Weingarten Realty Investors has amended and extended its $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility. The facility will mature in March 2020, with a provision to extend the maturity date for two consecutive six-month periods, at the Company’s option. Borrowing rates under the facility are at a margin over LIBOR, plus a facility fee. The borrowing margin improved under the new agreement to LIBOR plus 90 basis points, a decrease of 15 basis points. Both the borrowing margin and facility fee are priced off a grid that is tied to Weingarten's senior unsecured credit ratings. The covenants on the facility have been updated, including lowering the capitalization rate, which increases the valuation of the properties, and therefore provides the Company even greater flexibility in executing its business plan. The facility also contains a competitive bid option that will allow the Company to request bids for up to $250 million, along with an accordion feature, which allows the Company to increase the facility amount up to $850 million. Weingarten intends to use the proceeds from such facility to fund acquisition and new development activities, and for general corporate purposes.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLCand Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, serve as joint book runners and joint lead arrangers; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent; Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association, U.S. Bank National Association, Regions Bank, and The Bank of Nova Scotia as documentation agents. Other lenders involved in this transaction include Capital One, N.A., and Branch Banking & Trust Company.

Weingarten Realty Investors is a shopping center owner, manager and developer. At December 31, 2015, the Company owned or operated under long-term leases, either directly or through its interest in real estate joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 232 properties which are located in 18 states spanning the country from coast to coast. These properties represent approximately 45.6 million square feet of which our interests in these properties aggregated approximately 28.0 million square feet of leasable area.