Muni Case Study CH Jun2011
Muni Case Study CH Jun2011
Muni Case Study CH Jun2011
June 2011
A Case Studyy
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Restructuring the
Troubled
Municipality
Table of Contents
Tab
Introduction
A Civic Crisis
A Dark Period
A Glimpse
Gli
off the
h Future
F
Appendices
Contact Information
Endnotes
Disclaimer
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
We welcome you to Portent Falls (Portent), a fictional city that began as a lumber and mining center, grew into a regional transportation and
light industrial hub, and suffered a long decline as the industries that gave birth to the City gradually left or closed. By the start of the 2008
recession, Portent already suffered from a shrinking population, mounting structural deficits and accelerating revenue declines which stretched its
financial resources to the breaking point. The cleanup costs of the April 2011 storms have now pushed Portent past that point, and our case focuses
on the actions Portent and its team of advisors take after it defaulted on its bond debt this month.
Much has been written recently about the potential for governmental defaults, here and abroad, particularly for U.S. states and cities. There is a
school of thought that predicts that the daunting metrics of municipal fiscal distress will lead to a society-shaking level of defaults, and an equally
vocal contingent citing historical data and economic improvement claiming these negative predictions to be overblown. Our thought is that the
current financial environment is indeed conducive to substantial municipal defaults, but future economic conditions, exogenous variables such as
the frequency of natural or man-made disasters, and particularly political will have the potential to materially alter the picture either positively or
negatively. On balance, we believe that over the next decade the odds are that we WILL encounter municipal defaults substantially greater than
historical levels. Given the odds of, at the very least, substantial municipal disruption and some increased level of defaults, our advice (with a nod
to the Scouts) is be prepared, and its in this spirit we visit Portent.
The Portent case is intended to address issues rarely explored or experienced, involving how to gauge the severity of distress in a municipality, the
impact of a debt default, the utility of a chapter 9 filing and the complexity of negotiating a wholesale restructuring (or Plan of Adjustment) for a
major city. Given the paucity of municipal restructurings from which distressed municipalities might otherwise draw important factual and
experiential observations and understanding, we have tried to provide some credible guesses based on our corporate and sovereign restructuring
experience and research into the relevant issues as to what a full blown municipal restructuring might encompass.
IIt is
i our belief
b li f that
h the
h restructuring
i off public
bli debt
d b obligations
bli i
will
ill be
b a centrall concern off the
h global
l b l economy in
i the
h foreseeable
f
bl future.
f
S iki an
Striking
appropriate balance between the legitimate needs and constraints of municipal governments, their citizens and the contractual rights of their
creditors will necessitate unprecedented cooperation between public and private sectors. We offer this case study in an early effort to illuminate that
dynamic.
We are providing these materials to you with the express understanding that they cannot be reproduced without our written permission, and may
not be introduced directly or indirectly in any litigation context in which we may be involved. Neither these materials nor the presentation in which
th are used
they
d are intended
i t d d to
t provide
id legal
l l advice.
d i
R i i t off this
Recipients
thi material
t i l and
d attendees
tt d
att any presentation
t ti using
i this
thi material
t i l should
h ld nott rely
l
on anything in this material, but rather should consult their own counsel for legal advice.
We would like to thank our co-presenters Kelly Stapleton and Bill Roberti from Alvarez & Marsal as well as Marc Levinson and John Knox from
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for their assistance and cooperation in creating this presentation.
Stephen Spencer
Managing Director
John Popehn
Associate
Jason Vakoc
Associate
Jack Sallstrom
Financial Analyst
Brian Lee
Financial Analyst
Jeffrey Werbalowsky
Co-CEO & Senior Managing Director
A Civic Crisis
A Civic Crisis
Midnight in Portent Falls April 27, 2011. City Manager Cassandra Bodine ushers her kids downstairs when,
with thunder and lightning on the horizon, she hears the civil defense sirens begin to wail
Unlike the rest of Portent Falls citizens, who are worried about their homes and cars being battered by the huge
approaching storm, Cassandras thoughts are on the Citys budget and how to pay for the cleanup costs and
damages for which she has no reserves in her budget
damages,
In the morning, Cassandras worst fears are realized. She steps outside and observes the scattered tree limbs, ruined
traffic lights and several downed power lines the storm damage is widespread
After notifying FEMA and discussing the need for National Guard assistance with the Mayor, Cassandra heads to
her office
By noon, after finally making it to her desk at City Hall, maintenance calls with a preliminary estimate of at least
$4 million in storm damages. After hanging up with maintenance, Cassandra immediately picks up the phone, and
draws the full $30 million available on the Citys tax revenue anticipation note(1) (TRAN), 61 days before her
bankers at CountyTrust
y
expect
p
her to do so
(1)
A TRAN is a short-term financing agreement whereby the funds received from the TRAN must be repaid within the same
fiscal year it was issued
A Civic Crisis
Bank Is Concerned
While requesting the $30 million draw-down, Cassandras conversation with her CountyTrust relationship
banker is cordial and reassuring, but shortly after the call concludes she receives a call from her new
CountyTrust credit officer with whom she has never before spoken
Cassandras banking relationship has become increasingly strained with the deterioration in the Citys budget,
and the bank has not responded to Cassandra
Cassandrass recent requests for an expansion of the TRAN
Since the Citys 2007 fiscal crisis, it has gone from internally financing seasonal cash flow swings, to placing
public TRANs, to a privately placed TRAN with CountyTrust after the public market closed to additional
TRAN issuances based on fears over Portents credit quality
Nervous about the early request, the CountyTrust banker asks
asks Cassandra to provide a weekly liquidity
forecast for the Citys general fund through the end of July (something she has not prepared and does not
immediately know how to pull together)
CountyTrust wants the weekly liquidity forecast in the next 10 days for them to consider expanding, or even
A Civic Crisis
Liquidity Crunch
May 3, 2011 The A&M team critically analyzes Cassandras liquidity forecast and injects a note of realistic
pessimism
Cassandras model shows that with the storm expenses, the City comes within a few million dollars of
exhausting
h
i generall fund
f d liquidity
li idi at the
h low
l
point
i on June
J
30 when
30,
h the
h semiannual
i
l payment on the
h majority
j i
of the Citys bond debt is due. A more extensive A&M analysis reveals a chronic stretching of payables that
has reached a breaking point and the real liquidity situation is far worse
The A&M monthly historical analysis shows a liquidity compression over the last four years achieved
principally at vendor expense and by reducing,
reducing and finally eliminating,
eliminating required pension contributions
$200
$282 million
liquidity
compression
103 days payable
expansion
$150
$100
$50
$0
Feb-0
07
Apr-0
07
Jun-0
07
Aug-0
07
Oct-0
07
Dec-0
07
Feb-0
08
Apr-0
08
Jun-0
08
Aug-0
08
Oct-0
08
Dec-0
08
Feb-0
09
Apr-0
09
Jun-0
09
Aug-0
09
Oct-0
09
Dec-0
09
Feb-1
10
Apr-10
Jun-10
Aug-10
Oct-10
Dec-10
Feb-1
11
Apr-11
Jun-11
($50)
A Civic Crisis
After a herculean effort, A&M also prepares a weekly analysis for the general fund that shows Cassandras
current liquidity model is predicated on a further expansion by five days of outstanding payables a virtual
