HJ Sims Advises Presbyterian Villages of Michigan on Financing Independent Living Rental Expansion Project

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

October 15, 2020

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

HJ Sims Advises Presbyterian Villages of Michigan on Financing Independent Living Rental Expansion Project

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful September 2020 financing in the amount of approximately $38.18 million for Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM), an award-winning non-profit, aging services network assisting people of all faiths and diverse communities across MI since 1945.

Sims completed its first financing with PVM in 2015, serving as underwriter for PVM’s Series 2015 bonds. Since 2015, Sims has continued to provide PVM with advisory services for planning future capital expansion projects, monitoring debt capacity and analyzing the obligated group structure.

In 2002, PVM acquired land immediately adjacent to its Village of East Harbor campus for an expansion project. In 2018, The Village of East Harbor completed a new Health and Wellness Center. The current project being financed comprises the final phase of the Health and Wellness Center project, and a new independent living rental expansion project known as Harbor Inn. The Harbor Inn campus will include 12 rental single-level ranch homes, 36 rental independent living units, and a three-story apartment building, encompassing 60 independent living units.

PVM’s board, based on analysis provided by Sims, decided to absorb the Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Green Houses at Rivertown Neighborhood (Weinberg) into the Obligated Group, in addition to adding Harbor Inn to the Obligated Group. Sims worked with PVM and Fitch Ratings to secure a “BB” rating for the new bond issuance, and existing Series 2015 bonds. Weinberg is a 501(c)(3) designated, MI non-profit corporation located in Detroit. PVM has a Use Agreement with PACE Southeast MI, a joint venture of Henry Ford Health System and PVM, for the exclusive use of the Weinberg. Absorbing Weinberg into the Obligated Group allowed PVM to refinance the Weinberg Green Houses’ outstanding CDFI debt as part of the 2020 tax exempt bond financing.

The financing successfully closed on September 30, consisting of $18.18 million of Series 2020A bonds underwritten by Sims, and $20 million Series 2020B direct placement draw-down bonds purchased by Huntington Public Capital Corporation.

The Series 2020B bonds were issued in a floating-rate mode and hedged with a forward-starting SWAP beginning at the end of the draw period, and cancellable in five years, as well as a seven-year final maturity matching the loan tenor. The projected combined cost of capital of the 2020A and 2020B bonds is 3.48%.

“Following up on the 2015 restructuring and financing, HJ Sims went back to work with PVM’s Board and management leadership to provide key guidance to PVM’s next steps in expanding and strengthening its Obligated Group, resulting in the 2020 restructuring and financing, remarkably during COVID-19. Sims provided excellent leadership to the financing team. PVM looks forward to working with our partners at Sims as we immediately explore other financing needs to expand and reposition our service offerings,” Said Brian Carnaghi, SVP of Finance and Business Development, CFO, Treasurer, PVM.

Financed Right® Solutions—Aaron Rulnick: [email protected], 301-424-9135 | Patrick Mallen: 301-448-7111,  [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.

HJ Sims Underwrites $135 Million Expansion for Phase II of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

October 5, 2020

 

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

 

HJ Sims Underwrites $135 Million Expansion for Phase II of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful September 2020 financing in the amount of approximately $135 million for the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton (Sinai). Located in Boca Raton, Sinai is a life plan community managed by Life Care Services comprised of 234 independent living units, 48 assisted living units, 24 memory-support units, 60 skilled nursing beds and common amenities. Sinai opened in January 2016 and achieved stabilized occupancy in less than a year. Sinai is located on The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Florida campus.

 

The Sinai Board determined to undergo an expansion to add 111 independent living units to the community. Sinai and its development partner, LCS-D, had commenced pre-development work to shorten its post-financing construction period and were driving towards a September 15 vertical construction start, amidst COVID-19. Sinai experienced strong pre-sale velocity despite the pandemic, and achieved 70% pre-sales during the bond marketing process.

 

Due to the accelerated post-financing construction period, and Sinai’s track record of rapidly filling independent living units, coupled with COVID-19 impacted constraints on bank financing, Sims and the Sinai team issued tax-exempt fixed rate bonds for the entire expansion. Sinai financed a portion of its development costs with taxable bonds, creating a $5 million taxable tranche of Entrance Fee Principal Redemption Bonds®.

 

Sims underwrote Entrance Fee Principal Redemption Bonds® up to approximately 91% of the initial entrance-fee pool of the expansion. The Series 2020 Bonds were robustly oversubscribed, permitting adjustment of the scale on the pricing date such that the long-term bonds (2055 maturity) were priced at 5.00% to yield 4.60%, permitting Sinai to borrow approximately $135 million with only a $2.4 million increase in maximum annual debt service over their existing maximum annual debt service. Sims facilitated the implementation of modifications to Sinai’s existing master trust indenture – providing greater flexibility on testing of debt service coverage (switching to annual versus quarterly testing) to accommodate intra-year swings in entrance fee turnover.

