Steve Jellinek +1 312 244-7908
[email protected] COMMENTARY Macy’s Store Closures Put $6.57 Billion in CMBS at Risk DBRS Morningstar Perspective Macy’s, Inc.’s recently announced round of store closures could put about $6.57 billion in loans securitized in commercial mortgage- backed securities (CMBS) at risk. DBRS Morningstar Credit Ratings (DBRS Morningstar) identified 50 Macy’s locations that are most at risk of closing because they reported below-average tenant sales and were not among the 150 stores that will receive more than $200 million for renovations and upgrades under Macy’s Growth 150 initiative. In a February 4, 2020, press release, which came just months after the department-store retailer announced it was closing 30 locations, Macy’s said it plans to shutter an additional 95 stores because of slowing traffic and muted sales. These 125 combined closures represent about 18% of its stores. CMBS exposure to Macy’s as a collateral anchor or noncollateral anchor tenant totals $33.64 billion. In its statement, Macy’s said that it will close its least productive stores over the next three years and concentrate its financial firepower and talent on the best-performing locations. Although Macy’s did not specify which locations it will be shuttering, Jeff Gennette, Macy’s president, said, “We will focus our resources on the healthy parts of our business, directly address the unhealthy parts of the business, and explore new revenue streams.” The company also announced a new strategic plan called Polaris. This plan includes five major initiatives: organizational changes, store closures, e-commerce enhancements, an expanded loyalty program, and a renewed focus on its private-label brands.