NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA+' rating to approximately $76.14 million of Alaska Municipal Bond Bank general obligation (GO) bonds, 2013 series three, issued under the bond bank's 2005 GO bond resolution.
The bonds are expected to sell via negotiation the week of Oct. 28, 2013.
In addition, Fitch affirms the following ratings:
--Approximately $702.5 million in outstanding parity bond bank GO bonds
at 'AA+';
--Approximately $4.4 million in outstanding GO bond bank
bonds issued under its 2010 bond resolution at 'AA';
--Approximately
$17.9 million in bonds outstanding under various revenue bond
resolutions at 'AA'.
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
SECURITY
The bonds are general obligations of the bond bank, for
which the state also maintains a standing appropriation of state general
fund resources to replenish the bonds' reserve fund in the event of
borrower default. This standing appropriation is the basis for the
assigned rating on the 2005 resolution bonds.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
STATE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION: The State of Alaska includes as part of its annual debt service appropriation in its operating budget an appropriation for reserve fund replenishment in the event of a draw related to default by a participating municipality (borrower), resulting in a rating one notch below the state's 'AAA' GO rating.
PROVEN STATE SUPPORT AND STRONG REPAYMENT HISTORY: The bond bank's programs have a solid history of debt repayment, and the state of Alaska has a demonstrated history of support for and involvement with the bond bank. The bond bank has consistently worked with the state to strengthen bondholder protections while achieving its programmatic goals. The state's own resources are substantial.
MULTIPLE LAYERS OF SECURITY: Multiple layers of security support bond bank issues in the event of a local government's failure to pay debt service on its obligations to the bond bank. Security enhancements include issuer reserve funds, bond bank reserve funds, the state's standing appropriation for reserve fund replenishment, the state's statutory moral obligation, and the bond bank's statutory authority to intercept aid to local governments. Coverage of maximum annual debt service by state aid is substantial.
RATING SENSITIVITY
The rating is sensitive to movement in the state
of Alaska's GO bond rating to which it is linked.
CREDIT PROFILE
The 'AA+' rating is based on the state's commitment
to GO bonds of the bond bank issued under the 2005 GO resolution in the
form of a standing appropriation of general funds for program reserve
fund replenishment. GO bonds of the bond bank issued under the 2005
resolution also incorporate multiple layers of security on both the
borrower level and state level. Issuance requires either a borrower's GO
or revenue pledge or other evidence of pledged revenues for allowable
debt obligations, with a borrower reserve available for revenue bonds.
Bond bank borrowers must demonstrate project essentiality and ability to repay to access financing. The current bonds will fund several, separate local government project loans presently estimated as follows:
--$7.57 million to the city and borough of Juneau for various school
improvements;
--$21.79 million to the Kenai Peninsula borough for
various school improvements;
--$18.96 million to the Lake and
Peninsula borough for various school improvements;
--$27 million to
the city of Sitka for improvements to its hydroelectric system;
--$2.9
million to the city of King Cove for various improvements to its
hydroelectric system.
The bond bank maintains a pooled program reserve fund for the 2005 resolution bonds, funded at approximately $40.5 million as of Oct. 1, 2013, backed by a moral obligation of the state established by state statute requiring establishment of a reserve and that the bond bank seek a general fund appropriation in the event of a borrower's payment default. This pledge was strengthened with the bond bank's commitment to seek a standing appropriation for these bonds, and the state's subsequent appropriation, beginning in fiscal 2010.
The 'AA' rating on bonds issued under the 2010 GO resolution, two notches below the state's GO rating, has an underlying annual appropriation pledge of the local borrowers and incorporates the state's moral obligation for reserve fund replenishment. However, the rating also reflects the absence of the bond bank's pledge to seek a standing appropriation for state general fund resources to be used in the event of a program reserve draw. Bonds issued under this resolution have benefited from a standing appropriation in the state's recent fiscal year budgets, including the enacted budget for fiscal year that began on July 1, 2013.
Similarly, the 'AA' rating on bonds issued under various revenue bond resolutions incorporates many of the same credit factors as those for bonds issued under the 2010 resolution. Issuers' revenue pledge for bond repayment is enhanced by the state's moral obligation pledge for reserve fund replenishment; however, the rating reflects the absence of the bond bank's pledge to seek a standing appropriation for state general fund resources to be used in the event of a program reserve draw. These bonds have also benefited from the inclusion of a standing appropriation in the state's recent fiscal year budgets. Following the issuance of the 2013 series three bonds, only two stand-alone revenue bond issues will remain outstanding.
The bond bank was established in 1975 to provide access to low-cost capital financing for Alaska local governments. Not inclusive of the current sale, approximately $702.5 million in 2005 GO resolution bonds are currently outstanding; the new bonds are the 27th under the 2005 GO resolution. Total bond bank obligations outstanding at any one time may not exceed $1 billion; including the current sale, the total amount outstanding will be approximately $872.4 million.
As noted above, the moral obligation for the bonds was strengthened by inclusion in the state's annual budget, beginning in fiscal 2010, of an appropriation to restore any deficiency in the 2005 program reserve fund. Further protections include a state intercept of local aid for borrowers and the ability to access a bond bank custodian account. The custodian account, bolstered by recent state deposits, prior reserve releases, and funded at approximately $23.8 million as of Sept. 30, 2013, is expected to be utilized for deposits to the pooled program reserve fund on this, and upcoming, bond issues.
Payments by the borrowers are due seven days prior to debt service payment; there have been no payment defaults under the program to date. Program reserve funding is required at the IRS maximum; currently cash funded by bond proceeds and bond bank resources although external enhancement may be used. State statute requires the bond bank chair to certify annually the sum necessary to restore the program reserve to the required level. The appropriation for program reserve replenishment is combined with the state's appropriation for its own GO and lease-backed debt. A supplemental resolution for the 2005 resolution bonds requires the bond bank to seek the appropriation annually.
The state's 'AAA' GO rating reflects its very substantial reserve balances, conservative financial planning, and moderate debt levels. Risks include the volatility inherent in state revenues, which fluctuate significantly with oil prices and production; the state levies no personal income or general sales taxes. Longer-term challenges include the forecasted slow decline in existing oil production and the state's ability to offset it with new oil production or increased economic diversification. For further information on the state, please see Fitch's press release dated Feb. 28, 2013, 'Fitch Rates Alaska's $150MM GO BANs 'F1+'; Affirms Outstanding GOs at 'AAA'', which is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Tax-Supported Rating
Criteria' (Aug. 14, 2012);
--'U.S. State Government Tax-Supported
Rating Criteria' (Aug. 14, 2012);
--'Rating Guidelines for Moral
Obligations' (April 18, 2013).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Tax-Supported Rating
Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=686015
U.S.
Local Government Tax-Supported Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=685314
Rating
Guidelines for Moral Obligations
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=704882
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=805065
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