 

“Once again, HJ Sims has provided their exceptional professional expertise providing pre-development and construction development financing, in the amount of $135 million, for the Phase II Expansion of the Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton. Sims was the underwriter in 2014 for the $214 million bond issuance for the Sinai Residences initial start-up and development financing. Sinai Residences is now one of the most successful premiere luxury senior living facilities in the country.

The Sims’ team’s preparedness, availability, scheduling, communication, personal touch and extensive knowledge of the bond industry and markets allowed the Sinai Expansion project to be funded on-time and at exceptional rates. An owner could not ask for better representation. I look forward to the continuation of our outstanding relationship, and future funding opportunities, with Sims,” said Mel Lowell, COO, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, and Board Member, Sinai.

Financed Right® Solutions—Aaron Rulnick: [email protected], 301-424-9135 | Melissa Messina: 203-418-9015,  [email protected] | Brady Richardson 443-340-9980,  [email protected] | Patrick Mallen: 418-9009,  [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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HJ Sims Secures $6.5 million Additional Debt Financing for Capital Improvements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HJ Sims Secures $6.5 million Additional Debt Financing for Capital Improvements

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful August 2020 transaction in the amount of $6.5 million additional debt financing for capital improvements for the Philadelphia Protestant Home (PPH). PPH operates a continuing care retirement community in northeast Philadelphia, featuring 266 independent living units, 175 personal-care units and 126-bed nursing facility.

PPH has been funding capital improvements from general fund revenues. To efficiently manage cash-flow, PPH elected to finance $6.5 million of upcoming capital improvements. Sims, as financial advisor, developed a financing plan that provided for the funding of the required capital improvements, while implementing a structure that maintained maximum flexibility to maintain their debt service at manageable levels.

Prior to engaging PPH’s existing banking partner, Citizens Bank (Citizens), Sims worked with the PPH Fiscal Oversight Committee to develop structuring options. Following engagement of Citizens, Sims led the effort in working with Citizens to finalize the debt structure, within the confines of the bank’s requirements. Due to impacts of COVID-19, Sims negotiated a modified Debt Service Coverage test to the benefit of PPH. The additional obligations were structured as parity debt with PPH’s outstanding Series 2015 obligations.

Citizens provided $6.5 million of senior debt financing, fully amortizing in ten-years, and a five-year interest-only period followed by monthly principal amortization. The obligations were structured with a five-year, PPH-owned par call provision, and were issued on a tax-exempt basis through the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID). This provision was paramount as PPH’s existing Series 2015 Obligations mature in seven years, while Citizens could only defer principal on the Series 2020 obligations for five years. This call feature will allow PPH to restructure future debt at minimal cost.

Following closing of the Series 2020 Bonds, PPH locked in a synthetic fixed-rate on the debt. Sims served as Swap Advisor for the swap transaction, which also bears a mirroring, PPH-owned par termination right in five years, to align with the Citizens’ loan.

Sims, Citizens, PAID and the financing team worked diligently with PPH to secure final approvals, including navigating through unanticipated delays followed by the onset of COVID-19, to successfully close the financing.

“The HJ Sims’ commitment to incomparable client services has once again served The Philadelphia Protestant Home well. Despite the unforeseen challenges and uncertainly resulting from the pandemic, the Sims’ team provided valuable insight and unwavering advocacy to assure our financing needs were achieved. We are thankful for our partnership, the integrity, and collaboration with Aaron Rulnick and Siamac Afshar, for always putting what is in the best interest of PPH, first,” said John Dubyk, CEO, PPH. Philadelphia Protestant Home

Financed Right® Solutions—Aaron Rulnick: [email protected] or 301-424-9135 | Siamac Afshar: [email protected] or 267-360-6250.

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, HJ Sims has nationwide investment banking, private client wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

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Financing the Perception of Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2020

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

Financing the Perception of Safety
Senior Living Survey Finds Residents Feel Safe, Glad to be Part of a Community during Pandemic 

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, participated in the Senior Living COVID-19 Sentiment Report, which surveyed 4,000+ current and prospective senior living community residents, assessing their thoughts/ feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic. Lynn Daly, Executive Vice President, Sims’ Chicago office, authored content included in the 104-page report, COVID-19 Sentiment Report: A Survey of Independent Living Desirability & Safety.

The Survey, published by Plante Moran Living Forward and Retirement DYNAMICS®, was distributed to 23,000+ residents, prospective residents and staff at senior independent living communities nation-wide.

Among the results, it was discovered that of more than 4,000 current and prospective senior living community residents, 77% of current senior living community residents were somewhat or strongly supportive of living in a community during the Pandemic, with 87% of prospective community residents feeling somewhat or strongly glad to be living at home during the Pandemic. Click here to download the report.

