Benedictine Health System (July 2021)

Benedictine Logo

Benedictine Health System, a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, is a Catholic healthcare system that provides long-term care services, congregate housing, assisted living, rehabilitation services, and other healthcare and social services. Benedictine owns, or has a controlling interest in, 23 nursing facilities with 1,815 licensed beds and 26 senior housing with services facilities with 1,890 units in five states.

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An Investment Opportunity: Landis Homes

Landis Homes Logo
Landis Homes Logo

$52,210,000*
LANCASTER INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Health Center Revenue Refunding Bonds
Landis Homes Retirement Community
SERIES 2021

HJ Sims is pleased to serve as sole underwriter for tax-exempt Series 2021 revenue refunding bonds on behalf of Landis Homes, located in Lititz, PA. Landis Homes is a not-for-profit retirement community which is home to 875+ persons living in cottages, apartments, hybrids, suites, personal care and healthcare on a 114-acre campus surrounded by
Lancaster County farmland.

Landis Homes is an affiliate of the Landis Communities, which started in the early 1960s when Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (now EMM) began exploring how they might develop a community for retired mission workers, pastors and others. Landis Communities is the location of choice for those who follow the Mennonite faith tradition. There is a very strong connection to the local churches and almost 55% of the residents come from the Mennonite faith. Most Mennonite Communities in Lancaster County do not have a similar representation.

Landis Communities is committed to creatively serving the diverse needs and interests of older adults. These needs come from a cross-section of races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status.

About the Bonds

  • Series 2021
    • $52,210,000*
    • Fitch Rated “BBB-” Stable Outlook
    • Bonds are exempt from Federal Income Tax and exempt from State of Pennsylvania Income Tax
    • Denominations of $5,000; no transfer restrictions
    • Interest will be payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2022
    • First principal payment: July 1, 2023

Project

  • Refund outstanding bank debt
  • Expected renovation and improvement of facilities, independent living areas and housing units.

Security

  • Secured by Master Trust Indenture
    • Includes pledge of Gross Receipts of the Obligated Group and mortgage of substantially all real estate of the Borrower
  • 50% Funded Debt Service Reserve Fund

 Key Financial Covenants

  • 1.20x Debt Service Coverage Ratio; tested annually
  • 120 Days Cash on Hand; tested semi-annually
  • Event of Default if DSRC is below 1.00x for two consecutive fiscal years

We are currently accepting indications of interest for these tax-exempt bonds with an expected pricing the week of September 13, 2021, and anticipated settlement during the week of September 27, 2021. For more information including risks, please read the Preliminary Official Statement in its entirety. If you have interest in purchasing these bonds, please contact your HJ Sims financial professional as soon as possible.

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888.588.7559

*Subject to change

No dealer, broker, salesperson, or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in the Preliminary Official Statement and, if given or made, such other information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Issuer, the Borrower, or the Underwriters. The information set forth herein has been obtained from the Issuer, Borrower, and other sources that are believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness by, and is not construed as a representation of, the Underwriters. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Under no circumstances shall this constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offering or solicitation will be made only to investors pursuant to the Preliminary Official Statement, which should be read in its entirety. Investments involve risk including the possible loss of principal. HJ Sims is a member of FINRA and SIPC, and is not affiliated with Landis Homes

HJ Sims Accomplishes an Intricate and Multi-faceted Refinancing for Aldersgate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]

HJ Sims Accomplishes an Intricate and Multi-faceted Refinancing for Aldersgate

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a July 2021 refinancing for $44,025,000 for Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Community (Aldersgate), a continuing care retirement community in Charlotte, NC.

Sims partnered with Aldersgate in 2019 with a financing for Generations at Shalom Park. In 2020, Sims identified a refunding opportunity for Aldersgate’s outstanding Series 2013 Bonds. In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminated advance refundings using tax-exempt municipal bonds. Therefore, Sims utilized Cinderella Bonds, which would be taxable until the optional redemption date, after which the bonds would convert to tax-exempt, complying with TCJA. Sims proposed that the Cinderella Bonds be purchased by a commercial bank, eliminating the debt service reserve fund requirement for the Series 2013 Bonds. Sims customized the amortization schedule to optimize Aldersgate’s aggregate Maximum Annual Debt Service (MADS) creating an $185,000 in reduced MADS.

