Bond Financing
With government regulations playing an increasingly large role in all aspects of the issuance process, the world of public finance has become much harder to navigate. Complicating matters further, new financing methods are continually being created to accomplish specific goals. To meet clients’ needs in this challenging environment, the Municipal Finance team at Gray Plant Mooty offers extensive experience in municipal finance matters of all kinds. When different perspectives are needed, we draw on the expertise of lawyers in other areas at our firm, such as securities, tax, environmental, creditors’ rights, and real property.
Bond Counsel
We perform all the customary services of municipal bond counsel, including preparation of proceedings and documents authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds, such as:
- Advice to the issuer and its financial consultants on all aspects of the bond issuance and sale, such as the impact of federal tax laws and other federal legislation
- Attendance at meetings of the governing body and staff, as requested
- Coordination with fiscal advisors and underwriters
- Review of preliminary and final official statements
- Coordination of transaction closings
- Provision of tax-exemption opinion regarding the interest on the bonds
Underwriter’s Counsel
We perform all the customary services of underwriter’s counsel on municipal bond transactions, such as:
- Advice and assistance to the underwriter in performing all aspects of transaction "due diligence"
- Review and analysis of financing and security documents
- Preparation of disclosure documents used in the offer and sale of the bonds
- Preparation of documents necessary to satisfy continuing disclosure and other securities law requirements
Borrower's Counsel
As borrower’s counsel, we represent the private organization that borrows the proceeds of the bonds in order to finance a project. Frequently, our borrower clients are nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, including clients in the health care, senior housing, and higher education sectors. In this role, we perform services such as the following:
- Review and analysis of financing documents for workability and consistency with the organization’s goals
- Assistance in preparation of disclosure document sections concerning the borrower and the project to be financed
- Tax analysis of 501(c)(3) status of borrower, and rendering of necessary opinions relating to 501(c)(3) status
Representative Clients
- Dougherty & Company LLC
- HealthPartners, St. Olaf College (Borrower’s Counsel)
- Minneapolis Community Development Agency
- Northland Securities, Inc.
- Piper Jaffray & Co. (Underwriter’s Counsel)
Representative Matters
- Represented a higher education organization, St. Olaf College, in connection with the financing of various campus improvements
- Represented the underwriter, Piper Jaffray & Co., in connection with the refinancing and improvement of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities owned by a 501(c)(3) organization and located in four different states
- Represented Northland Securities, Inc. as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the financing of a senior housing project undertaken as a joint venture between a large nonprofit organization and a local church
- Represented Dougherty & Company LLC as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the refinancing of a multifamily housing project
- Represented the Minneapolis Community Development Agency as bond counsel for the financing of facilities and equipment owned by the YMCA and located at various sites throughout the metropolitan area