Manhattan Lures REITs Capitalizing on Rising Rents as Sales Lag: Mortgages

Tom Toomey, chief executive officer of real estate investment firm UDR Inc. (UDR), is betting the best rental deal in Manhattan is owning the whole building.
The nation’s third-largest apartment real estate investment trust bought a five-tower apartment complex on Columbus Avenue between West 97th and 100th streets for about $630 million last month, with rents from $2,500 for a studio or one-bedroom apartment to more than $10,000 a month for a penthouse suite. It’s Toomey’s fifth purchase in Manhattan in the past year as rents soar and financing difficulties make it harder for individuals to buy.
“Financing and underwriting are much tighter,” Toomey said in a telephone interview. With purchases requiring larger down payments, “people are going to stay renters for a long time,” said Toomey, who’s based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Strict lending standards for so-called jumbo mortgages have contributed to declining home buying across the U.S. by even the most creditworthy borrowers as issuance of the loans has dropped 68 percent since 2007. Nowhere is that more evident than in Manhattan, where the median price of a two-bedroom apartment is about $1.2 million, almost twice the limit backed by government- supported mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Manhattan rents rose 9.5 percent last quarter to an average $3,121, Miller Samuel Inc. and Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate said in a report last month. That’s about three times the rate for the 44 largest apartment markets in the U.S., according to Marcus & Millichap, a real estate brokerage firm. Manhattan rental apartment vacancy rates fell to a four-year low of 0.96 percent last year, down from 1.2 percent a year earlier and 1.9 percent in 2009, according to brokerage Citi Habitats. Vacancy bottomed in 2006 at 0.76 percent.

Wall Street Pay

“The key to the strength of the rental market is tightness of credit,” Jonathan Miller, president of appraiser Miller Samuel, said in a telephone interview. “It takes quadruple-A bizarre credit requirements to get approved.”
Jumbo loans exceed limits set for government-controlled mortgage companies by congress. For New York that’s $625,500.
Wall Street’s pay practices are also making it harder to buy, as financial firms increasingly pay bonuses in stock and deferred cash, said Alan Johnson, managing director of compensation consultant Johnson Associates Inc.
Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse Group AG and Citigroup Inc. have all reduced senior investment bankers’ pay for last year as revenue slows. Morgan Stanley is capping immediate cash bonuses at $125,000, people with knowledge of the move said last month.

Shorter Commitment

“It’s not a great sign for the financial sector contributing to purchasing apartments because there’s no sense of urgency to buy,” said Johnson. “Rentals are a much shorter commitment.”
Renters outnumber homeowners in the country’s largest cities including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. More than 77 percent of Manhattan’s occupied units were rented in the decade ended 2010, compared with nearly 23 that were owned, data from the Census Bureau showed.
Nationally, the home ownership rate fell 1.1 percent to 65.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, the largest decrease since the Great Depression, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Low vacancy rates and rents that are likely to continue climbing this year have made apartments the “darling” of commercial real estate, according to Ryan Severino, economist at research firm Reis Inc.

Apartment Indices

The Bloomberg REIT Apartment Index (BBREAPT) of 16 publicly traded landlords returned 10 percent in the past year, including reinvested dividends, compared with returns of 6.8 percent for the Bloomberg REIT Index (BBREIT) and 5.2 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Equity Residential (EQR), the largest U.S. apartment REIT, returned 11.2 percent in the past year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, and UDR gained 10.8 percent.
Toomey said in August that the REIT planned to invest as much as $1.8 billion in Manhattan apartment buildings. Its most recent purchase, about 700 apartment units at Columbus Square on the Upper West Side, was a joint venture with MetLife Inc. (MET), the biggest U.S. life insurer.
They partly funded the purchase with $302.3 million of 10- year fixed- and floating-rate debt from Fannie Mae, the government-supported mortgage company, UDR said in a statement last month. The loans pay 3.8 percent interest.
That compares with a rate of 4.85 percent for a 30-year jumbo mortgage to an individual in New York (ILMJNY) and 4.73 percent nationally, according to Bankrate.com data. For conforming Freddie Mac (NMCMFUS) loans, rates are 3.95 percent, after falling to 3.87 percent this month, the lowest in records dating to 1971.

