false 0001628063 0001628063 2020-06-03 2020-06-03 0001628063 us-gaap:CommonClassAMember 2020-06-03 2020-06-03 0001628063 srg:Seven00SeriesACumulativeRedeemablePreferredSharesOfBeneficialInterestParValue001PerShareMember 2020-06-03 2020-06-03

 

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): June 4, 2020 (June 3, 2020)

 

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Maryland

 

001-37420

 

38-3976287

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

500 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1530

New York, New York

 

10110

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 355-7800

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbols

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share

SRG

New York Stock Exchange

7.00% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share

SRG-PA

New York Stock Exchange

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):

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

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

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

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 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 3, 2020, Seritage SRC Finance LLC and Seritage KMT Finance LLC (together, the “Landlord”), each a subsidiary of Seritage Growth Properties (the “Company”), entered into an amendment to the master lease (the “Holdco Master Lease Amendment”) with Transform SR Operations LLC and Transform KM Operations LLC (together, the “Tenant”), each a subsidiary of Transform Holdco LLC.

Pursuant to the Holdco Master Lease Amendment, which includes the remaining 17 Sears and Kmart stores in the Company’s wholly-owned portfolio, the Company will terminate the Holdco Master Lease at 12 stores, each of which the Tenant would otherwise have the right to terminate without penalty on March 1, 2021, in return for a termination payment of $5.3 million payable upon the earlier of the completion of going-out-of-business sales or September 30, 2020.

The Company will also allow the Tenant to defer 100% of base rent at five stores for six months (April 2020 through September 2020) with the deferred rent payable over a 12-month period beginning October 2020.  The Tenant will continue to pay all other additional rent (representing real estate taxes, utilities, common area maintenance and other property operating expenses) during the deferral period.

Mr. Edward S. Lampert, the Company’s Chairman, is the sole stockholder, chief executive officer and director of ESL Investments, Inc., which controls Transform SR Operations LLC and Transform KM Operations LLC. The terms of the Holdco Master Lease were approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and the Company’s Board of Trustees (with Mr. Edward S. Lampert recusing himself).

The foregoing description of the Holdco Master Lease Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On June 4, 2020, the Company issued a press release providing an update on the Holdco Master Lease Amendment and other tenant activity in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A copy of the press release providing such update is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Second Amendment to Holdco Master Lease, dated as of June 3, 2020, by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Finance LLC, Transform SR Operations LLC and Transform KM Operations LLC.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release dated June 4, 2020.

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document)

 


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.

 

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES 

 

By:

 

/s/ Matthew Fernand

 

 

Matthew Fernand

 

 

Executive Vice President, General

Counsel & Secretary

 

Date: June 4, 2020

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

MASTER LEASE MODIFICATION AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Master Lease Modification and Settlement Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this 3rd day of June, 2020 and is by and between Transform SR Operations LLC and Transform KM Operations LLC (the “Tenant”) and Seritage SRC Finance LLC and Seritage KMT Finance LLC (the “Landlord”), collectively the “Parties” and each a “Party” to this Agreement.

 

BACKGROUND

 

 

A.

Landlord and Tenant entered into that certain Master Lease dated February 28, 2019 (the “Master Lease”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Master Lease;

 

 

B.

Pursuant to the terms of the Master Lease, Tenant leases from Landlord certain premises set forth on Exhibit A hereto and as more particularly described in the Master Lease (the “Stores”);

 

 

C.

On account of the COVID-19 pandemic and for other reasons, Tenant has requested that the Master Lease terminate with respect to twelve (12) of the Stores as identified on Exhibit A (the “Termination Stores”); which Termination Stores are eligible for termination effective March 1, 2021, without payment of a termination fee under the Master Lease; and

 

 

D.

Landlord and Tenant desire to modify certain terms of the Master Lease with respect to (i) the Termination Stores and (ii) the remaining five (5) Stores as identified on Exhibit A (such remaining five (5) stores, the “Remaining Stores”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual obligations and promises contained herein, Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

 

 

1.

Surrender of Termination Stores. (a) Landlord acknowledges that Tenant wishes to surrender and terminate the Master Lease with respect to the Termination Stores on the earlier of (i) Tenant’s completion of the going out of business sales at all such locations or (ii) September 30, 2020 (the “Surrender Date”).  Tenant shall provide Landlord with no less than five (5) business days’ notice of the Surrender Date.  On or prior to the Surrender Date, Tenant shall remit to Landlord a surrender fee equal to $5,300,000 (“Surrender Payment”). So long as Tenant continues to maintain the Termination Stores in the physical condition required under the Master Lease, ordinary wear and tear excepted (consistent with prior surrenders under the Master Lease), subject to receipt by Landlord of the Surrender Payment, Landlord agrees to accept the surrender of the Termination Stores and to terminate the Master Lease with respect to the Termination Stores as of the Surrender Date subject to those continuing obligations of Tenant which survive the Surrender Date pursuant to the terms of the Master Lease.

