After rent hike, Barneys extends credit line

The retailer now has $50M in credit thanks to deal with Wells Fargo, TPG Sixth Street Partners

Barneys at 660 Madison Avenue (Credit: iStock, Google Maps)
Barneys at 660 Madison Avenue (Credit: iStock, Google Maps)

A rent hike at Barneys New York’s flagship store already seems to be impacting the luxury retailer.

In January, the rent at 660 Madison Avenue officially jumped to about $30 million in January from $16 million and the retailer, which has about $850 million in sales, extended the term of its credit line by $50 million, CNBC reported. The deal extends the retailer’s credit agreement with Wells Fargo and loops in TPG Sixth Street Partners as a lender.

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Sources also told CNBC that the spike wiped out the retailer’s EBITDA — or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, though Barneys said the outlet its EBITDA remains positive.

The markup wasn’t a surprise; Barneys and landlord Ashkenazy Acquisition’s battle over the rent increase has been raging since 2016. The move became final after a city arbitrator last year set the $30 million figure, nearly doubling the retailer’s rent.

Last month, Barneys was reportedly planning to reduce its footprint at 660 Madison Avenue by half, but company officials refuted the report. [CNBC] — Mary Diduch