Housing Limits

Lenders have been wary to issue mortgages for non- conforming loans including jumbos since the housing market started falling in 2006 and losses on mortgage securities propelled the nation into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the conforming limit is $625,500 in high-priced markets such as New York, San Francisco and the Florida Keys, compared with $417,000 for most of the rest of the country. The Federal Housing Administration (FHAVARM$), a government agency with the goal of expanding ownership for “underserved” communities, according to its website, will insure loans up to $729,750 in New York.
Banks and mortgage lenders issued $110 billion in jumbo loans last year, up 5.8 percent from 2010, according to Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance. The market has contracted from $348 billion in 2007 after peaking in 2003 at $650 billion.

Origination Volumes

Mortgage origination overall was down 17 percent year-over- year to $1.35 trillion, the lowest in over a decade, according to Cecala.
Lenders and bankers, no longer able to package jumbo loans and sell them to investors, are required to have enough capital to carry non-conforming debt on their books until maturity.
“Some don’t have the ability to keep it on their balance sheets,” Monte N. Redman, president of bank holding company Astoria Financial Corp., said in a telephone interview.
FHA loans are also harder to get in Manhattan, and aren’t available at all for co-op apartments, because borrowers purchase shares in the building’s management company instead of buying the property itself. The FHA does limited lending for condominiums, units individually grouped into a cluster. It insured 107 mortgages for condos in Manhattan last year, compared with 90 in 2010 and 42 in 2009, the FHA said.

Manhattan Sales

Manhattan co-op and condominium sales totaled 2,011 in the fourth quarter, 12.4 percent less a year earlier, according to Miller Samuel and Prudential.
Non-conforming loans nationally accounted for nearly 2 percent of all purchase applications last year, up 33 percent relative to 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s monthly profile of state and national mortgage activity.
Those loans have tougher standards such as high interest rates and down payments ranging from 25 to 40 percent, according to Mike Fratantoni, vice president of research for the Mortgage Bankers Association.
“They’re only available to the best credit borrowers,” Fratantoni said.
Financing a purchase with loans above government limits won’t get easier until the secondary market grows an appetite for jumbo loans, according to Miller of Miller Samuel.
The secondary market comprises mortgage bankers, savings and loan associations and large private investment institutions that buy mortgages from primary lenders or investors.

MBS Sales

There are signs of revival for mortgage-backed securities, according to Jan Scheck, managing director at DE Capital Mortgage, a New York-based mortgage consulting firm.
Redwood Trust Inc. (RWT), a real estate investment trust based in Mill Valley, California, has completed four sales of bonds totaling about $1 billion tied to new U.S. home loans since 2010, according to Mike McMahon, managing director of Redwood, which specializes in jumbo loans.
Wells Fargo & Co., the nation’s largest home lender, plans to trim credit requirements this year as it aims to increase its loan volume, according to Greg Gwizdz, sales manager for the eastern U.S. for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. The bank reduced the cost of loans over $2 million last month and is lowering post- closing requirements for cash reserves, he said.
“We’re seeing a fair amount of demand, we have a strong appetite and we’re doing a lot of volume,” Gwizdz said in a telephone interview.
Wells Fargo funded $13.7 billion in non-conforming loans across the nation for the nine month period ending September, the San Francisco-based lender said. In Manhattan its volume of loans without government backing increased 56 percent from a year earlier.