In 2021, Aldersgate pursued the Cinderella financing with Sims serving as Placement Agent. Sims and Aldersgate’s financial advisor, Pearl Creek Advisors, conducted a large bank solicitation and held a virtual site visit, requesting proposals for refinancing Aldersgate’s outstanding Series 2017B Bank Debt, which was privately held by Truist Bank. The goals of this refinancing included extending the put date, lowering the credit spread by 80 bps, and eliminating variable interest rate risk. 

Sims and Pearl Creek Advisors negotiated with multiple banks on behalf of Aldersgate to receive the most competitive terms, selecting Truist Bank, whose commitment featured attractive interest rates, a 12-year commitment period, covenants that largely conformed to Aldersgate’s master trust indenture, and a SOFR- (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) based loan. Sims coordinated with Aldersgate’s swap advisor, KPM Financial, to structure three SOFR-based swaps and to terminate the existing Series 2017B swap. The refinancing of the Series 2017B Bank Debt included a tax-exempt swap.

Aldersgate and Truist closed on the $28,685,000 Series 2021A Bonds to defease the Series 2013 Bonds and the $15,340,000 Series 2021B Bonds to refinance the Series 2017B Bank Debt. The Cinderella Bonds offer about $250,000 or $3,889,019 in total savings. The refinancing of the Series 2017B Bank Debt extended the put date by six years, eliminated interest rate risk through the commitment, and lowered the all-in swap rate from 3.9215% to 2.587%. Aldersgate increased its debt service coverage ratio by 0.14 bps.

“It was a pleasure and gift having Sims lead our organization through a successful refinancing. Sims has exceptional technical skills and provided our various stakeholders clear guidance and wise counsel every step. Their processes and people truly create an experience of allowing for alignment of the end goal being accomplished, with honoring our mission and the strategic vision to which we are committed. We are grateful for our partnership with Sims and look forward to future opportunities to work side-by-side toward exciting outcomes for the future of Aldersgate,” Suzanne Pugh, President/CEO, Aldersgate.

Financed Right® Solutions—Tom Bowden: 804.398.8577 | [email protected] or David Saustad: 214.909.8588 | [email protected]

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Sims has nationwide investment banking, private wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of another client’s experience. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

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The FBI Criminal Investigative Division and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) warn of fraudsters

As released by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2021

The FBI Criminal Investigative Division and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) warn of fraudsters swindling investors while pretending to be registered brokers or investment advisers.

Fraudsters may falsely claim to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or a state securities regulator in order to lure investors into scams, or even impersonate real investment professionals who actually are registered with these organizations. Fraudsters may misappropriate the name, address, registration number, logo, photo, or website likeness of a currently or previously registered firm or investment professional. They try to trick investors into believing that they are registered by using a number of tactics, including the following:

  • “Spoofed Websites.” Fraudsters may set up websites using URL addresses or names similar to those of registered firms or investment professionals to trick investors into believing that the fraudsters are registered or that the fraudsters are affiliated with a registered firm or investment professional.
  • Fake Profiles on Social Media. Fraudsters may set up profiles impersonating registered investment professionals on popular social media platforms and then message investors to solicit their money.
  • Cold Calling. Fraudsters may set up boiler rooms with teams of people cold calling investors to solicit their money while claiming to be employees of registered firms. The fraudsters may use technology to make it appear they are calling from the firm’s location.
  • Misrepresenting or Falsifying Documents. Fraudsters may recruit investors by misrepresenting that their firm was registered with the SEC, including pointing to the firm’s Form D filings to support the misrepresentation (to learn more, read this OIEA Investor Alert). Fraudsters may solicit investors by impersonating a registered investment professional and generating a fake version of a public report using the professional’s name and CRD number (to learn more, read this FINRA Investor Alert).

Registration of Investment Professionals. Many sellers of investment products or services are either brokers, investment advisers, or both. Most brokers must register with the SEC and join FINRA. Investment advisers that provide investment advice to retail investors generally must register with the SEC or the state securities regulator where they have their principal place of business.

Verify the identity of anyone offering you an investment. Don’t rely on the website or contact information the person provides you. If you suspect someone is falsely claiming to be registered with the SEC, do not give the person any money and do not share your personal information. Report the person to the SEC.