impossibility
A&Ms
A&M liquidity
li idi forecast
f
assumes more realistic
li i working
ki
capital
i l assumptions
i
and
d tighter
i h
overall
ll liquidity
li idi
resulting in a negative $11.8 million account balance after payroll and bond payments in other words the
City is out of money
COLAs(1) in the labor contracts effective July 1 render the liquidity crunch even more extreme
Weekly Liquidity Forecast ($ in millions)
$60
$40
$20
$0
A&Ms
&
liquidity
q
y low
point of $(11.8) million
after payroll and bond
payments
($20)
($40)
Note:
(1)
A&Ms Forecast
Cassandras Forecast
A Civic Crisis
Frightened
h
d by
b the
h implications
l
off the
h revised
d liquidity
l
d forecast,
f
Cassandra
d and
d the
h A&M team meet to assess
liquidity enhancement options
Assessment of Immediate Liquidity Enhancement Options to Avoid Default
Action
Assessment
Rationale
Further
Reductions in
Force
NO
Police and fire services already below minimum levels required to maintain public safety
following reductions in force (RIFs) implemented in 2009 and 2010
Unions have intimated that there could be sick-outs upon RIFs in any department, making
non-police/fire RIFs unachievable as well
Cut Pension
Contributions
NO
NO
NO
Per state law, further property tax increases must be approved by a vote of residents, and the
Citys tax burden is already higher than any other city in the region
Increase would not take effect until the following years tax cycle
NO
Citys
City s third party vendors have started moving to cash in advance ((CIA)
CIA ) or other severely
limiting payment terms
Suspension or further delay would prompt remaining vendors to follow suit and negatively
impact working capital
Cassandras key deputy has just quit in tears saying he just cannot lie to creditors anymore
NO
Cut Benefits
Raise Property
Taxes
Suspend or
Additionally Delay
Vendor Payments
Further Reduce
Services and
Infrastructure
Spending
A Civic Crisis
Action
New General
Obligation Debt
Assessment
It worked in the
dark days of
2007
Rationale
Meeting with various underwriters to assess viability but deemed a very low probability based
on credit concerns
Tax Revenue
Anticipation Notes
(TRANs)
NO
Pension Bond
NO
Expansion of
Private TRAN
Meeting with CountyTrust lenders to assess prospects but deemed low probability as the
private TRAN was an unusual stop-gap financing when originally underwritten (in lieu of
more traditional public TRAN or Pension Bond financings) and CountyTrust is growing
increasingly concerned about Portents declining credit quality
Bridge Financing
Additional
B
Borrowing
i ffrom
Segregated Funds
(1)
NO
The Citys general fund has already borrowed extensively from segregated funds and is in
danger of not being able to pay back the borrowings within the fiscal year as required by
law(1). Cassandra is reluctant to borrow additional segregated funds since the City may not be
able to pay the funds back, as has happened to other municipalities
Portent Falls operates on a calendar year basis. The Citys financial structure includes hundreds of segregated accounts for the Citys various civic entities. By state law, the Citys
general fund is permitted to draw on the segregated accounts only if the funds can be repaid within the fiscal year
10
A Civic Crisis
May 9, 2011 At an emergency closed City Council meeting(1), Cassandra delivers the bad news backed up
with a preliminary report from the A&M team
Even with the recent $30 million TRAN draw, Cassandra concedes that the A&M analysis accurately shows
the City going negative cash by the end of June after making payroll and the upcoming bond payments
Property taxes (due July 31) will not be received in time to save the day this year
One of the council members points out that the City has an additional $250 million of cash spread across its
various appropriated trust and segregated fund accounts and suggests additional borrowing from one or
more accounts to fund the interest and payroll payments, as the City has done in the past
While willing to entertain almost any reasonable solution, Cassandra quickly dismisses the suggestion,
pointing out that there is no plausible way the City would be able to repay additional funds during the
fiscal year within which they are borrowed
The report
p
is sobering
g even for a council accustomed to bad news
Not wanting to abandon all hope, the Mayor directs Cassandra and A&M to prepare an emergency action
plan
Given the gravity of the situation, A&M suggests the City immediately retain legal counsel and a financial
advisor, notwithstanding the considerable additional expenses which A&M deems necessary given the size
and complexity of the situation
Cassandra also reminds the City Council that at some point they will need to present their findings at an
open meeting and could use additional support from legal and financial advisors
The Mayor and City Council members initially bristle at the notion of the additional advisory expenses until
A&M explains that the additional financial and legal teams will be needed to explore options such as
emergency financing, asset monetization strategies and other alternatives
(1)
As the City enters its final phase of acute distress, it holds an increasing number of emergency meetings on a closed basis, which has
spawned complaints from media sources, citizens and a threatened lawsuit
11
A Civic Crisis
With the help of A&M, Cassandra develops a six-part emergency action plan on which the City Council pins
its hopes
Additi
Additional
l Bank
B k or Bond
B d Debt
D bt
Expansion of TRAN facility
Possible general obligation
i
issuance
Alternative Financing
Focus on hedge funds and
non-traditional lenders
Secure emergency bridge loan
(1)
(2)
(2)
Bondholder Negotiations
S k St
Seek
State
t S
Supportt
Emergency financial support
via state loan or loan
guarantee
Seek guidance on legislative
(1)
support for a chapter 9 filing
Payment holiday
Asset Monetization
Sale of City assets
Potential public to private
transactions
State law requires the City to seek legislative authority to file for chapter 9
The Citys general obligation bonds do not contain any reserve accounts on which the City might draw to avert a payment default
12
A Civic Crisis
After a week of frantic activity, Cassandra and her team assess their progress
Additional Bank or Bond Debt
Bondholder Negotiations
Alternative Financing
Asset Monetization
A Civic Crisis
June 2, 2011 Cassandra and her advisors give an update to the City Council it isnt pretty
In addition to updating her checklist of problems, Cassandras advisors prepare a first cut at a more expansive
structural deficit forecast
After presenting the materials, Portents new legal counsel and investment banker express their view that the
City has no option but to again petition the state, armed with this new data, for emergency financial support.
They also suggest that the City must plan for the worst and lower expectations by requesting the ability to
file for chapter 9 bankruptcy relief
A&Ms latest model makes it crystal clear that there will not be enough money in the coming weeks to
make both the semiannual interest payments on the Citys bond obligations, and also the June month-end
payroll
The City will quickly face a decision to either pay the bonds or the payroll
In exasperation, the Mayor stands up and asks Weve laid off people and raised taxes while our City has
gone downhill every year. Now I have to go begging for money from the Governor just to keep us afloat.
How the hell did we get here?
Cassandra quips A decade of budget deficits due to rising costs and shrinking revenues. At some point we
h
have
to spend
d less
l
than
h we take
k in
i
14
Founded: 1838
Troy Gardens
p
497,281
,
Population:
2010 Revenues: $883.7 million
80
Troy Gardens
20
Portent Falls
Flood Plain
16
Mayor (President of
Council) Dave P. Riam
Elected in 2008 to a 44
Year Term
Council (9 Members)
4 Elected in 2008
5 Elected in 2010
All 4-Year Terms
City Manager
Cassandra Bodine
Appointed July 2009
Prepares Budget
17
Source:
1960s
100%
75%
Decline
D li off portt traffic
t ffi in
i the
th 1980s
1980
50%
in 2003
Population losses since 1961
25%
0%
Transition
Manufacturing
Source:
Non-Manufacturing
18
2.
Deferringg p
pension contributions(1)
3.
4.
