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.

An Investment Opportunity: LifeSpire of Virginia

Lifespire of Virginia Logo
Lifespire of Virginia logo

$83,715,000*
VIRGINIA SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING AUTHORITY

Residential Care Facilities Revenue and Refunding Bonds
LifeSpire of Virginia
SERIES 2021

HJ Sims is pleased to serve as senior underwriter for tax-exempt Series 2021 revenue and refunding bonds on behalf of LifeSpire of Virginia, a not-for-profit organization currently comprised of four senior living properties and a foundation committed to supporting its communities through fundraising.

Virginia Baptist Homes, Inc. d.b.a. LifeSpire of Virginia and its Obligated Group currently operate four Life Plan Communities in Virginia with a total of 763 independent living units, 203 assisted living units, 82 memory care units and 227 skilled nursing units. These communities include:

  • The Culpeper—Culpeper, Virginia
  • Lakewood—Richmond, Virginia
  • The Chesapeake—Newport News, Virginia
  • The Glebe—Daleville, Virginia

While each LifeSpire community features a unique setting and benefits, all share a single mission of empowering individuals with choices in purposeful living and a value system that reflects the ideals of faith, servant-leadership, stewardship, peace of mind, innovation and joy.

About the Bonds

  • Series 2021
    • $83,715,000*
    • Fitch Rated “BBB” Stable Outlook
    • Bonds are exempt from Federal Income Tax and exempt from State of Virginia Income Tax
    • Denominations of $5,000
    • Interest will be payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2021
    • First principal payment: December 1, 2021

Project

  • Acquire The Summit CCRC (IL/AL only), located in Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Refund outstanding bank debt
  • Develop additional independent living cottages at Lakewood and The Culpeper communities

Security

  • Secured by gross revenues and mortgage
  • Proposed Series 2021 Bonds will be secured on a parity basis with existing indebtedness and the 2021 Taxable Loan

 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 August 2, 2021, and anticipated settlement during the week of August 16, 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
888.978.1754

*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 Virginia Baptist Homes, Inc.

HJ Sims Partners with Westminster Village as Investment Bank and Swap Advisor Helps Community Accomplish a Refinancing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

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

HJ Sims Partners with Westminster Village as Investment Bank and Swap Advisor Helps Community Accomplish a Refinancing

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful June 2021 Direct Bond Placement in the amount of $60,515,000 for Westminster Village (WVWL) in West Lafayette, IN.

WVWL was established in 1976 and subsequently formed into a not-for-profit Life Plan Community (LPC) in 1981. Located off of Cumberland Park in West Lafayette, IN, WVWL held a long-standing reputation for producing quality services to middle-class retirees. Historically a partner with Purdue University, WVWL’s reputation and mission grew into today’s 346-bed LPC.

Given WVWL’s financial strength, the community sought to take advantage of the low interest rate environment in 2020 to refinance its outstanding Series 2014 tax-exempt and taxable Direct-placement Bonds (Series 2014 Bonds). The incumbent bank proposed a refinancing opportunity that struck WVWL’s management team as an above-market proposal. WVWL engaged Sims to analyze the proposal. Sims was chosen based on experience, market-depth and culture. Sims solicited banking partners based on engagement and initial analysis.

WVWL went into the market seeking to refinance the Series 2014 Bonds. Tied to the Series 2014 Bonds were two swaps that were largely out-of-the-money; WVWL also had a legacy forward-starting swap that was originated in 2010 and became effective in 2020 during COVID-19.

Sims constructed a plan of finance to generate adequate debt service savings despite the expenses associated with refunding the Series 2014 Bonds and terminating all of WVWL’s Swaps. The plan of finance conformed to the terms provided by any potential banking partners via the bank solicitation.

Sims found a banking partner with terms that would offer flexibility and savings for WVWL. The partner offered a proposal that provided material savings. The plan of finance Sims tailored for WVWL generated enough savings to for the community to reconsider a new-money. The $15 million project repurposed some of WVWL’s existing independent living units into assisted living and memory care units that were in high demand on campus.

Sims, in conjunction with the new banking partner, crafted the $60,515,000 plan of finance (Series 2021 Bonds). The financing included the refinancing escrow for the Series 2014 Bonds, the termination of all existing swaps (including the forward-starting swap), and a draw-down facility for the new-money project. The terms provided by the banking partner and the structure formulated by Sims allowed for WVWL to comfortably execute the Series 2021 Bonds without increasing residents’ monthly service fees. This was accomplished via aggressive pricing, a 12-year term, and a 30-year amortization provided by the new banking partner.