 

(b)  Tenant on behalf of itself and its affiliates (collectively, “Transform”) agrees that (i) if Transform enters into an agreement with any other Portfolio Landlord (as defined below) for the surrender of any locations leased to Transform by such Portfolio Landlord and (ii) the surrender payment or other monetary consideration paid by Transform to such Portfolio Landlord, on a recovery percentage basis exceeds the amount of the Surrender Payment that Landlord has agreed to accept pursuant to this Agreement, then in such instance Landlord shall be entitled to additional consideration in the amount necessary provide Landlord with the same recovery percentage as such Portfolio Landlord.  As used herein “Portfolio Landlord” means any landlord that currently leases ten (10) or more locations to Transform.

 


 

 

 

2.

Deferral of Base Rent on the Remaining Stores.  Landlord and Tenant agree that Tenant shall be entitled to defer Base Rent at the Remaining Stores (the “Deferred Rent”) for the period commencing on April 1, 2020 and ending on September 30, 2020 (the “Deferral Period”).  During the Deferral Period, Tenant shall continue to pay all Additional Rent as required pursuant to the Master Lease. All Deferred Rent shall be paid back in equal monthly installments over a period of twelve (12) months commencing on October 1, 2020 and ending on September 1, 2021. In the event that Tenant (i) fails to make the Surrender Payment in accordance with this Agreement, (ii) fails to pay any Additional Rent on the Remaining Stores as required pursuant to the Master Lease, or (iii) exercises its termination right with respect to any of the Remaining Stores, then in any of the foregoing circumstances and at Landlord’s option, all Deferred Rent shall become immediately due and payable.

 

 

3.

Acknowledgment of Liability of Tenant to Landlord Regarding the Termination Stores.  Tenant agrees and acknowledges that, as of the date that this Agreement is entered into, but for the terms and conditions of this Agreement Tenant is and remains liable to Landlord with respect to all Base Rent, Additional Charges, and other payments related to the Termination Stores through the Initial Term (the “Liable Amount”).

 

 

4.

Effectiveness of Release by Landlord. Subject to payment of the Surrender Amount, Landlord hereby releases Tenant and its affiliates, and all persons or entities claiming by, through or under them, and their respective heirs, predecessors, successors, and assigns, from the Liable Amount, subject to automatic rescission of such releases and reinstatement of the Liable Amount in full in the event (a) Tenant or any third-party commences any case, proceeding, or other action under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or relief of debtors, including under Title 11 of the U.S. Code, (i) seeking to have any order for relief of Tenant’s debts, or seeking to adjudicate Tenant as bankrupt or insolvent, or (ii) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, or other similar official for Tenant or for all or any substantial  part of Tenant’s assets (an “Insolvency Proceeding”), and (b) in or as a result of such Insolvency Proceeding Landlord is required to disgorge all or any portion of the Surrender Payment (whether pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 547 or 548 or any analogous law of any jurisdiction).  

 

 

5.

Tenant Warranties.  In consideration of Landlord’s agreement to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Landlord relies upon Tenant’s warranty that it has reviewed its financial situation and that it currently is solvent within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § § 547(b)(3) and 548(a)(I)(B)(ii)(I), and will remain solvent following its payment to the Landlord of the Surrender Payment. Furthermore, the Parties warrant that, in evaluating whether to execute this Agreement, they (a) intended that the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations set forth herein constitute a contemporaneous exchange for new value given to Tenant, within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 547(c)(1); and (b) concluded that the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations set forth herein do, in fact, constitute such a contemporaneous exchange. In addition, the Parties warrant that the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations set forth herein are intended to and do, in fact, represent a reasonably equivalent exchange of value which is not meant to hinder or delay payment to, or to defraud any entity to which Tenant was or became indebted on or after the date of this transfer, all within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(l).

 

If Tenant commences, or a third-party commences, any Insolvency Proceeding, Tenant agrees as follows:

 

 

a.

Tenant’s obligations under this Agreement may not be avoided pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 547 or 548 or any analogous law of any

 

2


 

 

jurisdiction, and Tenant will not argue or otherwise take the position in any such case, proceeding, or action that: (i) Tenant’s obligations under this Agreement may be avoided under 11  U.S.C. §§ 547 or 548 or any analogous law of any jurisdiction; (ii) Tenant was insolvent at the time this Agreement was entered into, or became insolvent as a result of the payment made to the Landlord hereunder; or (iii) the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations set forth in this Agreement do not constitute a contemporaneous exchange for new value given to Tenant;

 

 

b.   If Landlord is required to disgorge all or any portion of the Surrender Payment, Landlord shall have an allowed claim against the Tenant for the entire Liable Amount; and

 

c.Tenant acknowledges that its agreements in this Paragraph are provided in exchange for valuable consideration provided by and through this Agreement.

