Press Release

CARMEL, Ind. – Financial services company Merchants Capital announces today it has provided $18.2 million in total refinancing for Eden Housing, a nonprofit that has partnered with local communities to develop or acquire more than 10,600 homes in communities throughout California. The proceeds will be used to rehabilitate two affordable housing communities in the state: Emerson Arms and Arroyo Vista. Located in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley area, Emerson Arms is a 32-unit affordable apartment community with four one-bedroom units and 28 two-bedroom units within three residential buildings. All 32 units are covered by a long-term Option 5 HUD project-based Section 8 contract. The property was constructed in 1973 and last renovated in 2003. Rehabilitation plans include replacing the exterior podium and walkways that service each unit, new railings and exterior stairs, garage ceiling replacement/ventilation, traffic coating on walkways, roof and gutters replacement, window and sliding door replacement, building exterior painting and ADA compliant walkways. Secondly, Arroyo Vista is a 156-unit affordable apartment community located in Mission Viejo, Orange County, California, approximately 70 miles north of San Diego and 50 miles southeast of the Los Angeles central business district – an area in need of affordable housing. Constructed in 1995, the apartments have 36 one-bedroom units, 72 two-bedroom units, 40 three-bedroom units and eight four-bedroom units within nine two- and three-story residential buildings. All units are encumbered by a combination of rent and income restrictions ranging from 35% to 60% Area Median Income (AMI) through various regulatory agreements. Current resident amenities include on-site management, clubhouse, fitness center, playground, sports court, common laundry, pool and a spa. Rehabilitation plans include major plumbing upgrades throughout the entire property to address slab leaks, exterior stairs and railings, window replacement, carport and trash enclosure repairs, playground, in-unit HVAC, upgraded appliances and countertops and cabinets replacement. “It’s just as vital to preserve and recapitalize affordable housing as it is to produce it,” said Dwayne George, Executive Vice President, Head of Production at Merchants Capital. “With constraints on Private Activity Bond Volume Cap in state of California, Merchants is optimistic that partnering with key organizations such as Eden Housing to pilot creative debt solutions will complement California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) efforts to address the affordable housing crisis in the state of California.” Eden Housing currently serves a diverse population of 22,000 low-income residents from all cultures and backgrounds. The company services very low-, low- and moderate-income families, seniors, veterans, people living with physical, mental or development disabilities and the formerly homeless. “As we continue to face unprecedented times – where our portfolios are aging but we lack the variety of feasible financing solutions to address the physical needs – it is critical to have organizations like Merchants Capital that aim to step in and help affordable housing operators explore various solutions to meet our needs,” said Darnell Williams, Eden Housing Senior Director at Asset Management. “Like many affordable housing providers, we are feeling the implications of bond financing constraints. These two properties – although very different financial profiles – were each in need of a seven-figure capital infusion to buy us time before the next tax credit syndication is available. Dwayne and I began strategizing on possible loan products to address our needs and with his background in GSE financing, he was able to help us consider options that best suited each property. It has been a joy to work with him and his team on these deals.” To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Financial services company Merchants Capital today announces an expansion of the tax credit equity team with two senior hires in the acquisitions and underwriting divisions. Laurie DiBona joins Merchants Capital as Vice President of Acquisitions in Boston. In her new role at Merchants, DiBona will manage relationships with top affordable housing developers in the United States, negotiating and structuring lower tier partnership agreements. DiBona previously spent 12 years in the equity acquisitions and asset management divisions at Boston Capital and R4 Capital. Lisa Zebro joins Merchants Capital as Vice President and Deputy Chief Equity Underwriter in New York. Lisa was previously a Manager in Ernst & Young’s tax credit equity division, where she spent 13 years opining on real estate underwriting, transaction structure, tax risk and feasibility for investments in tax credit funds sponsored by the nation’s largest tax credit syndicators. In her new role at Merchants Capital, Zebro is responsible for underwriting lower tier and upper tier investments in tax credit equity funds sponsored by Merchants Capital. “We are pleased to have these extraordinary women join our team, both of whom are experts in the tax credit equity field,” said Julie Sharp, Senior Vice President at Merchants Capital. “In a time of unprecedented growth in the equity syndication division, Merchants Capital continues to add industry-leading talent in key roles, solidifying our position as best-in-class in affordable housing finance.” To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Merchants