Sims closed the Series 2021 Bonds for WVWL via Direct Placement Bonds for the tax-exempt refinancing, a Term Loan for the taxable refinancing, and a draw-down facility for the new project money. After pricing the new swaps for the refinancing debt, Sims captured a taxable interest rate of 3.19% and a tax-exempt interest rate of 2.54% for WVWL. The credit spread for the refinancing portion was 100 bps lower than the incumbent bank’s original refinancing proposal. The new-money project funds were kept variable and will utilize a draw-down feature that allows WVWL to materialize capitalized interest savings. Sims generated a plan of finance that accomplished all of WVWL’s objectives, including $15 million in new-money, without increasing maximum annual debt service against the refunded Series 2014 Bonds, resulting in an efficient capital structure for the community that generated savings and a new product offering for campus residents to enjoy.

“As I was relatively new to my position, the thought of handling a refinancing seemed like a daunting task. Thankfully, after careful consideration our Board of Directors chose to partner with Sims. Sims understands the complex procedures involved with refinancing and made sure to provide extensive education during the entire process. Lynn and Brady took great care in ensuring each step was broken down into understandable components. I truly enjoyed working with Sims and look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come,” said Jessica Argerbright, Director of Accounting and Finance, WVWL.

Financed Right® Solutions—Lynn Daly: [email protected] or 312.505.5688 | Brady Richardson: [email protected] or 240.207.1362.

 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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An Exclusive Investment Opportunity: Benedictine Health System

Benedictine Health System Logo

**This financing has been successfully closed. Please contact you advisor for any potential secondary market opportunities.**

$79,065,000*
DULUTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
(St. Louis County, Minnesota)

Revenue Bonds
BENEDICTINE HEALTH SYSTEM
SERIES 2021A

HJ Sims is pleased to serve as sole underwriter for tax-exempt Series 2021A revenue bonds on behalf of Benedictine Health System, a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, a Catholic healthcare system that provides long-term care services, congregate housing, assisted living, rehabilitation services and other health-care and social services. Benedictine is the 10th largest not-for-profit senior living provider in the country. Benedictine Health System is the parent corporation of the Obligated Group, among other entities.

The Benedictine Obligated Group consists of 21 senior living communities in Minnesota and North Dakota that in aggregate comprise of 1,242 nursing beds, 811 assisted living units, and 153 independent living units.

The vision of Benedictine is to enhance its communities (Benedictine Living Communities) where health, wellness and choice come to life. The core values of Benedictine are hospitality, stewardship, respect, and justice.

About the Bonds

  • Series 2021A
    • $79,065,000*
    • Non-rated, tax-exempt
    • Bonds are exempt from Federal Income Tax and exempt from State of Minnesota Income Tax
    • Denominations of $5,000
    • Interest will be payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2022
    • First principal payment: July 1, 2022

Project

  • Fund $10,000,000 of capital improvements at select communities
  • Refund the outstanding tax-exempt bank debt on the Minnesota communities
  • Fund Debt Service Reserve Fund

Security

  • Secured by gross revenues and mortgage.
  • Debt Service Reserve Fund.

 Key Financial Covenants

  • 1.20x Debt Service Coverage Ratio; tested annually.
  • 60 Days Cash on Hand; tested semi-annually.

We are currently accepting indications of interest for these tax-exempt bonds with an expected pricing the week of June 28, 2021, and anticipated settlement during the week of July 12, 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
877.577.3365

*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 Benedictine Health System, Benedictine Obligated Group or any of its related entities or any other organization referred to herein.

An Exclusive Investment Opportunity: Presbyterian Senior Living

Presbyterian Senior Living Logo
Presbyterian Senior Living Logo

**This financing has been successfully closed. Please contact you advisor for any potential secondary market opportunities.**

$60,370,000*
PENNSYLVANIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING AUTHORITY

$60,370,000* Series 2021 Long-Term Fixed Rate Bonds
(Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Revenue Bonds / Presbyterian Senior Living Project)

HJ Sims is pleased to serve as sole underwriter for Presbyterian Homes Obligated Group (the “Obligated Group”) consisting of: Presbyterian Homes, Inc.; Cathedral Village; Presbyterian Homes in the Presbytery of Huntingdon; The Long Community, Inc.; Quincy Retirement Community; and PHI Investment Management Services, Inc. (collectively, the “Obligated Affiliates”). The Obligated Affiliates own, operate, and manage 12 continuing care retirement communities, three stand-alone independent living facilities, and two stand-alone personal care homes – all located throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware. 

