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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With consumer confidence falling to a six-month low, many consumers are reducing spending and getting back to the basics. Economists are struggling to put the higher prices we are paying into context to rationalize inflation rates, the consumer price index and other spending metrics.
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2021 Fall Finance Conference
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit, sponsor and present at the fall conference.
Stop by and say hello!
Thought Leadership and Educational Session:
Extending Housing and Services to the Middle Market
Session Date & Time: Friday, October 14, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m
Room: TBD
Senior Living Organizations face a heightened cross-current of conditions, combining factors stemming from the pandemic coupled with longer-term trends, many of which accelerated by the crisis – including factors impacting marketing and sales, staffing and operations and financial performance and position. With a return to a (new) normal, shaped by perspective gained throughout the course of the pandemic, this Session will review the current state of the senior living sector, impact on operating and financial performance and, as importantly, implications for continued mission fulfillment and growth in not-for-profit senior living organizations going into 2022 and beyond.
Demand for senior living services is rebounding, albeit with some twists; accordingly, topics to be considered include:
With the return to more normalized resident demand, senior living growth strategies are once again of critical focus, with implications for the composition of senior living campuses and services – topics of consideration include:
Finally, the availability, cost and terms of financing and financing strategies remain of utmost importance, both with regard to the senior living organization’s existing capital structure as well as in funding new capital investment. Capital is widely available and interest rates at multi-decade historic lows – presenting unprecedented opportunities for refinancing as well funding of new growth opportunities.
HJ Sims, with its comprehensive focus on the senior living sector through the provision of financing and advisory services to both Not-for-Profit and For-Profit sponsors over the past 50+ years, offers a well-informed and reasoned insight on the current state of the senior living sector. This Session will include participation from several members of the Sims team including senior living and capital markets research as well as both not-for-profit and for-profit investment banking. These industry veterans draw on industry and market data as well as client case studies to highlight current conditions and future trends.
Learning Objectives:
Featured Speakers:
Contacts:
2021 Conference
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit, sponsor and present at the annual conference.
Visit us at Booth #57.
Session Date & Time: Monday, September 27, 2021 from 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Room: Senator Vandenberg Room A in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Thought Leadership and Educational Session:
The Power of an Innovative Senior Services Board
Not-for-profit senior living management expect their boards to be forward-thinking, strategic and innovative. Innovation at the board level is a function of various elements, including when there is a defined strategic direction and best practices. So, what does an effective board look like? What are some tools boards can use to remain focused on their organizations’ mission? Does the board or management create the strategic plan? This discussion is designed to create an atmosphere for executive management and board members to gain insights into best practices in their journey towards innovation and strategic thinking.
Learning Objectives:
Featured Speakers:
Contact:
2021 Joint Annual Conference on Aging & Trade Show
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit and sponsor at the conference.
Visit us at our Booth.
Contacts:
2021 Conference
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit and present at the fall conference.
Visit us at Booth #042.
Session Date & Time: Friday, October 8 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m
Room: TBD
Thought Leadership and Educational Session:
Extending Housing and Services to the Middle Market
This session will profile successful middle market senior housing models and identify key success factors for development. Understanding the increasing pressure on non-profit providers to maintain financial performance, honor the past, maintain their long standing history and reputation in the market, and meet the demands of the emerging middle market, we will offer strategic solutions that may bring a middle market senior housing product to reality for your organization.
Learning Objectives:
This session will help providers tackle the increasing pressure on senior living providers to meet the demands of the merging middle market. We want to learn what you learned from experienced providers. How are they successfully and profitably operating their middle market models. What are the key success factors for development, pricing, and operating?
Featured Speakers:
Contacts:
Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Community was founded in the 1940s as an organization committed to providing housing and services to elders in the community. Since then, the organization has grown to be one of Charlotte’s most respected aging services providers.
