Everything you need to know about bonds
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- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BONDS” Use this Legal Product, Industrial Development Revenue Bonds
- Daniel M. McRae Partner 7th Floor
“EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BONDS” Use this Legal Product, Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, To Finance New or Expanded Facilities At the Lowest Possible Interest Rate July 1, 2003
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BONDS By Daniel M. McRae Introduction Despite the title, this paper does not relate everything that would need to be known, in every context, concerning bonds. Rather, the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how one type of tax-advantaged financing, industrial development revenue bonds, can be used to finance different types of projects on a cost-effective basis. Industrial development revenue bonds (“IDBs”) are a means by which companies can finance capital projects, including land, buildings, and equipment and certain transaction costs. In Georgia, this type of financing is often the key to other incentives, such as property tax abatement. With tax-exempt IDBs, the financing is cheaper for the company that is the actual borrower, because the lender does not pay normal federal or state income tax on the interest it receives. IDBs are sometimes also referred to as industrial revenue bonds (“IRBs”). All IDBs are issued by some unit of state or local government (the “Issuer”). In Georgia, IDBs are usually issued by local development authorities and sometimes are issued by other state and local authorities. The bond proceeds are passed on to the company through a financing lease, an installment sale agreement or loan agreement and the payments by the company thereunder match the debt service on the IDBs. In Georgia, a financing lease is often used in order to obtain an exemption from local property tax by having the authority be the “owner” and lessor on the project during the term the lease. Such an abatement actually requires more in the way of an underlying structure, but except in certain rare cases, the use of IDBs is a prerequisite. With a financing lease, upon retirement of the bonds and the expiration of the lease, the company will acquire title to the project by purchasing the project for a nominal consideration under a purchase option contained in the lease. Under each of the foregoing structures, the company will be the ultimate owner of the project and, while the bonds are outstanding, will be treated as the owner of the project for federal tax purposes, and for accounting purposes. Hence, the company will be entitled to claim depreciation on the project and will be entitled to deduct interest on the bonds as a business interest expense. The Company would not be entitled to deduct rent if the financing lease structure is used. In the case of federally tax-exempt IDBs for airports, docks, wharves and mass commuting facilities, the company will be a true lessee and will not be the tax-owner of the financed facilities and may not claim depreciation thereon, but may claim a deduction for rent. The company will generally be the only obligor on the financing, except to the extent that credit support is provided by a stockholder guaranty or letter of credit. The Issuer acts merely as a conduit. Except in extremely rare instances, the Issuer and the related local or state government have absolutely no obligation for the repayment of the IDBs other than from funds received from the company. Generally, an Issuer will permit its IDBs to be sold only in a private placement to a bank, insurance company or other financial institution., unless the IDBs are either rated by a national rating agency or secured by a letter of credit. Privately placed IDBs are frequently sold to a bank that has a preexisting banking relationship with the company. If the bonds are to be sold to a single purchaser, such as a bank, in a private placement, the issue often consists of a single bond, which may be issued as a draw-down obligation. Reasons for Using IDBs. Federally Tax-Exempt IDBs. In the case of projects that qualify for tax-exempt IDB financing (as described below), the principal reason for using federally tax-exempt IDBs is to finance the project at the lower interest cost that can be obtained as a result of the exclusion from gross income of the interest received on tax-exempt IDBs. For example, a lender (i.e., bond investor) in the 39 percent tax bracket, who would be willing to lend funds to a particular borrower at 10 percent on a conventional basis, would achieve the same after-tax yield on a tax-exempt IDB paying interest at 6.1 percent (the net of 10 percent interest income taxed at a 39 percent tax rate). This is an oversimplified example, but nevertheless demonstrates the basic attraction of tax-exempt IDB financing. Even lower effective interest rates, in the range of 3.5 to 5.5 percent, can be achieved by the use of tax-exempt IDBs that are secured by a bank letter of credit and issued as variable rate demand bonds. Such bonds, even though they are long-term obligations, bear interest at short term rates that are periodically reset to the prevailing market rate for short term obligations. Such bonds are generally sold through an underwriter or placement agent to tax-exempt money market funds. Tax-exempt IDBs are exempt from the registration requirements of the federal securities laws. Federally Taxable IDBs. Even if a project does not qualify for federally tax-exempt