To quickly and easily check if someone offering you an investment is currently licensed or registered, use the search tool on Investor.gov. Once you confirm that the seller is licensed or registered, make sure you are not dealing with an imposter. Contact the seller using contact information you verify independently – for example, by using a phone number or website listed in the firm’s Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) – rather than relying on contact information the seller provides you. To ensure you are looking at a genuine copy of the firm’s Form CRS, follow these steps:

  1. In the “Check Out Your INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL” search box on Investor.gov, select “Firm” from the drop down options and type in the name of the firm.
  2. In the search results, click on the relevant firm and then click on “Get Details.”
  3. Click on “Relationship Summary” or “Part 3 Relationship Summary.”

For additional information about Form CRS, visit investor.gov/CRS.

Watch Out for Red Flags             

Regardless of whether someone claims to be registered with the SEC, beware if you spot these warning signs of an investment scam:

  • Guaranteed High Investment Returns. Promises of high investment returns – often accompanied by a guarantee of little or no risk – is a classic sign of fraud. Every investment has risk, and the potential for high returns usually comes with high risk.
  • Unsolicited Offers. Unsolicited offers (you didn’t ask for it and don’t know the sender) to earn investment returns that seem “too good to be true” may be part of a scam.
  • Red flags in Payment Methods for Investments.
    • Credit Cards. Most licensed and registered investment firms do not allow their customers to use credit cards to invest.
    • Digital Asset Wallets and “Cryptocurrencies.” Licensed and registered financial firms typically do not require their customers to use digital asset wallets or digital assets, including so-called “cryptocurrencies,” to invest.
    • Wire Transfers and Checks. If you pay for an investment by wire transfer or check, be suspicious if you’re being asked to send or to make the payment out to a person or to a different firm, the address is suspicious (for example, an online search for the address suggests it is not an office building where the firm operates), or you are told to note that the payment is for a purpose unrelated to the investment (for example, medical expenses or a loan to a family member). If you wire money outside of the United States for an investment that turns out to be a scam, you likely will never see your money again. 

Report possible securities fraud to the SEC at www.sec.gov/tcr. Report online fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov.

The SEC maintains a list of Impersonators of Genuine Firms. This list is not exhaustive – firms may be impersonated even if they are not on the list.

FINRA staff issued an article about imposter schemes.

More information about online frauds and investment scams can be found at www.fbi.gov or Investor.gov, the SEC’s website for individual investors.    

You can contact the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) by phone at 1-800-732-0330, using this online form, or via email at [email protected]. 

Receive Investor Alerts and Bulletins from OIEA by email or RSS feed. Follow OIEA on Twitter @SEC_Investor_Ed. Like OIEA on Facebook at facebook.com/secinvestoreducation.

This alert represents the views of the staff of the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. It is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”). The Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. This bulletin, like all staff guidance, has no legal force or effect: it does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.

HJ Sims Advises Poydras Home on Expansion Project, Community Improvements and Refinancing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]

HJ Sims Advises Poydras Home on Expansion Project, Community Improvements and Refinancing

 FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a May 2021 financing in the amount of $23,340,000 for Poydras Home (Poydras), a continuing care retirement community in New Orleans, LA.

Opened in 1857, Poydras now consists of 10 independent living units, 22 assisted living units, 11 memory care units and 64 private nursing care beds. Poydras will replace all 64 nursing units with a small-house model and add 14 new assisted living units across two three-story buildings. Poydras engaged Sims to assist in developing a plan of finance, and to navigate and plan for operations post-COVID-19.

Poydras will be the first certified Green House project in Louisiana, featuring an innovative Green Home model of care where the resident’s needs are at the center of all decisions. This person-centered approach provides residents with individualized care and higher levels of satisfaction. The Green Homes will be housed in two new three-story buildings on the campus. Building 1 will feature three nursing care households with 12 residents, and Building 2 will be comprised of two nursing care households with 14 residents and one assisted living memory care household with 14 residents. Each home will offer private bedrooms and baths, open-concept kitchen, dining room, living room, den, and outdoor space overlooking gardens.

Sims evaluated plans of finance and structured two taxable loans with a commercial bank. Poydras sought to refinance the organization’s outstanding loan to create debt service savings. Sims coordinated with management and the Board of Poydras on a strategy that combined their two financing goals: funding their new project (Construction Loan), and refinancing their existing loan (Refinancing Loan). Sims led the bank RFP process, selecting Hancock Whitney as the preferred banking partner. As well, Poydras was notified that their planned construction contractor would be unable to complete the project; therefore, Sims worked closely with the team to revise the plan of finance and secure a new construction partner.

