Taubman Centers Provides Business Update
All Malls are Now Open
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) today announced that 100 percent of its operating properties in the U.S. and Asia, have reopened. Most U.S. centers were temporarily closed on March 19 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have reopened gradually using enhanced safety protocols, in compliance with all local, state and federal laws.
“Nearly 85 percent of stores in our portfolio have reopened, with more opening every day,” said the company’s Chairman, President and CEO Robert S. Taubman. “We are pleased to safely welcome customers back, and we are encouraged by the results we are seeing.”
In addition to the Company’s 21 centers in major markets across the U.S., the Company’s three Asia shopping centers – CityOn.Xi’an (Xi’an, China), CityOn.Zhengzhou (Zhengzhou, Henan, China) and Starfield Hanam (Hanam, South Korea) have been open and operating since the end of February. Taken together, about 95 percent of stores in Asia have reopened and comparable sales per square foot are approaching 2019 levels.
“We were encouraged by the quick rebound of our centers in Asia, and are seeing very positive progress in the U.S.,” said Mr. Taubman.
About Taubman
Taubman Centers is an S&P MidCap 400 Real Estate Investment Trust engaged in the ownership, management and/or leasing of 26 regional, super-regional and outlet shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. Taubman’s U.S.-owned properties are the most productive in the publicly held U.S. regional mall industry. Founded in 1950, Taubman is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Taubman Asia, founded in 2005, is headquartered in Hong Kong. www.taubman.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “will”, “may”, “could”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believes”, “intends”, “should”, “plans”, “estimates”, “approximate”, “guidance” and similar expressions in this press release that predict or indicate future events and trends and that do not report historical matters. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Actual results may differ materially from those expected because of various risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement with Simon Property Group, Inc. (“Simon”); the inability to complete the proposed transactions due to the failure to satisfy any conditions to completion of the proposed transactions; the outcome of any litigation between Simon and Taubman related to the proposed transactions, including the litigation in the State of Michigan Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Oakland County); the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the transactions will not be fully realized; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations due to the proposed transactions; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transactions on the Company’s relationships with its tenants, key personnel and other business partners, operating results and business generally; general economic conditions, and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: developments related to the COVID-19 outbreak and the actions taken to mitigate the impact of the virus, changes in market rental rates; unscheduled closings or bankruptcies of tenants; relationships with anchor tenants; trends in the retail industry; challenges with department stores; changes in consumer shopping behavior; the liquidity of real estate investments; the Company’s ability to comply with debt covenants; the availability and terms of financings; changes in market rates of interest and foreign exchange rates for foreign currencies; changes in value of investments in foreign entities; the ability to hedge interest rate and currency risk; risks related to acquiring, developing, expanding, leasing and managing properties; competitors gaining economies of scale through M&A and consolidation activity; changes in value of investments in foreign entities; risks related to joint venture properties; insurance costs and coverage; security breaches that could impact the Company’s information technology, infrastructure or personal data; costs associated with response to technology breaches; the loss of key management personnel; shareholder activism costs and related diversion of management time; terrorist activities; maintaining the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust; changes in the laws of states, localities, and foreign jurisdictions that may increase taxes on the Company’s operations; and changes in global, national, regional and/or local economic and geopolitical climates. Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found under Item 1.A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and under Item 1.A in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the proposed transaction, shareholders and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction or other matters attributable to the Company or any other person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this communication. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future, except as may be required by law.
Contacts
Erik Wright, Taubman, Manager, Investor Relations, 248-258-7390
ewright@taubman.com
Maria Mainville, Taubman, Director, Strategic Communications, 248-258-7469
mmainville@taubman.com