year ..............................................

13,868

14,667

8,576

7,622

3,664

2,702

26,108

24,991

Accumulated fair value changes, beginning
of year.............................................................
Fair value changes............................................
Dispositions and assets reclassified as held
for sale............................................................
Foreign currency translation ............................

12,176

11,440

3,688

—

(448)

341

(8)

403

1,053

1,221

—

(195)

807

33

—

213

Accumulated fair value changes, end of year ..

15,416

12,176

2,079

1,053

Accumulated depreciation, beginning of year .

(3,564)

(2,947)

(1,008)

Depreciation expenses......................................
Dispositions and assets reclassified as held
for sale............................................................
Foreign currency translation ............................

(547)

(579)

(416)

5

227

—

(38)

6

60

(740)

(267)

51

(52)

51

702

—

12

765

(109)

(192)

35

6

51

—

—

—

51

(89)

(20)

—

—

13,280

12,298

5,611

—

(631)

374

(8)

616

18,260

13,280

(4,681)

(1,155)

(3,776)

(866)

46

293

51

(90)

Accumulated depreciation, end of year............

(3,879)

(3,564)

(1,358)

(1,008)

(260)

(109)

(5,497)

(4,681)

Balance, end of year......................................... $ 25,405

$ 23,279

$ 9,297

$ 7,667

$ 4,169

$ 2,644

$ 38,871

$ 33,590

1.  Our wind property, plant and equipment is now being presented separately from solar and other. 

169     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The following table presents our renewable power property, plant and equipment measured at fair value by geography:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
North America ................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

2017

24,274

$

22,832

Colombia ...........................................................................................................................................................

Europe................................................................................................................................................................

Brazil .................................................................................................................................................................
Other1.................................................................................................................................................................

6,665

3,748

3,505

679

5,401

1,088

3,443

826

$

38,871

$

33,590

1.  Other refers primarily to China, India, Chile and Uruguay in 2018 and South Africa, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand in 2017.

Renewable  power  assets  are  accounted  for  under  the  revaluation  model  and  the  most  recent  date  of  revaluation  was 
December 31, 2018. Valuations utilize significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) when determining the fair value of renewable 
power assets. The significant Level 3 inputs include:

Valuation
Technique
Discounted cash
flow analysis

Significant
Unobservable Inputs
•  Future cash flows – 

primarily impacted by 
future electricity price 
assumptions

Relationship of Unobservable Inputs to 
Fair Value
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  future  cash 
flows increase (decrease) fair value

•  Discount rate

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount  rate 

decrease (increase) fair value

 Mitigating Factors
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases) in discount rates that may 
offset changes in fair value from cash 
flows

•  Increases (decreases) in discount rates 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset  changes  in  fair  value  from 
discount rates

•  Terminal 

capitalization rate

•  Increases 

(decreases) 

terminal 
capitalization  rate  decrease  (increase) 
fair value

in 

in 
tend 

•  Increases  (decreases) 

terminal 
to  be 
capitalization 
accompanied 
increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset  changes  in  fair  value  from 
terminal capitalization rates

rates 
by 

•  Exit date

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  the  exit  date 

decrease (increase) fair value

•  Increases (decreases) in the exit date 
tend to be the result of changing cash 
flow profiles that may result in higher 
(lower) growth in cash flows prior to 
stabilizing in the terminal year

Key  valuation  metrics  of  the  company’s  hydroelectric,  wind  and  solar  generating  facilities  at  the  end  of  2018  and  2017  are 
summarized below.

AS AT DEC. 31

Discount rate.............

North America

Brazil

Colombia

Europe

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Contracted .............. 4.8 – 5.6% 4.9 – 6.0%

Uncontracted .......... 6.4 – 7.2% 6.5 – 7.6%

Terminal 
capitalization rate1 .. 6.1 – 7.1% 6.2 – 7.5%
2037
Exit date....................

2039

9.0%

10.3%

n/a

2047

8.9%

10.2%

n/a

2032

9.6%

10.9%

10.4%

2038

11.3% 4.0 – 4.3% 4.1 – 4.5%

12.6% 5.8 – 6.1% 5.9 – 6.3%

12.6%

2037

n/a

2033

n/a

2031

1.  Terminal capitalization rate applies only to hydroelectric assets in North America and Colombia.

Terminal  values  are  included  in  the  valuation  of  hydroelectric  assets  in  the  United  States,  Canada  and  Colombia.  For  the 
hydroelectric assets in Brazil, cash flows have been included based on the duration of the authorization or useful life of a concession 
asset without consideration of potential renewal value. The weighted-average remaining duration at December 31, 2018, which 
includes a one-time 30-year renewal for applicable hydroelectric assets completed in the current year, is 29 years (2017 – 15 years). 
Consequently, there is no terminal value attributed to the hydroelectric assets in Brazil. 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    170

Key assumptions on contracted generation and future power pricing are summarized below:

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
North America (prices in US$/MWh).

Brazil (prices in R$/MWh) .................

Colombia (prices in COP$/MWh) ......

Europe (prices in €/MWh) ..................

Total Generation Contracted
under Power Purchase
Agreements

Power Prices from Long-
Term Power Purchase 
Agreements 
(weighted average)

Estimates of Future 
Electricity Prices
(weighted average)

1 – 10 years

11 – 20 years

1 – 10 years

11 – 20 years

1 – 10 years

11 – 20 years

44%

69%

22%

72%

21%

35%

—%

25%

93

286

201,000

93

95

397

—

111

62

287

114

452

252,000

354,000

79

92

The company’s estimate of future renewable power pricing is based on management’s estimate of the cost of securing new energy 
from renewable sources to meet future demand between 2022 and 2025 (2017 – between 2021 and 2025), which will maintain 
system reliability and provide adequate levels of reserve generation.

b)  Infrastructure

Our infrastructure property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Cost, beginning of year................................ $3,473

$2,894

$ 2,655

$2,361

$ 2,630

$2,382

$ — $ — $ 495

$ 408

$ 9,253

$ 8,045

Utilities

Transport

Energy

Data
Infrastructure

Sustainable
Resources

Total

Additions, net of disposals and assets

reclassified as held for sale .......................

Acquisitions through business

combinations .............................................

422

394

Foreign currency translation........................

(269)

350

—

229

73

—

(243)

103

—

191

146

2,111

(206)

81

100

67

Cost, end of year..........................................

4,020

3,473

2,485

2,655

4,681

2,630

Accumulated fair value changes, beginning
of year .......................................................

Fair value changes .......................................

Foreign currency translation........................

Accumulated fair value changes, end

of year .......................................................

1,256

1,044

218

(73)

136

76

873

18

(81)

782

24

67

629

224

(31)

1,401

1,256

810

873

822

351

257

21

629

Accumulated depreciation, beginning

of year .......................................................

(509)

(384)

(687)

(517)

(383)

(258)

Depreciation expenses .................................

(148)

(113)

(147)

(147)

(134)

(117)

Dispositions and assets reclassified as held
for sale.......................................................

Foreign currency translation........................

5

39

16

(28)

22

68

22

(45)

7

18

4

(12)

Accumulated depreciation, end of year .......

(613)

(509)

(744)

(687)

(492)

(383)

4

440

—

444

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(2)

—

(64)

429

514

12

93

—

(6)

643

2,945

(782)

627

100

481

495

12,059

9,253

513

13

3,272

2,690

472

430

152

(79)

(12)

(264)

447

514

3,480

3,272

(43)

(8)

4

7

(31)

(10)

3

(5)

(1,622)

(1,190)

(437)

(387)

38

132

45

(90)

(40)

(43)

(1,889)

(1,622)

Balance, end of year .................................... $4,808

$4,220

$ 2,551

$2,841

$ 5,011

$2,876

$ 444

$ — $ 836

$ 966

$ 13,650

$ 10,903

Infrastructure’s  PP&E  assets  are  accounted  for  under  the  revaluation  model,  and  the  most  recent  date  of  revaluation  was 
December 31, 2018. The company’s utilities assets consist of regulated transmission and regulated distribution networks, which 
are operated primarily under regulated rate base arrangements. In the company’s transport operations, the PP&E assets consist of 
railroads, toll roads and ports. PP&E assets in the energy operations are comprised of energy transmission, distribution and storage 
and district energy assets. Data infrastructure PP&E include mainly telecommunications towers, fiber optic networks and data 
storage assets. PP&E within our sustainable resource operations include standing timber, land, roads and other agricultural assets.

171     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Valuations utilize significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) when determining the fair value of infrastructure’s utilities, transport, 
energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resources assets. The significant Level 3 inputs include:

Valuation
Technique
Discounted cash
flow analysis

Significant
Unobservable Inputs
•  Future cash flows

Relationship of Unobservable Inputs to 
Fair Value
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  future  cash 
flows increase (decrease) fair value

•  Discount rate

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount  rate 

decrease (increase) fair value

•  Terminal 

capitalization multiple

•  Increases 

(decreases) 

in 

capitalization  multiple 
(decreases) fair value

terminal 
increases 

•  Investment horizon

•  Increases (decreases) in the investment 
horizon decrease (increase) fair value

 Mitigating Factors
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases) in discount rates that may 
offset changes in fair value from cash 
flows

•  Increases (decreases) in discount rates 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset  changes  in  fair  value  from 
discount rates

in 

•  Increases  (decreases) 

terminal 
capitalization  multiple  tend  to  be 
accompanied 
increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset  changes  in  fair  value  from 
terminal capitalization multiple

by 

•  Increases 

in 

(decreases) 

the 
investment  horizon 
to  be 
the result  of  changing  cash  flow 
profiles  that  may  result  in  higher 
(lower) growth in cash flows prior to 
stabilizing in the terminal year

tend 

Key valuation metrics of the company’s utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resources assets at the 
end of 2018 and 2017 are summarized below.

AS AT DEC. 31

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Utilities

Transport

Energy

Data Infrastructure

Sustainable Resources

Discount rates .................................

7 – 14% 7 – 12% 10 – 13% 10 – 15% 12 – 15%

12 – 15% 13 – 15%

Terminal capitalization multiples ...

8x – 22x

7x – 21x

9x – 14x

9x – 14x

10x – 14x

8x – 13x

10x – 11x

Investment horizon / Exit date

(years) ..........................................

c)  Real Estate

10 – 20

10 – 20

10 – 20

10 – 20

10

10

10

n/a

n/a

n/a

5 – 8%

5 – 8%

12x - 23x

12x - 23x

3 – 30

3 – 30

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, beginning of year.............................. $ 5,854
Additions/(dispositions)1, net of assets 
reclassified as held for sale............................
Acquisitions through business combinations ..

1,748

2018

352

Foreign currency translation............................

(241)

Fair value changes...........................................

Depreciation expenses.....................................

—

—

Cost

Accumulated Fair
Value Changes
2018

2017

Accumulated
Depreciation
2018

2017

2017

Total

2018

2017

$ 5,783

$

798

$

694

$

(873) $ (825) $ 5,779

$ 5,652

(502)

281

292

—

—

5

—

(3)

245

—

44

—

1

59

—

43

—

27

—

246

—

(13)

—

(303)

(281)

400

1,748

(217)

245

(303)

(212)

281

280

59

(281)

Balance, end of year ........................................ $ 7,713

$ 5,854

$ 1,045

$

798

$ (1,106) $ (873) $ 7,652

$ 5,779

1.  For accumulated depreciation, (additions)/dispositions.

The company’s real estate PP&E assets include hospitality assets accounted for under the revaluation model, with the most recent 
revaluation as at December 31, 2018. The company determined fair value for these assets by using the depreciated replacement 
cost method. Valuations utilize significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) when determining the fair value of real estate assets. The 
significant Level 3 inputs include estimates of assets’ replacement cost and remaining economic life.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    172

d)  Private Equity and Other

Private equity and other PP&E includes assets owned by the company’s private equity and residential development operations. 
These assets are accounted for under the cost model, which requires the assets to be carried at cost less accumulated depreciation 
and any accumulated impairment losses. The following table presents the changes to the carrying value of the company’s property, 
plant and equipment assets included in these operations:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, beginning of year.............................. $ 4,050
Additions/(dispositions)1, net of assets 
reclassified as held for sale............................
Acquisitions through business combinations ..

4,915

2018

360

Foreign currency translation............................

(298)

Depreciation expenses.....................................

Impairment charges .........................................

