Mall Of America’s Lenders Express ‘Confidence’ In Its Long Term Success

The Mall of America has modified the terms of its $1.4 billion mortgage and is current on the loan, after missing months of payments during the Covid crisis as stores shut temporarily and tenants failed to pay rent.

The Background

Triple Five Group, the owner of the largest mall in the U.S., started missing mortgage payments in April, CNBC previously reported. But it has struck a deal with lenders, who expressed “strong confidence in the long-term success and viability of Mall of America,” the owners said.

The $1.4 billion loan has been current since December, according to Trepp, a New York-based research firm that tracks the commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, market. Beginning with the December payment, the loan was converted to interest-only through maturity, Trepp said.

The Mall of America was closed from mid-March through June due to the pandemic. Retail tenant collections at the property fell to a low of 33% in April and May, according to data from Trepp.

New Terms

“Facing these unprecedented economic times, we immediately began to work with our lending partners to address the cash flow issues created by this loss of revenue,” Dan Jasper, vice president of communications for Mall of America, said in a statement.

“We are pleased to have been able to resolve the outstanding issues to the satisfaction of all parties involved which included a modification of the loan terms,” he said.

The Star Tribune first reported on the updated status of the loan.

“This is a trophy asset, and trophy assets are more likely to muddle through the pandemic than B [or] C malls,” Manus Clancy, Trepp senior managing director, told CNBC.

Impact Of COVID

There are still about 1,000 malls operating in the U.S. today, according to commercial real estate services firm Green Street Advisors. A large majority of those malls are classified as so-called B-, C- and D-rated malls, meaning they bring in fewer sales per square foot than an A mall. An A++ mall could bring in as much as $1,000 in sales per square foot, for example, while a C+ mall does about $320.

“If you have an A mall, you see this as a vote of confidence,” Clancy said. “If you have B [or] C, there is no bearing. The lower-rated malls … are not going to make it.”

As restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues have been able to reopen at Mall of America, traffic has started to rebound — especially around the holidays, said. Triple Five Group. The company, which also operates the American Dream megamall in New Jersey, is hoping 2021 will be a better year for business.

Still, Covid cases continue to rise around the U.S. and the threat of lockdowns being reinstated looms. The U.S. Covid vaccination effort, which was believed to have the potential to spark consumer confidence, also far lags original estimates.

“While the coming months will continue to present unique challenges, we remain optimistic for our business and look forward to the day when we can once again welcome back visitors from around the world,” Jasper said.

Synopsis

• The Mall of America modified the terms of its $1.4 billion mortgage and is current on the loan.
• Triple Five Group, the owner of the largest mall in the U.S., started missing mortgage payments in April, after the Covid crisis temporarily shut stores and tenants failed to pay rent.
• It struck a deal with its lenders, who expressed “strong confidence in the long-term success and viability of Mall of America,” the owners said.