INDIANAPOLIS, July 5, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc.
(NYSE: SPG) announced today that its Chelsea division opened Kobe-Sanda
Premium Outlets, the sixth Premium Outlet Center(R) in Japan and the second in
the Kansai region. The project is located 22 miles (a 50-minute drive) north
of downtown Kobe and 30 miles northwest of central Osaka. It is accessible
via the region's three most heavily traveled major highways -- the Chugoku
Expressway, the Sanyo Expressway and the Rokko-kita Toll Road. The population
within a 30-mile radius is approximately 13 million people.
Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets is situated at the foot of Mt. Rokko in the
Seto-Naikai National Park, which receives more than seven million visitors
annually. The Arima-onsen hot spring resort, dating to the 8th century, is a
major attraction in the region.
The 195,000 square-foot first phase of the project opened fully leased to
90 tenants including Adidas, Bally, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Coach,
Edwin, Etro, Furla, Gap, Gucci, Harrods, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Lego,
Longchamp, Loro Piana, Nike, Nikon, Oilily, Salvatore Ferragamo, Swatch, Tommy
Hilfiger, Tumi, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and more. Approximately 70% of
the center has been leased to international brands and the balance to Japanese
domestic brands including Beams, Diana, Franc Franc, Indivi by Next Door, Miki
House, Tasaki and Tsumori Chisato; also included are eight food court
restaurants and one cafe. The project is expandable to approximately 355,000
square feet of gross leaseable area.
Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets was developed by Chelsea Japan Co., Ltd., a
joint venture of Simon Property Group (40% interest), Mitsubishi Estate Co.,
Ltd. and Sojitz Corporation (each 30%), and brings the joint venture's
operating portfolio to 1.6 million square feet of gross leasable area.
Chelsea Japan's other properties are Gotemba Premium Outlets (west of Tokyo),
Rinku Premium Outlets (south of Osaka), Sano Premium Outlets (north of Tokyo),
Tosu Premium Outlets (south of Fukuoka) and Toki Premium Outlets (northwest of
Nagoya). Expansions are underway at Tosu Premium Outlets (late 2007 scheduled
opening) and Gotemba Premium Outlets (spring 2008 scheduled opening). A
seventh Premium Outlet Center is planned in the Sendai market of northern
Honshu Island, with an opening scheduled for the fall of 2008.
Leslie Chao, Chief Executive Officer of Chelsea and chairman of the joint
venture, said, "Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets has been strategically located to
serve the northern Kansai market on the opposite side of Osaka from Rinku
Premium Outlets. With its strong tenant mix and attractive environment, we
believe it will become a magnet shopping destination for the many affluent and
brand-aware residents of Kobe and the surrounding area."
For more information on Premium Outlets in Japan, please see
www.premiumoutlets.co.jp.
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public
U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company
which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium
Outlet Centers(R), The Mills(R), community/lifestyle centers and international
properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 383 properties comprising
258 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and
Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more
than 4,500 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on
the NYSE under the symbol SPG and has a current total market capitalization of
approximately $50 billion. For further information, visit the Company's
website at www.simon.com.
SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.
Investors, Shelly Doran, +1-317-685-7330, or Media, Les Morris, Simon,
+1-317-263-7711, both of Simon Property Group; or Media, Michele Rothstein, Chelsea
Property Group, +1-973-228-6111, shopper@premiumoutlets.com
http://www.simon.com/