financing, there are reasons why a company might wish to finance the project with federally taxable IDBs. In Georgia, one reason for using federally taxable IDBs is to achieve such incentives as property tax abatement for the project. A sale-lease back structure must be used under which the Issuer finances and owns the project, and leases it to the company and grants a purchase option to the company. This type of financing can be used in conjunction with other financings. For example, the company might obtain financing for a national or international expansion program, and use the proceeds of a borrowing from its lead lender to purchase taxable IDBs, the proceeds of which are used to finance a project for the company or a subsidiary of the company. A second reason for using taxable IDBs is to access a different source of funding. For example, taxable IDBs, which are secured by a bank letter of credit and issued in the form of variable rate demand bonds, are typically sold through an underwriter or placement agent to taxable money market funds. The financing costs associated with such variable rate demand bonds are considerably lower than the costs of conventional financing (generally less than the prime rate). Unless taxable IDBs are registered with the S.E.C. (the cost of which is prohibitive), they must be either privately placed or supported by a bank letter of credit. Georgia Income Tax Exemption. The interest on Georgia IDBs is exempt from Georgia income tax, whether or not the interest thereon is federally tax-exempt. Thus, if the bonds are sold to purchasers in Georgia, that tax savings may have a small favorable effect on the interest rate on the IDBs. These “taxable” IDBs are used in transactions designed to provide property tax abatement for the company. Types of Federally Tax-Exempt IDBs Because the proceeds of IDBs are used for the benefit of a private company and are repaid from funds provided by the company under the lease, installment sale agreement or loan agreement, IDBs are classified as “private activity bonds” under the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Code, only certain types of private activity bonds bear interest that is excludible from gross income for federal income tax purposes, including the following: “Exempt Small Issue” Bonds. Exempt small issue IDBs are the most common type of tax-exempt IDBs. The facilities financed must be primarily for manufacturing purposes (except that they also may be, but rarely are, used for certain first-time farm projects). For these IDBs to be tax-exempt, either (i) the amount of the bonds (and certain prior issues of bonds) must be $1 million or less or (ii) the total amount of the bonds, certain prior issues and certain capital expenditures within the local jurisdiction must be less than $10 million. There is a $40 million nationwide wide cap that is applicable to each company and certain “related persons.” There are a number of other requirements that must also be complied with, including obtaining an allocation of the state bond “cap.” This is an IRS requirement administered in Georgia through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (“DCA”). If these limitations and requirements are not complied with in any way, the interest on IDBs will not be federally tax-exempt. Exempt Facilities Bonds. Bonds for certain specific types of projects may also qualify for tax-exempt financing. These projects include airports, docks and wharfs, mass transit facilities, solid waste facilities, water/sewer projects, certain housing projects and certain electric generating facilities. The $10 million and $40 million limits that apply to “exempt small issue” IDBs are not applicable to “exempt facility” IDBs. Issues of such bonds often exceed $100 million. An allocation from DCA is required, except in the case of qualified veterans’ mortgage bonds, bonds for airports, docks and wharves, and bonds for governmentally owned high-speed intercity rail facilities. In the case of non-governmentally owned high-speed intercity rail facilities a volume allocation is needed for only 25% of the bond issue. Qualified 50l(c)(3) Bonds. These bonds are issued for the benefit of 501(c)(3)[charitable] organizations, and are often used to finance hospitals and college facilities. The $10 million and $40 million limits on small issue IDBs are not applicable to 501(c)(3) bonds. No volume cap allocation is required. Enterprise Zone Bonds and Empowerment Zone Facility Bonds. “Enterprise zone facility bonds” are bonds, at least 95% of the proceeds of which are used to provide an “enterprise zone facility” (land, buildings, and equipment) to be used in a federally designated enterprise zone or empowerment community for use by an “enterprise zone business.” The financed property must add value to the capital base of the zone, either as newly constructed property, purchased property that will have its first “in-zone” use pursuant to the financing or property in the zone that is substantially renovated. The bonds may be issued to finance retail, service and other commercial projects, as well as manufacturing projects. “Enterprise zone facility bonds” have been permitted since 1993. However, less than ten (and perhaps as few as five) issues were closed prior to the enactment of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. This track record is the result of the “per user” limitations on issue size ($3 million per zone/$20 million nationally; see below) and the need for continuous compliance with certain operating requirements. The 1997 Act provides