Infrastructure Ontario reaches financial close with HKSC Developments

On March 31, 2010, Infrastructure Ontario, as agent for the Province of Ontario, as represented by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, reached financial close with HKSC Developments L.P., Canadian Tire Corporation and EllisDon Corporation for the redevelopment of 23 service centres situated on Highways 400 and 401 in the Province of Ontario. The cost to design and construct the new service centres is approximately $300 million. Over the next three years, 20 of the 23 service centres will be redeveloped and will feature modernized rest areas, increased accessibility and improved food services. The remaining three service centres will be redeveloped at a future date. The project is an alternative financing and procurement project under the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure's ReNew Ontario infrastructure investment plan. The credit facility for the project was arranged by The Bank of Nova Scotia (also acting as Administrative Agent), with financing provided by The Bank of Nova Scotia and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Host Kilmer Service Centres (HKSC) is a partnership between affiliates of HMSHost Corporation and Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. HMSHost was represented by Jon Stentz, Vice President and Chief Counsel, International Development and Brands with support from Scott Conover of Fasken Martineau. Fasken Martineau also advised the project lenders (The Bank of Nova Scotia and The Toronto-Dominion Bank) with a team led by Brian Kelsall and Ella Plotkin with support from Kevin Clinton, Sean Morley, Mark Brennan, Marc Lefler and Louise Kennedy. The financing was novel, being the first project financing of a multi-site PPP in Ontario, combining elements of construction and operations risks and related risk mitigation measures.