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Seritage (SRG) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Jun 30, 2026, filed Aug 14, 2026
Risk Change Over Time
- Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1We have been, and in the future may be, subject to securities class action and other litigation, which may harm our business and results of operations.
We are involved in legal proceedings related to various matters, including securities litigation, and may become involved in other legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the future. For example, as discussed further in Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Part I, Item I, on July 1, 2024, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a class action lawsuit alleging that the Company, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, and the Company's Chief Financial Officer violated the federal securities laws by issuing false, misleading, and/or omissive disclosures concerning the Company's alleged lack of effective internal controls regarding the identification and review of impairment indicators for investments in real estate and the Company's value and projected gross proceeds of certain real estate assets. The complaint seeks compensatory damages in an unspecified amount to be proven at trial, an award of reasonable costs and expenses to the plaintiff and class counsel, and such other and further relief as the court may deem just and proper. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations but there can be no assurance as of outcome. An unfavorable outcome in this litigation and other legal proceedings may have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity of the Company.
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 44
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1The Series A Preferred Shares are subordinate in right of payment to our existing and future debt, and the interests of the holders of Series A Preferred Shares could be diluted by the issuance of additional preferred shares, including additional Series A Preferred Shares, and by other transactions.
The Series A Preferred Shares rank junior to all of our existing and future debt and to other non-equity claims on us and our assets available to satisfy claims against us, including claims in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings. Our future debt may include restrictions on our ability to pay dividends to preferred shareholders. As of December 31, 2025, our total indebtedness was $50.0 million. In addition, we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. Our Declaration of Trust currently authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred shares in one or more classes or series. Our Board of Trustees has the power to reclassify unissued common shares and preferred shares and to amend our Declaration of Trust, without any action by our shareholders, to increase the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest of any class or series, including preferred shares, that we are authorized to issue. The issuance of additional preferred shares on parity with or senior to the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up would dilute the interests of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares, and any issuance of preferred shares senior to the Series A Preferred Shares or of additional indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to pay dividends on, redeem or pay the liquidation preference on the Series A Preferred Shares. Other than the limited conversion right afforded to holders of Series A Preferred Shares that may occur in connection with a Change of Control, none of the provisions relating to the Series A Preferred Shares contain any provisions relating to or limiting our indebtedness or affording the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction, including a merger or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all our assets or business, that might adversely affect the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares, so long as the rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Shares are not materially and adversely affected.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2An active trading market may not develop for the Series A Preferred Shares or, even if it does develop, may not continue, which may negatively affect the market value of, and the ability of holders of our Series A Preferred Shares to transfer or sell, their shares.
Since the Series A Preferred Shares have no stated maturity date, investors seeking liquidity will be limited to selling their shares in the secondary market. The Series A Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "SRG PRA," but there can be no assurance that an active trading market on the NYSE for the Series A Preferred Shares will develop or continue, in which case the market price of the Series A Preferred Shares could be materially and adversely affected and the ability to transfer or sell Series A Preferred Shares would be limited. The market price of the shares will depend on many factors, including: - prevailing interest rates;- the market for similar securities;- investors' perceptions of us;- our issuance of additional preferred equity or indebtedness;- complications, or any public perception of complications, regarding the Plan of Sale;- general economic and market conditions, including a possible recession; and - our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3The Series A Preferred Shares have not been rated.
The Series A Preferred Shares have not been rated, and may never be rated, by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, which may negatively affect their market value and your ability to sell such shares. It is possible, however, that one or more rating agencies might independently determine to assign a rating to the Series A Preferred Shares or that we may elect to obtain a rating of the Series A Preferred Shares in the future. Furthermore, we may elect to issue other securities for which we may seek to obtain a rating. If any ratings are assigned to the Series A Preferred Shares in the future or if we issue other securities with a rating, such ratings, if they are lower than market expectations or are subsequently lowered or withdrawn, could adversely affect the market for or the market value of the Series A Preferred Shares. Ratings only reflect the views of the issuing rating agency or agencies, and such ratings could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency. Any such downward revision or withdrawal of a rating could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Series A Preferred Shares. Further, a rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any particular security, including the Series A Preferred Shares. In addition, ratings do not reflect market prices or suitability of a security for a particular investor and any future rating of the Series A Preferred Shares may not reflect all risks related to us and our business, or the structure or market value of the Series A Preferred Shares.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4The number of shares available for future sale could adversely affect the market price of Class A common shares.
We cannot predict whether future issuances of Class A common shares or the availability of Class A common shares for resale in the open market will decrease the market price per share of Class A common shares. Sales of a substantial number of Class A common shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales might occur, could adversely affect the market price of the Class A common shares.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5We have issued Series A Preferred Shares, which, along with future offerings of debt or preferred equity securities, rank senior to our common shares for purposes of distributions or upon liquidation, and may adversely affect the market price of our common shares.