for the issuance of “empowerment zone facility bonds” for projects in 20 new empowerment zones. These zones are comprised of 15 in urban areas designated by the Secretary of HUD, and 5 in rural areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. “Empowerment zone facility bonds” are similar to “enterprise zone facility bonds”. However, the $3 million “per user” limit on the amount of “enterprise zone facility bonds” that can be issued for a company and related persons for facilities located in a single zone, and the $20 million “per user” limit on the amount of “enterprise zone facility bonds” that can be issued nationwide for a company and related persons, do not apply to “empowerment zone facility zone bonds”. Also, “empowerment zone facility bonds” will not be counted for purposes of the $3 million and $20 million cap on “enterprise zone facility bonds”. In addition, “empowerment zone facility zone bonds” are subject to a volume cap based on the population of the zone, rather than the state’s private activity cap (which is applicable to “enterprise zone facility bonds”). For both types of bonds, the 1997 Act provides for a startup period during which compliance with certain operating requirements are waived, and provides that, after the expiration of a three-year “test period” that commences at the end of the startup period, the operating requirements are waived, except for the requirement that 35% of the employees at the project must be residents of the zone. The 1997 Act will have limited positive effect on the issuance of “enterprise zone facility bonds” in the existing enterprise zones and empowerment communities. Its true significance may lie in a substantial volume of “empowerment zone facility zone bonds” being issued in the 20 new empowerment zones. This result might occur because the inapplicability of such bonds of the $3 million and $20 million issue size limits will permit the tax-exempt financing of large projects, including large retail projects and shopping malls. Timing
An issue of variable rate tax-exempt IDBs, secured by a letter of credit, takes about 60 to 90 days to close from the date of finalization of the letter of credit commitment from the bank. Fixed rate tax-exempt IDBs secured by a letter of credit can be issued in about 60 days from the date of receipt of the bank’s letter of credit commitment. Fixed rate tax-exempt IDBs, credit enhanced in other ways, take about 90 days to close from the date that the other credit enhancement is committed. Privately placed tax-exempt or taxable IDBs can be closed in about 60 days. The periods indicated above are subject to being accelerated or extended depending on such factors as coordinating of public meeting and notice requirements, etc. The steps that apply are discussed in more detail below. How the Process Works The typical steps in IDB financings are described below. If the issue involves taxable IDBs, a number of steps (marked with an “*”) are omitted, and step 2 (marked “**”) may be, but is generally not, omitted.
Conclusion IDBs are a financing alternative that should be considered by any company proposing to finance a project. IDBs are a unique form of financing, requiring counsel having experience in a number of areas, including state bond law, federal and state tax law, and federal and state securities laws, experience in the structuring of such transactions; and experience in identifying potential purchasers for such bonds. In Georgia, particularly if property tax abatement or other incentives are part of the transaction, counsel should have experience in these fields, and with Georgia’s communities, as well. Lawyers in the CORE Group in Georgia have served as bond counsel on Georgia, Florida and Alabama IDB issues and as underwriter’s counsel on issues of IDBs in those states and in Mississippi. We represent authorities throughout the State of Georgia that issue bonds. We also serve as counsel to companies that are involved in IDB financings. Our firm is listed among nationally recognized bond counsel in the Bond Buyer’s Municipal Marketplace (the “Red Book”). Several of the lawyers in the CORE Group are members of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. More Information This paper is a quick-reference guide for company executives and managers, and economic developers. The information in this paper is general in nature. Various points which could be important in a particular case have been condensed or omitted in the interest of readability. Specific professional advice should be obtained before this information is applied to any particular case. If you have any questions or comments, we would be pleased to provide more information. Please contact: Daniel M. McRae, Partner Seyfarth Shaw 1545 Peachtree Street, N.E., 7th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Telephone: 404/888-1883 Facsimile: 404/892-7056 danmcrae@mindspring.com dmcrae@seyfarth.com Directory: cat -> docs cat -> Lawrence H. Jones, Proprietor Auction Catalog #119 [Closing Monday, May 9th, 2011] cat -> Post Office Box #515 Highland Park, Illinois 60035 cat -> Peggy schaller saisir le désordre : Expressions littéraires de la catastrophe; modalités et enjeux de sa verbalisation cat -> Post Office Box #515 Highland Park, Illinois 60035 cat -> Australian books cat -> Dale LaFollettes docs -> - docs -> List of issues prepared by the committee to be considered during the examination of the second periodic report of Qatar (cat/C/qat/2) Download 32.62 Kb. Share with your friends:
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