 

 

6.

Release. (a) In consideration of the promises contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, and except for the obligations set forth in this Agreement Tenant on behalf of itself and its affiliates, and all persons or entities claiming by, through or under them, and their respective heirs, predecessors, successors, and assigns, hereby fully, completely, and finally waive, release, remise, acquit, and forever discharge and covenant not to sue Landlord, as well as Landlord’s respective predecessors, successors, affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, divisions, partnerships, and joint ventures, and all of the foregoing entities’ respective past, present, and future associates, representatives, owners, members, estates, assigns, insurers, reinsurers, shareholders, creditors, administrators, executors, partners, principals, trustees, directors, officers, employees, committee members, independent contractors, attorneys, agents, and all others acting or claiming by, through, under, or in concert with any of the foregoing with respect to any and all claims, demands, suits, manner of obligation, debt, liability, tort, covenant, contract, or causes of action of any kind whatsoever, at law or in equity, relating to the Master Lease and that certain Master Lease dated July 7, 2015 by and between Landlord, as landlord and Kmart Operations LLC and Sears Operations LLC, as tenant.  

 

(b) Tenant warrants and represents that they have not assigned or otherwise transferred any claim or cause of action released by this Agreement.  Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the release set forth herein is a general release and further expressly waives and assumes the risk of any and all claims for damages which exist as of this date but which they do not know or expect to exist, whether through ignorance, oversight, error, negligence, or otherwise, and which, if known, would materially affect Tenant’s decision to enter into this Agreement.

 

 

7.

No Further Modification.  Except as set forth in this Agreement, all of the terms and provisions of the Master Lease are hereby ratified, approved and confirmed and shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.  

 

 

8.

Entire Agreement. The Parties represent and agree that no promise, inducement, or agreement other than as expressed herein has been made to them and that subject to the terms and conditions of the Master Lease this Agreement is fully integrated, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties, and contains the entire agreement between the Parties. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the heirs, beneficiaries, representatives, successors, and assigns of the Parties.

 

3


 

 

9.

Authority. The Parties represent and warrant that they possess full authority to enter into this Agreement and to lawfully and effectively release the opposing Party as set forth herein, free of any rights of settlement, approval, subrogation, or other condition or impediment. This undertaking includes specifically, without limitation, the representation and warranty that no third party has now acquired or will acquire rights to present or pursue any claims arising from or based upon the claims that have been released herein.  Landlord represents and warrants that no consent of any lender is required for this Amendment or if required has been obtained.

 

 

10.

Severability. The Parties agree that if, for any reason, a provision of this Agreement is held unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement shall be automatically conformed to the law, and otherwise this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

 

 

11.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one agreement binding on all Parties hereto, notwithstanding that all the Parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.  Facsimile and e-mailed signatures shall be accepted the same as an original signature. A photocopy of this Agreement may be used in any action brought to enforce or construe this Agreement.

 

 

12.

Governing Law. This Agreement will be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without regard to principles of conflicts of laws).


4


 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed the Agreement on the day and year first above-written.

 

 

 

Landlord:

 

 

 

Seritage SRC Finance LLC

Seritage KMT Finance LLC

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ Matthew Fernand

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ Matthew Fernand

Name: Matthew Fernand

Name: Matthew Fernand

Title: Vice President

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Tenant

 

 

 

Transform SR Operations LLC

Transform KM Operations LLC

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ D. Scott Carr

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ D. Scott Carr

Name: D. Scott Carr

Name: D. Scott Carr

Title: Authorized Signatory

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 


5


 

Agreed to and acknowledged by: ORIGINAL GUARANTORS:

 

TRANSFORM MIDCO LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:/s/ Harold Talisman
Name:Harold Talisman
Title:Authorized Signatory

 

TRANSFORM SR HOLDINGS LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:/s/ D. Scott Carr
Name:D. Scott Carr
Title:Authorized Signatory

 

 