While surveyed prospects worried about social isolation and daily tasks when living in their own homes, Survey results showed a slight decrease in their likelihood to move into an independent living community due to the Pandemic. The survey revealed:

  • 92% of staff felt their community responded well to Pandemic.
  • 93% of residents felt their community took all precautions.
  • 85% of staff agreed residents “are safer in their community than in their previous homes.”
  • 77% of residents said they were “glad to be living in a community during the Pandemic,” with 86% affirming they were glad they moved.
  • Prospective residents (61%) and residents (68%) felt socially isolated during shelter-in-place.
  • 74% of prospective residents reported their time frame for a move has been unchanged.

While independent living communities received high marks from seniors on cleanliness, sanitation and communications, communities earned low grades on recreation activities, dining and technology offered during shelter-in-place.

The Survey received a 21.1% overall response, and was sent to independent senior living communities throughout the U.S., generating 7,000+ comments. The results indicate that prospective senior living residents recognize that living in a community would provide them peace of mind, safety and security. However, they are happy to be home during the Pandemic. For senior living providers and operators, making small operational changes can improve prospective residents’ perceptions, with the hope that they will make the commitment and enjoy what moving to a campus would provide.

“HJ Sims is deeply passionate about the providers we serve. We appreciate that COVID-19 has stretched our provider clients in unimaginable ways, including resident and staff safety, retention/recruitment of staff, uncertainty and negative press. We welcome helping those in the industry become more knowledgeable about COVID-19 and are pleased to provide relevant data on what providers are doing right, and where they can improve to align themselves with the perceived needs of consumers and staff. We have tremendous faith in the non-profit senior living model and embrace the opportunity to support its sustainability and resilience,” said Daly.

Ms. Daly has 30+ years of experience working exclusively with nonprofit organizations on their financing needs. Read more here.

Lynn Daly: [email protected] | 312-505-5688.

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, HJ Sims has nationwide investment banking, private client wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

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It Is Best to Read Past the Headlines When It Comes To the COVID-19 Impact

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Genesis Healthcare, Inc. (GEN) the largest nursing home provider in the U.S., released its earnings report last week. The report, and the earnings call, provided some interesting insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing home industry.

A variety of financial media outlets reported that Genesis was “battered,” “brought to its knees” and “staring down bankruptcy.” Keeping with the theme of constant negative news that the nursing homes (and senior care industry, in general) are facing in the media. These drastic headlines caught our and our investors’ attention. However, after reading the earnings report and listening to the earnings call, a very different picture emerged – one that is much more cautiously optimistic and in-line with what we are seeing among the senior living communities we have financed.

The real loss – As George Hager, the President of Genesis, explained on the earnings call, COVID-19 dealt a heavy blow to Genesis. However, as Hager points out, the company’s nursing homes, concentrated in the northeast, are already showing signs of recovery. While the company estimated that it had experienced pandemic-related operating losses in Q2 of $213 million, along with an 11% drop in occupancy, what the press did not report was that Genesis also received $228 million in government assistance (not included in earnings) through rate increases, grants, Paycheck Protection Program and other financial assistance. Genesis also reported that some of their hardest hit communities are now COVID-19-free and are seeing improved occupancy rates.

Tom DiVittorio, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Genesis directed attention to the fact that nearly 90% of the $145 million of COVID-19-specific additional costs incurred in Q2 were labor-related. DiVittorio further reported that: “These cost levels have come down since their peak in the month of May, as we systematically reduced reliance on expensive agency labor and thoughtfully ratcheted back enhanced pay programs and practices that were absolutely essential during the peak of the outbreaks.”

Tracking the COVID-19 Impact

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Is Genesis “facing down bankruptcy?” The “bankruptcy” reference was included in a number of stories and a reference to bankruptcy was included in the earnings report, but a little further reading provides context. As Genesis’ CFO highlighted during the earnings call, under Sarbanes Oxley, Genesis was required to do an analysis of whether they would be able to meet all their financial obligations if (1) they received no further government funding and (2) they made no expense reductions. Of course, the answer to that question was that under those circumstances, they would be in financial trouble and face bankruptcy. It was this last statement that made the headlines in much of the financial media. On its earnings call, the company shares that this analysis needs to be put into context since (1) there are already additional funds earmarked for nursing homes in the previously passed CARES Act, and provisions for additional funding exists in each of the House and Senate bills being considered; (2) Genesis is taking actions to control expenses; and (3) and Genesis expects to continue its plan to divest of unprofitable assets.

We find that the Genesis experience is similar to many of our investment partners’ encounters in the senior care realm. The industry was hit hard, but has shown great determination in fending off the blow and adjusting their business. Changes to Medicare rules and government assistance measures have helped offset some of the loss, but such help will continue to be necessary until senior housing providers can rebuild occupancy. Occupancy in nursing homes is climbing as hospitals return to stability. Some in the senior- housing world are witnessing a boost in interest as seniors who suffered through the pandemic in isolation at home are seeking a more supportive alternative. While the industry is not out of the woods just yet, it is best not to take COVID-19 headlines at face value.