8-K

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): December 11, 2018

WEINGARTEN REALTY INVESTORS

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas	1-9876	74-1464203
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2600 Citadel Plaza Drive, Suite 125, Houston, Texas 77008

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 866-6000

Not applicable

(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):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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 December 11, 2018, we announced that our Board of Trust Managers has declared a special cash dividend on our common shares of $1.40 per share, payable December 27, 2018, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 21, 2018. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release dated December 11, 2018.

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SIGNATURE

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: December 12, 2018

WEINGARTEN REALTY INVESTORS
By:	/s/ Joe D. Shafer
	Joe D. Shafer
	Senior Vice President/ Chief Accounting Officer

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

99.1 Press Release dated December 11, 2018.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

2600 Citadel Plaza Drive

P.O. Box 924133

Houston, Texas 77292-4133

NEWS RELEASE

Information: Michelle Wiggs, Phone: 713.866.6050

WEINGARTEN REALTY INVESTORS DECLARES SPECIAL CASH DIVIDEND OF $1.40 PER SHARE

Houston, TX, December 11, 2018 - Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE:WRI) announced today that its Board of Trust Managers declared a special cash dividend of $1.40 per common share payable on December 27, 2018 to shareholders of record on December 21, 2018. This special dividend is a result of significant gains realized on dispositions of properties during 2018.

The Board of Trust Managers did not make any change in the Company’s policy with respect to regular quarterly dividends.

To date in 2018, the Company has closed $512 million in dispositions. Currently, there is an additional $250 million of dispositions under contract, approximately half of which is expected to close before year-end 2018 with the remainder expected to close in early 2019. All of the properties under contract are subject to customary closing conditions, therefore there is no assurance that the timing of the closings will occur as previously discussed or that they will close at all.

“We are pleased with our 2018 disposition program whereby we significantly improved the quality of our portfolio. Looking to next year, we have some transactions we anticipate closing early in the year, but as we have previously indicated, we expect the volume of disposition to be significantly less in 2019,” said Drew Alexander, President and Chief Executive Officer.

About Weingarten Realty Investors

Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI) is a shopping center owner, manager and developer.  At September 30, 2018, the Company owned or operated under long-term leases, either directly or through its interest in real estate joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 185 properties which are located in 17 states spanning the country from coast to coast. These properties represent approximately 37.4 million square feet of which our interests in these properties aggregated approximately 24.1 million square feet of leasable area. To learn more about the Company’s operations and growth strategies, please visit www.weingarten.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein that state the Company’s or Management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are “forward-looking” statements within

the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which by their nature, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Reference is made to the Company’s regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information or factors that may impact the Company’s performance.