PREIT Comments on JC Penney Store Closing Plan

PREIT does not anticipate any JC Penney closings

PREIT touts no unleased department stores in its core portfolio

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Mar 04, 2019, 06:55 ET

PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PREIT (NYSE: PEI) today commented on JC Penney's announced store closures:

"PREIT is proud to highlight our strengthened anchor profile and confirm our prior commentary that we don't anticipate any JC Penney closures as a result of their recent announcement of 2019 store closings," said Joseph F. Coradino, CEO of PREIT. "With no unleased department stores in our core portfolio and among the lowest exposure to Sears in the sector, we are uniquely positioned to execute on our strategy and capitalize on the opportunity to further diversify our earnings through the addition of multifamily and hotel units across our portfolio."

As of December 31, 2018, PREIT portfolio operating metrics remain strong with core mall sales per square foot at $510 and 96.6% of core mall space leased.

Yielding no unleased department store spaces, PREIT has been proactive and aggressive in replacing challenged department stores. In two years, the Company has replaced 13 department stores. In 2019, over a dozen tenants will open in 4 former department store spaces as PREIT continues to diversify its mall tenant base.

About PREIT
PREIT (NYSE:PEI) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns and manages quality properties in compelling markets. PREIT's robust portfolio of carefully curated retail and lifestyle offerings mixed with destination dining and entertainment experiences are located primarily in the densely-populated eastern U.S. with concentrations in the mid-Atlantic's top MSAs. Since 2012, the company has driven a transformation guided by an emphasis on portfolio quality and balance sheet strength driven by disciplined capital expenditures. Additional information is available at www.preit.com or on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "may" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans, strategies, anticipated events, trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events, achievements or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, our business might be materially and adversely affected by changes in the retail and real estate industries, including consolidation and store closings, particularly among anchor tenants; current economic conditions and the corresponding effects on tenant business performance, prospects, solvency and leasing decisions; our inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; our ability to maintain and increase property occupancy, sales and rental rates; increases in operating costs that cannot be passed on to tenants; the effects of online shopping and other uses of technology on our retail tenants; risks related to our development and redevelopment activities, including delays, cost overruns and our inability to reach projected occupancy or rental rates; acts of violence at malls, including our properties, or at other similar spaces, and the potential effect on traffic and sales; our ability to sell properties that we seek to dispose of or our ability to obtain prices we seek; our substantial debt and the liquidation preference of our preferred shares and our high leverage ratio; our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness when it matures, on favorable terms or at all; our ability to raise capital, including through sales of properties or interests in properties and through the issuance of equity or equity-related securities if market conditions are favorable; and potential dilution from any capital raising transactions or other equity issuances.

Additional factors that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include those discussed herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 in the section entitled "Item 1A. Risk Factors." We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:
Heather Crowell
SVP, Strategy and Communications
(215) 454-1241
[email protected]

SOURCE PREIT