Sears Holding Corp. Has lately agreed to sign real estate pact with Simon Property Group Inc, which shall bring USD 114 gain to the company. This is the latest policy of departmental store chains to use their properties to generate finance.
Sears will transfer 10 properties valued at $228 million to a company that it will own jointly with Simon, the companies said in a statement Monday. A leaseback arrangement means Sears will continue to operate stores at the locations. Simon, a real-estate company, separately agreed to buy another Sears property at the La Plaza Mall in McAllen, Texas.
The move follows an announcement this month that Sears is forming a real estate investment trust to acquire about 254 of its properties, generating more than $2.5 billion in proceeds for the money-losing chain. Sears Chief Executive Officer Eddie Lampert also has sold and spun off assets, such as the Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Inc. chain and the Lands’ End brand. He’s trying to turn the company into a leaner retailer, focused on generating sales from e-commerce and loyalty-program members.
The Simon deal is “an important step in Sears Holdings’ continued transformation to a membership company, without the significant asset intensity of its traditional retail business,” Lampert, who also is Sears’s biggest shareholder, said in Monday’s statement.
The stock rose 0.7 percent to $43.24 at the close in New York. The shares have gained 31 percent this year.
Real Estate
Sears has previously tried to squeeze more value out of its real estate holdings by selling locations, leasing space to other retailers and developing properties. The REIT was applauded by investors, who bid the shares up 31 percent when Sears announced in November that it was exploring the possibility.
The Simon agreement gives the new joint venture the power to redevelop the 10 contributed properties and lease space to other parties, potentially creating another source of revenue. The retailer expects its new REIT, Seritage Growth Properties, to purchase Sears’s 50 percent interest in the venture. Simon also will invest about $33 million in Seritage shares through a private placement.
“Sears Holdings will continue to operate these 10 stores and there will be minimal impact on their day-to-day operations or the overall shopping experience for our members,” Lampert said.