—

—

Cost

Accumulated
Impairment
2018

2017

Accumulated
Depreciation
2018

2017

2017

Total

2018

2017

$ 5,268

$ (231) $

(243) $ (1,086) $ (1,429) $ 2,733

$ 3,596

(1,966)

501

247

—

—

1

—

15

—

(219)

36

—

(16)

—

(8)

72

—

78

(536)

—

752

—

(51)

(358)

—

433

(1,178)

4,915

(205)

(536)

(219)

501

180

(358)

(8)

Balance, end of year ........................................ $ 9,027

$ 4,050

$ (434) $

(231) $ (1,472) $ (1,086) $ 7,121

$ 2,733

1.  For accumulated depreciation, (additions)/dispositions.

13.  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table presents the breakdown of, and changes to, the balance of the company’s intangible assets:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, beginning of year......................................... $

Cost

2018

2017

Accumulated
Amortization and
Impairment
2018

2017

Total

2018

15,251

$

6,733

$

(1,009) $

(660) $

14,242

$

Additions, net of disposals .........................................

Acquisitions through business combinations .............

Amortization...............................................................

266

6,590

—

Foreign currency translation.......................................

(1,803)

(25)

8,412

—

131

16

—

(659)

110

121

—

(442)

(28)

282

6,590

(659)

(1,693)

2017

6,073

96

8,412

(442)

103

Balance, end of year ................................................... $

20,304

$

15,251

$

(1,542) $

(1,009) $

18,762

$

14,242

The following table presents intangible assets by geography:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Brazil ................................................................................................................................................................. $

2018

6,270

$

United States......................................................................................................................................................

Canada ...............................................................................................................................................................

Australia ............................................................................................................................................................

United Kingdom ................................................................................................................................................

Peru....................................................................................................................................................................

Chile ..................................................................................................................................................................

India...................................................................................................................................................................

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................

2,986

2,051

1,873

1,860

1,118

928

843

833

2017

7,537

73

364

2,078

1,489

1,144

1,100

130

327

$

18,762

$

14,242

173     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Intangible assets are allocated to the following operating segments:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................................

Private equity......................................................................................................................................

Real estate...........................................................................................................................................

Renewable power and other ...............................................................................................................

Note

2018

(a)

(b)

(c)

$

11,641

$

5,523

1,179

419

2017

9,900

3,094

1,188

60

$

18,762

$

14,242

a)  Infrastructure 

The intangible assets in our Infrastructure segment are primarily related to:

•  Concession arrangements of $4.2 billion (2017 – $5.1 billion) at the company’s Brazilian regulated gas transmission operation 
that provide the right to charge a tariff over the term of the agreements. The agreements have an expiration date between 
2039 and 2041, which is the basis for the company’s determination of its remaining useful life. Upon expiry of the agreements, 
the asset shall be returned to the government and the concession will be subject to a public bidding process. 

•  Access agreements of $1.8 billion (2017 – $2.0 billion) with the users of the company’s Australian regulated terminal which 
are 100% take-or-pay contracts at a designated tariff rate based on the asset value. The access arrangements have an expiration 
date of 2051 and the company has an option to extend the arrangement an additional 49 years. The aggregate duration of the 
arrangements and the extension option represents the remaining useful life. 

•  Concession arrangements totaling $2.9 billion (2017 – $2.4 billion) relating to the company’s Peruvian, Chilean and Indian 
toll roads which provide the right to charge a tariff to users of the roads over the terms of the concessions. The Chilean and 
Peruvian concessions have expiration dates of 2033 and 2043 while the Indian concessions have expiration dates ranging 
from 2027 to 2041. The company uses these expiration dates as a basis for determining the assets’ remaining useful lives. 

•  Contractual customer relationships, customer contracts and proprietary technology of $1.4 billion (2017 – n/a) at the company’s 
North American residential energy infrastructure operations. These assets are amortized straight line over 10 to 20 years.

• 

Indefinite life intangible assets of $653 million (2017 – $297 million). The increase from 2017 is primarily attributable to 
the brand value at our recently acquired North American residential energy infrastructure operations.

b)  Private Equity

The intangible assets in our Private Equity segment are primarily related to:

•  Water and sewage concession agreements, the majority of which are arrangements with municipal governments across Brazil, 
of $1.8 billion (2017 – $2.1 billion). The concession agreements provide the company the right to charge fees to users over 
the  terms  of  the  agreements  in  exchange  for  water  treatment  services,  ongoing  and  regular  maintenance  work  on  water 
distribution  assets  and  improvements  to  the  water  treatment  and  distribution  systems.  The  concession  agreements  have 
expiration dates that range from 2037 to 2055 which is the basis for the company’s determination of its remaining useful life. 
Upon expiry of the agreements, the assets shall be returned to the government.

•  Computer software, patents, trademarks and proprietary technology of $2.1 billion (2017 – $126 million). The increase from 
2017 is primarily attributable to the proprietary technology at a service provider to the power generation industry, which we 
acquired in 2018. The proprietary technology has the potential to provide competitive advantages and product differentiation 
and is assessed to have a useful life of 15 years. 

c)  Real Estate

The company’s intangible assets in its Real Estate segment are attributable to indefinite life trademarks associated with its hospitality 
assets, primarily Center Parcs and Atlantis. The Center Parcs and Atlantis trademark assets have been determined to have an 
indefinite useful life as the company has the legal right to operate these trademarks exclusively in certain territories and in perpetuity. 
The business models of Center Parcs and Atlantis are not subject to technological obsolescence or commercial innovations in 
any material way.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    174

Inputs Used to Determine Recoverable Amounts of Intangible Assets

We test finite life intangible assets for impairment when an impairment indicator is identified. Indefinite life intangible assets are 
tested for impairment annually. We use a discounted cash flow valuation to determine the recoverable amount and consider the 
following significant unobservable inputs as part of our valuation:

Valuation
Technique
Discounted cash
flow models

Significant
Unobservable Input(s)
•  Future cash flows

Relationship of Unobservable Input(s) 
to Fair Value
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  future  cash 
the 

(decrease) 

increase 

flows 
recoverable amount

•  Discount rate

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount  rate 
decrease  (increase)  the  recoverable 
amount

Mitigating Factor(s)
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases) in discount rates that may 
offset 
recoverable 
changes 
amounts from cash flows

in 

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount 
rates  tend  to  be  accompanied  by 
increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
in 
offset 
that  may 
recoverable  amounts  from  discount 
rates

changes 

•  Terminal capitalization 

rate

•  Increases 

(decreases) 

terminal 
capitalization  rate  decrease  (increase) 
the recoverable amount

in 

tend 

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  terminal 
to  be 
rates 
capitalization 
increases 
by 
accompanied 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset 
recoverable 
amounts from terminal capitalization 
rates

changes 

in 

•  Exit date

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  the  exit  date 
decrease  (increase)  the  recoverable 
amount

•  Increases (decreases) in the exit date 
tend to be the result of changing cash 
flow profiles that may result in higher 
(lower) growth in cash flows prior to 
stabilizing in the terminal year

14.  GOODWILL

The following table presents the breakdown of, and changes to, the balance of goodwill:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Balance, beginning of year......................................... $

Acquisitions through business combinations .............

Impairment losses.......................................................
Foreign currency translation and other1 .....................
Balance, end of year ................................................... $

Cost

2018

2017

Accumulated
Impairment
2018

Total

2017

2018

5,707

$

4,162

$

(390) $

(379) $

5,317

$

4,158

—

(667)

1,157

—

388

—

—

7

—

(5)

(6)

4,158

—

(660)

2017

3,783

1,157

(5)

382

9,198

$

5,707

$

(383) $

(390) $

8,815

$

5,317

1. 

Includes adjustment to goodwill based on final purchase price allocation.

The following table presents goodwill by geography:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Europe................................................................................................................................................................ $

2018

2,131

$

2017

1,257

Canada ...............................................................................................................................................................

Colombia ...........................................................................................................................................................

United States......................................................................................................................................................

Australia ............................................................................................................................................................

Brazil .................................................................................................................................................................

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................

1,923

1,384

1,306

876

762

433

432

912

400

1,026

905

385

$

8,815

$

5,317

175     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Goodwill is allocated to the following operating segments:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................................

Private equity......................................................................................................................................

Real estate...........................................................................................................................................

Renewable power ...............................................................................................................................

Asset management..............................................................................................................................

Other...................................................................................................................................................

Note

2018

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

$

3,859

$

2,411

1,157

941

328

119

2017

1,301

1,555

1,127

901

312

121

Total....................................................................................................................................................

$

8,815

$

5,317

a)  Infrastructure

Goodwill in our Infrastructure segment is primarily attributable to acquisitions completed in 2018, including a North American 
residential energy infrastructure operation ($1.3 billion), a Colombian natural gas distribution business ($621 million), a Western 
Canadian  natural  gas  gathering  and  processing  business  ($524  million)  and  a  portfolio  of  North  American  data  centers 
($463 million). The purchase price allocations for these acquisitions have been completed on a preliminary basis.

Excluding the acquisitions completed in 2018, the remainder of the goodwill is primarily attributable to a Brazilian regulated gas 
transmission business and Australian port business. 

Goodwill attributable to our Brazilian regulated gas transmission arose from the inclusion of a deferred tax liability as the tax 
bases of the net assets acquired were lower than their fair values. The goodwill is recoverable as long as the tax circumstances 
that gave rise to the goodwill do not change. To date, no such changes have occurred.

The valuation assumptions used to determine the recoverable amount for our Australian port business are a discount rate of 13.3% 
(2017 – 15.0%), terminal capitalization multiple of 9.1x (2017 – 8.9x) and a cash flow period of 10 years (2017 – 10 years). The 
recoverable amounts for the years ended 2018 and 2017 were determined to be in excess of their carrying values. 

b)  Private Equity

Goodwill in our Private Equity segment is primarily attributable to our construction services business, which we test for impairment 
using a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the recoverable amount. The recoverable amounts for the years ended 2018
and 2017 were determined to be in excess of their carrying values. The valuation assumptions used to determine the recoverable 
amount are a discount rate of 10.0% (2017 – 9.7%), terminal growth rate of 2.8% (2017 – 2.9%) and terminal year of 2023 for 
cash flows included in the assumptions (2017 – 2022). The discount rate represents the market-based weighted-average cost of 
capital adjusted for risks specific to each operating region and the terminal growth rate represents the regional five-year forecasted 
average growth rate from leading industry organizations, weighted by our geographic exposure which can vary year over year.

Acquisitions completed in 2018 increased the amount of goodwill in our Private Equity segment, including a service provider to 
the offshore oil production industry ($547 million) and our service provider to the power generation industry ($213 million). The 
purchase price allocations for these acquisitions have been completed on a preliminary basis. The remaining goodwill is primarily 
associated with our road fuel distribution business and our western Canadian energy operations.

c)  Real Estate

Goodwill in our Real Estate segment is primarily attributable to Center Parcs and IFC Seoul. Goodwill is tested annually for 
impairment by assessing if the carrying value of the cash-generating unit, including the allocated goodwill, exceeds its recoverable 
amount, determined as the greater of the estimated fair value less costs to sell or the value in use. The recoverable amounts for 
the years ended 2018 and 2017 were determined to be in excess of their carrying values. 

The valuation assumptions used to determine the recoverable amount for Center Parcs are a discount rate of 7.4% (2017 – 7.7%) 
based on a market-based-weighted-average cost of capital, and a long-term growth rate of 2.0% (2017 – 2.3%). 

The valuation assumptions used to determine the recoverable amount for IFC Seoul were a discount rate of 7.7% (2017 – n/a) 
based on a market-based-weighted-average cost of capital, and a long-term growth rate of 2.0% (2017 – n/a). 

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    176

d)  Renewable Power

Goodwill in our Renewable Power segment, which is primarily attributable to a hydroelectric portfolio in Colombia, arose from 
the inclusion of a deferred tax liability as the tax bases of the net assets acquired were lower than their fair values. The goodwill 
is recoverable as long as the tax circumstances that gave rise to the goodwill do not change. To date, no such changes have occurred.

