Kimco Realty Corporation is a real estate investment trust (REIT), that is one of North America's largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. The company owned interests in many U.S. shopping centers comprising of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. The company has specialized in shopping center acquisitions, development and management. With the merger with Weingarten Realty Investors, Kimco is continuing as the surviving public company. The move enhanced Kimco's portfolio with high-quality assets in the growing Sun Bet markets and boosts future value creation scopes. The merger created a national operating portfolio of open-air grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets. Moreover, the acquisition helped to attain a greater tenant diversity.