Continue readingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]
HJ Sims Advises Peoples of Bastrop on the Acquisition of a Private Water System via a Taxable Bond Issuance
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 financing in the amount of $10.635 million for Peoples of Bastrop, a privately held water utility operator (Sponsor) specializing in the acquisition and management of private water and wastewater systems reached an agreement to acquire a private system serving 6,000+ customers in North LA (System).
The Sponsor has demonstrated a strong track record of operating water utilities, reducing expenses through the implementation of streamlined operations and economies of scale, but was looking for an innovative approach to acquire an additional water system in their operational footprint.
Sims underwrote the taxable municipal bond issue in the amount of $10.635 million, which was used to purchase the System from the existing operator. Initially, the plan of finance was to take the offering to a limited potential buyer base, but positive market feedback lead to Sims opening the offering to the institutional bond market. To appeal to a broader investor base, and level annual debt service in aggregate, Sims structured one medium-term bond maturing in 2033 and a long-term bond maturing in 2051.
The Sponsor found the taxable bond structure attractive for the acquisition as it provided higher leverage compared to a conventional bank loan, helping avoid raising unsecured subordinate debt at a higher cost of capital or diluting ownership in the System. The bond issue was structured with working capital and system improvements funds, allowing the Sponsor to implement their planned improvements and make necessary upgrades.
The financing consisted of a $2.375 million, 12-year taxable bond at a yield of 5.364%, and a $8.26 million, 30-year taxable bond at a yield of 5.802% underwritten by Sims. The outside-of-the-box, customized financing structure helps the long-time operator preserve strategic capital for additional growth opportunities and for the support of other systems in their portfolio.
“Our company recently acquired a water utility in northeast LA. We were fortunate to engage Sims to underwrite a taxable municipal bond in the amount of $10.635 million used to purchase the system and fund multiple reserve accounts. Jimmy Rester and his team were extremely knowledgeable and brought the necessary experience to close a complex transaction. There is no question that Sims will be a valued partner on all future financing projects we endeavor to accomplish,” Jeff McNew, Co-Founder/Managing Member.
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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In the Cherokee creation myth, when plants and animals were first made, they were told to keep awake for seven nights. The plants who succeeded became evergreens, and all others were doomed to lose their “hair” every winter. The animals who stayed up were given the power to “see” in the dark. Investors trying to create or manage a portfolio in current market conditions either feel like their clear vision of the future will guide them while others feel like they are just dancing in the dark.
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We’ve all heard the expression the “Dog Days of Summer”. Think hot, sultry, languid days, with not much of anything going on. Sims Mortgage Funding questions that if nothing is going on in the HUD mortgage insurance space, what can we glean from this reprieve?
Continue readingIn the process of forward deliveries, we rely upon the close relationships that our veteran sales executives maintain with major buyers, enabling us to structure bonds with prevailing fixed rates for settlement or delivery at a future date.
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$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
Project
Security
Key Financial Covenants
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.
*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
We are literally mid-summer and whether we are in the middle of our vacation or our workweek, we are never more than a few minutes away from a device blasting the latest headlines from every corner of the globe and even news from outer space.
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2021 Conference
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit, sponsor and speak on a session panel.
Visit us at the HJ Sims Booth.
Session Date & Time: Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 8:45am – 9:45am ET
Thought Leadership and Educational Session:
Should I Refinance My Debt? (And If So, How?)
Interest rates remain low and the consensus regarding increased rates is not a matter of if but when. This session will provide a variety of options every organization should explore, from “Cinderella” and forward delivery bonds to tender options and taxable debt to maximize savings. We also will explore refinancing options for HUD-insured projects, including the Section 232/223(f), 223(f) and 223(a)7 mortgage insurance programs, and HUD’s streamlined Interest Rate Reduction (IRR) protocol.
Featured Speakers:
Contacts:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]
HJ Sims Assists Elwyn Secure Replacement $45 million Taxable Credit Facility
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 refinancing for $45,000,000 for Elwyn, the oldest and largest not-for-profit provider of support, treatment and education to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and related behavioral health issues in the U.S.