Inputs used to Determine Recoverable Amounts of Goodwill 

The recoverable amounts used in goodwill impairment testing are calculated using discounted cash flow models based on the 
following significant unobservable inputs:

Valuation
Technique
Discounted cash
flow models

Significant
Unobservable Input(s)
•  Future cash flows

Relationship of Unobservable Input(s) 
to Fair Value
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  future  cash 
the 

(decrease) 

flows 
recoverable amount

increase 

•  Discount rate

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount  rate 
decrease  (increase)  the  recoverable 
amount

Mitigating Factor(s)
•  Increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
tend to be accompanied by increases 
(decreases) in discount rates that may 
recoverable 
changes 
offset 
amounts from cash flows

in 

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  discount 
rates  tend  to  be  accompanied  by 
increases  (decreases)  in  cash  flows 
in 
offset 
that  may 
recoverable  amounts  from  discount 
rates

changes 

•  Terminal capitalization 

rate / multiple

•  Increases 

(decreases) 

terminal 
capitalization  rate/multiple  decrease 
(increase) the recoverable amount

in 

accompanied  by 

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  terminal 
capitalization  rates/multiple  tend  to 
be 
increases 
(decreases)  in  cash  flows  that  may 
offset 
recoverable 
amounts from terminal capitalization 
rates

changes 

in 

•  Exit date / terminal 
year of cash flows

•  Increases  (decreases)  in  the  exit  date/
terminal  year  of  cash  flows  decrease 
(increase) the recoverable amount

•  Increases (decreases) in the exit date/
terminal year of cash flows tend to be 
the  result  of  changing  cash  flow 
profiles  that  may  result  in  higher 
(lower) growth in cash flows prior to 
stabilizing in the terminal year

15.  INCOME TAXES

The major components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are set out below:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current income taxes......................................................................................................................................... $

2018

861

$

2017

286

Deferred income tax expense / (recovery)

Origination and reversal of temporary differences .........................................................................................

Expense / (recovery) arising from previously unrecognized tax assets..........................................................

Change of tax rates and new legislation .........................................................................................................

143

(955)

(297)

Total deferred income taxes...............................................................................................................................

(1,109)

Income taxes...................................................................................................................................................... $

(248) $

499

3

(175)

327

613

177     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The company’s Canadian domestic statutory income tax rate has remained consistent at 26% throughout both of 2018 and 2017. 
The company’s effective income tax rate is different from the company’s domestic statutory income tax rate due to the following 
differences set out below:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31

Statutory income tax rate...................................................................................................................................

2018

26 %

2017

26 %

Increase (reduction) in rate resulting from:

Change in tax rates and new legislation..........................................................................................................

International operations subject to different tax rates.....................................................................................

Taxable income attributable to non-controlling interests ...............................................................................

Portion of gains subject to different tax rates .................................................................................................

(4)

(3)

(8)

(4)

Recognition of deferred tax assets ..................................................................................................................

(12)

Non-recognition of the benefit of current year’s tax losses............................................................................

Other ...............................................................................................................................................................

1

1

(3)

3

(9)

(5)

(2)

3

(1)

Effective income tax rate...................................................................................................................................

(3)%

12 %

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2018 and 2017 relate to the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Non-capital losses (Canada) .............................................................................................................................. $

Capital losses (Canada) .....................................................................................................................................

Losses (U.S.) .....................................................................................................................................................

Losses (International) ........................................................................................................................................

$

2018

685

108

2,219

645

2017

657

171

590

861

Difference in basis.............................................................................................................................................

(13,161)

(12,224)

Total net deferred tax liabilities......................................................................................................................... $

(9,504) $

(9,945)

The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries for which deferred tax liabilities have 
not been recognized as at December 31, 2018 is approximately $6 billion (2017 – approximately $5 billion).

The company regularly assesses the status of open tax examinations and its historical tax filing positions for the potential for 
adverse  outcomes  to  determine  the  adequacy  of  the  provision  for  income  and  other  taxes. The  company  believes  that  it  has 
adequately provided for any tax adjustments that are more likely than not to occur as a result of ongoing tax examinations or 
historical filing positions.

The dividend payment on certain preferred shares of the company results in the payment of cash taxes in Canada and the company 
obtaining a deduction based on the amount of these taxes.

The following table details the expiry date, if applicable, of the unrecognized deferred tax assets:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
One year from reporting date ............................................................................................................................ $

Two years from reporting date ..........................................................................................................................

Three years from reporting date ........................................................................................................................

After three years from reporting date ................................................................................................................

Do not expire .....................................................................................................................................................

2018

2017

$

16

—

2

1,125

1,526

—

—

6

530

990

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

2,669

$

1,526

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    178

The components of the income taxes in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are set 
out below:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Revaluation of property, plant and equipment .................................................................................................. $

2018

1,302

$

2017

(315)

Financial contracts and power sale agreements.................................................................................................
Fair value through OCI securities1 ....................................................................................................................
Foreign currency translation..............................................................................................................................

Revaluation of pension obligation.....................................................................................................................

26

10

69

7

27

5

(43)

1

Total deferred tax in other comprehensive income ........................................................................................... $

1,414

$

(325)

1.  Prior period amounts have not been restated (refer to Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements).

16.  CORPORATE BORROWINGS

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Term debt

Maturity

Annual Rate

Currency

2018

2017

Public – Canadian...............................................................

Apr. 9, 2019

Public – Canadian............................................................... Mar. 1, 2021

Public – Canadian............................................................... Mar. 31, 2023

Public – Canadian............................................................... Mar. 8, 2024

Public – U.S........................................................................

Apr. 1, 2024

Public – U.S........................................................................

Jan. 15, 2025

Public – Canadian...............................................................

Jan. 28, 2026

Public – U.S........................................................................

Jun. 2, 2026

Public – Canadian............................................................... Mar. 16, 2027

Public – U.S........................................................................

Jan. 25, 2028

Public – U.S........................................................................ Mar. 1, 2033

Public – Canadian...............................................................

Jun. 14, 2035

Private – Japanese ..............................................................

Dec. 1, 2038

Public – U.S........................................................................

Sep. 20, 2047

3.95%

5.30%

4.54%

5.04%

4.00%

4.00%

4.82%

4.25%

3.80%

3.90%

7.38%

5.95%

1.42%

4.70%

$

C$

C$

C$

C$

US$

US$

C$

US$

C$

US$

US$

C$

JPY

US$

C$
Commercial paper and bank borrowings...........................................................
Deferred financing costs1 ..................................................................................................................................
Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

—%

1.  Deferred financing costs are amortized to interest expense over the term of the borrowing using the effective interest method. 

$

440

257

441

367

749

500

633

496

366

648

250

309

91

903

478

278

479

398

748

500

689

496

397

—

250

335

—

546

6,450

5,594

—

(41)

103

(38)

6,409

$

5,659

Corporate borrowings have a weighted-average interest rate of 4.5% (2017 – 4.6%) and include $2.8 billion (2017 – $3.2 billion) 
repayable in Canadian dollars of C$3.8 billion (2017 – C$4.0 billion) and $91 million (2017 – $nil) repayable in Japanese Yen of
¥10 billion (2017 – ¥nil).

179     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

17.  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND OTHER

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Accounts payable............................................................................................................................................... $

2018

6,873

$

Provisions ..........................................................................................................................................................

Other liabilities ..................................................................................................................................................

2,830

14,286

2017

5,158

1,651

11,156

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

23,989

$

17,965

The current and non-current balances of accounts payable, provisions and other liabilities are as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $

Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

2018

14,337

9,652

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

23,989

2017

11,148

6,817

17,965

$

$

Post-Employment Benefits

The company offers pension and other post-employment benefit plans to employees of certain of its subsidiaries. The company’s 
obligations under its defined benefit pension plans are determined periodically through the preparation of actuarial valuations. 
The 2018 acquisition in our Private Equity segment of a service provider to the power generation industry resulted in an increase 
in our plan assets and accrued benefit obligations. The benefit plans’ in-year valuation change was a decrease of $19 million 
(2017 – an increase of $4 million). The discount rate used was 2% (2017 – 4%) with an increase in the rate of compensation of 
2% (2017 – 3%), and an investment rate of 3% (2017 – 5%).

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Plan assets.......................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

1,981

$

2017

516

Less accrued benefit obligation:

Defined benefit pension plan ..........................................................................................................................

(2,548)

Other post-employment benefits.....................................................................................................................

Net liability........................................................................................................................................................

Less: net actuarial gains (losses) and other .......................................................................................................

(148)

(715)

(10)

(685)

(90)

(259)

(2)

Accrued benefit liability .................................................................................................................................... $

(725) $

(261)

18.  NON-RECOURSE BORROWINGS OF MANAGED ENTITIES

AS AT DEC. 31

Subsidiary borrowings........................................................................................................................

Property-specific borrowings .............................................................................................................

Total....................................................................................................................................................

Note

(a)

(b)

2018

8,600

$

103,209

$ 111,809

2017

9,009

63,721

72,730

$

$

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    180

a)  Subsidiary Borrowings 

Principal repayments on subsidiary borrowings due over the next five calendar years and thereafter are as follows:

(MILLIONS)

Real Estate

Renewable
Power

Infrastructure

2019 ................................................. $

343

$

— $

— $

2020 .................................................

2021 .................................................

2022 .................................................

2023 .................................................

Thereafter.........................................

1

1,868

—

292

—

Total – Dec. 31, 2018 ...................... $

Total – Dec. 31, 2017....................... $

2,504

3,214

$

$

330

—

293

—

1,705

2,328

1,665

$

$

275

—

330

510

878

1,993

2,102

$

$

Private
Equity
52

Residential
Development
$

— $

—

—

—

—

—

52

380

603

86

497

184

353

$

$

1,723

1,648

$

$

Total

395

1,209

1,954

1,120

986

2,936

8,600

9,009

The weighted-average interest rate on subsidiary borrowings as at December 31, 2018 was 4.5% (2017 – 4.1%).

The current and non-current balances of subsidiary borrowings are as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $

Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

395

8,205

8,600

$

$

2017

1,956

7,053

9,009

Subsidiary borrowings by currency include the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
U.S. dollars ................................................................. $

Canadian dollars .........................................................

Australian dollars .......................................................

British pounds ............................................................

2018

6,846

1,613

141

—

Local Currency

US$

6,846

$

C$

A$

£

2,200

200

—

2017

5,305

3,547

156

1

Local Currency

US$

C$

A$

£

5,305

4,460

199

1

Total............................................................................ $

8,600

$

9,009

b)  Property-Specific Borrowings

Principal repayments on property-specific borrowings due over the next five calendar years and thereafter are as follows:

(MILLIONS)

Real Estate

2019 ................................................. $

6,108

$

Renewable
Power
1,196

Infrastructure

$

1,544

$

Residential
Development
144
$

$

2020 .................................................

2021 .................................................

2022 .................................................

2023 .................................................

Thereafter.........................................

Total – Dec. 31, 2018 ...................... $

Total – Dec. 31, 2017....................... $

11,895

13,731

5,742

6,721

19,297

63,494

37,235

788

603

1,346

2,441

7,859

$

$

14,233

14,230

$

$

1,112

834

839

3,595

6,410

14,334

9,010

Private
Equity
1,772

1,003

792

986

807

Total

10,764

14,903

15,989

8,953

13,574

39,026

105

29

40

10

—

5,460

10,820

2,898

$

$

$

$

328

348

$

$

103,209

63,721

The weighted-average interest rate on property-specific borrowings as at December 31, 2018 was 5.0% (2017 – 4.9%). 

181     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The current and non-current balances of property-specific borrowings are as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Current............................................................................................................................................................... $

Non-current........................................................................................................................................................

2018

10,764

92,445

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $ 103,209

2017

8,800

54,921

63,721

$

$

Property-specific borrowings by currency include the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
U.S. dollars ................................................................. $

2018

72,747

Local Currency

2017

Local Currency

US$

72,747

$

39,164

US$

39,164

British pounds ............................................................

Canadian dollars .........................................................

Brazilian reais.............................................................

European Union euros ................................................

Australian dollars .......................................................

Indian rupees ..............................................................

Colombian pesos ........................................................

Korean won ................................................................

Chilean unidades de fomento .....................................

Other currencies .........................................................

7,200

6,285

3,825

3,264

2,968

2,026

1,855

1,613

837

589

£

C$

R$

€$

A$

Rs

5,643

8,573

14,820

2,846

4,210

140,694

COP$

6,025,270

1,797,415

UF

n/a

21

n/a

6,117

5,272

2,677

766

3,518

1,346

1,556

1,682

976

647

£

C$

R$

€$

A$

Rs

4,525

6,627

8,856

638

4,506

85,720

COP$

4,645,648

1,795,518

UF

n/a

22

n/a

Total............................................................................ $ 103,209

$

63,721

19.  SUBSIDIARY EQUITY OBLIGATIONS

Subsidiary equity obligations consist of the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Subsidiary preferred equity units .......................................................................................................

Limited-life funds and redeemable fund units ...................................................................................

Subsidiary preferred shares and capital..............................................................................................

Note

2018

(a)

(b)

(c)

$

1,622

$

1,724

530

2017

1,597

1,559

505

Total....................................................................................................................................................

