In a previous article, we introduced the fundamental concepts of the yield restriction and rebate rules set out in the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations and how tax-exempt bonds may be affected by high interest...more
Over the past year and half, interest rates have increased significantly. For most investors, the increase in interest rates is welcome. But for issuers of tax-exempt bonds, or cities, states and other qualifying governmental...more
As of this date, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has increased short-term interest rates eleven times in the last sixteen months to combat inflation. As a result, interest rates on short-term investments have...more
Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has gradually raised interest rates in its ongoing fight against inflation and has indicated plans to continue increasing rates through 2023. Due to this rising interest rate environment,...more
As we welcome 2023, and the final six months of certain London Interbank Offering Rates (“LIBOR”), issuers and borrowers of LIBOR-based tax-exempt bonds should evaluate whether changes to their financing documents are...more
The IRS has issued final regulations governing the tax consequences of transitions from Interbank Offered Rates (IBORs) to other reference rates in debt instruments. The final regulations adopt many of the proposed...more
In 2017, the United Kingdom regulator overseeing the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), a benchmark for rates for short-term interbank loans, announced that all currency and term variants of LIBOR, including U.S. dollar...more
The COVID-19 crisis has caused many disruptions in the municipal bond market. Over the course of the crisis, many issuers of tender bonds or tax-exempt commercial paper have been unable to remarket their tender bonds or...more
For a variety of reasons, as has been widely reported, LIBOR is to cease to be published by the end of 2021 and this expected elimination of the index upon which financing transactions are based raises serious tax and non-tax...more
We have already blogged about many of the direct impacts that the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act has had on the municipal bond market, such as the elimination of advance refundings for governmental bonds and the elimination of qualified...more
Many states, local governments and conduit borrowers (e.g., 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations) have directly placed tax-exempt loans (secured by the issuance of notes or bonds) with lenders, such as banks and their...more