Jaguar Plc, 1984
Overview of Tender Option Bonds (TOBs)
TOBs are synthetically created short-term tax exempt instruments. A TOB sponsor will buy a portfolio of fixed rate, long term municipal bonds with ratings between AA-AAA and combine them with an interest rate swap to create short term tax exempt floating rate bonds. (Please see attachment 1 for a summary of the deal structure).
The tax-exempt status creates a high level of demand particularly from investors who seek tax exempt cash flow as a source of annual income and revenue. The buyers of TOBs are for the most part money market mutual funds. Money market mutual funds are guided by certain regulations as to what type of bonds they can have in their portfolio. Specifically, the underlying municipal bonds must be rated at least AA-. The maximum maturity of the municipal bonds is thirteen months and the average weighted maturity of a money market fund's tax exempt bond portfolio must be no longer than 50 days. This compares to typical maturities of municipal bonds of five to fifteen years. The money fund maturity guidelines combined with a strong demand for tax exempt instruments creates a very active and deep market for these synthetically created short-term tax-exempt securities. The approximate size of the TOB market is $70Bn.
With respect to the underlying quality of the municipal bond, TOB sponsors (including Merrill Lynch) generally mandate that the TOB program can not carry any bonds in inventory related to the TOB program with ratings below AA- because the protection of principal is important to the investors.
Tender Option Features
In order to truly simulate the characteristics of a short-term tax-exempt security, the TOB sponsor has to provide a way for investors to liquidate their investment at par value. This is accomplished by giving the investor the right to tender (or put) the security to the remarketing agent at par value plus accrued interest at...
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