We have issued 2,800,000 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, which are senior to our common shares for purposes of distributions or upon liquidation. The Series A Preferred Shares may limit our ability to make distributions to holders of our common shares. In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or preferred equity securities, including medium-term notes, trust preferred securities, senior or subordinated notes and preferred shares. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities, Series A Preferred Shares and any additional preferred shares and lenders with respect to other borrowings may receive distributions of our available assets prior to the holders of our common shares. Any additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders or reduce the market price of our common shares, or both. Holders of our common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution, and will have no voting rights in connection with the issuance of these securities. Our Series A Preferred Shares have, and any additional preferred shares of beneficial interest issued could have, a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on distribution payments that could limit our ability to make a distribution to the holders of our common shares. Since our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend in part on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our shareholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common shares and diluting their holdings in us.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6The market price and trading volume of our securities may be volatile.
The market price of our securities may be volatile, and the trading volume in our securities may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of our securities or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our securities include: - actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly results of operations;- changes in our funds from operations or earnings estimates;- publication of research reports about us or the real estate or retail industries;- increases in market interest rates that may cause purchasers of our securities to demand a higher yield;- changes in market valuations of similar companies;- adverse market reaction to any additional debt we may incur in the future;- actions by ESL, or by institutional shareholders;- speculation in the press or investment community about our company or industry or the economy in general;- adverse performance or potential financial distress or bankruptcy of our major tenants;- the occurrence of any of the other risk factors presented in this filing;- complications, or any public perception of complications, regarding the Plan of Sale;- specific real estate market and real estate economic conditions; and - general market and economic conditions, including a possible recession.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7Holders of Series A Preferred Shares will have limited voting rights.
Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares have limited voting rights. Our Class A common shares and our non-economic shares are currently the only shares of beneficial interest of our company with full voting rights. Voting rights for holders of Series A Preferred Shares exist primarily with respect to the right to elect two additional trustees to our Board of Trustees in the event that six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) payable on the Series A Preferred Shares are in arrears, and with respect to voting on amendments to our Declaration of Trust or articles supplementary relating to the Series A Preferred Shares that would materially and adversely affect the rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Shares or create additional classes or series of our shares that are senior to the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. Other than in limited circumstances, holders of Series A Preferred Shares will not have any voting rights.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8Our Declaration of Trust and bylaws and Maryland law contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent an acquisition of Class A common shares or a change in control.
The Company's Declaration of Trust and bylaws and Maryland law contain a number of provisions, the exercise or existence of which could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our shareholders or otherwise be in their best interests, including the following: - The Company's Board of Trustees Has the Power to Cause Us to Issue Additional Shares of Beneficial Interest and Classify and Reclassify Any Unissued Class A Common Shares without Shareholder Approval. Our Declaration of Trust authorizes us to issue additional authorized but unissued common shares or preferred shares of beneficial interest. We have also issued 2,800,000 Series A Preferred Shares that are senior to our common shares with respect to priority of dividend payments and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In addition, the Board of Trustees may, without shareholder approval, (i) amend the Declaration of Trust to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest or the number of shares of beneficial interest of any class or series that we have authority to issue and (ii) classify or reclassify any unissued common shares or preferred shares of beneficial interest and set the preferences, rights and other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. As a result, the Board of Trustees may establish a class or series of common shares or preferred shares of beneficial interest that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for Class A common shares or otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders. - Trustee Elections Require a Vote of Two-Thirds of the Class A Common Shares and Class B Non-Economic Common Shares Votes Cast. In accordance with the Company's bylaws, in both contested and uncontested elections at any Annual Meeting of Shareholders, trustees are elected by the vote of two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of Class A common shares and Class B non-economic common shares (voting together as a single class). In the event that an incumbent trustee does not receive a sufficient percentage of votes cast for election, he or she will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees until a successor is duly elected and qualifies. The requirement that trustee nominees receive a vote of two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of Class A common shares and Class B non-economic shares (voting together as a single class) may have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of the Board of Trustees. The requirement that trustee nominees receive a vote of two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of the Class A common shares and Class B non-economic shares (voting together as a single class) may also have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to elect trustee nominees that do not receive the votes of shares of our largest shareholder, Mr. Lampert, who owned approximately 23.8% of the Company's outstanding Class A common shares as of December 31, 2025. - Certain Provisions of Maryland Law May Limit the Ability of a Third Party to Acquire Control of Us. Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") applicable to Maryland REITs may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from acquiring us or of impeding a change of control of the Company under circumstances that otherwise could provide Class A common shareholders with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of such shares or otherwise be in the best interest of shareholders, including: o"business combination" provisions that, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, prohibit certain business combinations between a Maryland REIT and an "interested shareholder" (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the Company's outstanding voting shares or an affiliate or associate of the Maryland REIT who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the Company) or an affiliate of any interested shareholder and the Maryland REIT for five years after the most recent date on which the shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, and thereafter imposes two supermajority shareholder voting requirements on these combinations;o"control share" provisions that provide that, subject to certain exceptions, holders of "control shares" of our company (defined as voting shares that, if aggregated with all other shares owned or controlled by the acquirer, would entitle the acquirer to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing trustees) acquired in a "control share acquisition" (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of issued and outstanding "control shares") have no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by our shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares; and oAdditionally, Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL permits the Board of Trustees, without shareholder approval and notwithstanding any contrary provisions in our Declaration of Trust or bylaws, to implement certain takeover defenses. The Board of Trustees has, by resolution, exempted from the provisions of the Maryland Business Combination Act all business combinations (a) between us and (i) Sears Holdings or its affiliates or (ii) ESL Investments, Inc. or Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C. ("FCM") and/or certain clients of FCM or their respective affiliates and (b) between us and any other person, provided that in the latter case the business combination is first approved by the Board of Trustees (including a majority of our trustees who are not affiliates or associates of such person). In addition, our bylaws contain a provision opting out of the Maryland control share acquisition act.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9Our rights and the rights of our shareholders to take action against our trustees and officers are limited.
As permitted by Maryland Law, the Company's Declaration of Trust limits the liability of its trustees and officers to Seritage and its shareholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from: - actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or - a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the trustee or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated. In addition, our Declaration of Trust authorizes us and our bylaws obligate us to indemnify our present and former trustees and officers for actions taken by them in those capacities and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, and we have entered into indemnification agreements with our trustees and executive officers. As a result, the Company and our shareholders may have more limited rights against our trustees and officers than might otherwise exist absent the provisions in our Declaration of Trust and bylaws or that might exist with other companies. Accordingly, in the event that our trustees or officers are immune or exculpated from, or indemnified against, liability in connection with actions taken by any such trustees or officers, which actions impede our performance, the Company and our shareholders' ability to recover damages from that trustee or officer will be limited.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10Mr. Lampert may exert substantial influence over us, and his interests may differ from or conflict with the interests of our other shareholders.
As of December 31, 2025, Mr. Lampert owned approximately 23.8% of our outstanding Class A common shares. Mr. Lampert previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Sears Holdings and was previously the Chairman of the Seritage Board of Trustees. In any matter affecting us, the interests of Mr. Lampert may differ or conflict with the interests of our other shareholders. On March 1, 2022, Mr. Lampert filed a Schedule 13D/A with the SEC disclosing his support for our Board of Trustees' efforts to explore and pursue strategic alternatives and his intention to explore alternatives for his investment in the Company, which may include, among other things, participating with third parties that may be interested in acquiring some or all of our assets and buying or selling shares in open market transactions. In the event of any such transaction, the interests of Mr. Lampert and his affiliates, may differ from or conflict with the interests of our other shareholders.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 11We cannot assure our shareholders of the amount they will receive in shareholder distributions under the Plan of Sale or when they will receive them.
The net proceeds that will be distributed to our Class A shareholders over time (directly or through a liquidating trust or other liquidating entity) from the Plan of Sale will be based on a number of factors including: (a) the actual proceeds from the sale of our assets; (b) the repayment of our Term Loan Facility, (c) the redemption of the Company's outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, (d) the settlement of certain financial obligations, (e) the debt service and dividends on Series A Preferred Shares prior to repayment and redemption, (f) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the sale of our assets, (g) the expenses and capital expenditures to be incurred and revenue to be generated from our properties prior to disposition and estimates of the general administrative expenses, (h) the wind-down costs of the Company and (i) the Company's taxes and other liabilities. The estimates initially prepared and included in our 2022 annual proxy statement about the amount of shareholder distributions that we may make in connection with the Plan of Sale were based on many estimates and assumptions (which were derived based on data and information reviewed by Company management and advisors as of or prior to June 2022), one or more of which may prove to be incorrect and/or, as noted above, may be adversely affected by market conditions and other circumstances that have changed since the preparation of those estimates. As a result, the actual amount of shareholder distributions may be less than we initially estimated and/or may be paid later than we predicted. We also note that, if our liabilities (including, without limitation, tax liabilities and compliance costs) are greater than we currently expect or if the sales prices of our assets are less than we expect, shareholders will receive less distributions for each common share that they currently own than we initially estimated. In addition, such estimated shareholder distributions do not reflect estimated costs or liabilities related to pending and any future litigation.
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