Headquartered in Media, PA, Elwyn delivers education, residential and community-based treatment, and vocational training programs to more than 20,000 individuals in California, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia. Elwyn generates approximately $400 million in annual revenue and employs 3,500+.
Elwyn engaged Sims in late 2020 to identify and implement a replacement credit facility and a new commercial banking relationship. Elwyn was executing a variety of initiatives pre-COVID19, including:
Elwyn faced COVID-19 related challenges, including reduced/shifted programming and challenged staffing availability. Elwyn effectively continued the transition, resulting in improved profitability along with significant increases in cash flow, which was applied to build liquidity along with a significant pay-down on its outstanding line of credit.
Sims conducted a comprehensive bank solicitation seeking a $45 million taxable credit facility, comprised of a $30 million line of credit and letters of credit for up to $15 million. The facility is secured by a pledge of gross revenues and a mortgage on Elwyn’s main campus on parity with Elwyn’s $56 million of outstanding tax-exempt bonds and tax-exempt/taxable bank debt.
Elwyn opted to combine participation of two new banking partners, with Key Bank providing up to $30 million and Bank United providing up to $15 million. Among the highlights of the new facility are interest rate denominated in SOFR (Secured Overnight Funding Rate) reflective of the upcoming transition from LIBOR as the industry benchmark interest rate; competitive interest rate pricing along with up-front and ongoing fees; integration with Elwyn’s outstanding long-term debt related to debt security and covenants; and expedited closing.
The closing represents an attractive replacement to Elwyn’s prior credit facility, and provides a reduced loan credit spread by approximately 75 basis points with liberalized reporting covenants. Sims was honored to play a role and to continue a 30-year banking relationship with Elwyn.
“We were fortunate to have Jim Bodine and Siamac Afshar shepherd us through the refinancing of our short-term line of credit in FY 2020. This represented a major turning point for Elwyn. Sims facilitated the process during COVID-19 under extraordinary circumstances. The team was professional, experienced and highly competent. Exactly what we needed, precisely when we needed it. We will continue to use Sims for similar activity in the future, post turnaround, as we return to strategic planning and growth,” Charles McLister, CEO, Elwyn.
Financed Right® Solutions—Jim Bodine: 267.360.6245 | [email protected] or Siamac Afshar: 276.360.6250 | [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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Founded in 1852, Elwyn is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse not-for-profit providers of support, treatment and education to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and related behavioral health issues in the U.S.
Continue readingWe are literally mid-summer and whether we are in the middle of our vacation or our workweek, we are never more than a few minutes away from a device blasting the latest headlines from every corner of the globe and even news from outer space.
Continue readingFOR 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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2021 Conference
HJ Sims is proud to be able to attend, exhibit, sponsor and speak on a session panel.
Visit us at Booth #903.
Session Date & Time: Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm ET
Thought Leadership and Educational Session:
Moving Forward: A Successful Affiliation Case Study – Westminster Communities
As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought some communities to the brink, more and more communities are considering affiliation for varying reasons. In this session, we will explore how Westminster Communities of Florida successfully turned around Glenmoor – a community that had been through two bankruptcies and had significant entrance fee liabilities at the time of acquisition.
Westminster Communities of Florida was not only able to turn the community around ahead of schedule, but they brought it into their obligated group ahead of schedule as the addition of Westminster St. Augustine (formerly Glenmoor) was accretive to the Obligated Group. This session will focus more on financial, operational and marketing strategies executed at the operator-level, overcoming negative market sentiment surrounding the outstanding entrance fees, and will briefly touch on the 2020 financing that brought WSA into the Obligated Group.
Featured Speakers:
Contacts:
Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Community was founded in the 1940s as an organization committed to providing housing and services to elders in the community. Since then, the organization has grown to be one of Charlotte’s most respected aging services providers.
Continue reading