Munis Flashcards
For an investor in the 37% federal income tax bracket, the tax-equivalent yield of a general obligation municipal bond with a coupon rate of 4.17% is _____
- 62%
- Tax equivalent yield = Coupon rate / (100% - tax bracket)
“The computation for tax-equivalent yield is done by dividing the coupon rate by (100% - tax bracket). In this question, that is 4.17% ÷ (100% - 37%) = 4.17% ÷ 63%. That equals 6.62%.”
Is the bond contract or bond resolution a more expansive document?
Bond contract is more expansive
-The bond contract contains the bond resolution (aka trust indenture)
” The contract is comprised of the bond resolution (or trust indenture) and other security agreements and laws in force at the time of bond issuance.”
T/F: The bond contract contains the bond resolution as well as other security agreements and laws in force at time of issuance
True
-Bond contract contains bond resolution
[Munis] Out-firm with recall quote
Quote is good for roughly one hour then recalled
“A municipal securities dealer may quote a bond price that is firm for a certain time. This is called an out-firm with recall quote. Generally, these quotes are firm for an hour (or half hour) with a five-minute recall period. During this time, the municipal dealer cannot offer those bonds to anyone else—they are under the control of your firm.”
T/F: The official statement is the disclosure document used in new muni offerings
True
-Is the disclosure document
Does the legal opinion evaluate the tax exempt status of a muni issue?
Yes
-Looks at legality as well as tax exempt status
“A legal opinion rendered by bond counsel deals with the tax-exempt status of the proposed issue and its legality”
T/F: Prior to issuing any municipal bond, issuers commission attorneys known as “bond counsels” to render legal opinions.
True
Bond counsel renders legal oponion
What is the term for the attorneys who render the legal opnion of a bond issue?
The bond counsel
-They issue the legal opnion which deals with the tax exempt status and legality of the offering
The tax exemot status of a muni offering would be found in what document?
The legal opinion
-It contains the tax exempt status and legaility of the offering
Does the official statement contain info on the creditworthiness of the issue?
Yes
Contains the issue’s creditworthiness
Who is responsible for preparing the official statement of a new muni issue?
The issuer
-Although underwriter may assist
“While a broker-dealer acting in an underwriting capacity or in an advisory capacity may assist in preparing the official statement, it is considered to be the responsibility of, and prepared by, the issuer. “
T/F: In general, the interest paid on municipal issues is exempt from federal taxes and sometimes state and local taxes as well.
True
-Interest exempt from fed taxes
A muni revenue issue’s flow of funds statement would be found in what document?
In the bond contract
Flow of funds would be in bond contract
(Bond contract is the one that contains the bond resolution aka trust indenture)
T/F: Interest received on a California GO bond bought by a San Francisco resident would be exempt from state and federal income taxes.
True
Exempt from both
It’s a muni bond
Certain revenue bonds called ____ are baked by a leaseback agreement
Lease rental bonds
“Certain revenue bonds—called lease-rental bonds—are secured by a leaseback arrangement. For example, the state may set up an agency to construct a new office complex to house all state agencies. This authority issued the bonds. Once the facility is built, the state leases the complex from that authority. The bonds are backed by the lease payments.”
T/F: [munis] The bond resolution (aka bond contract) contains both the requirement for the municipality to properly keep the facilities books and reporting requirements regarding revenues collected.
True, contains both
“The bond resolution, which is also referred to as the bond contract, contains the requirement for the municipality to properly keep the facilities books, reporting requirements regarding revenues collected, conditions of the maintenance covenant, and terms of the rate covenant”
T/F: The bond contract (aka bond resolution) contains the terms of the rate covenant
True, contains terms of rate covenant
(Also contains conditions of the maintenance covenant)
“The bond resolution, which is also referred to as the bond contract, contains the requirement for the municipality to properly keep the facilities books, reporting requirements regarding revenues collected, conditions of the maintenance covenant, and terms of the rate covenant.”
A munis total debt is made up of direct debt and overlapping debt, what do these two terms mean?
Direct debt is debt issued by the municipality, and overlapping debt is the municipality’s share of debt issued by authorities that draw revenues from the same sources as the municipality