TORONTO & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hudson’s Bay Company (TSX:HBC) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Saks Fifth Avenue announced today plans to open a full-line Saks store in the heart of downtown Toronto at the Hudson’s Bay flagship store at the corner of Queen Street and Yonge Street. The approximately 150,000 square-foot, multi-level Saks is planned to open in the fall of 2015 and will be co-located with the current Hudson’s Bay store.
HBC has agreed to sell its downtown Toronto flagship retail complex and the Simpson’s Tower located at 401 Bay Street to an affiliate of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited for a purchase price of $650 million. HBC will lease the entire retail and office complex back for a base term of 25 years with renewal options for a term just under 50 years. Proceeds of the transaction will be used to reduce the Company’s debt and invest in growth initiatives. The transactions are subject to customary conditions and are expected to close on or about February 25, 2014. As part of this transaction Saks has also agreed to lease space in Toronto’s Sherway Gardens for a full-line Saks store.
“We’re very pleased to announce this agreement with Cadillac Fairview, which clearly demonstrates the tremendous value of our dynamic real estate portfolio,” stated Richard Baker, HBC’s Governor and Chief Executive Officer. “This sale-leaseback provides HBC with resources to deleverage and accelerate investment in our growth initiatives. We continue to explore other options to create additional value through the power and potential of our real estate assets.”
“The opening of our first Saks Fifth Avenue stores at Toronto Eaton Centre and Sherway Gardens brings Canadian shoppers the full array of luxury fashion collections and exceptional service for which Saks is renowned,” continued Mr. Baker. “We especially appreciate Cadillac Fairview’s strong commitment to the Queen Street location and adjacent Toronto Eaton Centre, providing us with the opportunity to be a major part of Toronto’s premier luxury shopping destination.”
“We are excited to be the first to bring Saks to the Canadian market as part of this iconic property in the heart of downtown Toronto,” said John Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cadillac Fairview.
“We believe there is significant and untapped opportunity for retailers such as Saks in Canada. Through this agreement with HBC we are thrilled to expand the luxury offering in downtown Toronto and at Sherway Gardens, enhancing the superior customer experience for which Toronto Eaton Centre and Sherway are renowned.”
Forward Looking Statements
Information in this press release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. This information is based on certain assumptions regarding expected growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what the Company currently expects. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: credit, market, currency, operational, liquidity and funding risks, including changes in economic conditions, interest rates or tax rates, the timing and market acceptance of future products, competition in the Company’s markets, the growth of certain business categories and market segments and the willingness of customers to shop at the Company’s stores, the Company’s margins and sales and those of the Company’s competitors, the Company’s reliance on customers, risks and uncertainties relating to information management, technology, supply chain, product safety, changes in law, regulations, competition, seasonality, commodity price and business disruption, the Company’s relationships with suppliers and manufacturers, changes to existing accounting pronouncements, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its strategic initiatives, changes in consumer spending, managing our portfolio of brands and our merchandising mix, seasonal weather patterns, economic, social, and political instability in jurisdictions where suppliers are located, increased shipping costs, potential transportation delays and interruptions, the risk of damage to the reputation of brands promoted by the Company and the cost of store network expansion and retrofits, compliance costs associated with environmental laws and regulations, fluctuations in currency and exchange rates, commodity prices, the Company’s ability to maintain good relations with its employees, changes in the law or regulations regarding the environment or other environmental liabilities, the Company’s capital structure, funding strategy, cost management programs and share price, the Company’s ability to integrate acquisitions and the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property.
For more information on these risks, uncertainties and other factors the reader should refer to the Company’s filings with the securities regulatory authorities, including the Company’s annual information form dated April 30, 2013, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than as required under securities laws, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information at any particular time. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.
About Hudson’s Bay Company
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), founded in 1670, is North America’s longest continually operated company. Today, HBC offers customers an unparalleled range of retailing categories and shopping experiences internationally. In Canada, HBC operates Hudson’s Bay, Canada’s largest department store with 90 full-line locations and one outlet store as well as thebay.com, unsurpassed in its fashion, beauty, home and accessory designers and brands. HBC also operates Home Outfitters, Canada’s largest home specialty superstore with 69 locations across the country.
In the United States, HBC operates Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s pre-eminent specialty retailers, renowned for its superlative designer collections and first-rate fashion expertise. Saks Fifth Avenue comprises 41 full-line stores in 22 states, five international licensed stores, saks.com, 72 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saksoff5th.com. HBC also operates Lord & Taylor, a leading department store chain with 49 full-line store locations throughout the northeastern United States, in two major cities in the Midwest and in Boca Raton, Florida, four Lord & Taylor outlet locations and lordandtaylor.com. Hudson’s Bay Company banners provide stylish, quality merchandise with a dedicated focus on service excellence. Hudson’s Bay Company trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “HBC”.
About Cadillac Fairview
The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited is one of North America's largest owners, operators and developers of commercial real estate. Cadillac Fairview focuses on developing and managing high quality office, retail and mixed-use properties in Canada and the United States, as well as international investments in real estate companies and investment funds.
With a portfolio valued at more than $23 billion, Cadillac Fairview and its affiliates own and manage nearly 44 million square feet of leasable space at 73 properties across North America, including some of Canada's landmark developments, such as Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto Eaton Centre, Pacific Centre and Chinook Centre.
Cadillac Fairview is wholly-owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which invests to secure the retirement income of 303,000 active and retired teachers in Ontario