William Beaver House

For now, building owners don’t have time to wait for the rebound. William Beaver House in Manhattan’s Financial District was mostly empty in 2010, two years after the 47-story condominium tower was built. It’s almost 90 percent occupied after owner CIM Group converted the units to luxury rentals costing more than $8,000 a month for a three-bedroom. A down payment on a $3 million apartment at William Beaver would range anywhere from $750,000 to over $1 million, per jumbo loan standards. A pre-recession down payment, averaging 20 percent or less, would have cost $600,000.
“Without the conversion, the condos wouldn’t have sold or would have sold at half the price,” Bob Scaglion of Rose Associates, the company’s manager, said. Eventually, the owners want to put the condominiums back on the purchase market, according to Heather McDonough, broker for Prudential Real Estate who works to sell William Beaver units.
“The rentals are in high demand,” McDonough said. “In a few years, maybe it will be different.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Christine Harvey in New York at charvey32@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rob Urban at robprag@bloomberg.net
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« Shanghai Launches RMB Investment FundW. P. Carey Announces Proposed Acquisition of CPA:15 and Conversion to REIT »GE Capital, Franchise Finance Provides $25 Million to Support Quilvest Group Investment in Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
GE Capital, Franchise Finance provided a $25 million credit facility to support an investment in Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Inc. by an affiliate of The Quilvest Group. The financing includes a $17 million term loan and an $8 million revolving credit facility. Funding was provided through GE Capital’s bank affiliate, GE Capital Financial Inc.
“GE Capital proved to be a great choice for us,” explains Henrik Falktoft, partner, The Quilvest Group. “Their team was very supportive and knowledgeable about this market and that made for a better transaction.”
The Quilvest Group has invested around $4 billion in more than 300 private equity and real estate funds and 150 direct investments.
“We were in a great position to help both parties using our experience in the space and our relationship with the sponsor, Quilvest,” said Mike Kurtz, vice president, GE Capital, Franchise Finance.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza opened their first store in Florida in 2002 and now has 32 locations throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Connecticut.
About GE Capital, Franchise Finance
GE Capital, Franchise Finance is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition. With more than 30 years of experience and $10 billion in served assets, we serve over 3,000 customers and over 18,000 property locations. We specialize in financing mid-market operators with multiple stores in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Our team of industry experts will work with you to help develop your own growth plan with access to our proprietary industry research and customized tools. More information is available at http://www.gefranchisefinance.com/.
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Flooded businesses eligible for low-interest loans

Low-interest loans of up to $2 million are now available to small businesses, farms and nonprofits in Brevard and five other counties hit by heavy rains in early October, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced.
The federal economic injury disaster loans will be provided to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture operations, and most private non-profit groups in Florida harmed by excessive rain, flooding and high winds that hit the region Oct. 7-9, 2011.
The five other eligible counties are Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola and Saint Lucie.
“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster,” Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta, said in a release.
Under the declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related operations that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the disaster. With the exception of aquaculture, SBA can’t provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, SBA said in the release.
The loans can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3 percent for private non-profit groups and 4 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources.
The SBA determines the loan amounts and terms and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. The working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not happened. But they aren’t intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than October 9, 2012.
Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com

How to apply

U.S. Small Business Administration loans available for those affected by Oct. 7-9 heavy weather:
For information, call 1-800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov.
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
You can also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than Oct. 9, 2012.
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Geithner says 2010 law made financial system 'stronger and safer'

Reporting from Washington—
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner has a message for voters as they listen to Republican presidential candidates call for repeal of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law: Remember the pain.
“I would say remember 2008 and 2009,” Geithner told reporters Thursday during a news conference touting the benefits of the overhaul. “Remember the fact that the reason why we’re living with very high unemployment with millions of Americans that have lost their homes, terrible damage to the basic economics of America is because of the failures that caused this crisis in the financial system.”
“And if you want to go back to that,” he said, “if you want to choose that future, then you should be in favor of the repeal of the law.”
Republican presidential candidates have hammered away at the sweeping rewrite of financial regulations.
At a debate in Florida last month, GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney said the law was “just killing the residential home market and it’s got to be replaced.”
Newt Gingrich was more blunt. Asked what could be done to help struggling homeowners, he said, “I think, first of all, if you could repeal Dodd-Frank tomorrow morning, you would see the economy start to improve overnight.”
In the face of such criticism on the campaign trail and from Republicans in Congress, Geithner defended the law.
He said it already had helped the financial system become “stronger and safer” even as some key provisions, such as the Volcker Rule restriction on banks trading with their own money, are still being implemented by regulators.
Speaking as the head of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, a panel of regulators created by the law to monitor the financial system for signs of problems, Geithner said the law had helped the economy recover.
Regulators this year would designate the large financial firms outside the banking system that will receive tougher oversight because their failure would pose a risk to the financial system, he said.
And the Obama administration would release more details about its plans to overhaul the housing finance system and replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which the government seized in 2008.
Republicans and business groups have criticized the hundreds of regulations required by the new law and tough new oversight, including the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
They have said that the uncertainty about pending regulations has made businesses hesitant to hire, and that tough new rules on banks, such as requiring them to hold more reserves, was limiting the banks’ ability to make loans to boost the recovery.
But Geithner said the new rules were badly needed to prevent a repeat of the crisis, and he criticized opponents who were trying to drag out implementation of the Volcker rule and other provisions. Slowing those changes would only increase uncertainty, he said.
“No financial system is invulnerable to crisis. We have a lot of challenges ahead. We still have a lot of unfinished business on the path of reform,” Geithner said. “But the American financial system now is much less vulnerable than it was and is now able to help finance a growing economy, rather than being a drag on overall economic growth.”
RELATED:
Timothy Geithner says a second stint at Treasury is unlikely
Financial regulatory overhaul faces new criticism on first birthday
Consumer agency chief’s appointment is invalid, GOP senators say

