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Multicultural students walking on Brick Lane center at Shoreditch London – Life style concept with multi-ethnic young friends on seasonal clothes having fun together outside – Bright vivid filter

Case study:

International Students House

About International Students House

International Students House (ISH) is a charity affiliated to International Houses Worldwide that enables young people from across the world to achieve their academic ambitions in London, irrespective of background and resources.

 

ISH supports its students through providing high quality accommodation for study, creating a warm and supportive environment, and sponsoring cultural activities to foster an international community. It also runs a bursary and scholarship programme, providing free or discounted rents, where the partner university waives or reduces tuition fees.

Our work with International Students House

Allia C&C has worked with ISH since 2021 to support its aim of increasing the accommodation it provides. We have done this through:

 

  • Creating an appropriate business plan
  • Reviewing the options available for it on funding
  • Modelling the optimal debt package
  • Advising on obtaining a private credit rating from Fitch
  • Conducting a competitive process to secure the most competitive terms for the first phase of the development programme.

The impact

To fund the first phase of the development programme, Allia C&C conducted a competitive tender process with banks and institutional investors. Upon reviewing the terms offered, ISH obtained a Lombard loan secured against ISH’s investment portfolio for up to £40m through HSBC Private Bank, completed on very attractive terms, including a rolling 24-month notice period. In addition, ISH took out a £10m term loan with CAF Bank, secured against part of the existing estate, to provide additional liquidity for the charity.

“This is a very important milestone in our strategic plan as a charity. The HSBC Private Banking Lombard loan will give ISH the ability to increase its affordable bed space provision whilst maintaining a strong investment portfolio and other assets free of charge. This flexibility will give the House the option for further growth in line with our 5-year plan. Allia C&C provided us with support and guidance during the process which enabled us to secure this debt facility at a very competitive rate and we are very thankful to them for that.”

Shami Nathoo, Finance Director, International Students House