$

3,876

$

3,661

a)  Subsidiary Preferred Equity Units

In 2014, BPY issued $1.8 billion of exchangeable preferred equity units in three $600 million tranches redeemable in 2021, 2024 
and 2026, respectively. The preferred equity units are exchangeable into equity units of BPY at $25.70 per unit, at the option of 
the holder, at any time up to and including the maturity date. BPY may redeem the preferred equity units after specified periods 
if the BPY equity unit price exceeds predetermined amounts. At maturity, the preferred equity units that remain outstanding will 
be converted into BPY equity units at the lower of $25.70 or the then market price of a BPY equity unit. The preferred equity 
units represent a compound financial instrument comprised of the financial liability representing the company’s obligations to 
redeem the preferred equity units at maturity for a variable number of BPY units and an equity instrument representing the holder’s 
right to convert the preferred equity units to a fixed number of BPY units. The company is required under certain circumstances 
to purchase the preferred equity units at their redemption value in equal amounts in 2021 and 2024 and may be required to purchase 
the 2026 tranche, as further described in Note 29(a).

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)

Series 1 .........................................................................

Shares
Outstanding
24,000,000

Cumulative
Dividend Rate
6.25%

Local
Currency
US$

$

Series 2 .........................................................................

24,000,000

Series 3 .........................................................................

24,000,000

6.50%

6.75%

US$

US$

$

2018

562

537

523

2017

551

529

517

Total .................................................................................................................................................................

$

1,622

$

1,597

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    182

b)  Limited-Life Funds and Redeemable Fund Units

Limited-life funds and redeemable fund units represent interests held in our consolidated funds by third-party investors that have 
been classified as a liability rather than as non-controlling interest, as holders of these interests can cause our funds to redeem 
their interest in the fund for cash equivalents at a specified time. As at December 31, 2018, we have $1.7 billion of subsidiary 
equity obligations arising from limited-life funds and redeemable fund units (2017 – $1.6 billion arising from limited-life funds).

In our real estate business, limited-life fund obligations include $813 million (2017 – $813 million) of equity interests held by 
third-party investors in two consolidated funds that have been classified as a liability, instead of non-controlling interest, as holders 
of these interests can cause the funds to redeem their interests in the fund for cash equivalents at the fair value of the interest at 
a set date.

As at December 31, 2018, we have $826 million (2017 – $746 million) of subsidiary equity obligations arising from limited-life 
fund units in our infrastructure business. These obligations are primarily composed of the portion of the equity interest held by 
third-party investors in our timberland and agriculture funds that are attributed to the value of the land held in the fund. The value 
of this equity interest has been classified as a liability, instead of non-controlling interest, as we are obligated to purchase the land 
from the third-party investors on maturity of the fund.

We also have $85 million of redeemable fund units (2017 – $nil) in certain funds managed by our public securities business.

c)  Subsidiary Preferred Shares and Capital

Preferred shares are classified as liabilities if the holders of the preferred shares have the right, after a fixed date, to convert the 
shares into common equity of the issuer based on the market price of the common equity of the issuer at that time unless they are 
previously redeemed by the issuer. The dividends paid on these securities are recorded in interest expense. As at December 31, 
2018 and 2017, the balance related to obligations of BPY and its subsidiaries. 

Shares
Outstanding

Cumulative
Dividend Rate

Local
Currency

2018

2017

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)
Brookfield Property Split Corp 
(“BOP Split”) senior preferred shares
Series 1 .......................................................................

Series 2 .......................................................................

Series 3 .......................................................................

924,390

699,165

909,994

5.25%

5.75%

5.00%

US$

$

C$

C$

940,486

Series 4 .......................................................................
BSREP II RH B LLC (“Manufactured Housing”)
preferred capital .........................................................
Rouse Series A preferred shares...................................
Forest City Enterprises L.P. (“Forest City”)
Preferred Capital ........................................................
BSREP II Vintage Estate Partners LLC (“Vintage
Estates”) preferred shares...........................................
Total .................................................................................................................................................................

1,111,004

5,600,000

10,000

5.00%

5.00%

2.00%

9.00%

5.20%

US$

US$

US$

US$

—

C$

$

23

13

17

17

249

142

29

40

23

14

18

19

249

142

—

40

505

$

530

$

Each series of the BOP Split senior preferred shares are redeemable at the option of either the issuer or the holder as the redemption 
and conversion option dates have passed.

Subsidiary preferred capital includes $249 million at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $249 million) of preferred equity interests held 
by a third-party investor in Manufactured Housing which has been classified as a liability, rather than as non-controlling interest, 
due to the fact the holders are only entitled to distributions equal to their capital balance plus 9% annual return payable in monthly 
distributions until maturity in December 2025. The preferred capital was issued to partially fund the acquisition of the Manufactured 
Housing portfolio during the first quarter of 2017.

Subsidiary preferred shares include $142 million at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $142 million) of preferred equity interests held 
by a third-party investor in Rouse Properties, L.P., which have been classified as a liability, rather than as non-controlling interests, 
due to the fact that the interests have no voting rights and are mandatorily redeemable on or after November 12, 2025 for a set 
price per unit plus any accrued but unpaid distributions; distributions are capped and accrue regardless of available cash generated.

183     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Subsidiary preferred shares also include $40 million at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $40 million) of preferred equity interests held 
by a co-investor in Vintage Estates, which have been classified as a liability, rather than as non-controlling interests, due to the 
fact that the preferred equity interests are mandatorily redeemable on April 26, 2023 for cash at an amount equal to the outstanding 
principal balance of the preferred equity plus any accrued but unpaid dividends.

20.  SUBSIDIARY PUBLIC ISSUERS AND FINANCE SUBSIDIARY

Brookfield Finance Inc. (“BFI”) is an indirect 100% owned subsidiary of the Corporation that may offer and sell debt securities. 
Any debt securities issued by BFI are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Corporation. BFI issued $500 million of 4.25%
notes  due in  2026 on  June  2, 2016,  $550  million and  $350 million  of  4.70% notes  due  in 2047  on September  14, 2017 and 
January 17, 2018, respectively, and $650 million of 3.90% notes due in 2028 on January 17, 2018.

Brookfield Finance LLC (“BFL”) is a Delaware limited liability company formed on February 6, 2017 and an indirect 100%
owned subsidiary of the Corporation. BFL is a “finance subsidiary,” as defined in Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. Any debt securities 
issued by BFL are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Corporation. On March 10, 2017, BFL issued $750 million of 
4.00% notes due in 2024. On December 31, 2018, as part of an internal reorganization, BFI acquired substantially all of BFL’s 
assets  and  became  a  co-obligor  of  BFL’s  2024  notes.  BFL  has  no  independent  activities,  assets  or  operations  other  than  in 
connection with any debt securities it may issue. 

Brookfield Investments Corporation (“BIC”) is an investment company that holds investments in the real estate and forest products 
sectors, as well as a portfolio of preferred shares issued by the Corporation’s subsidiaries. The Corporation provided a full and 
unconditional guarantee of the Class 1 Senior Preferred Shares, Series A issued by BIC. As at December 31, 2018, C$42 million
of these senior preferred shares were held by third-party shareholders and are retractable at the option of the holder. 

The following tables contain summarized financial information of the Corporation, BFI, BFL, BIC and non-guarantor subsidiaries:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)

The  
Corporation1 

BFI 

BFL

Revenues......................... $
Net income attributable
to shareholders ..............
Total assets......................

Total liabilities ................

810

$

43

$

53

$

3,584

59,105

29,290

(46)

4,330

2,909

(1)

13

6

BIC

163

145

3,296

2,198

Subsidiaries of 
the Corporation 
other than BFI, 
BFL and BIC2 

Consolidating 
Adjustments3  

The Company 
Consolidated 

$

62,984

$

(7,282) $

56,771

4,506

271,534

154,458

(4,604)

(81,997)

(29,730)

3,584

256,281

159,131

AS AT AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DEC. 31, 2017
(MILLIONS)

The  
Corporation1 

BFI 

BFL

BIC

Subsidiaries of 
the Corporation 
other than BFI, 
BFL and BIC2 

Consolidating 
Adjustments3  

The Company 
Consolidated 

Revenues......................... $
Net income attributable
to shareholders ..............
Total assets......................

Total liabilities ................

168

$

30

$

43

$

22

$

44,908

$

(4,385) $

40,786

1,462

53,688

25,444

—

1,060

1,042

—

757

756

59

3,761

2,309

2,019

206,907

113,336

(2,078)

(73,453)

(30,039)

1,462

192,720

112,848

1.  This column accounts for investments in all subsidiaries of the Corporation under the equity method.
2.  This column accounts for investments in all subsidiaries of the Corporation other than BFI, BFL and BIC on a combined basis.
3.  This column includes the necessary amounts to present the company on a consolidated basis.

21.  EQUITY

Equity consists of the following: 

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Preferred equity ..................................................................................................................................

Non-controlling interests....................................................................................................................

Common equity ..................................................................................................................................

Note

2018

(a)

(b)

(c)

$

4,168

$

67,335

25,647

2017

4,192

51,628

24,052

$

97,150

$

79,872

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    184

a)  Preferred Equity

Preferred equity includes perpetual preferred shares and rate-reset preferred shares and consists of the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Perpetual preferred shares

Floating rate.........................................................................................................

Fixed rate.............................................................................................................

Fixed rate-reset preferred shares............................................................................

Further details on each series of preferred shares are as follows:

Average Rate

2018

2017

2018

2017

2.90%

4.82%

4.02%

4.26%

4.19%

2.33% $

4.82%

3.78%

4.21%

$

531

744

1,275

2,893

4.08% $

4,168

$

531

749

1,280

2,912

4,192

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)
Class A preferred shares

Perpetual preferred shares

Issued and Outstanding

Rate

2018

2017

2018

2017

Series 2 ......................................................
70% P
Series 4 ......................................................
70% P/8.5%
Series 8 ......................................................
Variable up to P
Series 13 ....................................................
70% P
B.A. + 40 b.p.1
Series 15 ....................................................
Series 17 ....................................................
4.75%
4.75%
Series 18 ....................................................
Series 25 .................................................... 3-Month T-Bill + 230 b.p.
4.85%
Series 36 ....................................................
4.90%
Series 37 ....................................................

Rate-reset preferred shares2

Series 9 ......................................................
Series 24 ....................................................
Series 26 ....................................................
Series 28 ....................................................
Series 303 ...................................................
Series 324 ...................................................
Series 34 ....................................................
Series 38 ....................................................
Series 40 ....................................................
Series 42 ....................................................
Series 44 ....................................................
Series 46 ....................................................
Series 48 ....................................................

2.75%
3.01%
3.47%
2.73%
4.69%
5.06%
4.20%
4.40%
4.50%
4.50%
5.00%
4.80%
4.75%

10,457,685
2,795,910
2,476,185
9,290,096
2,000,000
7,901,476
7,921,178
1,529,133
7,900,764
7,888,143

1,515,981
9,338,572
9,840,588
9,289,397
9,852,258
11,849,808
9,926,620
7,955,948
11,914,515
11,943,400
9,882,879
11,810,653
11,961,701

$

10,465,100
2,800,000
2,479,585
9,297,700
2,000,000
7,950,756
7,966,158
1,533,133
7,949,024
7,949,083

1,519,115
9,394,250
9,903,348
9,359,387
9,934,050
11,982,568
9,977,889
8,000,000
12,000,000
12,000,000
9,945,189
11,895,790
12,000,000

Total .................................................................................................................................................................

$

169
45
42
195
42
172
179
38
199
194
1,275

21
228
241
233
243
300
254
180
273
268
188
219
245
2,893
4,168

$

$

169
45
43
195
42
173
180
38
200
195
1,280

21
230
243
235
245
303
255
181
275
269
189
220
246
2,912
4,192

1.  Rate determined quarterly.
2.  Dividend rates are fixed for 5 to 6 years from the quarter end dates after issuance, June 30, 2011, March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012, December 31, 2012, September 30, 2013, 

March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, December 31, 2014, December 31, 2015, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017, respectively and reset after 5 to 6 years to the              
5-year Government of Canada bond rate plus between 180 and 417 basis points.

3.  Dividend rate reset commenced December 31, 2017.
4.  Dividend rate reset commenced September 30, 2018. 
P – Prime Rate, B.A. – Bankers’ Acceptance Rate, b.p. – Basis Points.

185     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class A preferred shares and an unlimited number of Class AA preferred 
shares, issuable in series. No Class AA preferred shares have been issued.

The Class A preferred shares are entitled to preference over the Class A and Class B Limited Voting Shares (“Class A and B shares”) 
on the declaration of dividends and other distributions to shareholders. All series of the outstanding preferred shares have a par 
value of C$25.00 per share.

b)  Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests represent the common and preferred equity in consolidated entities that are owned by other shareholders.

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Common equity ................................................................................................................................................. $

Preferred equity .................................................................................................................................................

2018

62,109

5,226

Total................................................................................................................................................................... $

67,335

2017

47,281

4,347

51,628

$

$

Further information on non-controlling interests is provided in Note 4 – Subsidiaries. 

c)  Common Equity

The company’s common equity is comprised of the following:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Common shares ................................................................................................................................................. $

2018

4,457

$

Contributed surplus ...........................................................................................................................................