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The Morgan Group Arranges $146 Million in Financing for Multifamily Projects

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Morgan Group, a leader in upscale multifamily development, construction and property management, has arranged financing of $146 million on behalf of its affiliated investment partnerships. The proceeds were obtained from bank, agency and insurance company loans with terms ranging from five to ten years, collateralized by five apartment properties in Texas, Florida and North Carolina.
These properties include: 2222 Smith Apartments and 33Thirty-Three Weslayan Apartments in Houston, financed by BBVA Compass Bank and Northwestern Mutual Life; The Village at Lake Lily in Maitland, Florida, and Arelia James Island Apartments, in Jacksonville, Florida, which were financed by FNMA and Metropolitan Life; and Spectrum South End Apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina, financed by New York Life.
“Current loan rates for multifamily projects were extremely attractive,” said Chairman and CEO Mike Morgan. “It appeared to be a good time to lock in terms for stable, core assets. The five apartment properties we refinanced represent more than 1,700 units in our portfolio.”
About The Morgan Group, Inc.
The Morgan Group, Inc. is a privately held national developer of Class A multifamily properties with headquarters in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1959, Morgan also specializes in upscale urban construction and property management. Since 1988, The Morgan Group has developed more than 15,000 units at a cost of more than $1.5 billion. More than 1,000 units are in the planning or construction stages in Texas and Florida. For more information, visit http://www.morgangroup.com/.
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Her tuition solution

Photo by James Keivom/New York Daily News

John Jay College student Angy Rivera, an undocumented collegian who doesn’t qualify for federal aid or loans, is going online to raise tuition money by selling $5 “education bracelets.”

John Jay College student Angy Rivera doesn’t have a green card — and that means she doesn’t qualify for federal financial aid or loans to help with $2,565 in tuition a semester.
Like some other undocumented students around the country, she’s turned to the Internet to raise the money so she can stay in school.
Using Facebook or the website Chipin.com, they are coming out as undocumented and asking for help, often selling something homemade in exchange for donations.
“At 3 yrs old I became undocumented in the United States,” Rivera, 21, posted on her Chipin page, where she sells handmade “education bracelets” for $5.
“Often times it’s hard to ask for help, but now, I’m asking you to place a donation that will help me continue my education.”
Tuition hikes forced her to cut back to part-time. “The few scholarships that I did receive only paid off a semester or two,” she said.
The Colombian-born criminology student has raised only $60 of a $1,000 goal, but some of the money has come from perfect strangers.
New York allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates, but state and federal aid is off-limits. The Board of Regents is pushing to open New York’s Tuition Assistance Program to all students.
Students around the country are in similar straits and turning to Chipin.
In Florida, Juan Escalante, 22, raised $1,000 by sending, “I am undocumented” T-shirts to those who donated $25.
He was able to make his final tuition payment and graduate from Florida State University in Tallahassee last month.
Texas A&M student Jose Luis Zelaya crochets and sells beanie hats, and has gotten so good he thinks he can break the Guinness World Record for most stitches per minute.
He’s sold about $1,000 worth through a Facebook page.
When he was 13, Zelaya left a life on the streets in Honduras to join his mom in Houston.
Last month, he was chosen to give the invocation at his graduation. Now, he’s in an education master’s program.
“It is a pretty heavy burden, but I have been able to do it so far,” said Zelaya, 24. “A lot of people are impressed that I’m a guy and that I’m making beanies for a good cause.”
epearson@nydailynews.com

