HI-C Issuer Trust 'A-' Issuer Credit And Senior Unsecured Ratings Affirmed

On Feb. 17, 2022, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'A-' long-term issuer credit and issue-level ratings on HI-C Issuer Trust (HIT or the trust). The outlook is stable.

 The stable outlook reflects our expectation that HIT's loan book will expand substantially in 2022 and 2023, strengthening the trust's business position and the enterprise risk profile over our two-year outlook horizon. A larger loan book should improve profitability and lead to a strengthening of the management team and its capabilities. As well, it is expected that HIT's financial profile will remain strong, bolstered by very strong capital adequacy and adequate liquidity.

 

Press Release: HIC Completes Social Bond Financing for New Construction Lending Program

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HPC Housing Investment Corporation (HIC) is pleased to announce that it closed a C$40 million social bond offering as part of its new Construction Lending Program, that will provide long-term financing for an affordable housing project in Edmonton, Alberta.

Images provided by GEC Architecture

Images provided by GEC Architecture

First to benefit from this new lending program is Capital Region Housing’s Londonderry mixed use redevelopment project. The project will replace an existing 80 units with 240 new apartments & townhomes and features a mixed market rental scheme providing social, affordable and market rents.

Financing consists of a blended construction and take-out loan with a term of 40.25 years. The new Construction Lending Program adheres to HIC’s Social Financing Framework, which complies with the Social Bond Principles developed by the International Capital Markets Association in June 2020.

See News Release, Backgrounder and Quotes to Learn More.

News Articles: CMHC HI-C Announcement

On August 21, 2019 CMHC announced a $20 million investment in HPC Housing Investment Corporation through the National Housing Strategy’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. As a result, HI-C has garnered significant media attention, below are some of the articles to date:

Canada Newswire: Innovative partnership aims to increase affordable housing

Globe and Mail: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada by offering incentives to investors

Toronto Star: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

National Post: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

CTV News: Federal Partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

Squamish Chief: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

Daily Commercial News: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

Markets Insider: Innovative partnership aims to increase affordable housing

Daily Hive: New lending institution by federal government helps build affordable housing

Stockhouse: Innovative partnership aims to increase affordable housing

Victoria News: Feds' latest investment aims to boost affordable housing across Canada

Red Deer Advocate: Federal partnership aims to increase affordable housing across Canada

HuffPost Canada: HPC Housing Investment Corporation Is The Liberals' Latest Move On Affordability

REMI Network - Real Estate Management Industry Network: Canada invests in new lending institution to spur affordable housing

Inhalton: Federal Government Announces Partnership To Create More Affordable Housing

Press Release: Inaugural Offering

HPC Housing Investment Corporation Completes Inaugural Offering

February 22, 2019 

TORONTO – HPC Housing Investment Corporation (“HIC”) is pleased to announce that today it closed a C$33.1 million private placement of Senior Unsecured Series Notes (“the Notes”), the proceeds of which will be advanced to provide long term financing for affordable housing projects in Canada. The Canada Life Assurance Company is the sole investor in the Notes. 

"Canadian affordable housing providers have not historically had access to the low-cost, long-term financing offered by the debt capital markets,” said Shayne Ramsay, Chair of HIC and Chief Executive Officer of BC Housing. “We are very excited to be providing this opportunity for our sector to effectively meet the growing demands for affordable housing across Canada." 

HI-C anticipates that these Notes are the first of a much larger program that will ultimately finance a diverse portfolio of affordable housing projects across Canada. Standard and Poor's Rating Services assigned an "A-" issuer credit rating for the HIC Issuer Trust. In its rationale for issuing this rating to this new Canadian agency, Standard and Poor's stated that HIC’s business position is expected to “strengthen in the next two years as it builds its customer base.” 

HI-C was created by the leadership of BC Housing, Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (“Manitoba Housing”) and Ontario’s Housing Services Corporation ("HSC"), in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”), to provide cost-effective long-term loans to non-profit Canadian affordable housing providers. MPA Morrison Park Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to HI-C. 

TD Securities Inc. and Scotiabank Capital Inc. acted as debt placement advisors and Agents for HIC's inaugural note issues, displaying their strong support for the affordable housing sector. 

HIC was advised by a team from Gowling WLG. The Agents were represented by Dentons. 


 This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results indicated in these statements for a number of reasons. Hi-C disclaims any intention to update any forward-looking statements. 

About HPC Housing Investment Corporation (HIC) 

HPC Housing Investment Corporation is a new public-sector lender providing long-term funding to affordable and social housing providers in Canada. HIC is a federal non-share corporation with three founding members: BC Housing, Manitoba Housing and Ontario’s Housing Services Corporation. HIC aggregates the borrowing needs of eligible Canadian housing providers, and provides access to capital through the Canadian debt capital market. The corporation offers 30-to-40 year fixed-rate financing. 

About Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) 

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook

The first round of financing is valued at approximately $33 million for two projects in BC and Alberta: 

  • 95 East 1st Avenue - Community Land Trust, BC (CLT): A 15-storey, 135 home building, formerly part of the east end Olympic Village, which is now Vancouver’s latest housing co-operative development. In partnership with the City of Vancouver, the CLT is able to house more than half the homes targeted to low-to-moderate income families, couples, seniors and individuals with more than 10 homes at shelter rates. HIC is providing take-out financing for this project at a 40 year fixed rate 

  • Parkdale Housing Development Project – Capital Region Housing Corporation, Alberta: Two buildings providing affordable housing to 136 low-to-moderate income families, couples, seniors and individuals in north-central Edmonton. HIC is providing a take-out financing for the two buildings, which were fully occupied at the end of 2018. 

Media Contact: 
Sarah Baker 
Communications & Marketing 
HPC Housing Investment Corporation 
416-594-9325 x322