$180
Over the past 10 years, Portent Falls issued bonds and TRANs in
part to compensate for recurring fiscal deficits
(2)
$952
General
Obligation
Bonds
$2,500
$2,000
$1 500
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
GO Bonds
(3)
Portent Falls pension is a City captive pension that is not part of a state pension system
Tax Increment
Financing Bonds
$240
Special
Assessment
B d
Bonds
GO Levee
Repair Bonds
Revenue Bonds
Underfunded Pension
19
Historical
Hi
t i l Pension
P i Contributions
C t ib ti
&
Percent Funded ($ in millions)
$50
$40
$31.9
$33.3
$34.9
$36.5 $37.3
$38.9
$40.7
$42.5
120%
$44.4 $44.7
100%
80%
$30
60%
$20
40%
$10
20%
$0.0
0%
$0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Pension Contribution
Percent Funded
always
y within 30 days
y up
p until 2000. In 2007,, Portent Falls
had average days payable of approximately 46 days, which rose
to 103 days payable by early 2011, amounting to approximately
$95.3 million of additional borrowing in just those four years
20
$407 Million
$849 Million
$1.6 Billion
Note:
(1)
(2)
City OPEB(2)
$818
$2,526
$5,725
21
$1.3 Trillion
Portent Falls
$5,725
Obligations
State Debt
$3.5 Trillion +
$
$7.9 Trillion
$9.1 Trillion
$13.4 Trillion
$22 8 T
$22.8
Trillion
illi
$35.3 Trillion
Underfunded
Social Security
$9,901
Underfunded State and Local Pension and
(1)
R i
Retiree
Healthcare
H lh
$46,519
Federal Debt
Household Debt
$21,143
$
,
$75,750
$118,792
U d f d dM
Underfunded
Medicare
di
Unfunded Medicaid
Sources: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers USA Inc., Bloomberg and Houlihan Lokey analysis
Note:
Not drawn to scale
(1)
Includes $3.0 trillion of underfunded pension and $0.5 trillion + of retiree healthcare obligations
$192 029
$192,029
$305,417
22
1.25% (on top of the state sales tax rate of 6%) in a series of tax hikes from 2007 to present that only partially
offset recent declines in property values and decreased economic (sales) activity. The last newspaper editorial on
the City
Cityss tax policy called it a sad
sad spiral of self-fulfilling
self fulfilling economic decline
decline
Property value assessments have dropped and are coming down further, reassessment requests are flooding into
City Hall and property tax delinquencies have hit a record high, which offsets much of the recent tax increase
In 2008, for the first time in a decade, the state reduced transfers to Portent Falls. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, state
transfers were reduced further and the City is concerned about deeper 2012 reductions given the state
statess own
deep financial troubles
$1,000
$750
$500
$250
$0
Property Tax
Sales Tax
23
Cost Problems
City Plan
Kaiser Plan
In-Network
In
Network Co-Pay
Co Pay
$0
$20
Out-of-Network CoPay
$0
$40
Total Dependents
Allowed
generous
pension
Police
Administrative
Portent Falls
National
Average
Portent Falls
National
Average
Portent Falls
National
Average
Wage $/Hour
$30
$25
$35
$30
$25
$20
Retirement Age
52
57
52
57
52
57
Vacation Days
28
21
28
21
28
21
10
10
10
32
38
32
38
32
38
24
4,000
3,000
678 Net Decrease in
Active Employees
2,000
1 000
1,000
2,500
$230
2,000
$210
1,500
$190
1 000
1,000
$170
Active Employeess
$250
5,000
0
2000
2010
$150
500
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Active Employees
Retirees
Active Employees
p y
25
Dilapidated Infrastructure
80
Troy Gardens
Troy Gardens
20
Pavement Condition(1)
Population Density
X 2007 Flood
Levee Breach
Portent Falls
Flood
Damage
Zone
Portent Falls
City Hall
Flood Plain
Low Density
Population
High Density
Population
0
Note:
(1)
Pavement Conditions
100
26
substantial work leading to maintenance costs per mile that are 2.8x greater than the national average
Portent faces an estimated $150 million investment required to bring the pavement condition index from the
factors, high tort claims associated with an understaffed and underpaid police force
Water treatment costs are also rising with needed sewer treatment upgrades past due,
due and the EPA is actively
$10.0
$16,000
$14,000
$7.5
$12,000
Suggested Optimal
Efficiency Index
$5 0
$5.0
$10,000
$2.5
$8,000
$0.0
$6,000
$
,
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Illustrative
investment date
80
90
100
Source:
(1)
27
P
Portent
t t Falls
F ll mostt significant
i ifi t period
i d off infrastructure
i f t t
i
investment
t
t occurred
d in
i the
th 1920s
1920 and
d 1950s
1950 in
i areas off the
th City
Cit that
th t have
h
gradually seen significant population decreases
As a result, Portent is left with excessive fire, police and educational infrastructure in low population City quadrants, even after recent
facility closures
In 2002, during the last recession, the City hired a research consultant to determine whether it could achieve meaningful cost savings to
plug
l its upcoming budget
b d
d f
deficit
b consolidating
by
ld
and
d optimizing the
h locations
l
off its police
l and
d fire
f departments
d
and
d schools.
h l The
h study
d
was completed and made public, but was tabled after 600 concerned citizens picketed City Hall armed with Dont Abandon the
Southside pickets and bullhorns
This misalignment of physical infrastructure has led to high fuel costs and inefficient service as measured by police and fire response times
The City
y is also left with too manyy school buildings
g in the southern p
part of Portent Falls
The facilities are large, older buildings have significant deferred maintenance, high operating costs and high capital expenditure
requirements
The efficient long-term solution is to close several South Portent schools and open two new schools in North Portent where there is
greater need. Preliminary school consolidation plans were disrupted in 2006 by a flood of parent objections and over 400 South
Portent parents taking
taking over
over a City Council meeting to debate
debate this issue.
issue No school closures were implemented
Funding for the schools is actually a complex mix of federal, state and local sources
South
Police
Stations
Required Closures: 0
New Facilities: 2
Required Closures: 4
New Facilities: 0
6 minutes
Fire
Stations
Required Closures: 0
New Facilities: 1
Required Closures: 3
New Facilities: 0
5 minutes
Schools
Required Closures: 0
New Facilities: 2
Required Closures: 14
New Facilities: 0
Fire Response
Police Response
North Portent
Falls
12 minutes
10 minutes
South Portent
Falls
9 minutes
Troy Gardens
8 minutes
28
Troy Gardens was founded in 1888, 50 years after Portent Falls. Troy Gardens remained largely isolated from Portent Falls
until the 1980s when Portent Falls northern development bled over into the previously underdeveloped southern end of
Troy Gardens
As a fast growing newer community, Troy Gardens attracted upwardly mobile, former Portent Falls residents because of
deteriorating
g Portent Falls schools and a lower Troy
y Gardens tax burden
Rapid Troy Gardens development outstripped its water, storm water and waste treatment capabilities, and Troy Gardens
contracted with Portent Falls to supply five of Troy Gardens nine southern districts with these three utilities at cost billed
quarterly. This was heralded as win/win at the time
These contracts struck in the late 1980s have been largely untouched and provide significant economic benefit to Troy
Gardens
d
at Portent Falls
ll expense. Charges
h
to Troy Gardens
d
h
have
risen at approximately
l 1.5% per year over the
h 20-year
term of the relationship as cost was interpreted as variable cost and upgrade and maintenance expenditures were largely
ignored by both sides
This imbalance had gone unnoticed until Portent Falls engineers pointed out the need for large facility upgrades in all three
utilities stemming
g from long-term
g
increases in utilization rates and aging
g gp
physical
y
plants. The upgrades
p
pg
are estimated at $19
million over five years for which the utilities, owned and operated by the City, currently lack sufficient reserves
Comparison of Cost Burden & Utilization
Cost Burden
B rden Under Contract
Utili ation
Utilization
Waste Treatment
Water
Storm Water
IIn 2004,
2004 Portent
P
F ll issued
Falls
i
d $180 million
illi off tax increment
i
fi
financing
i bonds
b d (1) to fund
f d a downtown
d
revitalization
i li i project,
j
the grand vision of a prior mayoral administration was widely criticized in retrospect for at the very least, gross
incompetence
After nearly a year of planning and deliberation over use of proceeds, the City retained a number of engineering and
severely damaged some of the initial construction and also forced the City to divert efforts (and funds) from
construction to cleanup
y and Cityy Counsel members either p
passed on or were
Haunted byy the result of this financial disaster,, the new Mayor
unable to secure support for several potentially valuable investment opportunities presented in the interim
Missed Opportunities
Opportunity
Description
Capital Outlay
Paper Recycling
Plant
City received several indications of interest from a paper recycler willing to build a new
recycling plant on the land near the port
City would need to fix and maintain the levee, provide transportation of residential
wastepaper to the plant and retire long-term dock leases with remaining counterparties, but
would avoid costly insurance premiums associated with docking operations, receive
proceeds from the sale of the p
p
port land and revenue from the sale of wastepaper
p p
$35.0 million
Interpretation
Services
City approached by several vendors offering interpreter services for non-English speaking
residents. The vendors site studies indicated that a substantial portion of property tax
receipts and revenue from traffic citations and construction permits were lost in
translation.
