Kite Realty Group Announces Closing of $7.5 Billion Merger with Retail Properties of America: Creates a Top 5 Open-Air, Grocery-Anchored Shopping Center REIT INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG), a premier owner and operator of high-quality open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers, announced today the completion of its previously announced merger with Retail Properties of America, Inc. (NYSE: RPAI), a first-class owner and operator of high-quality open-air and mixed-use shopping centers, whereby RPAI merged into a subsidiary of KRG, with KRG continuing as the surviving public company. The combined high-quality, open-air portfolio is a mixture of predominantly necessity-based, grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers, combined with vibrant mixed-use assets. The merger serves to more than double KRGs presence in high-growth warmer and cheaper markets, while also introducing and enhancing KRGs presence in strategic gateway markets. The merger is not only expected to be immediately FFO and NAV accretive, but the combined company has additional opportunities to further increase shareholder value including optimizing NOI margins, leasing of pandemic-related vacancy, lowering the companys cost of capital, and completing select developments.