The Series 2021 bonds will (1) refund certain outstanding bank debt; (2) provide approximately $38MM in proceeds to fund certain capital improvements to the Communities; and (3) pay for costs of issuance.

The not-for-profit organizations that make up the obligated group are all Pennsylvania-based not-for-profit senior living communities, each of which are 501(c)(3) organizations. 

Virtual Site Visits/Tours

Learn more about each of the Presbyterian Senior Living communities and locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Delaware.

About the Bonds

  • Series 2021
    • $60,370,000*
    • Fitch Rated “BBB+” Stable Outlook, tax-exempt
    • Bonds are exempt from Federal Income Tax and exempt from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Income Tax
    • Denominations of $5,000
    • Interest will be payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2022
    • First principal payment: July 1, 2022
    • Final maturity: July 1, 2046

Project Highlights:

  • The Obligated Affiliates are managed by PHI, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization, which is also the parent corporation of the Obligated Affiliates, among other entities. PHI is NOT a member of the Obligated Group
  • The communities included in the Obligated Group have a total of approximately 1,558 independent living units, 506 personal care or assisted living units and 1,031 skilled nursing units among them.
  • Secured by gross revenues and mortgage.

 Security

  • Revenue pledge
  • Real estate pledge

 Key Financial Covenants

  • Debt service coverage ratio of 1.25x (tested quarterly)
  • Reserve Ratio of 0.25 required (cash: debt), tested semi-annually.
  • Event of Default if below 1.0x for one fiscal year

We are currently accepting indications of interest for these tax-exempt bonds with an expected pricing the week of June 21, 2021, and anticipated settlement during the week of July 14, 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
888.978.1743

*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. Investments involve risk, including the possible fluctuation of principal. Investments involve risk including the possible fluctuation of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The purchase and sale of securities should be conducted on an individual basis considering the risk tolerance and investment objectives of each investor and with the advice of counsel of a professional advisor. HJ Sims is an independent financial services firm and is not affiliated with Presbyterian Senior Living, Presbyterian Homes Obligated Group or any of its related entities or any other organization referred to herein.

Middle Market Success Stories Webinar

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Private Wealth Management

Middle Market Success Stories
Learn from the Leaders

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Webinar Details

Session Date & Time: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET

Thought Leadership and Webinar Description:

We took a critical look at the increasing pressure on senior living providers to meet the demands of the emerging middle market. Learn what the Baby Boomer generation and their families are looking for when exploring their options in the middle market housing and services. During this discussion, we reviewed the strategic significance of extending housing offerings to the middle market. While many providers are considering entering in the middle market arena, few have taken the leap due to their inability to find an operating and financial model that ‘works’ with the lower monthly rental rates. Featured speakers shared case studies of their own middle market senior housing models identifying key success factors for development, pricing and operating models.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Identify the viability of middle market products in your region.
  2. Embrace the different operating mentality needed to successfully launch and operate a moderate-priced housing product.
  3. Absorb tangible suggestions from operators who have experience profitably operating middle market products.

Additional Q&A from our Presenters

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Featured Speakers

William Pettit

President, Merrill Gardens

William “Bill” Pettit is the president of the R. D. Merrill Company with responsibility for Merrill Gardens and sister company Pillar Properties. Merrill Gardens is one of the most respected assisted living operators in the country with 70 communities in 20 states. Pillar Properties is an award-winning owner and operator of multi-family housing with 1,700 units in operation and the developer for Merrill Gardens new communities.

Bill joined the R. D. Merrill Company in 1992 after 18 years in the banking industry. He was instrumental in the formation of the company, starting with one community in 1993. He directed the rapid growth and timely execution of acquisitions and developed the policies that speak to the Merrill Gardens and Pillar Properties commitment to quality.

Bill was a 2018 Seattle Business Magazine Executive Excellence Award winner and under his leadership the R. D. Merrill Company was named the Family Business of the Year for its commitment to residents, team members and community service.

Bill received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton in 1971 and a MBA from the University of Oregon in 1973. He was the first senior living executive in residence for Washington State University. He serves on the Argentum Board of Directors and he is the past Chairman of the Executive Board of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA).

Matthew D. Rule, Esq.

Senior Vice President of Housing Development, National Church Residences Investment Corp.

