Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityRegional Connector TIFIA Loan – A Case Study

Presented by Victor HsuPartnerNorton Rose Fulbright

National Association of Counties2014 Annual Conference & Exposition July 12, 2014

A. Overview of LA Metro

B. Overview of TIFIA Loan Program

C. LA Metro’s Regional Connector TIFIA Loan – A Case Study

D. Conclusion

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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

• LA Metro’s bus and rail operation is the third largest public transportation system in the United States.

• Serves as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder and operator for one of the nation’s largest, most populous counties.

• 9.8 million people – nearly one-third of California’s residents – live and work within LA Metro’s 4,083-square mile service area.

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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

• Bus fleet includes over 2,400 CNG buses• Commuter rail system includes almost 90 miles of track, consisting

of 8 lines and 80 stations• Nearly 9,200 employees• FY 2015 Adopted Budget of $5.0 billion. In addition to State and

Federal grants and fare box revenues, principal revenue sources include three 1/2-cent-sales tax levied in Los Angeles County: Prop A, Prop. C and Measure R.

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Measure R Sales Tax

• 1/2-cent sales tax for transit purposes collected in LA County, from April 2009 through March 2039

• Estimated to generate approximately $40 billion throughout its 30-year life• Currently budgeted to generate $708,400,000 in FY 2014• Secures over $2 billion in obligations, including:

$686,050,000 of Measure R Senior Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2010-A (Taxable Build America Bonds) and Series 2010-B (Tax-Exempt). Rated AAA by S&P and Aa2 by Moody's.Funding Agreement with conduit borrower Crenshaw Project Corporation (CPC) supporting debt service on CPC's $545,900,000 TIFIA Loan. Rated A- by S&P.$160,000,000 TIFIA Loan and related Measure R Junior Subordinate Sales Tax Revenue Bond 2014-A TIFIA Series (Regional Connector TIFIA Loan). Rated A- by S&P and A by Fitch.$856,000,000 TIFIA Loan and related Measure R Junior Subordinate Sales Tax Revenue Bond 2014-B TIFIA Series (Westside Purple Line Extension Section 1 TIFIA Loan). Rated A- by S&P and A by Fitch.

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Los Angeles County Represents a Large and Diverse Region

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LA Metro 30/10 Initiative

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LA Metro 30/10 Initiative

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LA Metro 30/10 Initiative

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LA Metro 30/10 Initiative

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30/10 Initiative Map

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TIFIA Loans

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• Created by Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act of 1998 originally to assist with financing large-scale transportation projects involving tolls and other forms of user-backed revenues

• TIFIA program offers three types of financial assistance:– Direct Loans– Loan Guarantees– Standby Lines of Credit

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TIFIA Loans

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• TIFIA Loans offer combined construction phase and permanent financing of capital costs

• Long tenor• Flexible repayment terms• Fixed rate set at one basis point above the corresponding SLGS

rate for similar maturity• Can fund up to 49% of total project cost (or 33% of total project

cost for certain projects not subject to springing lien)• TIFIA Loans are negotiated with and funded by the U.S.

Department of Transportation.

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TIFIA Loans

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Program EligibilityAny project eligible for federal assistance through existing surface transportation program is also eligible for the TIFIA program. Examples of eligible projects include:• Transit• Rail• Highways• International Bridges and Tunnels• Freight Rail Facilities• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)• Intermodal Projects (including port access projects)

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TIFIA Loans

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SPRINGING LIEN

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TIFIA LoansSpringing Lien

• Upon the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Related Event, the TIFIA Loan shall be secured by a first priority security interest in the Collateral on a parity with the Senior Obligations.

• Faux Subordination TIFIA Loan is subordinate except when it really matters.

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TIFIA Loans (continued)

• Project Financings vs. System Financings• How do we solve the springing lien problem? Three possibilities:

– Have the Secretary of Transportation waive the springing lien requirement (nonstarter).

– Create a conduit borrowing structure so that the springing lien affects the collateral of the conduit but not the true borrower (worked in 2012, now a nonstarter).

– Change the law!

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TIFIA LoansMAP-21Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

MAP-21 affected the TIFIA program in several significant ways:

• The share of direct loan funding for a project was increased from 33% to 49% (though it remains 33% for projects that do not include a springing lien)

• The springing lien requirement is eliminated for projects that are not funded by project revenues (like tolls) but instead are funded by revenues unrelated to project performance (like sales tax revenues).

