UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (date of earliest event reported): June 10, 2020

TAUBMAN CENTERS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Michigan
(State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-11530
 
38-2033632
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
200 East Long Lake Road
   
Suite 300
   
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
 
48304-2324
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:                    (248) 258-6800

None
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (See General Instruction A.2. below):

☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
☒
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 
Title of each class
 
Trading
Symbol
 
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
 
TCO
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
6.5% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, No Par Value
 
TCO PR J
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
6.25% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, No Par Value
 
TCO PR K
 
New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company     ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ☐
Item 8.01 Other Events.

On June 10, 2020, Taubman Centers, Inc. issued a press release (the “Press Release”).

A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit
 
Description
 
Press Release, dated June 10, 2020
104
 
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed transaction between the Company and Simon, the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a definitive Proxy Statement of the Company (the “Proxy Statement”) on May 29, 2020 and commenced mailing the Proxy Statement to its shareholders. This Current Report on Form 8-K is not intended to and does not constitute the solicitation of any proxy, vote or approval. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, SIMON, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://investors.taubman.com/investors or by contacting Erik Wright, Manager, Investor Relations at ewright@taubman.com or (248) 258-7390.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of the Company in favor of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of the Company in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Proxy Statement described above filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is also included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019 as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020. These documents are available free of charge as described above.
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: June 10, 2020
TAUBMAN CENTERS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Simon J. Leopold
 
 
Simon J. Leopold
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer


Exhibit 99.1

Taubman Centers, Inc.
200 East Long Lake Road
Suite 300
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
48304-2324
T 248.258.6800
www.taubman.com

Taubman Centers Confirms Receipt of Notice from Simon Property Group Purporting to Terminate Merger Agreement

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – June 10, 2020 – Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) (“Taubman”) confirmed that Simon Property Group, Inc. (“Simon”) has today delivered a notice purporting to terminate the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger among Simon, Taubman, The Taubman Realty Group Limited Partnership (“TRG”) and other parties.

Taubman believes that Simon’s purported termination of the Merger Agreement is invalid and without merit, and that Simon continues to be bound to the transaction in all respects. Taubman intends to hold Simon to its obligations under the Merger Agreement and the agreed transaction, and to vigorously contest Simon’s purported termination and legal claims. Taubman intends to pursue its remedies to enforce its contractual rights under the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, the right to specific performance and the right to monetary damages, including damages based on the deal price.

Taubman has also announced that its Special Meeting of Shareholders, at which Taubman shareholders will be asked to approve the Merger Agreement, remains scheduled for June 25, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at Taubman’s headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

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 Statements

This communication contains certain “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend on or relate to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “would,” “should”, “estimates”, “could”, “intends”, “plans” or other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements as a result of, but not limited to, the following factors: the failure to receive, on a timely basis or otherwise, the required approvals by Taubman’s shareholders; the risk that a condition to closing of the transaction may not be satisfied; Simon’s and Taubman’s ability to consummate the transaction; the outcome of any litigation between Simon and Taubman related to the transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the transaction will not be fully realized; the ability of Taubman to retain key personnel and maintain relationships with business partners pending the consummation of the transaction; and the impact of legislative, regulatory and competitive changes and other risk factors relating to the industries in which Simon and Taubman operate, as detailed from time to time in each of Simon’s and Taubman’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). There can be no assurance that the transaction will in fact be consummated.
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 Taubman’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Taubman 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 Taubman or any other person acting on their 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. Taubman 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.
Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving Taubman and Simon. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the proposed transaction, on May 29, 2020, Taubman filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC, and promptly mailed the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each shareholder of Taubman entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document that Taubman may file with the SEC or send to its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF TAUBMAN ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TAUBMAN AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The definitive proxy statement, the preliminary proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the proposed transaction (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Taubman with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or at Taubman’s website (www.taubman.com).

Participants in the Solicitation

Taubman and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of Taubman in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Proxy Statement described above filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Taubman’s directors and executive officers is also included in Taubman’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019, or its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

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