Simon Property Group to acquire another major mall owner

Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG) will indeed acquire Taubman Centers Inc. in a deal foreshadowed by reports in early February.  As the biggest mall owner in the U.S., Simon plans to fund the $3.6 billion acquisition of fellow mall-owner Taubman (NYSE: TCO) with “existing liquidity,” according to a release announcing the deal.  Together the companies own five properties in Greater Washington — and they are big ones. Simon owns Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Clarksburg Premium Outlets,…