Capital’s real estate equity team, in partnership with First Merchants Bank, The National Bank of Indianapolis, and Merchants Bank of Indiana, announces the closing of Indiana Social Impact Housing Equity Fund II, LP. The Fund targets large scale revitalization of vacant single-family homes in traditionally disinvested neighborhoods in and around downtown Indianapolis. The fund infused $2.7M in institutional private equity to support the mission of Full Circle Development. Full Circle will target investment in underserved center city neighborhoods to construct or rehabilitate vacant or abandoned homes, prioritizing women- and minority-owned contractors and subcontractors. Target homebuyers of the as-renovated homes are existing neighborhood residents and families that work in or near downtown with household incomes lower than 120% of the area median income. The added hope is that investment in these communities revive schools and parks, attract businesses, reduce crime, and improve the overall quality of neighborhood living in central Indianapolis. “This capital infusion allows Full Circle to work at scale to address Indy’s dramatic shortage of quality homes attainable to workforce homebuyers, while being a part of re-establishing a thriving real estate market at the neighborhood level,” said Mark Buckingham, President of Full Circle Development. “We’re excited to embark on this joint effort that affirms our mission of helping our communities thrive,” said Mike Stewart, President of First Merchants Bank. “The fund offers a holistic approach to improving our neighborhoods because it reduces vacant homes but also prioritizes current residents and employing minority- and women-owned contracting businesses.” “We are proud to be an investor in Merchants Capital’s Indiana Social Impact Housing Equity Fund II.” said Mark Bruin, President and CEO of The National Bank of Indianapolis. “The National Bank of Indianapolis believes that through equitable access to capital and dynamic lending partnerships such as this, we can help build a thriving community where families have access to quality affordable housing.” “We share a passion with Full Circle Development and our investment partners that quality affordable housing can revive communities in the great city of Indianapolis.” said Michael F. Petrie, Chairman of Merchants Bank of Indiana. “We thank them for their partnership.” To learn more about  Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CHICAGO – The Chicago office of financial services company Merchants Capital recently secured more than $26 million in financing for the acquisition of Island Terrace, an affordable apartment complex in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The project is located across from the planned Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. “We are proud to have served as the financing partner for this important project in Chicago,” said Emmett Donovan, Senior Vice President at Merchants Capital. “Merchants Capital is committed to preserving and expanding affordable housing options across the United States, and our work on this project strongly exemplifies that commitment.” After acquisition, the borrower, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH), plans to syndicate the property with a tax credit structure utilizing both a 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), making Island Terrace one of the first housing properties to utilize this unique type of financing. Upon syndication, all 240 units will be divided into two condominiums, with 178 units housed in the 4% LIHTC condo and 62 units in the 9% LIHTC condo. In addition to securing the acquisition bridge loan facility, Merchants Capital issued project term sheets for both the 4% and 9% LIHTC equity bridge loans to be used during the construction and renovation phase. “We are delighted to announce our purchase of Island Terrace. This is a crucial preservation opportunity given its location, and working with Merchants we can ensure its long-term affordability,” said Bill Eager, Senior Vice President at POAH. The syndication will ensure the long-term affordability of the project with the 20-year extension of the existing project-based Section 8 contract covering 88 units, the transfer and 20-year extension of a project-based Section 8 contract covering 44 additional units, an existing Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund use agreement covering 11 units and a new Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) use agreement restricting the remaining 99 units at the 60% and 80% area median income (AMI) levels utilizing income averaging. Renovation to Island Terrace is expected to begin in mid-2022, with a focus on improvements to major property systems and modernization of approximately $100,000 per unit. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Financial services company Merchants Capital announces today it has secured a $35 million construction loan for Union at the Loop, an affordable, multifamily housing community coming to Lawrence, Kansas. Merchants Capital also acted as servicer for the $22.25 million Freddie Mac Tax Exempt Loan (TEL) forward permanent commitment. Union at the Loop, developed by The Annex Group, will be located at 3250 Michigan St. as the city’s newest affordable, 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property. The 248-unit property will house one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for residents who earn up to 60% of the area median income (AMI), or an annual income of $35,800 to $57,300. “Due to Merchants Capital’s multi-layered debt products, we were able to offer and successfully secure construction and permanent financing for Union at the Loop. We are excited to partner with The Annex Group on this project that will provide much needed affordable housing options to the workforce families of Lawrence,” said Brian Emmons, Senior Vice President, Loan Operations for Merchants Capital. Notable amenities will include a business center and clubhouse, a fitness center, exterior storage, onsite management, picnic areas, a playground, video surveillance, walk-in closets and washer and dryers. The complex will be conveniently located to public transportation, grocery stores and restaurants. “When we started looking at the Lawrence area, we saw that almost all existing affordable housing communities had a wait-list of residents hoping to move-in,” said Kyle Bach, CEO of The Annex Group. “Because of the student population at The University of Kansas, there are both typical residents and university students in the rental market, causing a strain. We wanted to ease the need for affordable housing with a community that will feel like home to residents looking for conveniences, amenities and affordability.” Construction began in August 2021, and the property is expected to be open in October 2022. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Financial services company Merchants Capital announces today it has secured $31.9 million in acquisition bridge loans and $57.8 million in seven separate 221(d)(4) loans for the Thetford Portfolio, a seven property low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) 221(d)(4) pilot transaction in North Carolina. The deal was closed in partnership with Vitus, a national leader in preserving and enhancing affordable housing around the country. The North Carolina Thetford Portfolio consists of seven housing properties with over 90% Section 8 subsidy in addition to a number of budget-based rent increase properties on historical contracts from the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990, which offered project incentives to preserve low-income rental properties. Merchants Capital provided the acquisition bridge loans to take down the seven properties at high loan-to-cost to facilitate the LIHTC executions, then closed on seven separate 221(d)(4) loans on the same day, simultaneously. “This seven-deal, same day closing for the North Carolina Thetford Portfolio is unprecedented with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),” said Merchants Capital Senior Vice President Matt Kaercher. “A single sub-rehabilitation LIHTC transaction is difficult enough for execution, but seven simultaneously requires a different subset of skills and persistence. The ability of all parties involved – from the borrower Vitus, HUD and our team at Merchants Capital – warrants the highest level of praise.” According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the U.S. has a shortage of over 6.8 million rental homes affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. Specifically, North Carolina has a shortage of 190,910 affordable rental homes available for low-income renters. The loan structure of seven new affordable housing developments will be a step in the right direction for the state. Additionally, during the project, Vitus closed a single bond issuance that saved the project money while pursuing the same day closing. “Vitus specializes in protecting existing affordable housing in communities with the greatest need. This was a unique transaction that enabled us to do so for seven properties at once. We are grateful for the guidance of the Merchants Capital team, the flexibility of our bond issuer Burlington Housing Authority and the cooperation of the many parties involved along the way in getting a deal of this complexity financed,” said Brooke Shorett, Director of Development Management for Vitus, the developer of the project. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. ###

CARMEL, Ind. – Financial services provider Merchants Capital today announces that it has formed a registered investment advisor, Merchants Asset Management LLC, and secured equity commitments totaling $165 million through a joint venture between an institutional investor and Merchants Bancorp. Evan Gibson Dean Ramsamooj The joint venture will purchase multifamily and healthcare commercial real estate loans from Merchants Capital’s parent company, Merchants Bank of Indiana. This venture will be managed by the newly formed investment advisor and initially operated by Merchants Capital’s Evan Gibson, Vice President of Debt Strategies; Terry Oznick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel; and Dean Ramsamooj, Vice President of Debt Strategies, while they continue to build out the investment advisory business. “This unique joint venture increases our ability to serve our top customers by increasing our lending capacity to them and expanding our product suite beyond the constraints of the bank’s balance sheet,” said Michael Dury, Merchants Capital President and CEO. “Moving forward, we can be more creative, efficient, and provide a better execution for our most valued clients.” Loans purchased by the venture will be financed by JPMorgan through a repurchase agreement that will allow for up to $600 million of loan capacity. Nomura Securities International, Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP acted as legal advisor to the venture. Today’s news comes on the heels of another milestone announcement by Merchants Capital’s Debt Strategies Group for the completion of a $262 million securitization of 15 workforce multifamily housing loans through a Freddie Mac-sponsored Q-Series transaction. The transaction with Merchants marked only the 15th deal completed under the Q platform, with Freddie Mac averaging just over two deals per year. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