271

Retained earnings ..............................................................................................................................................

14,244

Ownership changes............................................................................................................................................

Accumulated other comprehensive income.......................................................................................................

645

6,030

2017

4,428

263

11,864

1,459

6,038

Common equity ................................................................................................................................................. $

25,647

$

24,052

The company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Class A shares and 85,120 Class B shares, together referred to as 
common shares. The company’s common shares have no stated par value. The holders of Class A shares and Class B shares rank 
on par with each other with respect to the payment of dividends and the return of capital on the liquidation, dissolution or winding 
up of the company or any other distribution of the assets of the company among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up 
its affairs. Holders of the Class A shares are entitled to elect half of the Board of Directors of the company and holders of the 
Class B shares are entitled to elect the other half of the Board of Directors. With respect to the Class A and Class B shares, there 
are no dilutive factors, material or otherwise, that would result in different diluted earnings per share between the classes. This 
relationship holds true irrespective of the number of dilutive instruments issued in either one of the respective classes of common 
stock, as both classes of shares participate equally, on a pro rata basis, in the dividends, earnings and net assets of the company, 
whether taken before or after dilutive instruments, regardless of which class of shares is diluted.

The holders of the company’s common shares received cash dividends during 2018 of $0.60 per share (2017 – $0.56 per share). 

The number of issued and outstanding common shares and unexercised options are as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31

2018

2017

Class A shares1 ............................................................................................................................................................................

955,057,721

958,688,000

Class B shares ......................................................................................................................................

85,120

85,120

Shares outstanding1...................................................................................................................................................................

955,142,841

958,773,120

Unexercised options and other share-based plans2 .....................................................................................................

42,086,712

47,474,284

Total diluted shares ..............................................................................................................................

997,229,553

1,006,247,404

1.  Net of 37,538,531 (2017 – 30,569,215) Class A shares held by the company in respect of long-term compensation agreements.
2. 

Includes management share option plan and escrowed stock plan.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    186

The authorized common share capital consists of an unlimited number of Class A shares and 85,120 Class B shares. Shares issued 
and outstanding changed as follows:

AS AT AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31

2018

2017

Outstanding, beginning of year1..........................................................................................................................................

958,773,120

958,168,417

Issued (repurchased)

Repurchases........................................................................................................................................

(9,579,740)

(3,448,665)

Long-term share ownership plans2 ..................................................................................................................................

5,752,331

Dividend reinvestment plan and others..............................................................................................
Outstanding, end of year3.....................................................................................................................

197,130

3,826,248

227,120

955,142,841

958,773,120

1.  Net of 30,569,215 Class A shares held by the company in respect of long-term compensation agreements as at December 31, 2017 (December 31, 2016 – 27,846,452). 
2. 
3.  Net of 37,538,531 Class A shares held by the company in respect of long-term compensation agreements as at December 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017 – 30,569,215).  

Includes management share option plan and restricted stock plan.

Earnings Per Share

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are summarized in the following table:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

2018

Net income attributable to shareholders ............................................................................................................ $

3,584

$

Preferred share dividends ..................................................................................................................................

Dilutive effect of conversion of subsidiary preferred shares.............................................................................

(151)

(105)

2017

1,462

(145)

—

Net income available to shareholders................................................................................................................ $

3,328

$

1,317

Weighted average – common shares .................................................................................................................

Dilutive effect of the conversion of options and escrowed shares using treasury stock method ......................

Common shares and common share equivalents...............................................................................................

957.6

19.8

977.4

958.8

21.2

980.0

Share-Based Compensation 

The expense recognized for share-based compensation is summarized in the following table:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Expense arising from equity-settled share-based payment transactions ........................................................... $

Expense/(Recovery) arising from cash-settled share-based payment transactions ...........................................

Total expense arising from share-based payment transactions..........................................................................

Effect of hedging program.................................................................................................................................

Total expense included in consolidated income ................................................................................................ $

2018

73

$

(64)

9

75

84

$

2017

69

281

350

(275)

75

The share-based payment plans are described below. There were no cancellations of or modifications to any of the plans during 
2018 and 2017.

Equity-settled Share-based Awards

Management Share Option Plan

Options issued under the company’s Management Share Option Plan (“MSOP”) vest over a period of up to five years, expire 
10 years after the grant date and are settled through issuance of Class A shares. The exercise price is equal to the market price at 
the grant date. 

187     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The changes in the number of options during 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

Outstanding at January 1, 2018..........................................................

Number 
of Options 
(000’s)1
2,797

Granted...............................................................................................

—

Exercised............................................................................................

(2,007)

Canceled.............................................................................................

Outstanding at December 31, 2018....................................................

—

790

C$

1.  Options to acquire TSX listed Class A shares. 
2.  Options to acquire NYSE listed Class A shares.

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

C$

Number 
of Options 
(000’s)2
34,893 US$

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

12.35

—

12.59

—

11.77

15.63

—

17.50

—

12.35

4,538

(2,492)

(197)

36,742 US$

6,331

(2,149)

(772)

34,893 US$

27.71

40.42

23.58

34.81

29.52

25.77

36.92

24.36

33.28

27.71

Outstanding at January 1, 2017

Number 
of Options 
(000’s)1
7,684

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

C$

Number 
of Options 
(000’s)2
31,483 US$

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

Granted ...............................................................................................

—

Exercised ............................................................................................

(4,887)

Canceled .............................................................................................

—

Outstanding at December 31, 2017 ....................................................

2,797

C$

1.  Options to acquire TSX listed Class A shares. 
2.  Options to acquire NYSE listed Class A shares.

The cost of the options granted during the year was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, with inputs to the model 
as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31

Weighted-average share price......................................................................................................

Weighted-average fair value per option.......................................................................................

Average term to exercise .............................................................................................................
Share price volatility1 ..................................................................................................................
Liquidity discount........................................................................................................................

Weighted-average annual dividend yield.....................................................................................

Risk-free rate ...............................................................................................................................

Unit

US$

US$

Years

%

%

%

%

2018

40.42

5.38

7.5

16.3

25.0

1.9

2.8

2017

36.92

4.92

7.5

18.9

25.0

2.1

2.3

1.  Share price volatility was determined based on historical share prices over a similar period to the average term to exercise.

At December 31, 2018, the following options to purchase Class A shares were outstanding:

Exercise Price

C$11.77 ....................................................................................................

US$15.45..................................................................................................

US$16.83 – US$23.37 .............................................................................

US$25.21 – US$30.59 .............................................................................

US$33.75 – US$36.32 .............................................................................

US$36.88 – US$44.24 .............................................................................

Weighted-Average
Remaining Life
0.2 years

1.2 years

2.8 years

5.5 years

6.1 years

8.6 years

Options Outstanding (000’s)

Vested

Unvested

790

4,255

5,160

8,410

2,873

1,197

—

—

—

3,293

2,115

9,439

22,685

14,847

Total

790

4,255

5,160

11,703

4,988

10,636

37,532

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    188

At December 31, 2017, the following options to purchase Class A shares were outstanding:

Exercise Price

C$11.77 ....................................................................................................

C$21.08 ....................................................................................................

US$15.45..................................................................................................

US$16.83 – US$23.37 .............................................................................

US$25.21 – US$30.59 .............................................................................

US$33.75 – US$36.32 .............................................................................

US$36.88 – US$37.75 .............................................................................

Weighted-Average
Remaining Life
1.2 years

0.1 years

2.2 years

3.8 years

6.5 years

7.1 years

9.1 years

Options Outstanding (000’s)

Vested

Unvested

2,620

177

4,772

5,834

6,858

2,049

—

—

—

—

—

5,967

3,191

6,222

Total

2,620

177

4,772

5,834

12,825

5,240

6,222

22,310

15,380

37,690

Escrowed Stock Plan

The Escrowed Stock Plan (the “ES Plan”) provides executives with indirect ownership of Class A shares. Under the ES Plan, 
executives are granted common shares (the “ES Shares”) in one or more private companies that own Class A shares. The Class A 
shares are purchased on the open market with the purchase cost funded by the company. The ES shares vest over one to five years 
and must be held until the fifth anniversary of the grant date. At a date no less than five years, and no more than 10 years, from 
the grant date, all outstanding ES shares will be exchanged for Class A shares issued by the company based on the market value 
of Class A shares at the time of the exchange. The number of Class A shares issued on exchange will be less than the Class A 
shares purchased under the ES Plan resulting in a net reduction in the number of Class A shares issued by the company.

During 2018, 5.8 million Class A shares were purchased in respect of ES shares granted to executives under the ES Plan (2017 – 
3.7 million Class A shares) during the year. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the total expense incurred with respect to the 
ES Plan totaled $25 million (2017 – $26 million).

The cost of the escrowed shares granted during the year was determined using the Black-Scholes model of valuation with inputs 
to the model as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31

Weighted-average share price......................................................................................................

Weighted-average fair value per share.........................................................................................

Average term to exercise .............................................................................................................
Share price volatility1 ..................................................................................................................
Liquidity discount........................................................................................................................

Weighted-average annual dividend yield.....................................................................................

Risk-free rate ...............................................................................................................................

Unit

US$

US$

Years

%

%

%

%

2018

40.39

5.38

7.5

16.3

25

1.9

2.8

2017

36.88

4.92

7.5

18.9

25

2.1

2.3

1.  Share price volatility was determined based on historical share prices over a similar period to the average term to exercise.

189     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

The change in the number of ES shares during 2018 and 2017 was as follows:

Outstanding at January 1, 2018............................................................................................................

27,772

$

Granted.................................................................................................................................................

Exercised ..............................................................................................................................................

5,815

(6,484)

Outstanding at December 31, 2018......................................................................................................

27,103

$

29.01

40.39

21.40

33.27

Number of 
Units (000’s)

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

Number of 
Units (000’s)

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding at January 1, 2017............................................................................................................

24,167

$

Granted.................................................................................................................................................

Exercised ..............................................................................................................................................

3,700

(95)

Outstanding at December 31, 2017......................................................................................................

27,772

$

27.77

36.88

21.74

29.01

Restricted Stock Plan

The Restricted Stock Plan awards executives with Class A shares purchased on the open market (“Restricted Shares”). Under the 
Restricted Stock Plan, Restricted Shares awarded vest over a period of up to five years, except for Restricted Shares awarded in 
lieu of a cash bonus, which may vest immediately. Vested and unvested Restricted Shares are subject to a hold period of up to 
five years. Holders of Restricted Shares are entitled to vote Restricted Shares and to receive associated dividends. Employee 
compensation expense for the Restricted Stock Plan is charged against income over the vesting period.

During 2018, Brookfield granted 581,051 Class A shares (2017 – 760,754) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Restricted 
Stock Plan, resulting in the recognition of $20 million (2017 – $18 million) of compensation expense. 

Cash-settled Share-based Awards

Deferred Share Unit Plan and Restricted Share Unit Plan

The Deferred Share Unit Plan and Restricted Share Unit Plan provide for the issuance of DSUs and RSUs, respectively. Under 
these plans, qualifying employees and directors receive varying percentages of their annual incentive bonus or directors’ fees in 
the form of DSUs and RSUs. The DSUs and RSUs vest over periods of up to five years, and DSUs accumulate additional DSUs 
at the same rate as dividends on common shares based on the market value of the common shares at the time of the dividend. 
Participants are not allowed to convert DSUs and RSUs into cash until retirement or cessation of employment. 

The value of the DSUs, when converted to cash, will be equivalent to the market value of the common shares at the time the 
conversion  takes  place.  The  value  of  the  RSUs,  when  converted  into  cash,  will  be  equivalent  to  the  difference  between 
the market price of equivalent number of common shares at the time the conversion takes place and the market price on the date 
the RSUs  are granted. The company uses equity derivative contracts to offset its exposure to the change in share prices in respect 
of vested and unvested DSUs and RSUs. The fair value of the vested DSUs and RSUs as at December 31, 2018 was $894 million
(2017 – $1.0 billion).

Employee  compensation  expense  for  these  plans  is  charged  against  income  over  the  vesting  period  of  the  DSUs  and  RSUs. 
The amount  payable  by  the  company  in  respect  of  vested  DSUs  and  RSUs  changes  as  a  result  of  dividends  and  share  price 
movements.  All  of  the  amounts  attributable  to  changes  in  the  amounts  payable  by  the  company  are  recorded  as  employee 
compensation expense in the period of the change. For the year ended December 31, 2018, employee compensation expense totaled 
$11 million (2017 – $7 million), net of the impact of hedging arrangements.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    190

The change in the number of DSUs and RSUs during 2018 and 2017 was as follows:

DSUs

RSUs

Number 
of Units 
(000’s)

Number 
of Units 
(000’s)

Outstanding at January 1, 2018............................................................................................