Vendor would provide software up-front and continuing support for an annual fee
$1.5 million
$3.0 million
(reducing over
time)
Municipal Pay
Lots
City has 12 (currently free) municipal parking lots that could be retrofitted with electronic
ticketing stations
$6.0 million
$4.0 million
(1)
The tax increment financing bonds were intended to be serviced by increased tax revenues (above an identified historical average tax
revenue baseline) from the zone impacted by construction. Bond payments are guaranteed by the City
30
RIFs and facility rationalization have left key City functions, such as fire and police, dangerously understaffed
and without adequate infrastructure and equipment
Chief of Police
Staffed
Not Adequately Staffed
Executive Secretary
Head of Field
Operations
Operations
Support
Patrol Division
1st
Precinct
2nd Precinct
Head of Investigators
Bureau
Traffic Division
Planning and
Research
General
Traffic
Detective
Division
Downtown
Traffic
Records
3rd Precinct
Support
Services
4thh
Precinct
Forensics
Divisions
Special
Operations
Juvenile
Division
Head of Professional
Standards
Communications
Internal
Affairs
Training Unit
Labor
Relations
Administrative
Services
31
Executive Secretary
Suppression
Prevention
Deputy Chief
Assistant Chief
District 1
Assistant Chief
Arson Investigator
Training
Paramedic
Emergency
Preparation
Paramedic
Coordinator
Fire Training
Division
EMS Division
Engineers
Administrative Clerk
Firefighters
District 2
Assistant Chief
Engineers
Inspector 1
Inspector 2
Firefighters
District 3
Assistant Chief
Staffed
Inspector 3
Engineers
Firefighters
32
A Dark Period
A Dark Period
June 2 to June 24, 2011 Thoroughly discouraged yet enlightened by Cassandras recitation of Portent Falls
history the City Council and its team of advisors discuss next steps
Cassandra repeats her view that the City has only two options: obtain additional third party financing or
default on the upcoming
p
g bond p
principal
p and interest p
payments
y
followed by
y continuing
g selective defaults on a
host of other City obligations
The Mayor later reports that progress at the state level has been frustrated by the states own financial
difficulty
Cassandra
Cassandrass new investment banker, HL, indicates that several hedge funds have expressed preliminary interest
in providing a $40 million bridge facility
Unfortunately the loan would bear interest at 9%, plus fees and expenses, and require a pledge of all the
municipal parking lots and the Citys installation of new parking meters. The team agrees that this is
untimely,
y, expensive
p
and unrealistic g
given the legal
g challenges
g of mortgaging
g g gp
public assets
After discussion and negotiations with the lead hedge fund, HL further negotiates a fast track term sheet
from Ajax Capital improving on its original early offer to Cassandra with a $30 million loan, with an 8%
interest rate and a simplified collateral package, which several council members gratefully embrace. This
could save the City! Cassandra openly resists the enthusiasm of the City Council members to this Ajax
advance
d
b predicting
by
d
that
h the
h incrementall liquidity
l
d
will
ll now only
l delay
d l
the
h inevitable
bl a fact
f
sadly
dl
acknowledged by all of her advisors given the reality of the 13-week cash flow projections that are being
completed. Without a long-term solution, this is the proverbial exercise in kicking the can down the
increasingly potholed road, by taking on an expensive new debt burden
34
A Dark Period
The City Council unanimously votes to pursue the $30 million loan to kick the can
The next day, The Portent Herald Star runs an article titled Portent Falls: Financial Death of a City? which
35
A Dark Period
June 27, 2011 Given the inevitable fallout from a bond default, both A&M and HL advise Cassandra and
the City Council that things will deteriorate in ways that cannot be fully predicted
HLs assessment of the situation is characteristically blunt
From
From HLs
HLs perspective,
perspective we think default should be your last resort.
resort It will set into motion a very painful
process for everyone connected to this City. However, we just dont see another option
A&Ms advice is even less comforting Even if you default, our longer-term projections show the City
running out of cash in December
S&A begins the first serious
serio s discussion
disc ssion of chapter 9,
9 and briefs the City
Cit Council
Co ncil behind closed doors
A&M Default Budget Monthly Liquidity Forecast ($ in millions)(1)
$110
$
$90
$70
$50
$30
$10
($10)
($30)
($50)
(1)
Default Budget excludes principal and interest expense on debt obligations and includes $1 million per
month of additional professional fees beginning June 2011. Monthly balances calculated as of month-end
36
A Dark Period
Chapter 9 Basics
Purpose of Chapter 9
Provides municipality protection from its creditors via the automatic stay while it develops and negotiates a plan for adjusting its
debts (Plan of Adjustment)
Eligibility
Must be a political subdivision or public agency or instrumentality of a state
Municipality must be specifically authorized to be a debtor by state law or by a governmental officer
Municipality must be insolvent and desire to effect a plan to adjust its debts
M
Municipality
i i li must either
i h obtain
b i agreement off at least
l
a majority
j i in
i amount off claims
l i
off each
h impaired
i
i d creditor
di
class,
l
negotiate
i
i
in
good faith with creditors, be unable to negotiate with creditors or reasonably believe that a creditor may attempt to obtain a
preference
Debtors Power
Municipality has broad powers to use its property, raise taxes and make expenditures as it sees fit
Also permitted to adjust burdensome non-debt contractual relationships under the power to reject executory contracts and
unexpired leases, subject to court approval
Municipalities may also reject collective bargaining agreements and retiree benefit plans
Courts Power
Municipalitys day-to-day activities are not subject to court approval and the municipality may borrow money without court
authority, although court approval necessary if debt is primed or new debt is secured
Court cannot appoint a trustee or examiner, and cannot convert the case to a liquidation case
Court also cannot interfere with the operations of the debtor or with the debtors use of its property and revenues. Moreover, a
chapter 9 debtor may employ professionals without court approval, and the court can only review fees in the context of a plan
confirmation, when the court determines the reasonableness of the fees to be incurred
37
A Dark Period
As the bond default debate at City Council continues, a plethora of additional negative factors begin to emerge
Party
Issues
Impact
Bondholders
dd
l administrative
d
Additional
burden and expense
Potential legal battle
Vendors
Bank
(CountyTrust)
Additional administrative
burden and expense; LC lapse
will trigger default under
general obligation bond
indenture
Ratings
Agencies
State
A Dark Period
Given the necessity of realizing additional cost concessions to finance the City even in the Default Budget, the
advisors recommend that the City begin preparing a Fiscal Emergency Plan essentially a budget that would
allow the City to operate during a chapter 9 case
After reviewing the elements of the Fiscal Emergency Plan,
Plan Cassandra sadly comments,
comments The
The cost for saving
the City seems to be killing the City
Initial Fiscal Emergency Plan & Estimated Savings
Item
Description
$15.2 million
$91.1 million
$5.1 million
$9.5 million
$8.6 million
$5.2 million
$
million
ll
$3.8
39
A Dark Period
On a preliminary basis the Citys advisors preview the Fiscal Emergency Plan with the affected parties to gauge
their reactions, contemplate possible modifications and garner support and understanding
Cassandra is deluged with calls from ratings agencies, bondholders, vendors and retirees. Not only is it
exhausting
g for someone who is used to returning
g every
yp
phone call,, it is difficult to explain
p
the complexities
p
of
the Citys problems and approach to those who want merely to advance their own interest
S&A explains the need for disclosure to Cassandra, even when tactical considerations would suggest secrecy,
or at least discretion. In the poker game of municipal restructuring, the City has to play with all its cards
faced up given state and federal disclosure requirements
Reactions are overwhelmingly negative (with no constructive suggestions). The angry tone of the reactions
presages the difficult road ahead
None of these constituencies are sufficiently prepared or educated to understand the true depth of the Citys
problems
40
A Dark Period
Bondholders
Gather in front of City Hall with picket signs opposing reductions in services and
potential tax increases. Recall campaigns on Mayor and council members being
organized All agree that taxes should not be raised
organized.
