HJ Sims forges a new stage in the world of investments

Raul Escudero, Managing Director, HJ Sims Puerto Rico said the firm is looking for young talent interested in forging a career in the investment world.

Escudero believes that the local economy shows encouraging signs and proposes to create a new strain of financial advisors on the island.

Read more in EL Neuvo Dia.

HJ Sims Advises on Poydras Homes Expansion Project

HJ Sims announced it closed $23,340,000 in financing for Poydras Homes, a continuing care retirement community in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The CCRC includes 64 private nursing care beds, all of which will be replaced with the first certified Green House project in the state in two three-story buildings along with 14 additional assisted living units.

Read more in Skilled Nursing News.

HJ Sims Advises Peoples of Bastrop on the Acquisition of a Private Water System via a Taxable Bond Issuance

FOR 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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Autism, IDD Nonprofit Elwyn Secures $45M Refinancing Package

HJ Sims is pleased to have helped make the refinancing possible. It conducted a comprehensive bank solicitation seeking a $45 million taxable credit facility, comprising 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.

Read more in Behavioral Health Business.

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.

LEARN MORE
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 secures $45M taxable credit facility for human services non-profit

HJ Sims closed a $45 million refinancing package for Elwyn, a Media, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit 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. 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. 

Read more in Senior Housing News.

HJ Sims Assists Elwyn Secure Replacement $45 million Taxable Credit Facility

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:

  • Implementing financial turn-around plan
  • Hiring a new CEO
  • Shifting reimbursement methodology with overall enhanced organizational revenue cycle management
  • Modernization of information technology systems
  • Integration of a behavioral services acquisition program and real estate holding evaluation
  • Prioritization and selective monetization of non-core real estate holdings

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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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.