14,944

10,920 C$

Granted and reinvested.........................................................................................................

Exercised and canceled ........................................................................................................

466

(773)

—

(380)

Outstanding at December 31, 2018......................................................................................

14,637

10,540 C$

DSUs

RSUs

Number 
of Units 
(000’s)

Number 
of Units 
(000’s)

Outstanding at January 1, 2017............................................................................................

14,986

10,920 C$

Granted and reinvested.........................................................................................................

Exercised and canceled ........................................................................................................

661

(703)

—

—

Outstanding at December 31, 2017......................................................................................

14,944

10,920 C$

The fair value of each DSU is equal to the traded price of the company’s common shares.

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

9.09

—

5.89

9.21

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

9.09

—

—

9.09

Share price on date of measurement........................................................................

Share price on date of measurement........................................................................

The fair value of RSUs was determined primarily using the following inputs:

Unit

Dec. 31, 2018

Dec. 31, 2017

C$

US$

52.32

38.35

54.72

43.54

Share price on date of measurement........................................................................

Weighted-average fair value of a unit......................................................................

Unit

Dec. 31, 2018

Dec. 31, 2017

C$

C$

52.32

43.11

54.72

45.63

22.  REVENUES

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $56.8 billion (2017 – $40.8 billion). The amounts for the year ended 
December 31, 2018 have been determined in accordance with IFRS 15. Prior period amounts have not been restated (refer to Note 
2 of the consolidated financial statements).

We perform a disaggregated analysis of revenues considering the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues. This includes 
disclosure of our revenues by segment and type, as well as a breakdown of whether revenues from goods or services are recognized 
at a point in time or delivered over a period of time. 

a)  Revenue by Type

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
2018 (MILLIONS)

Asset
Management

Real Estate

Renewable
Power

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Residential
Development

Corporate
Activities

Total
Revenues

Revenue from contracts

with customers ......................... $

Other revenue .............................

$

187

—

187

$

$

3,107

4,968

8,075

$

$

3,651

100

3,751

$

$

4,859

154

5,013

$

$

36,693

135

36,828

$

$

2,651

32

2,683

$

$

13

221

234

$

$

51,161

5,610

56,771

191     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

b)  Timing of Recognition of Revenue from Contracts with Customers

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
2018 (MILLIONS)

Asset
Management

Real Estate

Renewable
Power

Infrastructure

Private
Equity

Residential
Development

Corporate
Activities

Total
Revenues

Goods and services provided at

a point in time .......................... $

— $

1,118

$

79

$

201

$

28,860

$

2,651

$

13

$

32,922

Services transferred over a

period of time...........................

187

187

$

1,989

3,572

4,658

7,833

—

$

3,107

$

3,651

$

4,859

$

36,693

$

2,651

$

—

13

$

18,239

51,161

Remaining Performance Obligations

Private Equity

In our construction services business, backlog is defined as revenue yet to be delivered (i.e. remaining performance obligations) 
on construction projects that have been secured via an executed contract, work order or letter of intent. As at December 31, 2018 
our backlog of construction projects was approximately $8 billion, with an overall weighted average remaining project life of 
approximately two years.

In our Brazilian water and wastewater services business, our long-term, inflation-adjusted concession service contracts with various 
municipalities have an average remaining contract duration of 25 years as at December 31, 2018.

Others

In our asset management, infrastructure and renewable power businesses, revenue is generally recognized as invoiced for contracts 
recognized over a period of time as the amounts invoiced are commensurate with the value provided to the customers.

23.  DIRECT COSTS

Direct costs include all attributable expenses except interest, depreciation and amortization, taxes and fair value changes and 
primarily relate to cost of sales and compensation. The following table lists direct costs for 2018 and 2017 by nature:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Cost of sales....................................................................................................................................................... $

2018

2017

37,506

$

26,461

Compensation ....................................................................................................................................................

Selling, general and administrative expenses....................................................................................................

Property taxes, sales taxes and other .................................................................................................................

3,954

1,765

2,294

2,795

1,339

1,793

$

45,519

$

32,388

24.  FAIR VALUE CHANGES

Fair value changes recorded in net income represent gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities, 
including derivative financial instruments, accounted for using the fair value method and are comprised of the following:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Investment properties ........................................................................................................................................ $

2018

1,610

$

2017

1,021

Transaction related gains, net of deal costs .......................................................................................................

1,132

Financial contracts.............................................................................................................................................

Impairments and provisions ..............................................................................................................................

Other fair value changes....................................................................................................................................

(189)

(309)

(450)

$

1,794

$

637

(868)

(344)

(25)

421

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    192

25.  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, including market risk (i.e. currency risk, interest rate risk and 
other price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The company selectively uses derivative financial instruments principally to manage 
these risks.

The aggregate notional amount of the company’s derivative positions at December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Foreign exchange ...............................................................................................................................
Interest rates .......................................................................................................................................
Credit default swaps ...........................................................................................................................
Equity derivatives...............................................................................................................................

Commodity instruments .....................................................................................................................
Energy (GWh) .................................................................................................................................
Natural gas (MMBtu – 000’s)..........................................................................................................

$

Note
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

(e)

2018
33,298
38,490
56
1,375

2018
14,752
63,076

$

2017
28,573
18,433
43
1,384

2017
28,808
48,163

a)  Foreign Exchange

The company held the following foreign exchange contracts with notional amounts at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

(MILLIONS)
Foreign exchange contracts

Canadian dollars.................................................................................................. $
British pounds .....................................................................................................
European Union euros.........................................................................................
Australian dollars ................................................................................................
Indian rupees1......................................................................................................
Chilean pesos1 .....................................................................................................
Korean won1........................................................................................................
Chinese yuan1......................................................................................................
Japanese yen1.......................................................................................................
Colombian pesos1................................................................................................
Brazilian reais......................................................................................................
Other currencies ..................................................................................................

Cross currency interest rate swaps

Canadian dollars..................................................................................................
European Union euros.........................................................................................
Australian dollars ................................................................................................
Japanese yen1.......................................................................................................
British pounds .....................................................................................................
Colombian pesos1................................................................................................
Other currencies ..................................................................................................

Foreign exchange options

British pounds .....................................................................................................
Indian rupee1 .......................................................................................................
Chinese yuan1......................................................................................................
European Union euros.........................................................................................
Canadian dollars..................................................................................................
Japanese yen1.......................................................................................................
Other currencies ..................................................................................................

1.  Average rate is quoted using USD as base currency.
193     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Notional Amount 
(U.S. Dollars)
2018

2017

Average Exchange Rate
2017

2018

$

4,959
4,952
3,829
3,781
697
615
561
543
404
370
78
530

4,167
1,914
1,454
750
257
125
15

1,736
500
500
463
—
—
98

2,619
7,312
2,754
3,610
256
—
578
346
14
—
62
—

2,442
1,914
1,610
750
272
299
—

534
—
—
1,801
1,000
400
—

0.76
1.32
1.21
0.74
72.73
647
1,102
6.85
104.45
2,977
0.24
various

0.75
1.06
1.00
113.32
1.49
3,056
various

1.31
67.95
7.10
1.15
—
—
various

0.78
1.29
1.15
0.75
65.24
—
1,100
6.72
110.17
—
0.27
—

0.76
1.06
0.98
113.33
1.45
3,056
—

1.19
—
—
1.21
0.76
118.00
—

Included in net income are unrealized net gains on foreign currency derivative contracts amounting to $457 million (2017 – loss 
of $364 million) and included in the cumulative translation adjustment account in other comprehensive income are gains in respect 
of foreign currency contracts entered into for hedging purposes amounting to $1.3 billion (2017 – loss of $1.5 billion).

b)  Interest Rates

At  December 31,  2018,  the  company  held  interest  rate  swap  and  forward  starting  swap  contracts  having  an  aggregate 
notional amount of $13.9 billion (2017 – $8.8 billion), interest rate swaptions with an aggregate notional amount of $5.3 billion
(2017 – $872 million) and interest rate cap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $19.3 billion (2017 – $8.7 billion).

c)  Credit Default Swaps

As at December 31, 2018, the company held credit default swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $56 million 
(2017 – $43 million). Credit default swaps are contracts which are designed to compensate the purchaser for any change in the value 
of an underlying reference asset, based on measurement in credit spreads, upon the occurrence of predetermined credit events. 
The company is entitled to receive payments in the event of a predetermined credit event for up to $56 million (2017 – $43 million) 
of the notional amount and could be required to make payments in respect of $nil (2017 – $nil) of the notional amount.

d)  Equity Derivatives

At  December 31,  2018,  the  company  held  equity  derivatives  with  a  notional  amount  of  $1.4  billion  (2017 –  $1.4  billion) 
which includes  $1.1  billion  (2017 – $1.1  billion)  notional  amount  that  hedges  long-term  compensation  arrangements.  The 
balance represents common equity positions established in connection with the company’s investment activities. The fair value 
of these instruments was reflected in the company’s consolidated financial statements at year end.

e)  Commodity Instruments

The company has entered into energy derivative contracts primarily to hedge the sale of generated power. The company endeavors 
to link forward electricity sale derivatives to specific periods in which it expects to generate electricity for sale. All energy derivative 
contracts are recorded at an amount equal to fair value and are reflected in the company’s consolidated financial statements. The 
company has financial contracts outstanding on 63,076,000 MMBtu’s (2017 – 48,163,000 MMBtu’s) of natural gas as part of its 
electricity sale price risk mitigation strategy.

Other Information Regarding Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table classifies derivatives elected for hedge accounting during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 as 
either cash flow hedges or net investment hedges. Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the hedge are recorded in 
either other comprehensive income or net income, depending on the hedge classification, whereas changes in the fair value of the 
ineffective portion of the hedge are recorded in net income:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Cash flow hedges1 ..................................................... $
Net investment hedges...............................................

Notional

24,999

17,319

$

42,318

2018

2017

Effective
Portion

Ineffective
Portion

Notional

Effective
Portion

Ineffective
Portion

$

$

38

999

1,037

$

$

(3) $

10,254

9

6

14,587

$

24,841

$

$

42

$

(748)

(706) $

(16)

—

(16)

1.  Notional amount does not include 6,040 GWh, 8,423 MMBtu – 000’s and 3,151 bbls – millions of commodity derivatives at December 31, 2018 (2017 – 15,586 GWh, 

45,014 MMBtu – 000’s and 3,087 bbls – millions).

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    194

The following table presents the change in fair values of the company’s derivative positions during the years ended December 31, 
2018 and 2017, for derivatives that are fair valued through profit or loss, and derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting:

(MILLIONS)

Unrealized
Gains
During 2018

Unrealized
Losses
During 2018

Net Change
During 2018

Net Change
During 2017

Foreign exchange derivatives............................................................... $

570

$

(113) $

457

$

Interest rate derivatives ........................................................................

Credit default swaps.............................................................................

Equity derivatives.................................................................................

Commodity derivatives ........................................................................

33

3

87

27

(50)

—

(216)

(93)

(17)

3

(129)

(66)

$

720

$

(472) $

248

$

(364)

(15)

2

169

(34)

(242)

The following table presents the notional amounts underlying the company’s derivative instruments by term to maturity as at 
December 31, 2018 and 2017, for derivatives that are classified as fair value through profit or loss, and derivatives that qualify 
for hedge accounting:

AS AT DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)

Fair value through profit or loss

2018

<1 Year

1 to 5 Years

>5 Years

Total Notional
Amount

2017
Total Notional
Amount

Foreign exchange derivatives..................... $

7,402

$

1,901

$

— $

9,303

$

Interest rate derivatives ..............................

Credit default swaps ...................................

Equity derivatives.......................................

Commodity instruments

Energy (GWh) .........................................

Natural gas (MMBtu – 000’s)..................

Elected for hedge accounting

3,738

—

537

1,100

53,283

11,123

56

838

7,612

1,370

1,760

—

—

—

—

16,621

56

1,375

8,712

54,653

Foreign exchange derivatives..................... $

15,819

$

6,700

$

1,476

$

23,995

$

Interest rate derivatives ..............................

Equity derivatives.......................................

Commodity instruments

Energy (GWh) .........................................

Natural gas (MMBtu – 000’s)..................