Governor
41
A Dark Period
June 29, 2011 On the eve of the Citys principal and interest payment due date, with no commitments from
the state and no firm commitments for outside financing, the City Council approves measures to defer the
bond payments indefinitely and immediately adopts the Fiscal Emergency Plan
The advisors embark on a campaign to positively influence the media perception generating a mixed
outcome
Fiscall E
Fi
Emergency Pl
Plan C
Contemplates
l
N
Needed
d d
Changes; All-Star Bankruptcy Advisory Team to
Assist in Implementation
The Portent Herald Star
Cassandra Bodine and the council have some
good ideas for emergency cost reductions
The Observer
State Bungling Could Sound Death Knell for City
in Decline
The State Journal Register
Fiscall E
Fi
Emergency Pl
Plan H
Has Littl
Little H
Hope off
Implementation
The Daily Sentinel
A Portent of Higher
g
Rates For All
The Standard Star
The Portent Falls City
y Council A Decade of
Administrative Incompetence
The Capital Times
42
A Dark Period
PORTENT FALLS, GD., June 30/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Portent Falls today announced that as a result of declining property tax
revenues, escalating employee costs, reduced state and federal aid and significantly higher than expected storm cleanup costs, the City
did not make its semiannual debt service payments due on June 30, 2011. Additional financial operating data is contained in the
attached budget reports. The City is planning to engage in discussions with its bondholders regarding the current situation and intends
to work closely with them to develop a plan to address these issues.
issues
The City also announced that it has retained a team from the restructuring and corporate advisory firm Alonzo & Marshall, headed by
William Bill Roberti to bolster its accounting and finance functions, seek out immediate cost cutting options and assist in improving
the Citys overall operating performance. In addition to Alonzo & Marshall, the City recently hired Hallahan Laurie to serve as its
independent financial advisor and investment banker to explore financing options, potential asset sales, public to private partnerships
and to evaluate strategic and restructuring alternatives. The City has also hired Simmons & Adler as its legal counsel.
The City plans to continue core operations without interruption while it engages in discussions with its bondholders and other key
economic stakeholders and evaluates its strategic and restructuring alternatives. Moreover, the City will continue to take actions to
conserve cash and reduce its structural deficits. These initiatives include accelerating the closure of sub-optimally located police and fire
stations and schools, realigning the Citys cost structure to better reflect its population and seeking a more sustainable tax and capital
structure. The City intends to consider a number of alternatives, including asset divestitures and public to private partnerships,
recapitalizations, collective bargaining agreement modifications and potential alliances with neighboring cities. The City does not
intend to comment further publicly with respect to its evaluation process of strategic and restructuring alternatives until its conclusion.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Forward Looking Statements
The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on
the Citys current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results,
performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. In addition to statements which are
forward-looking
forward
looking by reason of context, the words "may",
may , "will",
will , "should",
should , "expects",
expects , "plans",
plans , "intends",
intends , "anticipates",
anticipates , "believes",
believes ,
"estimates", "predicts", "potential", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
43
A Dark Period
A disastrous 30 days after the bond payment default the state allows the City to file for chapter
9 to obtain the protections of the Bankruptcy Code
City files chapter 9.
Property tax delinquencies
at unprecedented levels
2011
J l 1
July
J l 8
July
Trash accumulates in
City streets as private
waste haulers
h l refuse
f
to
cart until past-due
receivables are paid
Violent crime
statistics reach
all-time high
J l 15
July
J l 22
July
J l 29
July
44
A Dark Period
In the wake of Portents hotel fire, the backlash is unavoidable and unexpectedly severe for both political
parties. The Capital Tribunes headline says it all: Governor and Legislature Fiddle While Portent Falls Burns
45
A Dark Period
As a result, the Governor puts intense pressure on the state-appointed financial review board to render a
decision on restructuring alternatives
The financial review board issues its preliminary summary report essentially backing Cassandra and the
Cityy Council Members with the following
g concluding
g observations:
provided no financial support from the state is available, something along the lines of the actions
contemplated in the Citys initial Fiscal Emergency Plan must be implemented to allow the City to continue
providing essential services
While the Fiscal Emergency
g y Plan implements
p
various actions that are urgently
g
y needed,, a more
comprehensive approach to the Citys various accumulated obligations must be negotiated to set the City on
the path of long-range viability
The fractious nature of the existing dialogue between the City and various creditor constituencies suggests
the state must intervene to provide a legal framework for dispute resolution and debt adjustment or allow
the City to pursue resolution through a chapter 9 case
The Governors top advisors provide him with stark choices provide an immediate $50 million bailout to
Portent, allow it to file for chapter 9 or watch the states second largest city melt down before your eyes
The Governor p
publicly
y requests
q
that the legislature
g
immediately
y allow a Portent Falls chapter
p 9 filing
g with one
caveat that the City provide him with a chapter 9 timeline that assures all the constituencies of a quick
resolution
In an increasingly rare demonstration of bipartisanship, the new municipal insolvency law clears both
chambers of the state congress in record time
46
A Dark Period
July 25, 2011 The day after the Governors edict, the council provides the Governor with the following
timeline which the advisors assure will never be met!
Confirmation of POA and subsequent
q
emergence from bankruptcy
File chapter 9
Court order deeming the City eligible; formation of Official Creditors Committee
Circulate Plan of Adjustment
(POA) to key creditors
Negotiate POA with
key creditors
2011
July
September
November
Objections and
litigation regarding
CBA rejections
2012
January
Solicitation of POA
March
May
July
File motions to reject CBAs that have not been renegotiated by this date
47
49
July 31, 2011 With enactment of the new chapter 9 legislation, Portent files for chapter 9 bankruptcy
protection
Portents bankruptcy filing is immediately contested by an ad hoc bondholder group, six of the Citys nine
public unions and a g
p
group
p representing
p
g the Citys
y retired p
pension holders
The bankruptcy judge sets an October 3 date to hear objections to the filing
In the intervening weeks the City reviews objections to its filing, all of which center around seven primary
arguments:
Contested Filing Key Creditor Arguments
1.
Additional taxation is possible City should raise taxes and not impact creditors
2.
3.
The City has not fully explored all cost reduction options
4.
The City has over $250 million in various restricted funds that could and should be
responsibly borrowed by the City and repaid over the next seven years
5
5.
6.
The City has substantial cash on hand after receiving semiannual property tax
payments due on July 31
7.