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HFF Expands Presence with Opening of Denver Office and Hiring of Three Production Specialists

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)– HFF announced today that it will expand its presence by opening a full-service office in Denver with an immediate focus on debt placement, equity placement, loan sales and investment sales.
Day-to-day operations of the Denver office will be led by Eric Tupler, who joins HFF as a senior managing director. Joining Tupler will be managing director Mark Fallon, who has worked out of HFF’s Chicago office since November 2010 and specializes in loan sale advisory transactions. Executive managing director Jody Thornton, a member of HFF’s Executive Committee, is overseeing the Denver office expansion from HFF’s Dallas office.
Tupler, a former vice chairman at CBRE Capital Markets, has originated, structured, underwritten, placed and closed more than $6 billion of debt and equity real estate investments during his career. Tupler was the firm’s top Denver sales professional and the leader of the Denver Capital Markets group prior to his departure from CBRE. He was the recipient of many significant accomplishments during his 15-year tenure; he was the company’s number one national producer in debt and equity finance in 2004, awarded the Manager Innovation Award for Capital Markets in 2007, a six time Coldwell Colbert Circle Award recipient, which recognizes the top three percent of commissioned CB Richard Ellis salespeople worldwide, and a top 200 sales professional eight times. Tupler obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from the University of Maryland.
“I am extremely excited to begin the next chapter in my career by leading the new Denver office of HFF,” said Tupler. “The HFF platform is a truly a unique culture and fully integrated platform that will add tremendous value for our clients.”
Also joining Tupler at HFF are directors Brock Cannon and Josh Simon, both former vice presidents at CBRE Capital Markets. Cannon will work as part of HFF’s national loan sale advisory group alongside Mark Fallon. Cannon began his career in Houston, Texas working in the CBRE Capital Markets headquarters and his experience includes debt and equity originations, loan servicing and loan sales. Cannon has closed over $3 billion in transactions throughout his career. Simon specializes in debt and equity placement of all property types and has closed more than $3 billion in transactions during his career. Simon brings extensive experience in the placement, underwriting, and structuring of multi-housing financing and is a licensed real estate broker in Colorado.
“Although HFF has consummated a number of high-profile debt and investment sales assignments in the Denver MSA, HFF has waited for the best people to open an office and expand into the Denver market. We are excited about the opportunity to better serve our existing and future clients in the Rocky Mountain region with the team of Tupler, Cannon, Simon and Fallon as well as the numerous opportunities they will create with their presence in Denver,” said Thornton. “As with our recently opened offices in Austin and Tampa, HFF’s goal is to strategically build-out the full platform of services and product specializations in our new Denver office by hiring and retaining associates who have the highest ethical standards and the best reputation in the industry.”
Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, LP (“HFF”) and HFF Securities LP (“HFFS”) are owned by HFF, Inc. (NYSE: HF – News). HFF operates out of 20 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry. HFF together with its affiliate HFFS offer clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, advisory services, structured finance, private equity, loan sales, and commercial loan servicing. http://www.hfflp.com/

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Carlyle launches new financial firms buyout fund

(Reuters) – The Carlyle Group has started fundraising for a new global financial services buyout fund that is seeking to top its previous $1.1 billion fund, which is now almost fully invested, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
With about 90 percent of its first financials buyout fund spent, the private equity group is looking for more firepower as Europe’s financial crisis and higher capital requirements for banks offer new investment opportunities, the source said.
The new fund, Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners II, has a minimum commitment threshold for investors of $10 million and intends to fundraise for more than a year, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Carlyle, which is preparing for an initial public offering in 2012, is one of the private equity industry’s most prolific fund managers, with more than $148 billion of assets under management in 89 active funds and 52 fund of fund vehicles.
Carlyle’s financial services group is headed by former UBS investment banker Olivier Sarkozy, half-brother of France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and a flamboyant New York socialite with a masters in medieval history from St. Andrews University in Scotland.
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, a major investor in Carlyle, had made 1.2 times its $94.1 million contribution to Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners I as of June 30, according to a performance report by the pension fund. The first fund launched in 2008.
The financial crisis which began in the summer of 2007 has weighed on private equity returns in the sector. The $7 billion financial firms fund raised in 2006 by the private equity firm founded by former Goldman Sachs banker J. Christopher Flowers is down about 60 percent, a source told Reuters in November.
However, J.C. Flowers’ latest fund, which raised $2.3 billion in 2009 and has invested about half the money, is doing much better and is currently up about 30 percent, according to the source.
Investments of Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners I include Bermuda-based Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son, Florida bank BankUnited and Boston-based asset manager Boston Private Financial. BankUnited shares rose as much as 9.3 percent on the day of their debut when the bank floated in January.
Earlier this year, Carlyle participated in the $1.5 billion auction of Regions Financial Corp’s Morgan Keegan brokerage and investment banking unit, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in October.
(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis and Paritosh Bansal in New York; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