9,955

—

674

8,423

10,127

—

3,357

—

1,787

—

2,009

—

21,869

—

6,040

8,423

10,632

11,532

43

1,362

13,222

3,149

17,941

6,901

22

15,586

45,014

26.  MANAGEMENT OF RISKS ARISING FROM HOLDING FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The company is exposed to the following risks as a result of holding financial instruments: market risk (i.e. interest rate risk, 
currency exchange risk and other price risk that impact the fair value of financial instruments), credit risk and liquidity risk. The 
following is a description of these risks and how they are managed: 

a)  Market Risk 

Market risk is defined for these purposes as the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument held by the 
company will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market risk includes the risk of changes in interest rates, currency 
exchange rates and changes in market prices due to factors other than interest rates or currency exchange rates, such as changes 
in equity prices, commodity prices or credit spreads. 

The company manages market risk from foreign currency assets and liabilities and the impact of changes in currency exchange 
rates and interest rates by funding assets with financial liabilities in the same currency and with similar interest rate characteristics, 
and by holding financial contracts such as interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives to minimize residual exposures. 

Financial instruments held by the company that are subject to market risk include other financial assets, borrowings and derivative 
instruments such as interest rate, currency, equity and commodity contracts. 

195     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

i. 

Interest Rate Risk 

The observable impacts on the fair values and future cash flows of financial instruments that can be directly attributable to interest 
rate risk include changes in the net income from financial instruments whose cash flows are determined with reference to floating 
interest rates and changes in the value of financial instruments whose cash flows are fixed in nature. 

The company’s assets largely consist of long-duration interest-sensitive physical assets. Accordingly, the company’s financial 
liabilities consist primarily of long-term fixed-rate debt or floating-rate debt that has been swapped with interest rate derivatives. 
These financial liabilities are, with few exceptions, recorded at their amortized cost. The company also holds interest rate caps to 
limit its exposure to increases in interest rates on floating rate debt that has not been swapped, and holds interest rate contracts 
to lock in fixed rates on anticipated future debt issuances and as an economic hedge against the changes in value of long duration 
interest sensitive physical assets that have not been otherwise matched with fixed rate debt. 

The result of a 50 basis-point increase in interest rates on the company’s net floating rate financial assets and liabilities would 
have resulted in a corresponding decrease in net income before tax of $198 million (2017 – $80 million) on a current basis.

Changes in the value of fair value through profit or loss interest rate contracts are recorded in net income and changes in the value 
of contracts that are elected for hedge accounting are recorded in other comprehensive income. The impact of a 50 basis-point 
parallel increase in the yield curve on the aforementioned financial instruments is estimated to result in a corresponding increase 
in net income before tax of $128 million (2017 – $53 million) and an increase in other comprehensive income of $149 million
(2017 – $98 million), for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

ii.  Currency Exchange Rate Risk

Changes  in  currency  rates  will  impact  the  carrying  value  of  financial  instruments  denominated  in  currencies  other  than  the 
U.S. dollar.

The company holds financial instruments with net unmatched exposures in several currencies, changes in the translated value of 
which are recorded in net income. The impact of a 1% increase in the U.S. dollar against these currencies would have resulted in 
an $80 million (2017 – $44 million) increase in the value of these positions on a combined basis. The impact on cash flows from 
financial instruments would be insignificant. The company holds financial instruments to limit its exposure to the impact of foreign 
currencies on its net investments in foreign operations whose functional and reporting currencies are other than the U.S. dollar. 
A 1% increase in the U.S. dollar would increase the value of these hedging instruments by $240 million (2017 – $142 million) as 
at December 31, 2018, which would be recorded in other comprehensive income and offset by changes in the U.S. dollar carrying 
value of the net investment being hedged.

iii.  Other Price Risk

Other price risk is the risk of variability in fair value due to movements in equity prices or other market prices such as commodity 
prices and credit spreads. 

Financial instruments held by the company that are exposed to equity price risk include equity securities and equity derivatives. 
A 5% decrease in the market price of equity securities and equity derivatives held by the company, excluding equity derivatives that  
hedge compensation arrangements, would have decreased net income by $50 million (2017 – $45 million) and decreased other  
comprehensive income by $85 million (2017 – $62 million), prior to taxes. The company’s liability in respect of equity compensation 
arrangements is subject to variability based on changes in the company’s underlying common share price. The company holds 
equity derivatives to hedge almost all of the variability. A 5% change in the common equity price of the company in respect of 
compensation  agreements  would  increase  the  compensation  liability  and  compensation  expense  by  $53  million  (2017  – 
$65 million). This increase would be offset by a $53 million (2017 – $65 million) change in value of the associated equity derivatives 
of which $51 million (2017 – $64 million) would offset the above-mentioned increase in compensation expense and the remaining 
$2 million (2017 – $1 million) would be recorded in other comprehensive income.

The company sells power and generation capacity under long-term agreements and financial contracts to stabilize future revenues. 
Certain of the contracts are considered financial instruments and are recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements, 
with changes in value being recorded in either net income or other comprehensive income as applicable. A 5% increase in energy 
prices would have decreased net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 by approximately $9 million (2017 – $11 million) 
and decreased other comprehensive income by $9 million (2017 – $4 million), prior to taxes. The corresponding increase in the 
value of the revenue or capacity being contracted, however, is not recorded in net income until subsequent periods.

The company held credit default swap contracts with a total notional amount of $63 million (2017 – $43 million) at December 31, 
2018. The company is exposed to changes in the credit spread of the contracts’ underlying reference assets. A 50 basis-point 
increase in the credit spread of the underlying reference assets would have increased net income by $1 million (2017 – $1 million) 
for the year ended December 31, 2018, prior to taxes.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    196

b)  Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to the failure of a borrower or counterparty to fulfill its contractual obligations. The company’s 
exposure to credit risk in respect of financial instruments relates primarily to counterparty obligations regarding derivative contracts, 
loans receivable and credit investments such as bonds and preferred shares.

The  company  assesses  the  creditworthiness  of  each  counterparty  before  entering  into  contracts  with  a  view  to  ensuring  that 
counterparties  meet  minimum  credit  quality  requirements.  Management  evaluates  and  monitors  counterparty  credit  risk  for 
derivative  financial  instruments  and  endeavors  to  minimize  counterparty  credit  risk  through  diversification,  collateral 
arrangements, and other credit risk mitigation techniques. The credit risk of derivative financial instruments is generally limited 
to the positive fair value of the instruments, which, in general, tends to be a relatively small proportion of the notional value. 
Substantially all of the company’s derivative financial instruments involve either counterparties that are banks or other financial 
institutions in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia, or arrangements that have embedded credit risk mitigation 
features. The company does not expect to incur credit losses in respect of any of these counterparties. The maximum exposure in 
respect of loans receivable and credit investments is equal to the carrying value.

c)  Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the company cannot meet a demand for cash or fund an obligation as it comes due. Liquidity risk 
also includes the risk of not being able to liquidate assets in a timely manner at a reasonable price. 

To help ensure the company is able to react to contingencies and investment opportunities quickly, the company maintains sources 
of liquidity at the corporate and subsidiary levels. The primary source of liquidity consists of cash and other financial assets, net 
of deposits and other associated liabilities, and undrawn committed credit facilities. 

The company is subject to the risks associated with debt financing, including the ability to refinance indebtedness at maturity. The 
company believes these risks are mitigated through the use of long-term debt secured by high quality assets, maintaining debt 
levels that are in management’s opinion relatively conservative, and by diversifying maturities over an extended period of time. 
The company also seeks to include in its agreements terms that protect the company from liquidity issues of counterparties that 
might otherwise impact the company’s liquidity.

The following tables present the contractual maturities of the company’s financial liabilities at December 31, 2018 and 2017:

AS AT DEC. 31, 2018
(MILLIONS)
Principal repayments

Payments Due by Period

<1 Year

1 to 3 Years

4 to 5 Years

After 5 Years

Total

Corporate borrowings .............................. $

440

$

257

$

441

$

5,271

$

6,409

Non-recourse borrowings of managed
entities......................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations ..................

Interest expense1

Corporate borrowings ..............................
Non-recourse borrowings ........................
Subsidiary equity obligations ..................

11,159
185

278
5,126
151

34,055
1,417

535
8,124
307

24,633
356

504
5,820
218

41,962
1,918

1,697
7,324
209

111,809
3,876

3,014
26,394
885

1.  Represents the aggregated interest expense expected to be paid over the term of the obligations. Variable interest rate payments have been calculated based on current rates.

AS AT DEC. 31, 2017
(MILLIONS)
Principal repayments

Payments Due by Period

<1 Year

1 to 3 Years

4 to 5 Years

After 5 Years

Total

Corporate borrowings .............................. $

— $

478

$

278

$

4,903

$

5,659

Non-recourse borrowings of managed
entities......................................................
Subsidiary equity obligations ..................

Interest expense1

Corporate borrowings ..............................
Non-recourse borrowings ........................
Subsidiary equity obligations ..................

10,756
76

259
3,248
226

17,695
53

494
5,024
428

16,764
1,001

462
3,575
340

27,515
2,531

1,433
5,314
322

72,730
3,661

2,648
17,161
1,316

1.  Represents the aggregated interest expense expected to be paid over the term of the obligations. Variable interest rate payments have been calculated based on current rates.

197     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

27.  CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The capital of the company consists of the components of equity in the company’s consolidated balance sheet (i.e. common and 
preferred equity). As at December 31, 2018, the recorded values of these items in the company’s consolidated financial statements 
totaled $29.8 billion (2017 – $28.2 billion).

The company’s objectives when managing this capital are to maintain an appropriate balance between holding a sufficient amount 
of capital to support its operations, which includes maintaining investment-grade ratings at the corporate level and providing 
shareholders with a prudent amount of corporate debt to enhance returns. Corporate debt, which includes subsidiary obligations 
that are guaranteed by the company or are otherwise considered corporate in nature, totaled $6.4 billion based on carrying values 
at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $5.7 billion). The company monitors its capital base and leverage primarily in the context of its 
deconsolidated debt-to-total capitalization ratios. The ratio as at December 31, 2018 was 17% (2017 – 16%).

The consolidated capitalization of the company includes the capital and financial obligations of consolidated entities, including 
long-term property-specific borrowings, subsidiary borrowings, capital securities as well as common and preferred equity held 
by other investors in these entities. The capital in these entities is managed at the entity level with oversight by management of 
the company. The capital is managed with the objective of maintaining investment-grade levels in most circumstances and is, 
except in limited and carefully managed circumstances, without any recourse to the company. Management of the company also 
takes  into  consideration  capital  requirements  of  consolidated  and  non-consolidated  entities  in  which  it  has  interests  in  when 
considering the appropriate level of capital and liquidity on a deconsolidated basis.

The company is subject to limited covenants in respect of its corporate debt and is in full compliance with all such covenants as 
at December 31, 2018 and 2017. The company is also in compliance with all covenants and other capital requirements related to 
regulatory or contractual obligations of material consequence to the company.

28.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

a)  Related Parties

Related parties include subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures, key management personnel, the Board of Directors (“Directors”), 
immediate family members of key management personnel and Directors and entities which are directly or indirectly controlled 
by, jointly controlled by or significantly influenced by key management personnel, Directors or their close family members. 

b)  Key Management Personnel and Directors

Key management personnel are those individuals who have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling 
the company’s activities, directly or indirectly, and consist of the company’s Senior Executives. The company’s Directors do not 
plan, direct or control the activities of the company directly; they provide oversight over the business.

The remuneration of key management personnel and Directors of the company during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 
2017 was as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Salaries, incentives and short-term benefits ...................................................................................................... $

Share-based payments .......................................................................................................................................

$

2018

21

90

111

$

$

2017

18

54

72

The remuneration of key management personnel and Directors is determined by the Management Resources and Compensation 
Committee of the Board of Directors having regard to the performance of individuals and market funds.

c)  Related Party Transactions

In the normal course of operations, the company executes transactions on market terms with related parties that have been measured 
at exchange value and are recognized in the consolidated financial statements, including, but not limited to: base management 
fees, performance fees and incentive distributions; loans, interest and non-interest bearing deposits; power purchase and sale 
agreements; capital commitments to private funds; the acquisition and disposition of assets and businesses; derivative contracts; 
and the construction and development of assets. Transactions and balances between consolidated entities are fully eliminated 
upon consolidation.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    198

The following table lists the related party balances included within the consolidated financial statements as at and for the years 
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DEC. 31
(MILLIONS)
Investment and other losses............................................................................................................................... $

Management fees received ................................................................................................................................

2018

— $

56

2017

(268)

47

29.  OTHER INFORMATION

a)  Guarantees and Contingencies

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  company  enters  into  contractual  obligations  which  include  commitments  to  provide 
bridge financing, letters of credit, guarantees and reinsurance obligations. As at December 31, 2018, the company had $3.1 billion
(2017 – $2.6 billion) of such commitments outstanding. The company also had $9.8 billion of future operating lease obligations 
at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $3.8 billion). 