The City did not bargain in good faith with the unions who were willing to offer a
solution to the problem, which included an extension of the various CBAs
50
2.
3.
51
4.
Violation
l
off contractuall
obligations
Violation of state law state law
does not permit the City to
borrow from restricted funds
other than for the very short
term
5.
6.
Although
lh
h Portent Falls
ll filed
fl d
with substantial cash from
property taxes, the City still
defaulted on its bond payment,
is no longer paying vendors and
does not have access to funds to
pay its debts
7.
52
During exhaustive testimony contesting Portent Falls Chapter 9 petition, little work was done on the Plan of
Adjustment
Cassandra, HL, A&M and S&A create a set of foundational principles for developing a Plan of Adjustment
Reversing the Cycle of Decline
Principle
Objective
Cut Responsibly
Invest Wiselyy
The Citys limited investment funds should be dedicated to projects that first, reduce
the threat of additional catastrophic losses (from floods, etc.); second, restore totally
d
degraded
d d roads
d and
d City
Ci facilities
f ili i that
h its
i citizens
ii
rely
l on completely;
l l and
d third,
hi d
promote growth in areas with the best prospects
Budget Effectively
Recognize All
Indebtedness
Beyond funded debt, the Plan of Adjustment will recognize and address the Citys
indebtedness in all categories, including: underfunded pension obligations, unfunded
OPEB obligations and deferred maintenance expenditures
Portents severely distressed status necessitates shared sacrifice. Creditors will receive
a recovery based on the value of their claim but the City will balance payments to
creditors against the need to ensure the Citys ongoing viability
53
Based on these principles, Cassandra and her advisors set about the task of developing a comprehensive Plan
of Adjustment identifying four primary plan objectives:
Objectives
Areas Impacted
2. Contractual
Execute
ecute co
contractual
t actua modifications
od cat o s necessary
ecessa y
to implement broader operational and
financial restructuring steps and goals
3 Civic Assets
3.
1. Operations
4. Budgeting
Cost
Reductions
Investments
in Efficiency
54
1. Operations
A&M plays the key role in identification of operational restructuring initiatives and setting up various
implementation task forces
Execution of each of the following requires modification of multiple CBA contracts and lengthy negotiation
Key Categories
Primary Initiatives
Wages
Staffing
Work Rules
Outsource Various
Services
Total: $41.0
$
million annually
55
2. Contractual
Debt modification and lease rejections are the only independent initiatives. CBA modification is complex as it
includes pensions, healthcare and the other operational initiatives addressed on the previous slide
Key Categories
Debt
Leases
CBAs
Changes to Current
and Future Employee
Pension Plans
Changes
g to Retiree
Pension Plans
Primary Initiatives
After extensive discussions with bondholder advisors,
advisors City makes
initial proposal to impair outstanding funded debt by targeting
impairment rates that are in most cases slightly under current trading
prices
Rejection of multiple different vehicle and real property operating
leases consistent with operational restructuring agenda
Rejection of all major CBAs except City sanitation agreement which
was renegotiated eight months prior to chapter 9 filing
All future employee pension contributions go to fund 401(k) defined
contribution plans
Current employees retain value of defined benefits earned-to-date at
reduced
d d levels
l l detailed
d t il d below
b l
Increase retirement age for new employees
Re-set COLA minimums beginning in 2014
10% average benefit reduction on a sliding scale from 15% (for
highest benefit recipients) to 5% (for lowest benefit recipients)
p annual compensation
p
at $75,000
,
Cap
City commits to fund only 78% of underfunded pension obligation.
Catch-up payments on the residual unfunded amount will be made
over 20 years under a back-end weighted funding plan escalating
3.25% each year
Switch to lower cost healthcare provider; initiation of co-pay system;
additional cost for more than three dependents;
dependents and refunds for
purchase of generic drugs only
$8.8
$8 8 million annually
Reflects savings versus pension contribution that would otherwise be required to reach 100% funding status over same 20 year period
under same back-end weighted funding schedule
56
3. Civic Assets
While the investment component of the Citys Plan of Adjustment is characterized by creditors as yet another
boondoggle at their expense, the City points out that with the possible exception of the port investment, all
other investments are really essential to ensuring Portent Falls viability
Initial Capital Outlay
($30.0) million
Ports
None
$22.0 million in
proceeds
N/A
Roads
($25.0) million
Key Categories
Primary Initiatives
Levee
4. Budgeting
After
Af
marathon,
h
contentious
i
di
discussions
i
with
i h the
h Council,
C
il based
b d on the
h need
d to revive
i Portent
P
F ll tax
Falls,
CUTS(!) will be proposed as part of the Plan process. The City expects opposition from bondholders,
pensioners, the Creditors Committee everyone other than voters on the Citys proposed reduction of its
property and sales tax levels
The City also faces an unexpected challenge from Troy Gardens which sues in state court to stop the City from
implementing predatory tax policies and service fee adjustments. The state court declines to provide
injunctive relief
Key Categories
Primary Initiatives
Expected Result
Tax Rates
Service Fees
58
Bondholders, Pensioners
i
& Citizens
Ci i
Favor government efficiency to support greater debt
service
Citizen support provided its not THEIR school, fire
station, police station, etc.
Operational
Efficiencies
Citizens
Erases the debt, change the CBAs, reduce taxes, increase
service levels and start borrowing again
Improved
p
credit p
profile will improve
p
(not
(
impede)
p ) access
to capital markets in the future
Chief Opponents
Contractual
Modifications
Citizens
Bondholders & Pensioners
Sell what you have to sell
Pay our claims
Civic Asset
Divestitures
Citizens
W need
d to stop strangling
li P
Portent and
d iits citizens
ii
We
Debtors prison is no longer legal
Budgeting
(Tax Relief)
Given the multiple points of friction a deadlock emerges, negotiations are bogged down and the restructuring
process elongates uncomfortably until the Citys advisors develop a negotiating strategy to spur the process
along
Key Strategic Elements
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
Add
Addressing
i Debtholder
D bth ld Diff
Differences
5.
6.
Monetizing
g a Keyy Asset
7.