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Ziegler Closes $59 Million Covenant Retirement Communities Financing

CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire -12/29/11)- Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a tax-exempt bank direct purchase for Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC). The direct purchase was completed by JP Morgan Chase and was structured as two series of bonds, $15,830,000 of Series A Bonds and $43,335,000 Series B Bonds, for a total aggregate par amount of $59,165,000 (Series 2011 Bonds).
The Series 2011 Bonds were the first multi-state issuance for the Illinois Finance Authority. The Illinois Finance Authority passed legislation allowing it to serve as a multi-state conduit issuer in July, 2010. The CRC financing is the first financing that has been approved and closed under the multi-state legislation. Ziegler, the IFA, and CRC are very excited to be the first transaction of what hopes to become a great resource to other multi-state providers. “The Illinois Finance Authority is proud to play a role in our State’s first multi-state conduit transaction. Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly recognized that multi-state conduit issuance authority is an important tool to both retain and create jobs in Illinois. The IFA is pleased to work with Ziegler’s professional team and, importantly, Covenant Retirement Communities, on this groundbreaking project,” said Chris Meister, IFA Executive Director.
Proceeds from the Series 2011 Bonds were used to refund the outstanding Series 1999 (MI) Bonds, Series 1999 (CO) Bonds, Series 2004 Bonds, and Series 2006 Bonds, as well as provide CRC with more than $6 million of new money to pay for capital improvements for several CRC campuses in Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan. In addition to the issuance of the Series 2011 Bonds, Ziegler also worked closely with Covenant Retirement Communities on the replacement of two letters of credit for the Series 1992 and 1995 Bonds. Both the Series 1992 and 1995 Bonds will be secured by letters of credit from JP Morgan Chase.
Covenant Retirement Communities, Inc. (CRC) is an Illinois 501(c)(3) eligible corporation that owns and operates a system of continuing care communities offering the full continuum of care, in association with the Evangelical Covenant Church. The corporate office of CRC is located in Skokie, IL with facilities located in California, Washington, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, and Michigan. CRC currently has 14 communities with more than 4700 independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing units and is #5 on the LeadingAge Ziegler 100, a list of the largest not-for-profit senior living providers in the nation.
As one of the nation’s leading underwriters of financing for non-profit senior living providers Ziegler offers investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, investment management, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning as well as senior living research, education, and communication. Don Carlson, Managing Director and Vice Chairman at Ziegler, commented, “The IFA multistate legislation provided a very cost effective and efficient process which allowed CRC to issue bonds to refund prior issues in Colorado, Michigan and Illinois and to fund new projects in each of these states as well. This transaction will further strengthen CRC’s conservative capital structure, which will allow them to continue to provide the highest level of service to their residents. This transaction was truly a success on many fronts.”
For further information on the structure and use of these issues, please see the Official Statements for the Series 1992 and Series 1995 Bonds located on the Electronic Municipal Market Access system’s Document Archive.
For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at www.Ziegler.com.
About Ziegler:
The Ziegler Companies, Inc. (Pinksheets: ZGCO.PK – News) together with its affiliates (Ziegler) is a specialty investment bank with unique expertise in complex credit structures and advisory services. Nationally, Ziegler is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms in its specialty sectors of healthcare, senior living, religion and education finance, as well as corporate finance and FHA/HUD. Headquartered in Chicago, IL with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler creates tailored financial solutions including bond financing, advisory, private placement, seed capital, M&A, risk and asset management. Ziegler serves institutional and individual investors through its wealth management and capital markets distribution channels.
Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client’s experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy these securities. The offering is made only by the Official Statement and through an appropriately registered representative. The Series 2011 Bonds may not be appropriate for all investors. Market value and/or accrued interest will fluctuate during the period held, and, if sold prior to maturity, the yield received may be more or less than the yield calculated at the time of purchase. Discounted yields herein are gross yields to maturity. Discounted bonds may be subject to capital gains tax, rates of which will vary, so investors should consult their own tax advisor with regard to their personal tax situation. Interest on municipal bonds may be exempt from federal income tax but may be subject to tax for residents of certain states. For bonds designated AMT, taxes may exist for certain investors. Ziegler will sell these bonds on a principal basis.
The corporation or its officers, directors, stockholders, or members of their families may at times have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may make purchases or sales of these securities. Not all call or put information is identified in the description above. Please be sure to discuss any special features with your Financial Advisor before deciding whether to invest in these securities.