Matt Rule is Senior Vice President of Housing Development at National Church Residences. Matt leads NCR’s acquisitions, development finance, originations, and construction teams. In the past five years his team closed over 30 LIHTC transactions, purchased over 3,000 affordable senior units and closed over $100,000,000 of new market rate senior housing production. In 2015, Affordable Housing Finance (AHF) named Matt as one of six Affordable Housing Young Leaders. Prior to joining NCR, Matt was a transactional attorney at Squire Sanders, LLP (currently known as Squire Patton Boggs) where he served as legal counsel for a variety of low income housing tax credit developers, syndicators, direct investors and lenders. Matt is a graduate from The Ohio State University Michael E Moritz College of Law where he graduated with distinction as Summa Cum Laude, Order of the Coif. Matt is active at Vineyard Church in Columbus, Ohio and currently serves as the Vice President of the Ohio Housing Council and as a Board Member of the Central Ohio chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In the past he has served as a Board Member the National Affordable Housing Trust (2018-2020), a Board Member of the Upper Arlington Rotary Club (2018-2020), a member of the Upper Arlington Citizen Financial Review Task Force (2019) and as the Chair of the Finance Subcommittee of the Upper Arlington Community Center Feasibility Task Force (2020). Matt is married and has four very energetic children.

For more information or if you have any questions regarding the content of this webinar, please contact Lynn Daly at 312.505.5688 or [email protected], Curtis King at 512.519.5003 or [email protected] or any HJ Sims banker at 1-800-HJS-1935.

Meet Our Team

HJ Sims Secures $41.9M of Bank Financing for Expansion Project and Refinancing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HJ Sims Secures $41.9M of Bank Financing for Expansion Project 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 $41.89MM for Sunset Retirement Communities (Sunset), a multi-campus not-for-profit senior living provider located in Michigan.

In 2009, Sunset embarked on development of Waterford Place, completing the campus in 2015. In 2020, Sunset pursued phase three, including the addition of 62 independent living apartments, 20 villas and amenity spaces. Sims was engaged to identify the optimal capital structure for Sunset’s project financing, while reviewing existing bank debt.

The market study for phase three (completed in March 2020) supported the need for the expansion. COVID-19 slowed down pre-sales and created a need for management to focus on existing operations. After approaching potential lenders in May 2020, Sunset’s management team delayed the financing. However, Sims continued to work with Sunset, exploring capital structures. With its strong balance sheet and foundation support, Sunset moved forward with development of the 20 villas and self-funded construction costs.

During Autumn 2020, Sims re-analyzed financing options for Sunset’s apartment expansion and existing debt. Hefty termination costs associated with an existing long-term swap limited the number of viable refinancing options. Sims identified a new commercial banking partner that would finance the apartment project and replace one of the lenders.

In order to minimize Sunset’s long-term cost of capital and avoid large forward starting swap premiums, Sims worked with the lending partner to allow for the new money long-term bond proceeds to be drawn first such that the forward swap could take effect in just five months. By drawing the long-term proceeds first, Sunset has time to secure proceeds from strategic initiatives, which will be applied to project costs before any draws on the short-term bond proceeds. This allows Sunset to further minimize its funded interest costs during construction. 

On May 12, 2021, Sims closed the Series 2021 financing for Sunset, which included three unique tranches of debt:

  • $13.40M of Series 2021A Bonds, partially refunding Series 2014 debt and enabling Sunset to avoid any disruption or incurring a greater cost of capital.
  • Up to $9.90M of Series 2021B Bonds, funding construction costs associated with the project and minimizing annual debt service burden.
  • Up to $18.59M of Series 2021C Bonds, funding construction costs associated with the project and enabling Sunset to deliver and minimize the overall debt service.

The Series 2021 financing, coupled with management’s prudent strategic decisions, positions Sunset for operational success and growth.

“Pursuing debt financing for an expansion and bank replacement during COVID-19 was challenging, but Sims made it happen. With Lynn Daly and Kerry Moynihan on point, Sims relentlessly pursued every avenue to ensure Sunset was Financed Right®. Sunset is very grateful for the Sims team’s expertise, industry connections and ability to close a deal with the right terms on an aggressive schedule. Sunset could not have picked a better partner. There is no question who our partner will be on future financings,” said Steven Bossenbroek, CFO, Sunset Retirement Communities.

Financed Right® Solutions—Lynn Daly: [email protected] or Kerry Moynihan: [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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