INDIANAPOLIS and BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Feb. 10, 2020 — Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) (“Simon”) and Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) (“Taubman”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Simon will acquire an 80% ownership interest in The Taubman Realty Group Limited Partnership (“TRG”). Simon, through its operating partnership, Simon Property Group, L.P., will acquire all of Taubman common stock for $52.50 per share in cash and the Taubman family will sell approximately one-third of its ownership interest at the transaction price and remain a 20% partner in TRG.
TRG is engaged in the ownership, management and/or leasing of 26 super-regional shopping centers in the U.S. and Asia. TRG’s ownership includes 24 high-quality retail assets (including 21 in the United States and 3 in Asia), consisting of approximately 25 million feet of gross leasable area, and will continue to be managed by its existing executive team, under the leadership of Taubman Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Robert S. Taubman, in partnership with Simon. The parties have agreed to work together to implement best practices to achieve operational efficiencies and will eliminate Taubman’s public company costs immediately following closing.
The transaction has been unanimously recommended by a Special Committee of independent directors of Taubman and approved unanimously by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Simon expects to fund the total required cash consideration of approximately $3.6 billion with existing liquidity.
Simon Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President David Simon stated, “We are very pleased to announce this transaction, which will be immediately accretive to Simon’s FFO. By joining together, we will enhance the ability of TRG to invest in innovative retail environments that create exciting shopping and entertainment experiences for consumers, immersive opportunities for retailers, and substantial new job prospects for local communities. I look forward to partnering with Bobby and the TRG executive team in this exciting new joint venture.”
Myron E. Ullman, Lead Director of the Taubman Board of Directors and Chairman of the Special Committee of the Taubman Board of Directors, added, “The Taubman Board of Directors has always been focused on maximizing shareholder value. With this transaction, we will deliver a significant, immediate cash premium to shareholders. The Special Committee of the Board unanimously believes that this transaction with Simon is a great outcome for all of our stakeholders.”
Robert S. Taubman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Taubman, added, “Since Taubman Centers’ founding 70 years ago, we have built a portfolio of high-quality assets and continuously adapted to the evolving retail landscape. I am proud of all that this company’s talented employees have achieved and am thrilled to have the opportunity to join together with Simon through this joint venture. Over the last few years, David and I have developed an excellent personal relationship and importantly, Simon shares our commitment to serving retailers, shoppers and the communities in which we operate. The Board and I are confident that Simon is the ideal partner to help us build on our progress.”
Strategic and Financial Rationale
• Simon to acquire an 80% interest in TRG, which owns a highly productive mall portfolio. The purchase price represents an underwritten capitalization rate of approximately 6.2%.
• Delivers certain and meaningful value to Taubman shareholders. The transaction price of $52.50 per share in cash represents a 51% premium to TCO’s closing price on February 7, 2020 and a 19% premium to total enterprise value, which includes debt and preferred equity.
• Immediate accretion for Simon shareholders. The transaction is expected to be at least 3% accretive to Simon’s Funds From Operations (FFO) per share on an annualized basis, beginning immediately upon consummation of the transaction.
• Develop innovative retail environments. The transaction will enhance TRG’s ability to invest in innovative retail environments for retailers and consumers, deliver exciting shopping and entertainment experiences to consumers, and create new job prospects for local communities.
Transaction Details
Required approvals for the transaction include: (i) two-thirds of the outstanding Taubman voting stock and (ii) a majority of the outstanding Taubman voting stock not held by the Taubman family. The Taubman family, which represents approximately 29% of outstanding Taubman voting stock, has agreed to vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is also subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in mid-2020.
Taubman will be releasing its fourth quarter and full year 2019 earnings this morning in a separate press release.
Advisors
BofA Securities is serving as financial advisor to Simon and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP are serving as legal advisors. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Taubman and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Honigman LLP are serving as legal advisors. The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Taubman has retained Lazard as its independent financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as its independent legal counsel.
Transaction Conference Call and Webcast Information
Simon and Taubman will conduct a live conference call and webcast today, February 10, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Within the United States, the call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-528-4228. Callers outside the U.S. can dial 1-704-935-3408. The conference ID for the call is “9456226.”
An audio replay will be available from approximately 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on February 10, 2020 until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on February 17, 2020. The replay can be accessed within the U.S. by dialing 1-855-859-2056. Callers outside the U.S. can access the replay at 1-404-537-3406. The replay passcode is “9456226.” The call will also be archived on investors.simon.com for approximately 90 days.
About Simon
Simon is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations and an S&P 100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our properties across North America, Europe and Asia provide community gathering places for millions of people every day and generate billions in annual sales.
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.