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NextEra Raises Funds for Wind Power

Redwood Trails Wind, LLC, a unit of  NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE – News), has arranged $234 million for the financing of its wind projects in Oklahoma and California. Another NextEra business wing, Golden Winds, LLC, raised $131 million for its three wind farms in California. Both Redwood Trails Wind and Golden Winds are subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, North America’s largest owner and operator of wind and solar electricity generating assets.
The limited recourse term loan of $234 million raised by Redwood Trails Wind for the projects with a generation capacity of 237 megawatts carries a variable interest rate and will mature in December 2029. The loan is mortgaged on the wind energy projects’ assets and the ownership interest in Redwood Trails Wind, LLC. The company expects to use the loan amount partly to pay back the capital contributions made by it for the development and building of the wind energy projects.
Golden Winds, LLC raised $131 million in a tax-equity financing for three wind farms in California that have an aggregate capacity of 205.9 megawatts. It issued Class B membership interests to a multinational bank and in exchange will receive approximately $131 million at closing, and a capital contribution of $78 million in early 2012.
NextEra Energy’s long-term debts at the end of the third quarter of 2011 were $20 billion versus $18 billion as of December 31, 2010. The debt-to-equity ratio was 47%, deteriorating from 44% at the end of 2010, mainly due to the issue of new debts.
NextEra Energy is a well-managed, high-quality, regulated electric utility that serves high-growth areas of Florida. Looking ahead, we expect the company’s earnings growth to likely come from its investments in Florida’s utility infrastructure, and growing wind and solar investments.
However, we remain concerned about the volatility in the company’s commodity-exposed generation portfolio and the recovery of Florida’s economy. The company presently retains a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold) that corresponds with our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.
Juno Beach, Florida, based NextEra Energy Inc. is a public utility holding company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy. The company has both regulated and non-regulated energy-related products and services, with operations in 28 states and Canada. The company mainly competes with TECO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:TE – News) and Southern Company (NYSE:SO – News).
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Golub Capital Provides One-Loan Financing to Support Freeman Spogli & Co.’s Acquisition of First Watch Restaurants, Inc.

NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Golub Capital announced today that it provided a GOLD financing debt facility to First Watch Restaurants, Inc. (“First Watch” or the “Company”) to support the acquisition of First Watch by Freeman Spogli & Co. (” Freeman Spogli “). GOLD financings are Golub Capital’s One-Loan Debt facilities.
Headquartered in Bradenton, Florida , First Watch is a leading operator of full service breakfast and lunch restaurants, located primarily in the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. With 82 company-owned restaurants spanning nine states and 10 franchised locations in five states, First Watch is recognized for providing healthy and hearty breakfast and lunch offerings, served in a welcoming and friendly environment. First Watch specializes in the creation of traditional favorites such as pancakes, omelets, salads and sandwiches, as well as a variety of signature items, with all menu items freshly prepared to order. First Watch has received more than 200 “Best Of” accolades in markets across the country.
“We are excited to support Freeman Spogli ‘s investment in First Watch,” said Golub Capital Principal Troy Oder . “The Company’s management team has an excellent track record of growing the First Watch brand, and Freeman Spogli is the ideal sponsor to position the Company for its next phase of growth due to their extensive knowledge of the consumer sector.”
“We chose to partner with Golub Capital due to their expertise in the restaurant industry and their understanding of the unique financing needs of investors in the space,” noted John Roth , President, of Freeman Spogli & Co. “They were able to deliver a flexible financing solution that allowed us to complete the transaction within an extremely tight timeframe.”
About Golub CapitalWith over $5 billion in capital under management, Golub Capital is a leading provider of financing solutions for the middle market, including one-loan financings (through the firm’s proprietary GOLD facility), senior, second lien, and subordinated debt, preferred stock and co-investment equity. The firm also underwrites and syndicates senior credit facilities up to $200 million . Golub Capital’s hold sizes range up to $100 million per transaction.
Golub Capital is currently ranked as the #1 Middle Market Bookrunner for YTD 3Q 2011 by Thomson Reuters Loan Pricing Corporation. Golub Capital was named “Middle Market Lender of the Year” by Buyouts Magazine in 2009 and 2010. The firm was also honored as “Debt Financing Agent of the Year” by M&A Advisor in 2010. Golub Capital is a national firm with principal offices in Chicago and New York . For more information, please visit the firm’s website at golubcapital.com.
About Freeman Spogli & Co.Freeman Spogli & Co. is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to investing in and partnering with management in consumer-related and distribution companies in the United States . Since its founding in 1983, Freeman Spogli has invested $3.0 billion of equity in 47 portfolio companies with aggregate transaction value of over $17 billion , and is currently making investments from FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. Freeman Spogli has offices in Los Angeles and New York . For additional information, visit freemanspogli.com.


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Maranon Capital Provides Financing for Follow-On Acquisitions at T&H Global Holdings and DayMen Group

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Maranon Capital, L.P. announced today the completion of financing transactions to support follow-on acquisitions at two of its existing portfolio companies, T&H Global Holdings and DayMen Group.
T&H Global Holdings Acquires Cramer, Johnson, Wiggins & Associates
T&H Global Holdings (“T&H”), a portfolio company of Flexpoint Ford, LLC and a leading provider of specialized insurance claims services to insurance carriers, insurance brokers, corporations and public entities through its operating subsidiaries, VeriClaim, Inc., VRS VeriClaim U.K. Ltd. and Unified Investigations and Sciences, Inc., recently announced the acquisition of Cramer, Johnson, Wiggins & Associates, Inc. (“CJW”).
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, CJW specializes in both property and liability claims services including adjustments, investigations, appraisals and surveys. Through its third-party administrator operation, CJW provides property and casualty claims management services to a global base of insurance carriers, public entities, Lloyds of London syndicates, brokers and associations. CJW’s employees and contractors span 11 locations in Florida, Georgia and Texas.
Maranon Capital provided T&H with an integrated senior and mezzanine debt facility to support Flexpoint Ford’s initial acquisition of the company in March 2011. To facilitate the CJW acquisition, Maranon expanded its senior revolving credit and term loan facilities and provided incremental mezzanine debt and an equity co-investment.
DayMen Group Acquires Joby
DayMen Group, a portfolio company of Brockway Moran & Partners and a leading provider of premium carrying cases and bags marketed primarily under its flagship Lowepro® brand recently acquired Joby, Inc. (“Joby”).
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Joby provides flexible tripods for the photographic market, flexible lights for the home and outdoor markets, and innovative stands and cases for the mobile device market. The company’s products are sold worldwide under the Joby®, GorillaPod®, GorillaTorch® and GorillaMobile® brand names. Since its founding over six years ago, Joby has grown to a business with sales in over 65 countries, including Canada and Australia where DayMen has distributed Joby products since 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Maranon Capital, the sole mezzanine lender to DayMen since Brockway Moran & Partners purchased the company in October 2010, provided additional capital to facilitate the Joby acquisition.
About Maranon Capital
Maranon Capital, L.P. provides senior financing, mezzanine debt and equity co-investments for private equity-backed and non-sponsored middle market transactions. Maranon has the flexibility to structure an integrated financing solution or provide stand-alone senior or mezzanine debt. The firm does not take control equity positions, but will consider a minority equity role in conjunction with a financing relationship. Maranon is currently managing over $550 million of committed capital. The firm is headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in Birmingham, Michigan and South Bend, Indiana. For more information about Maranon Capital please visit http://www.maranoncapital.com/.

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