Macy's Real Estate Situation: Book Value vs Market Value

In October 2016, the Company announced the sale of five locations to General Growth Properties: one store location was closed in early 2016, three locations will close in early 2017 and one location will continue to operate under a lease agreement. The Company recognized a gain of $32 million during the third quarter of 2016 from this transaction. In addition, as a result of lease terminations or expirations, the Company will be closing Macy’s stores in Douglaston Mall, Douglaston, NY and Lancaster Mall, Salem, OR in early 2017. The Company has also signed an agreement to sell its downtown Portland, OR store for $54 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, at which time a gain of approximately $36 million will be recognized. The downtown Portland store will continue operations through the holiday season and will be closed in spring 2017.

In November 2016, the Company announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager, to create increased value in its real estate portfolio. Under the alliance, Brookfield will have an exclusive right for up to 24 months to create a “pre-development plan” for each of approximately 50 Macy’s real estate assets, with an option for Macy’s to continue to identify and add assets into the alliance. The breadth of opportunity within the portfolio ranges from the additional development on a portion of an asset (such as a Company-controlled land parcel adjacent to a store) to the complete redevelopment of an existing store. Once a "pre-development plan" is created, the Company has the option to contribute the asset into a joint venture for the development plan to commence or sell the asset to Brookfield. If the Company chooses to contribute the asset into a joint venture, the Company may elect to participate as a funding or non-funding partner. After development, the joint venture may sell the asset and distribute proceeds accordingly.

In November 2016, the Company announced that it had signed an agreement to sell its 248,000 square-foot Union Square Men’s building in San Francisco for $250 million, and will use part of the proceeds to consolidate the Men’s store into its main Union Square store. The Company will lease the Men’s store property for two to three years as it completes the reconfiguration of the main store. The Company expects this transaction to close in January 2017 and expects to recognize a gain of approximately $235 million in January 2018. The Company continues to explore options for its New York City (Herald Square), Chicago (State Street) and Minneapolis (Nicollet Mall) flagship stores.

In addition, the Company continues to pursue other selected real estate dispositions to monetize assets in instances where the store is being closed or where the value of real estate significantly outweighs the value of the retail business.

In January 2016, the Company completed a $270 million real estate transaction that will enable a re-creation of Macy's Brooklyn store. The Company will continue to own and operate the first four floors and lower level of its existing nine-story retail store, which will be reconfigured and remodeled. The remaining portion of the store and its nearby parking facility were sold to Tishman Speyer in a single sales transaction. As the sales agreement requires the Company to conduct certain redevelopment activities at Macy's Brooklyn store, the Company will recognize a gain of approximately $250 million under the percentage of completion method of accounting. Accordingly, $107 million has been recognized to-date and the remaining gain is anticipated to be recognized over the next two years, with approximately $4 million expected to be recognized during the remainder of fiscal 2016.