Confirmation
60
In the midst of negotiations surrounding painful cost cutting and consolidation initiatives, Cassandra and the
elected officials on the City Council a majority of whom now face recall petitions realize the necessity of
casting the advisors as the hatchetmen and women
The strategy leads to questions over who is in charge and to claims from opposing parties that representative
democracy is being flouted
At a family barbeque, the Mayor says to the head of the police union (and his best friend): Look, its out of
our hands. These advisors are going to get this done no matter how long it takes or what it costs
However,
However with the advisors providing the analyses,
analyses simplifying decisions,
decisions explaining consequences and being
the key messengers of the bad news, the traditional problems of elected or appointed officials taking massively
unpopular actions are reduced, enabling progress on the key initiatives
The advisors, impervious to electoral pressure, take the public lead in the difficult negotiations
61
Beyond serving as the scapegoat, the City advisors play a key role in educating the constituents
The advisors take a step back and create a new financial overview and deliver it to each affected
Role
Conduct bondholder and union negotiations
HL
A&M
S&A
3. Managing Strife
City advisors (principally A&M) explore the divisions that emerge between active and retired labor
representatives
Pointedly, the advisors note the zeal of well compensated retirees (many of whom no longer live in Portent)
arguing
i to the
h detriment
d i
off current employees
l
Current employees have no choice in accepting work rule and present financial concessions. They in turn
want to make sure future pension and healthcare promises, however reduced, are real
Opposing Arguments
Current Employee Arguments
Retiree Arguments
Current employees
l
h
have
already
l d provided
d d concessions in the
h
form of RIFs, hiring freezes, benefit reductions and poor
staffing levels
Retiree benefits and pension contributions are
unsustainable burden on a disappearing employee base
an
63
HL forcefully negotiates with City debtholders who originally represent a united front but fracture after the
City defaults
The divide is first apparent between revenue and GO bondholders with certain revenue bondholders suing
City first in state court, and then bankruptcy court, to force principal and interest payments out of project
revenues. GO holders contemplating their alternatives
As the Plan of Adjustment develops, the City proposes recovery rates based on obligation type
CountyTrust
y
TRAN has a first lien on a segregated
g g
account that was to be funded with p
property
p y tax
receipts. However, the segregated account was not funded as of the petition date. The City originally
offered the same 70% recovery as general unsecured creditors but the offer was rejected. CountyTrust
claimed it had a collateral interest on the property tax receipts as a statutory lien and was entitled to a
100% recovery. Rather than undergoing costly litigation, Portent and CountyTrust agree to settle on an
85% recovery thereby locking-up
locking up CountyTrust
CountyTrustss support for the POA
All general obligation bonds, the CountyTrust letter of credit and trade creditors will receive the same
70% recovery
Revenue bond recoveries will be based on the status of the project and the financial impact of the City
guarantee
t (to
(t the
th extent
t t relevant)
l
t)
HL finally secures the support of many bondholders involved in the negotiations based on acceptable
recovery rates for the GO bonds and project sensitive treatment for the revenue bonds
64
Port bondholders originally hope for a 100% recovery based on their financial guarantee policy from
Financial Benefit Insurance Company (FBIC). However, as the POA takes shape, bondholders quickly realize
that payouts under the insurance policy may be in jeopardy due to the wrap providers own insolvency
proceeding
FBIC recently filed a Plan of Rehabilitation due to an unprecedented number of payouts related to financial
insurance policy. Eventual terms of the settlement provide port bondholders with an up-front cash payment
of $5.0 million (25% of the claim) in exchange for a cancellation of the insurance policy
65
Bond
Status
Treatment
(1)
(2)
City owns port land and leases it to the Port Authority. The Port Authority owns port equipment and fixtures including all docks, cranes, lifts, etc. The Port Authority issued debt to fund
equipment acquisition and other improvements
Acropolis Investment Partners has acquired a $50 million position in the Port Revenue Bond and is both negotiating with the City on the level of Port Revenue Bond impairment and also
negotiating to acquire the port
66
Bond
Status
Treatment
70% recovery
All GO bonds treated in same manner
Each GO bondholder receives new debt with a face amount
equal to 70% of the par value of their allowed prepetition claims
New debt is issued at a 6.25% interest rate and matures on June
30, 2033
(1)
Segregated account funded with property tax receipts. As of the petition date, the segregated account was not funded with property tax receipts that were due July 31
67
The Citys Plan of Adjustment is predicated on realization of both the indicated set of cost reductions and also
a series of immediate investments that Cassandra and her advisors characterize as essential to achieving longrange financial stability. We are not going to emerge from this nightmare with a doomed City
The cost reductions and investments are sold as a p
package
g deal and in a departure
p
from p
prior budgeting
g
g
practice, the City prepares a five-year budget outlook to illustrate the financial impact of failing to address
deferred, but essential, capital investment
The calculated cost savings are essential to selling the deal to creditors, some of whom, after years of
negotiations, finally understand they have a vested interest in Portent Falls viability that may be more
important than
h pushing
h
their
h own personall agendas.
d Others
h
still
ll clearly
l l do
d not believe
b l
this
h
Portent Falls Financial Projections(1)
($ in millions)
$1 000
$1,000
$1,000
$100
$950
$80
$900
$60
$400
$850
$40
$200
$800
$20
$750
$0
$800
$600
2032
2031
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
$0
2009
Ending Liability
Revenues
(1)
2010
2011P
2012P
Expenditures
2013P
2014P
2015P
2011 and 2012 expenditures exclude debt service and 2013 revenues include $100
million of asset sale proceeds from the port sale
68
M
Mostt creditors
dit
h
have
strenuously
t
l argued
d that
th t the
th City
Cit should
h ld responsibly
ibl explore
l
assett monetization.
ti ti
T acknowledge
To
k
l d this
thi Greek
G k
chorus (who have the support of the Bankruptcy Judge based on several of his remarks), the City agrees to explore asset
monetization opportunities with HL
HL studied five potential monetization strategies, and selected two as the most likely to succeed and is ready to go when request
is made
Counsel and advisors select the port as the highest value, highest profile asset monetization opportunity (and one that the City
has struggled to make profitable) and HL engages in a 90-day marketing process yielding eight expressions of interest, four
preliminary term sheets and finally two financed offers
Acropolis Investment Partners has accumulated 50% of the $100 million 5.25% Port Revenue Bond at an average price of 38 cents on the
dollar, greatly enhancing their total project return estimates
69
After substantial additional dialogue with creditors and overcoming the general civic fear of selling the City
Portent selects the Acropolis offer. While the Huang Chao offer technically provides a higher NPV, the
Acropolis offer provides immediate liquidity to fund the Plan of Adjustment and avoids entering into a
complicated joint venture structure with a foreign entity.
entity Additionally,
Additionally Acropolis discloses in the midst of the
negotiations that it has purchased over 50% of the outstanding Port Revenue Bonds, offering the City their
full support for the POA if their offer is selected
Acropolis Offer Pros & Cons
Pros
Greater upfront cash compensation
Eliminates need for City or federal co-investment
in port assets
Simple ownership structure
City avoids negative net revenues associated with
previously unprofitable port
No
N fi
financing
i or diligence
dili
contingency,
i
ffunds
d are
locked up and ready to go
Acropolis support locks up the bond class
Cons
Divestiture of City asset at point of weakness
could it be worth more after the bankruptcy?
No profit sharing possibilities
Cost of required road maintenance under
increased projected traffic volume
Success of the offering begs the questions: Should
the City have gone farther in marketing its
assets? Are there other hidden gems?
70
A Final Hurdle
With this final piece of the Plan puzzle in hand, and as the lawyers are putting the finishing touches on the
disclosure statement, Ajax Capital, who jilted the City two years earlier, announces they have amassed 40% of
the outstanding GO bonds
Based on a variety of sources, HL believes that their cost basis is 58, which HL views as positive as Ajax can
make a reasonable profit at the deal price of 70 (which has become the linchpin payout amount for all
unsecured creditors)
However, Ajax is angling for more. After additional months of contention, HL finally lays it out on the line for
Ajax its 70 or a cram down fight
Ajax
Aj recognizes
i
th t waging
that
i a cram down
d
b ttl based
battle
b d on its
it many objectives
bj ti
will
ill lead
l d it to
t an expensive
i
defeat or an expensive Pyrrhic victory both unacceptable
Convinced that 70 is the most it can get, Ajax enlists the other constituencies in forcing one final concession.
