Ziegler Closes $75 Million Horizon House Project Financing
January 13, 2018
CHICAGO–Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, announced the successful closing of the Horizon House Project $75,000,000 Series 2017 Bonds.
Horizon House is a Washington nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1961 to develop, own and operate senior living communities. Today, Horizon House owns and operates a continuing care retirement community adjacent to the downtown core of Seattle, offering 378 independent living apartments, 80 supported living (i.e., assisted living) apartments and 25 dementia care supported living apartments, to its more than 540 residents. Horizon House is affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Horizon House will use the proceeds of the Bonds, together with certain other moneys, to: refund all of the $45,400,000 outstanding Series 2014A Bonds and refund all of the $11,100,000 outstanding Series 2014B Bonds; pay or reimburse the Borrower for the costs of the remodeling, renovation and equipping of the Borrower’s continuing care retirement community; pay fees resulting from the termination of certain interest rate hedge agreements; and pay certain costs of issuance of the Bonds.
Ziegler assisted Horizon House in achieving a first-time rating on the Bonds of “BBB+” from Fitch. The Series 2017 Bonds are comprised of $75,000,000 in serial and term bonds which amortize through January 1, 2048.
“Horizon was extremely pleased with the result of the financing,” Horizon House COO Mike Ostem noted. “We could have not asked for a better outcome or more smoothly run process. There is simply no way this transaction could have occurred let alone with such a positive outcome without Ziegler’s leadership and reputation in the market.”
“We have long-respected the good work Horizon House is doing in downtown Seattle, and we are very pleased to help them take the next steps in growing their mission,” said Mary Muñoz, managing director in Ziegler’s senior living practice. “Having earned a very strong ‘BBB+’ rating from Fitch, Horizon House was able to capture very strong fixed interest rates in a highly competitive December market that was further charged by pending tax reform.”
Sarkis Garabedian, Director in Ziegler’s senior living practice, added, “It was an absolute privilege to work with the Horizon House team on this issue, one that has been considered off and on for several years before being spurred on due to the looming uncertainty of the tax bill. We worked closely together with Horizon House and the finance team under a tight, six-week timeframe from kickoff to closing of the financing.
“While the tax bill may have served as a catalyst for this issue, we set out with clear goals that I am thrilled we were able to deliver for the benefit of Horizon House, including a BBB+ bond rating, no debt service reserve fund to maximize project proceeds and cost of capital in the low 4% range on a yield to maturity basis.”