TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 5, 2012) - NorRock Realty Finance Corporation (TSX:RF.PR.A)(TSX:RF.A) ("NorRock" or the "Corporation") announced today that the special meeting of NorRock shareholders (the "Meeting"), called to consider the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of NorRock by Partners Real Estate Investment Trust ("Partners REIT") (TSX VENTURE:PAR.UN) through a plan of arrangement (the "Transaction"), was convened today and has been adjourned. The Meeting will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on January 13, 2012 at the offices of Bennett Jones LLP, 100 King Street West, Suite 3400, Toronto, Ontario M5X 1A4.

NorRock has been advised of certain delays and miscommunications in carrying out voting instructions given by certain NorRock shareholders in connection with the Meeting, and that those difficulties may have inhibited the voting process from accurately reflecting the views of NorRock shareholders concerning the Transaction. The Meeting has been adjourned in order to provide time for NorRock shareholders to ensure that their voting instructions are carried out so that the vote on the Transaction at the adjourned Meeting will accurately reflect shareholders' views.

The Board of Directors of NorRock has determined to accept proxies for use at the adjourned Meeting up until the time of the Meeting or any further adjournment or postponement thereof. If they have not done so already, registered holders of NorRock shares who do not expect to attend the Meeting in person are urged to complete, sign, date and return the form of proxy previously forwarded to them or to send it by facsimile to NorRock's transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., facsimile number 1-866-249-7775 or 416-263-9524 as instructed on the form of proxy. Beneficial owners of NorRock shares whose shares are registered in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, trust corporation or other intermediary are encouraged to contact the intermediary and provide instructions as to how their shares are to be voted by the intermediary at the Meeting.

If shareholders have any questions or require more information with regard to the procedures for voting or completing their proxy, they should contact Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc., the proxy solicitation agent of NorRock, by telephone at 1-866-851-3217 toll free in North America or (416) 867-2272 outside of North America or by email at [ contactus@kingsdaleshareholder.com ].

Information concerning the Transaction is set out in a joint management information circular (the "Circular") dated November 16, 2011 that was mailed to all shareholders of NorRock and all unitholders of Partners REIT. A copy of the Circular is available electronically at www.sedar.com. The Transaction was previously approved by the unitholders of Partners REIT at a special meeting held on December 15, 2011.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent, including approval by NorRock shareholders and the issuance of a final order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. If all of the conditions to completion of the Transaction are met or waived, NorRock expects that the Transaction will be completed on or about February 1, 2012.

NorRock Realty Finance Corporation

The Corporation is a mutual fund corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The Corporation was created to obtain exposure to the investment performance of an actively managed portfolio of secured loans and investments in the Canadian commercial real estate sector on a tax-efficient basis.

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements including statements identified by the words "plan", "will" and "intend", and similar expressions or the negative thereof. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information except as required by law.

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