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Investing Bond Proceeds. CDIAC @ Inland Empire Association of Government Accountants Hilton San Bernardino San Bernardino, California October 8, 2008. Investing Bond Proceeds. The Bonds Have Been Issued ... Now What?. Congratulations! Months of careful planning are over
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Investing Bond Proceeds • CDIAC @ Inland Empire Association of Government Accountants • Hilton San Bernardino • San Bernardino, California • October 8, 2008
Investing Bond Proceeds The Bonds Have Been Issued ... Now What? • Congratulations! • Months of careful planning are over • At last, the Bonds have been issued • You’ve locked in at a low cost of funds • Now it’s time to get back to your regular duties • Do Not Forget About the Bond Proceeds • Probably on your “To Do List” • Typically are forgotten • Are unique assets considering the arbitrage rebate and yield restriction requirements - you want to owe rebate
Investing Bond Proceeds Why Bother Worrying About Investments? • Costs • Interest costs accrue on bonds immediately so... • Negative carry (i.e., negative arbitrage) on investments increases financing cost • Improved investment performance will... • Reduce negative carry, and even lower overall borrowing costs • Typical Funds • Project Funds • Net funding + more earnings = smaller bond issue • Gross funding + more earnings = more project funds • Reserve Funds • Earnings will offset debt service costs • Higher earnings here can offset costs of negative carry in Project Funds • Debt Service Funds • More earnings = less net debt service (this is a good thing!)
Investing Bond Proceeds Formulating an Investment Strategy - General Principles • Public Funds Investing Oath of Responsibility • Bond proceeds are actually the public’s assets • Safety • Protect your principal by minimizing credit risk • Liquidity • Ensure that funds are available when needed • Too long...market price risk • Too short...reinvestment rate risk • Matched to expectations...just right • Yield • Matching liabilities and assets • Floating or fixed rates • Generate consistent risk-adjusted returns • Arbitrage rebate requirements may prohibit you from retaining additional earnings from higher yielding investments (i.e. riskier)
Investing Bond Proceeds Formulating an Investment Strategy - Practical Considerations • When Do I Start? • Once the structure and sizing of the debt is known • If you plan on using an investment advisor, do so at the beginning of your debt issuance, not at the end. • And it shouldn’t cost you anything more • Add investment advisor to the “Financing Team” • Integral Part of Debt Strategy • Do you net fund or gross fund? • Surety or cash-funded DSR? – Example • Can’t I wait for rates to go higher, it seems like a good bet? • Yes....No....Maybe.... Did you say “bet?”
Investing Bond Proceeds Formulating an Investment Strategy - Practical Considerations - continued • Case Study • $50,000,000 new money financing • 25 year amortization • Bond yield = 4.67% • Construction Fund = 4.44% • Total debt capacity may determine whether to purchase a surety bond or fund a Reserve Fund
Investing Bond Proceeds Formulating an Investment Strategy - Arbitrage Rebate Requirements • Recalling the Implications of the Arbitrage Rebate Requirements • Goal: Positive arbitrage without compromising safety or liquidity • Prepare prospective arbitrage rebate models for competing investment alternatives • If positive arbitrage is attainable, consider enhancing safety and liquidity • Consider expenditure exceptions if positive arbitrage can be achieved in the project funds
Investing Bond Proceeds What other issues do I need to consider? • As Glenn mentioned, rebate expectations • Positive vs. Negative Arbitrage • Confidence in expenditure schedule • Good estimate vs. Level Draws • Risk tolerance / comfort with investment options • Conservative vs. Less risk adverse • Market outlook
Investing Bond Proceeds Investment Approaches & Options • “Passive” Approach • Local Government Investment Pool (e.g. San Bernardino County Pool) • Money Market Mutual Fund • Asset/liability matched strategy using portfolio of securities • Investment Agreement • “Active” Approach • Managed Portfolio of Securities
Investing Bond Proceeds Passive Investment Approaches • LGIP or Money Market Fund • Advantages: Daily liquidity, stable NAV, low credit & market risk • Disadvantages: Fluctuating interest rates, opportunity cost • Asset/Liability Matched Portfolio • Advantages: Liquidity, manage reinvestment risk, manage market risk, lock-in interest rates • Disadvantages: Potential losses if securities need to be liquidated, non-IRS subsidized fees • Investment Agreement (e.g., Flex-Repo, GIC, FDA) • Advantages: Liquidity, eliminate reinvestment risk and market risk, lock-in interest rate • Disadvantages: Opportunity costs if rates subsequently increase, reinvestment risk if proceeds remain unspent after agreement matures
Investing Bond Proceeds Active Investment Approaches • Managed Investment Portfolio • Interest rate view: Rates expected to rise more than is forecasted by current shape of the yield curve • And/or • Project Expectations: Draw schedule uncertain and likely to significantly change • Advantages: Flexibility to adjust strategy, lock-in rates, liquidity • Disadvantages: Lower returns / opportunity cost, non-IRS subsidized fees
Investing Bond Proceeds How do I make my decision? • In addition to safety and liquidity considerations….. • Arbitrage Considerations - degree of expected arbitrage position may broaden or narrow options • Draw schedule – Maintain flexibility if draws are less certain • Risk Tolerance / Investment Comfort – Ok to stay within your “comfort zone”, but consider alternatives, particularly if they may make sense • Interest Rate Outlook – Do current interest rates reflect rational expectations?
Investing Bond Proceeds • Questions?