Washington Prime Group Provides COVID-19 Update

Washington Prime Group Inc. (NYSE: WPG) today announced that in its continued recognition of the need to address the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Company will temporarily close its enclosed assets with an indoor common area that have not already temporarily closed. This measure will take effect today and will end on March 29 or at a date in compliance with applicable federal, local or state mandates.

Exceptions for enclosed centers include exterior facing restaurants with carryout and/or delivery services, and other tenants with exterior facing entrances which may remain open offering essential goods and services to the extent permitted by law.

In addition, the Company anticipates a portion of its open air centers, which represent approximately 40% of total net operating income (NOI) to remain open to continue to offer essential goods and services to the extent permitted by law.

Importantly, the Company has offered to applicable governmental agencies all of its open air and enclosed assets to serve as potential distribution centers for emergency medical supplies, outdoor designated areas to perform COVID-19 testing, food depository stations and other complementary services that may be required by communities in need. While this list is continually expanding, current examples include:

• Several of our General Managers and local management teams have partnered with federal, state or local government agencies to provide space for the storage, staging or distribution of emergency medical supplies and/or services.
• The Company has partnered with local public school districts to provide space for the distribution of free breakfast and lunch to children eighteen and under.
• The Company is working in conjunction with restaurant tenants to offer meals to health care workers and first responders in the coming days.
• Many assets are serving as a location for blood drives to support the need for blood donations from healthy individuals during this critical time.
• Assets are also serving as drop off locations in conjunction with local nonprofit organizations collecting essential items for their communities.
• The Company is supporting restaurant tenants offering carryout and/or delivery services by providing social media support and community engagement.

Lou Conforti, CEO and Director of Washington Prime Group, stated: “Last week, I wrote a letter which I had our General Managers distribute to those local, state and federal agencies working to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and I’d like to share with you excerpted sections.