Poydras Home, Sims, and Hancock Whitney closed the $23.34 million financing, which consisted of a $16.50 million taxable draw-down construction loan and a $6.84 million taxable refunding loan. Hancock Whitney served as the commercial lending partner for both loans. The Series Construction Loan was issued with a 25-year principal amortization and 10-year term with a 24-month capitalized interest period and a forward-starting swap drawdown structure to provide significant savings. The Refunding Loan was issued with a 25-year term with a significant rate premium to break the existing swap.

“Poydras was impressed with the responsiveness of our partners at Sims in resolving questions and concerns when working with an active Board of Directors, during a building supply shortage, an uncertain economic landscape, a pandemic and via Zoom. The process was much less stressful than our previous transactions, and we left knowing we got a great deal for the future of our mission at Poydras. Our duty is to provide the best care for our elders and to protect the assets of Poydras, which will be met with this expansion. We are grateful for Sims’ expertise,” said Erin Kolb, CEO, Poydras.

Financed Right® Solutions—James Rester: 901.652.7378 | [email protected] or Ryan Snow: 843.870.4081 | [email protected]

 ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Sims has nationwide investment banking, private wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of another client’s experience. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

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Asbury Communities Partners Again with HJ Sims to Achieve Savings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]

Asbury Communities Partners Again with HJ Sims to Achieve Savings  

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a June 2021 financing for $47,615,000 for Asbury Communities, Inc. (Asbury), which owns/operates life plan communities in PA, MD, and TN, HUD Section 202 senior housing, a foundation and a technology consulting firm. The facilities included in its PA and MD Obligated Groups are owned/operated by Asbury Atlantic, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asbury.

Asbury’s PA Obligated Group (PA Obligated Group) is comprised of two life plan communities – Bethany Village Retirement Center (Bethany) in Mechanicsburg, PA, and Springhill in Erie, PA. Bethany includes two campuses with 400 independent and 100 assisted living units, and a 69-bed skilled nursing center and amenities. Springhill has 158 independent living and 35 personal care units, and an 80-bed skilled nursing facility.

Sims served as underwriter for several Asbury transactions, including a $59.5 million financing in 2019 and a 2020 refinancing. The objectives were to maximize debt service savings while minimizing/eliminating renewal risk associated with traditional commercial bank financings. Sims recommended a hybrid finance plan with benefits of a traditional bank loan and a fixed rate bond issuance. 

The refinancing of the Series 2012 Bonds consisted of a bank loan in the amount of $20,380,000 and tax-exempt fixed-rate bonds in the amount of $27,235,000. The bank loan utilized the Cinderella Bond structure, with initial issuance on a taxable basis until eligible for conversion to a tax-exempt rate in October 2021. The favorable cost of capital and the loan fully amortizing over a 12-year term eliminates need to refinance the debt. A forward starting interest rate swap was arranged, set to initiate upon conversion to a tax-exempt interest rate, resulting in a synthetically fixed rate for the bank loan. 

A forward commitment for the fixed-rate bond portion refinanced the remainder of Series 2012 Bonds with principal amortization beginning following maturity of the bank loan. The structure leveraged a favorable interest rate to lock-in pricing. Asbury sought to maintain savings as rates continued to rise targeting at least 10% savings. The taxable loan will be refinanced by a tax-exempt bank loan and the tax-exempt bonds will be delivered October 4, 2021. The loan and Series 2021 Bonds maintained level debt service for the PA Obligated Group for the remaining life of the bonds, providing savings of 11.73%.

For the PA Obligated Group, the aggregate $47,615,000 Series 2021 Bonds are projected to generate $400,000+ of annual debt service savings through 2041 and net present value (NPV) savings of $5.5 million. Inclusion of the bank improved Asbury’s savings relative to a fixed rate forward refunding structure for the full refinancing by providing approximately 20% of the total NPV savings, lowering cost of capital and interest expense while maintaining certainty of future debt service for the life of the bonds.

“Once again, Sims helped Asbury navigate through a complicated transaction, which lowered interest costs while maintaining existing covenants and all other material debt terms,” said Andrew Jeanneret, CFO, Asbury.

Financed Right®: Aaron Rulnick: 203.418.9008 | [email protected]  or Melissa Messina: 203.418.9015 | [email protected].

 

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Sims has nationwide investment banking, private wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of another client’s experience. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

 

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