The Citys proposed sales tax cut of 0.5% is eliminated, and instead the City agrees to a small increase in its
sales tax rate from 1.25% to 1.35%. This, the advisors agree, is the FINAL piece in the Plan puzzle
After a variety of histrionics from a wide variety of parties still not on board with the Plan, the disclosure
statement is approved and the Plan is solicited
The good news is that each of the classes have approved the Plan by more than 2/3 of the dollar amount of
their claims voting
The bad news is that despite the support of Ajax Capital or maybe because of it some of the numerous
smaller retail holders of the GO bonds have come out very publicly against the Plan. And thanks to the
internet and some email campaigns, 58% of the bondholders who voted have voted no on the Plan
Notwithstanding the fact that 75% of the dollar value of the bonds have voted yes, the 58% negative vote of
the number of voters voting means that the GO debt class has rejected the Plan,
Plan and the only way for the City
to confirm the Plan is to attempt a cram down of this dissenting class
71
Confirmation Requirements
The court can confirm a plan only if the following conditions are met:
Plan complies with the provisions of Title 11 made applicable by Sections 103(e) and 901
Plan complies
p
with the p
provisions of chapter
p 9
All amounts to be paid by the debtor or by any person for services or expenses in the case or incident to the
the plan provides that on the effective date of the plan, each holder of a claim of a kind specified in Section
507(a)(1) will receive on account of such claim cash equal to the allowed amount of such claim
Any regulatory or electoral approval necessary under applicable nonbankruptcy law in order to carry out
Under chapter 11, a plan is said to be in the best interest of creditors if creditors would receive as much
under the plan as they would if the debtor were liquidated. Because a municipalitys assets cannot be
liquidated to pay creditors,
creditors the best
best interests of creditors
creditors test has generally been interpreted in chapter 9
cases to mean that the plan must be as good, if not better, than other alternatives available to the creditors
If a class of creditors rejects the Plan and cram down is required, the City must show that the Plan is fair
and equitable and does not discriminate unfairly with respect to any dissenting class
72
73
7. Confirmation
complete civic failure the likes of which the United States has never seen.
Or,
Or for those of you who prefer happy endings,
endings the City appeals to the District Court which reverses the
Bankruptcy Judge and immediately confirms the Plan of Adjustment
74
A Glimpse of the
Future
June 17, 2017 Cassandra and the City Council have their monthly budget meeting with the finance
committee. Cassandra gazes out of the window at the river and cannot believe how much Portents financial
outlook has improved over the past four years
The City has come a long way from the dark days of 2011 and 2012
During the debate over a possible new bond issue, Cassandra pulls out a list of accomplishments and objectives
and reviews it with the City Council
Largest decrease in crime rates for the state
Levee Fixed!
experiencing
i i
76
A Glimpse of the
Future
A few clouds
A persistent bitterness still permeates many of the Citys long time employees. The anniversary of the
chapter 9 filing is an unofficial holiday for many of these disaffected workers
Population still decreasing (at slower rates)
Numerous sad stories of elderly City pensioners struggling with reduced pensions and medical care
A number of vendors with large claims went bankrupt after absorbing their losses and suffering
decreases in City
y business
Several long-time City employees who were let go and could not find jobs have swelled the ranks of the
Citys homeless
Several institutional bondholders still continue to publically blacklist Portent Falls
Portents modest bond issue ($15 million) backing the construction of a new school is a success!
77
A Glimpse of the
Future
Presenting Firms
Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey is an international investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets,
financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm is ranked globally as the No. 1 restructuring advisor, the No. 1 M&A
fairness opinion advisor over the past 10 years, and the No. 1 M&A advisor for U.S. transactions under $1 billion,
according to Thomson Reuters. Houlihan Lokey has 14 offices and more than 800 employees in the United States,
Europe and Asia. The firm serves more than 1,000 clients each year, ranging from closely held companies to Global
500 corporations. For more information, visit www.HL.com.
Appendices
Appendices
Contact Information
Contact Information
Contact Information
Jeffrey Werbalowsky
Houlihan Lokey
Co-CEO & Senior Managing Director
[email protected]
(612) 338-2910
Bill Roberti
Alvarez & Marsal
Managing Director
[email protected]
(212) 759-4433
Matthew Clemente
Sidley Austin LLP
Partner
[email protected]
(312) 853-7000
Stephen Spencer
Houlihan Lokey
Managing Director
SS
[email protected]
@HL
(612) 338-2910
Kelly Stapleton
Alvarez & Marsal
Managing Director
KS l
[email protected]
@ l
d
l
(212) 759-4433
Peter Canzano
Sidley Austin LLP
Partner
PC
[email protected]
@ idl
(202) 736-8000
81
Appendices
Endnotes
Endnotes
Endnotes
Alicia Munnell, Jean-Pierre Aubry and Laura Quinby, The Impact of Public Pensions on State and Local Budgets, Center for
Retirement Research at Boston College, October 2010.
Alicia Munnell, Jean-Pierre Aubry and Laura Quinby, Public Pension Funding in Practice, NBER Working Paper 16442, October
2010.
Andrew Beatty, Fears Grow of Euro-Style Debt Crisis in U.S., Agence France Press,
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101221/ts_alt_afp/useconomydeficitlocal/print.
Barclays Capital, Municipal Research, Taxable Municipal Market Commentary, 2011 Outlook, December 3, 2010.
Charles Stein, Best Muni-Bond Manager Says Whitney Call Overblown, Bloomberg, January 19, 2011.
Christopher Hoene, Crying Wolf about Municipal Defaults, National League of Cities blog, December 22, 2010,
http://citiesspeak.org.
Christopher Hoene and Michael Pagano, Cities & State Fiscal Structure, National League of Cities, 2008.
Conor Dougherty, Tax Revenue Snaps Back, The Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2011.
David Nowakowski and Prajakta Bhide, States of Despair Part 1: Muni Stress Past, Present and Future, Roubini Global
Economics, February 28, 2011, http://www.roubini.com/strategy/view/149445.php.
David Skeel, Give States a Way to Go Bankrupt, The Weekly Standard, November 29, 2010.
Dustan McNichol, Muni Defaults May Rise Amid Unprecedented Stress on Finances, Bloomberg, February 22, 2010.
The Economist, The Battle Ahead, January 8, 2011.
83
Endnotes
Endnotes (Cont.)
Endnotes
Endnotes (Cont.)
National Conference of State Legislatures, NCSL Fiscal Brief: State Balanced Budget Provisions, October 2010,
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=12651.
Randall Jensen, Vallejo, Calif., Officials to Weigh Chap. 9 Recovery Plan, The Bond Buyer, November 30, 2010.
Robert L. Clark and Melinda Sandler Morrill, Retiree Health Plans in the Public Sector: Is There a Funding Crisis?, 2010.
Robert Novy-Marx and Joshua Rauh, Public Pension Promises: How Big Are They and What Are They Worth?, Journal of
Finance, December 18, 2009.
R b t Trigaux,
Robert
Ti
Fl
Florida
id Ranks
R k No.
N 1 In
I M
Municipal
i i l Bond
B d Defaults,
D f lt Tampabay.com,
T
b
September
S t b 1,
1 2009,
2009
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/venturebiz/content/florida-ranks-no-1-municipal-bond-defaults.
Roger Lowenstein, Broke Town, U.S.A. The New York Times, March 3, 2011.
Shawn Tully, Meredith
Meredith Whitneys
Whitney s New Target: The States,
States, Fortune, September 28, 2010.
Shelly Banjo, Pondering the Why of Rye, The Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2011.
Shelly Sigo, Districts in Distress, The Bond Buyer, November 12, 2009.
Shelly Sigo, Moodys Sees JeffCo Sewer Receiver as Positive Move, The Bond Buyer, September 28, 2010.
Susan Urahn, State Pensions and Retiree Health Benefits: The Trillion Dollar Gap, The Pew Center on the States, February 18,
2010.
Susan Urahn
Urahn, The Trillion Dollar Gap Grows Wider
Wider, The Pew Center on the States,
States April
April, 25
25, 2011
2011.
85
Endnotes
Endnotes (Cont.)
United States Government Accountability Office, State and Local Government Retiree Benefits: Current Status of Benefit
Structures, Protections, and Fiscal Outlook for Funding Future Costs, September 2007, GAO-07-1156.
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finance, 2008.
Washington Post, Pension Reality Check, December 8, 2010.
William Gross, Investment Outlook Skunked, April 2011, http://www.pimco.com/EN/Insights/Pages/Skunked.aspx.
86
Appendices
Disclaimer
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88