TRANSFORM A&E FACTORY SERVICE LLC

TRANSFORM A&E LAWN AND GARDEN LLC

TRANSFORM CALIFORNIA BUILDER APPLIANCES LLC

TRANSFORM FLORIDA BUILDER APPLIANCES LLC

TRANSFORM INNOVEL SOLUTIONS LLC

TRANSFORM KM LLC

TRANSFORM KM OF MICHIGAN LLC

TRANSFORM KM OF WASHINGTON LLC

TRANSFORM KM OPERATIONS LLC

TRANSFORM KM STORES OF ILLINOIS LLC

TRANSFORM KM STORES OF TEXAS LLC

TRANSFORM KM.COM LLC

TRANSFORM MAXSERV LLC

TRANSFORM MYGOFER LLC

TRANSFORM SERVICELIVE LLC

TRANSFORM SR BRANDS MANAGEMENT LLC

TRANSFORM SR DE PUERTO RICO LLC

TRANSFORM SR HOLDINGS LLC

TRANSFORM SR HOME & BUSINESS FRANCHISES LLC

TRANSFORM SR HOME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS LLC

TRANSFORM SR LLC

TRANSFORM SR OPERATIONS LLC

TRANSFORM STARWEST LLC

TRANSFORM WALLY LABS LLC

 

 

 

By:/s/ Harold Talisman
Name:Harold Talisman
Title:Authorized Signatory


6


 

Exhibit A

Stores

 

 

 

 

 

7

Exhibit 99.1

 

Seritage Growth Properties Provides Tenant Activity Update

New York, NY – June 4, 2020 – Seritage Growth Properties (NYSE: SRG) (the “Company”), a national owner of 203 retail and mixed-use properties totaling approximately 32.2 million square feet, today provided an update related to its master lease (the Holdco Master Lease) with Transform Holdco LLC (“Sears”) and other tenant activity in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 3, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the Holdco Master Lease which includes the remaining 17 Sears and Kmart stores in the Company’s wholly-owned portfolio.  Pursuant to the amendment:

The Company will terminate the Holdco Master Lease at 12 stores, each of which Sears has the right to terminate without penalty on March 1, 2021 under the terms of the Holdco Master Lease, in return for a termination payment of $5.3 million payable upon the earlier of the completion of going-out-of-business sales or September 30, 2020; and

The Company will allow Sears to defer 100% of base rent at five stores for six months (April 2020 through September 2020) with the deferred rent payable over a 12-month period beginning October 2020.  Sears will continue to pay all other additional rent (representing real estate taxes, utilities, common area maintenance and other property operating expenses) during the deferral period.

Also, as of June 3, 2020:

224 of the Company’s 280 in-place tenants, or approximately 80% of such tenants, were open and/or operating, including 171 stores that were fully open and 53 stores that were open for pick-up and/or delivery.

The Company had collected April rental income representing 65% of contractual amounts, and agreed to defer an additional 6%, from tenants other than Sears.

The Company had collected May rental income representing 52% of contractual amounts, and agreed to defer an additional 6%, from tenants other than Sears.

In addition, as of June 3, 2020, the Company had completed the sale of ten assets representing $105 million of gross proceeds year to date, including six assets for gross proceeds of $45 million during the second quarter.


1


Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond the company’s control, which may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: our historical exposure to Sears Holdings and the effects of its previously announced bankruptcy filing; the litigation filed against us and other defendants in the Sears Holdings adversarial proceeding pending in bankruptcy court; Holdco’s termination and other rights under its master lease with us; competition in the real estate and retail industries; risks relating to our recapture and redevelopment activities; contingencies to the commencement of rent under leases; the terms of our indebtedness; restrictions with which we are required to comply in order to maintain REIT status and other legal requirements to which we are subject; failure to achieve expected occupancy and/or rent levels within the projected time frame or at all; the impact of ongoing negative operating cash flow on our ability to fund operations and ongoing development; our ability to access or obtain sufficient sources of financing to fund our liquidity needs; our relatively limited history as an operating company; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business of our tenants and our business, income, cash flow, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, ability to service our debt obligations and our ability to pay dividends and other distributions to our shareholders.  For additional discussion of these and other applicable risks, assumptions and uncertainties, see the “Risk Factors” and forward-looking statement disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors relating to Sears Holdings and Holdco.  While we believe that our forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, we caution that actual results may differ materially.  We intend the forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time made and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available, except as required by law.

About Seritage Growth Properties

Seritage Growth Properties is a publicly-traded, self-administered and self-managed REIT with 175 wholly-owned properties and 28 joint venture properties totaling approximately 32.2 million square feet of space across 44 states and Puerto Rico.  The Company was formed to unlock the underlying real estate value of a high-quality retail portfolio it acquired from Sears Holdings in July 2015.  The Company’s mission is to create and own revitalized shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations that provide enriched experiences for consumers and local communities, and create long-term value for our shareholders.

Contact

Seritage Growth Properties

646-277-1268

IR@Seritage.com

2