WASHINGTON – Leading financial services provider Merchants Capital today announces it has established a Washington, D.C., office – the company’s fifth nationwide. Located at 505 9th St., NW, #800, just blocks from the Capitol, the new office serves as a hub for nearly a dozen team members and is led by Dwayne George, Executive Vice President and National Head of Production. George is joined by Denise Gomez Oluwo, Senior Vice President of Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) Underwriting, and Bianca Geary, Head of GSE Closings, making the new space the center of Merchants Capital’s GSE platform. Dwayne George Denise Gomez Oluwo Bianca Geary The office serves as part of the company’s strategy to expand its national lending footprint while accommodating current and long-term growth on the East Coast. Additionally, the new space allows Merchants Capital to be more equipped to utilize the tools at its disposal to directly benefit its roster of clients, including expanding on its commitment to innovation and efficiency when closing multifamily and affordable housing loans through the support of its banking operation, Merchants Bank. “We are excited to be positioned in downtown Washington, D.C., as it is a natural fit for the firm to be in close proximity to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other landmark institutions that support affordable multifamily housing across the nation,” George said. “Attracting local talent and building a solid team here will be crucial to our success, as we develop a standing presence, continue to grow our platform and foster longstanding client relationships in this core market.” The expansion follows Merchants Capital’s announcement that it was named the #4 multifamily affordable lender nationwide on the prestigious Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) 2020 Commercial/Multifamily Originator Listing. In total, the company closed $2.2 billion in affordable loans across 188 transactions, with an average transaction size of $11.8 million, last year. The company continues to seek driven employees for a variety of positions at all five offices: Indianapolis, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Washington, D.C. For career opportunities, visit our careers page. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

  SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Saint Paul office of mortgage banking company Merchants Capital recently secured more than $55 million in total financing for the development of Maison’s Palmdale, an affordable housing property currently under construction in Palmdale, California. The property is the first in the state to be developed under recently passed legislation which allows for greater lot size density. To finance the property, Merchants Capital secured a $31.6 million Merchants Bank of Indiana (MBI) construction loan and $24 million in permanent financing through a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Fannie Mae Forward Commitment and Fannie Mae Permanent Loan. The financing deal included both a taxable and tax-exempt component. Situated approximately 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, Maison’s Palmdale is comprised of 118 detached housing units featuring three-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The three-bedroom units include a two-car garage for residents, while the two-bedroom units have access to a designated off-street parking space. “Serving as the financier for this project shows Merchants’ commitment to advancing affordable housing across the nation,” said Marsha Goff, Executive Vice President at Merchants Capital’s Saint Paul office. “By capitalizing on the new zoning laws, we were able to maximize the development, bringing even more affordable housing options to such a desirable living area. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a partner on this development, and we are excited to see continued growth in the affordable housing market across the state of California.” In total, Maison’s Palmdale brings 118 new units to the area with 100% affordability – 36 units are restricted to residents earning no greater than 50% of the area median income (AMI) and 81 units are restricted to residents earning no greater than 60% AMI. One unit is reserved as the manager’s unit. “Ravello is very excited to work with industry best in class partners Merchants Capital and WNC to provide affordable, single family dwellings to the local community,” said Phil Ram, CEO of Ravello Holdings, the developer of the project. "The California Dream was built on the ability of working families to live and thrive in comfortable homes. We are thankful our legislators and The City of Palmdale have enabled us to be the first to provide detached affordable homes to Californians in a generation!" Additionally, all 118 units on the property are under a Land Use Restrictive Agreement (LURA) with no release provisions. “WNC is thrilled to be partnering with Ravello Holdings in providing much-needed affordable housing in Los Angeles County,” said Jessica Captanis, Vice President – Originations at WNC & Associates, the LIHTC investor for the project. “The