VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Dec. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ:WHLR), a fully-integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment company focused on owning and operating income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers, today announced that, as part of its ongoing evaluation of strategic alternatives, that it will not pay its anticipated fourth quarter dividends on shares of its Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock at this time. These dividends represent quarterly payments of $22.50, $0.5625 and $0.5469 per respective preferred share and were anticipated to be paid in January 2019.

The Company intends to accelerate its efforts to reduce short-term, higher cost debt where accretive and complete strategic dispositions and refinancings, while continuing its efforts to improve portfolio occupancy. The Company continues to work through strategic alternatives with its advisors.

The Board of Directors will re-evaluate the payment of the preferred dividends for the first quarter of 2019 when appropriate. All future communications regarding the Company’s common stock and preferred shares, as well as the associated dividends, will be made through public disclosures in due course.

ABOUT WHEELER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.

Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. is a fully-integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment company focused on owning and operating income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers. Wheeler’s portfolio contains well-located, potentially dominant retail properties in secondary and tertiary markets that generate attractive, risk-adjusted returns, with a particular emphasis on grocery-anchored retail centers. For additional information about the Company, please visit: www.whlr.us.