In addition, the company executes agreements that provide for indemnifications and guarantees to third parties in transactions or 
dealings such as business dispositions, business acquisitions, sales of assets, provision of services, securitization agreements and 
underwriting  and  agency  agreements.  The  company  has  also  agreed  to  indemnify  its  directors  and  certain  of  its  officers 
and employees. The nature of substantially all of the indemnification undertakings prevents the company from making a reasonable 
estimate of the maximum potential amount the company could be required to pay third parties, as in most cases, the agreements 
do not specify a maximum amount, and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and 
likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Neither the company nor its consolidated subsidiaries have made significant 
payments in the past nor do they expect at this time to make any significant payments under such indemnification agreements 
in the future.

The company periodically enters into joint ventures, consortium or other arrangements that have contingent liquidity rights in 
favor  of  the  company  or  its  counterparties.  These  include  buy  sell  arrangements,  registration  rights  and  other  customary 
arrangements that generally have embedded protective terms that mitigate the risk to us. The amount, timing and likelihood of 
any  payments  by  the  company  under  these  arrangements  is,  in  most  cases,  dependent  on  either  further  contingent  events  or 
circumstances applicable to the counterparty and therefore cannot be determined at this time.

The company is contingently liable with respect to litigation and claims that arise in the normal course of business. It is not 
reasonably possible that any of the ongoing litigation as at December 31, 2018 could result in a material settlement liability.

The company has up to $4 billion of insurance for damage and business interruption costs sustained as a result of an act of terrorism. 
However, a terrorist act could have a material effect on the company’s assets to the extent damages exceed the coverage.

The company, through its subsidiaries within the residential properties operations, is contingently liable for obligations of its 
associates in its land development joint ventures. In each case, all of the assets of the joint venture are available first for the purpose 
of  satisfying  these  obligations,  with  the  balance  shared  among  the  participants  in  accordance  with  predetermined  joint 
venture arrangements.

The Corporation has entered into arrangements with respect to the $1.8 billion of exchangeable preferred equity units issued by 
BPY discussed in Note 19, which are redeemable in equal tranches of $600 million in 2021, 2024 and 2026, respectively. 

The preferred equity units are exchangeable into equity units of BPY at $25.70 per unit, at the option of the holder, at any time 
up to and including the maturity date. BPY may redeem the preferred equity units after specified periods if the BPY equity unit 
price exceeds predetermined amounts. At maturity, the preferred equity units will be converted into BPY equity units at the lower 
of $25.70 or the then market price of a BPY equity unit. In order to provide the purchaser with enhanced liquidity, the Corporation 
has agreed to purchase the preferred equity units for cash at the option of the holder, for the initial purchase price plus accrued 
and unpaid dividends. In order to decrease dilution risk to BPY, the Corporation has agreed with the holder and BPY that if the 
price of a BPY equity unit is less than 80% of the exchange price of $25.70 at the redemption date of the 2021 and 2024 tranches, 
the Corporation will acquire the preferred equity units subject to redemption, at the redemption price, and to exchange these 
preferred equity units for preferred equity units with similar terms and conditions, including redemption date, as the 2026 tranche.

199     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

b)  Supplemental Cash Flow Information

During the year, the company capitalized $176 million (2017 – $203 million) of interest primarily to investment properties and 
residential inventory under development.

30.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On March 13, 2019, the company announced an agreement whereby it will acquire approximately 62% of Oaktree Capital Group, 
LLC (“Oaktree”). As part of the transaction, the company will acquire all outstanding Oaktree Class A units for, at the election of 
Oaktree Class A unit holders, either $49.00 in cash or 1.0770 Class A shares of Brookfield per unit. Elections will be made on a 
per unit basis and will be subject to pro-ration such that the approximate $4.7 billion consideration to be paid by the company 
consists of 50% cash and 50% Brookfield Class A shares. The cash portion of the consideration will be funded from available 
liquidity.  Commencing  in  2022,  Oaktree’s  founders,  senior  management  and  employee-unitholders  will  be  able  to  sell  their 
remaining Oaktree units to Brookfield over time pursuant to an agreed upon liquidity schedule. Pursuant to this liquidity schedule, 
the earliest year in which Brookfield could own 100% of Oaktree is 2029. 

The agreement also provides for the payment by Oaktree of a $225 million termination fee if the agreement is terminated under 
certain specified circumstances.

The transaction is subject to the approval of Oaktree unitholders representing at least a majority of the voting interests of Oaktree 
and other customary closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals. Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P., which 
represents approximately 92% of the voting interests of Oaktree, has agreed to vote all of its units in favor of the transaction. The 
transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    200

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Shareholder Enquiries

Investor Relations and Communications

Shareholder enquiries should be directed to our Investor Relations 
group at:
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Suite 300, Brookfield Place, Box 762, 181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
T: 416-363-9491 or toll free in North America: 1-866-989-0311
F: 416-363-2856
bam.brookfield.com
enquiries@brookfield.com

Shareholder enquiries relating to dividends, address changes and share 
certificates should be directed to our Transfer Agent:
AST Trust Company (Canada)
P.O. Box 700, Station B
Montreal, Quebec H3B 3K3
T: 1-877 715-0498  (North America)

416-682-3860 (Outside North America)

F: 1-888-249-6189
www.astfinancial.com/ca-en
inquiries@astfinancial.com

Stock Exchange Listings

Class A Limited Voting Shares

Class A Preference Shares
Series 2
Series 4
Series 8
Series 9
Series 13
Series 17
Series 18
Series 24
Series 25
Series 26
Series 28
Series 30
Series 32
Series 34
Series 36
Series 37
Series 38
Series 40
Series 42
Series 44
Series 46
Series 48

Symbol
BAM
BAM.A
BAMA

Stock Exchange
New York
Toronto
Euronext – Amsterdam

Toronto
BAM.PR.B
Toronto
BAM.PR.C
Toronto
BAM.PR.E
Toronto
BAM.PR.G
BAM.PR.K
Toronto
BAM.PR.M Toronto
Toronto
BAM.PR.N
Toronto
BAM.PR.R
Toronto
BAM.PR.S
Toronto
BAM.PR.T
Toronto
BAM.PR.X
Toronto
BAM.PR.Z
Toronto
BAM.PF.A
Toronto
BAM.PF.B
Toronto
BAM.PF.C
Toronto
BAM.PF.D
Toronto
BAM.PF.E
Toronto
BAM.PF.F
Toronto
BAM.PF.G
Toronto
BAM.PF.H
Toronto
BAM.PF.I
Toronto
BAM.PF.J

We are committed to informing our shareholders of our progress through 
our comprehensive communications program which includes publication 
of materials such as our annual report, quarterly interim reports and news 
releases. We also maintain a website that provides ready access to these 
materials, as well as statutory filings, stock and dividend information and 
other presentations.

Meeting  with  shareholders  is  an  integral  part  of  our  communications 
program. Directors and management meet with Brookfield’s shareholders 
at  our  annual  meeting  and  are  available  to  respond  to  questions. 
Management is also available to investment analysts, financial advisors 
and media.

The text of our 2018 Annual Report is available in French on request from 
the  company  and  is  filed  with  and  available  through  SEDAR  at 
www.sedar.com.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at 10:30 a.m. on 
Friday, June 14, 2019 at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, Toronto, 
Ontario, Canada.

Dividends

The  quarterly  dividend  payable  on  Class A  shares  is  declared  in  U.S. 
dollars.  Registered  shareholders  who  are  U.S.  residents  receive  their 
dividends  in  U.S.  dollars,  unless  they  request  the  Canadian  dollar 
equivalent. Registered shareholders who are Canadian residents receive 
their dividends in the Canadian dollar equivalent, unless they request to 
receive dividends in U.S. dollars. The Canadian dollar equivalent of the 
quarterly dividend is based on the Bank of Canada daily average exchange 
rate  exactly  two  weeks  (or  14 days)  prior  to  the  payment  date  for  the 
dividend.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

The  Corporation  has  a  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan  which  enables 
registered holders of Class A Shares who are resident in Canada and the 
United  States  to  receive  their  dividends  in  the  form  of  newly  issued 
Class A shares.

Registered  shareholders  of  our  Class A  shares  who  are  resident  in  the 
United  States  may  elect  to  receive  their  dividends  in  the  form  of 
newly issued  Class A  shares  at  a  price  equal  to  the  volume-weighted 
average price (in U.S. dollars) at which the shares traded on the New York 
Stock Exchange based on the average closing price during each of the five 
trading days immediately preceding the relevant dividend payment date 
(the “NYSE VWAP”).

Registered  shareholders  of  our  Class A  shares  who  are  resident  in 
Canada may  also  elect  to  receive  their  dividends  in  the  form  of  newly 
issued Class A shares at a price equal to the NYSE VWAP multiplied by 
an exchange factor which is calculated as the average of the daily average 
exchange rates as reported by the Bank of Canada during each of the five 
trading days immediately preceding the relevant dividend payment date.

Our  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan  allows  current  shareholders  of  the 
Corporation who are resident in Canada and the United States to increase 
their investment in the Corporation free of commissions. Further details 
on  the  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan  and  a  Participation  Form  can  be 
obtained from our Toronto office, our transfer agent or from our website.

Dividend Record and Payment Dates
Security1

Class A and Class B shares

Class A Preference shares

Series 2, 4, 13, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30

Record Date2

Payment Date3

Last day of February, May, August and November

Last day of March, June, September and December

  32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48

15th day of March, June, September and December

Last day of March, June, September and December

Series 8

Series 9

Last day of each month

12th day of following month

15th day of January, April, July and October

First day of February, May, August and November

1.    All dividend payments are subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.
2.    If the Record Date is not a business day, the Record Date will be the previous business day.
3.    If the Payment Date is not a business day, the Payment Date will be the previous business day.

201     BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT

 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

M. Elyse Allan, C.M. 
Former President and Chief Executive 
Officer, General Electric Canada Company 
Inc. and former Vice-President, General 
Electric Co.

Jeffrey M. Blidner 
Vice Chair, 
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Angela F. Braly 
Former Chair of the Board, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, WellPoint Inc. 
(now known as Anthem, Inc.)

Jack L. Cockwell, C.M. 
Corporate Director 

Marcel R. Coutu 
Former President and 
Chief Executive Officer, 
Canadian Oil Sands Limited and
former Chair of Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Murilo Ferreira 
Former Chief Executive Officer, Vale SA

J. Bruce Flatt 
Chief Executive Officer, 
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Robert J. Harding, C.M., F.C.A. 
Former Chair, 
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Youssef A. Nasr 
Corporate Director and former Chair and 
Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Middle 
East Ltd. and former President of HSBC 
Bank Brazil

Lord O’Donnell 
Chair, Frontier Economics Limited

Maureen Kempston Darkes, O.C., O.ONT. 
Former President, Latin America, Africa 
and Middle East, General Motors 
Corporation 

Seek Ngee Huat 
Former Chair of the Latin American 
Business Group, Government of Singapore 
Investment Corporation 

Brian D. Lawson 
Chief Financial Officer, 
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. 

Diana L. Taylor 
Vice Chair, Solera Capital LLC 

Hon. Frank J. McKenna, P.C., O.C., O.N.B. 
Chair, Brookfield Asset Management 
Inc. and Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group

Rafael Miranda
Corporate Director and former Chief 
Executive Officer of Endesa, S.A.

Details  on  Brookfield’s  directors  are  provided  in  the  Management  Information  Circular  and  on  Brookfield’s  website  at 
www.brookfield.com.

CORPORATE OFFICERS

J. Bruce Flatt, Chief Executive Officer 

Brian D. Lawson, Chief Financial Officer 

Justin B. Beber, Head of Corporate Strategy and Chief Legal Officer 

Brookfield incorporates sustainable development practices within our corporation. 
This document was printed in Canada using vegetable-based inks on FSC stock.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT    202

BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.

brookfield.com

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CORPORATE OFFICES

United States
Brookfield Place
250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 
10281-1023 
+1.212.417.7000

Canada
Brookfield Place 
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Bay Wellington Tower
Toronto, ON M5J 2T3
+1.416.363.9491

United Kingdom
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+44 (0) 20.7659.3500 

Australia
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Sydney, NSW 2000
+61.2.9158.5100

Brazil
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Edifício Pacific Tower  
BL 2, 2º andar
Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 
22775-029
+55.21.3725.7800

United Arab Emirates
Level 15 
Gate Building, DIFC
P.O. Box 507234
Dubai 
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India 
8th Floor
A Wing, One BKC
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Bandra East
Mumbai 400 051
+91.22.6600.0700

China
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Shanghai 200021
+86.21.2306.0700 

REGIONAL OFFICES

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