innovative design of these single family homes to create a garden style community living experience for residents is especially noteworthy to us. We look forward to replicating this model on future developments together.” “The rate on the permanent loan was locked through an issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds offered by the California Public Finance Authority,” said Gary Brandt, Managing Director at Stifel, bond underwriters for the project. “When the project is completed, the proceeds from the permanent loan will refinance the construction loan. The securities were well received by the market due to the credit quality provided by the Fannie Mae backed permanent mortgage as well as the affordable housing attributes of the project which are important to our institutional investors that are regional banks.” “We are very excited to be moving forward with the project and strongly believe in our mission to provide residents in the City of Palmdale with high quality affordable housing,” said Matt Avital, Principal at Ascenda Capital, developer partner for the project. “This development is unique because we will be providing each of our residents with a private backyard, a private entrance, and luxurious shared amenities at an affordable price. We strongly feel that our project will positively impact the Palmdale community and are looking forward to a successful development.” To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

INDIANAPOLIS – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital (MCC), along with Merchants Bank of Indiana (MBI), announces today that it has completed a $262 million securitization of 15 workforce multifamily housing loans through a Freddie Mac-sponsored Q-Series transaction. The Freddie Mac program provides increased liquidity to allow financial institutions, such as MCC, to continue to support affordable and workforce housing. Started in 2014, this program offers a flexible securitization structure and allows institutions to remove seasoned loans from their balance sheets, manage their portfolio and maintain key relationships. This transaction with Merchants marks only the 15th deal completed under the Q platform, with Freddie Mac averaging just over two deals per year. MBI will retain the equity and the interest-only securities from the transaction, and MCC will continue to sub-service the loans in the pool. The $262 million in loans consisted of exclusively workforce properties, owned and operated by some of MCC’s largest clients. On a weighted average basis, the portfolio had 99.5% of units under 80% area median income (AMI), 70.5% of units under 60% AMI and 42.3% of units under 50% AMI. “Our strong expertise in mortgage banking uniquely positions us among other regional banks in the country,” said Evan Gibson, Merchants Capital Vice President of Debt Strategies. “We use our balance sheet wisely, finding opportunities for liquidity and flexibility when possible. The ability to utilize the Freddie Mac Q platform gave us an added outlet for our growing production.” The 15 loans came from across the country, but were concentrated around Indiana and the Midwest, where Merchants has a strong presence. “Evan and the rest of our capital markets team are dedicated to expanding Merchants product offerings beyond the confines of our balance sheet so that we can be more dynamic, ultimately supporting our customers’ needs,” said Michael Dury, Merchants Capital President and CEO. “We are always working on alternative solutions to provide the best financing solutions in affordable and workforce housing, and this Q transaction is the first step in that direction.” “The Q-Deal structure allows Freddie Mac to meet its Duty to Serve objective of supporting financial institutions like Merchants in providing liquidity for affordable multifamily housing,” said Steve Johnson, Vice President of Targeted Affordable Housing at Freddie Mac. “Working together with Merchants Capital, we are supporting workforce housing for more than 764 families located mostly in non-coastal states,” added Christina House, a Multifamily Production Manager with Freddie Mac’s Targeted Affordable Housing group who took the lead on the transaction. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. ABOUT MERCHANTS CAPITAL Established in 1990, Merchants Capital is one of the nation’s top lenders for the refinance, acquisition, new construction and substantial rehabilitation of multifamily, affordable, senior and student housing. Whether you are considering Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, HUD/FHA insured or balance sheet or tax credit equity financing, let our personalized services help you meet your financing objectives. Experience the creativity of a small lender, with all the capabilities of a large institution. To learn more about Merchants Capital, visit www.merchantscapital.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "might," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection," "goal," "target," "outlook," "aim," "would," "annualized" and "outlook," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control, such as the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, management cautions that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the severity, magnitude, duration and businesses’ and governments’ responses thereto, on the Company’s operations and personnel, and on activity and demand across its businesses, and other factors identified in "Risk Factors" or "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.