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TIFIA Loans (continued)

• Congress authorized $750 million in budget authority for FY 2013 and $1 billion for FY 2014. This budget authority is sufficient to fund up to $17 billion in principal amount of TIFIA Loans.

• Rural projects were given specific eligibility criteria, and the minimum project cost for rural projects was lowered from $50 million to $25 million.

TIFIA Participation Increased under MAP-21

Non-TIFIA; 67%

TIFIA; 33%

Under SAFTEA-LU

Non-TIFIA

; 51%

TIFIA;

49%

Under MAP-21

Springing Lien Waiver Limit (33%)

TIFIA Participation Increased under MAP-21

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$122 $122 $750 $1,000 $1,200 $1,200

$7,500

$10,000

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13

SAFETEA-LU MAP-21

$ in

mill

ions

Credit Subsidy/Loss Reserve Loan Capacity

TIFIA Funding Increased under MAP-21

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Selection & Funding of a TIFIA Project

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TIFIA Documentation Requirements

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Source: FHWA

LA MetroRegional Connector TIFIA Loan

A CASE STUDY

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Proposed Terms for LA Metro Regional Connector TIFIA Loan Agreement

• Borrower: LA Metro• Principal Amount: $160 million• Security: Pledge of TIFIA Pledged Revenues

– Measure R Sales Tax Receipts less Senior and Subordinate Obligations Debt Service, and less Fees and Expenses

– Parity with obligation to make Crenshaw Funding Payments and subordinate all obligations under existing Measure R Trust Agreement (ultimately rejected)

• 5% Debt Service Reserve Fund• 1.25 times Additional Bonds Test• 1.25 times Annual Coverage Ratio Covenant

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Security and Measure R Revenue Pledge for LA Metro Regional Connection TIFIA Loan

• Measure R debt is secured by pledge of all Measure R taxes (less 15% Local Return and State administrative fee)

• Same pledge structure for Prop A and Prop C debt (i.e., all categories except Local Return and admin fee)

• Received opinion from outside counsel confirming the legality of 85% pledge

• Board approved the 85% pledge prior to first Measure R bond issue; specified in Measure R Trust Agreement

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Flow of Funds for LA Metro Regional Connector TIFIA Loan Repayment

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Measure R Senior Lien Structure

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Additional Indebtedness• Covenant that no additional Measure R debt will be issued unless

Projected TIFIA Pledged Revenues are at least 1.25 times annual TIFIA Debt Service

• Covenant that projected revenue of each Measure R expenditure category (e.g. transit, highway) is 1.10 times debt service attributable to each expenditure category

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Measure R Expenditure Categories

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LA Metro Regional Connector TIFIA LoanKEY DIFFERENCES WITH CRENSHAW TIFIA LOAN• Direct loan instead of conduit borrowing structure• TIFIA insisted on being secured under the Senior Measure R

Trust Agreement on a third lien basis under the Measure R Sales Tax Revenue flow of funds, directly behind Senior Bonds and Subordinate Obligations and senior to the Crenshaw TIFIA Loan

• Required significant surgery to the Senior Measure R Trust Agreement to accommodate TIFIA’s demands

• Repayment obligation evidenced by Measure R Junior Subordinate Sales Tax Revenue Bond in addition to TIFIA Loan Agreement

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Measure R Outstanding Debt

As of July 1, 2014, $686,050,000 of Senior Debt was outstanding. No Subordinate Obligations are currently outstanding First draw for Crenshaw TIFIA loan in June 2015

Coverage of Senior MADS ($42.6 million in FY16, including 35% BAB subsidy) by audited FY13 revenues ($576.4 million) is 13.5x.

Amortization of TIFIA Loans• Amortization of principal to meet overall Measure R funding needs

and resources consistent with the Long Range Transportation Plan

• Principal amortized annually:– Regional Connector – FY20 through FY37– Crenshaw – FY22 through FY37– Purple Line Extension – FY20 through FY37

• Back-loaded amortization is critical:– maximizes the benefit of low TIFIA Loan rate– increases the chances that LA Metro’s 30/10 Initiative will be realized

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CONCLUSIONS

What TIFIA Giveth, TIFIA Taketh Away

Security Matters

Size Matters

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