NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns a rating of 'AAApre' to the $275,745,000 North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 Catawba Electric Revenue Bonds, consisting of: $92,825,000 refunding series 2008A, due Jan. 1, 2016-Jan. 1, 2020 (partial refundings of all maturities except 2020); $35,455,000 refunding series 2008C, due Jan. 1, 2016-Jan. 1, 2020 (partial refunding of 2017 maturity); $64,660,000 refunding series 2009A, due Jan. 1, 2021-Jan. 1, 2026 (partial refundings); $1,335,000 series 2009C due Jan. 1, 2021 (partial refunding); $2,240,000 series 2010A, due Jan. 1, 2020; $72,805,000 refunding series 2012A, due Jan. 1, 2016- Jan. 1, 2020 (partial refundings of multiple coupons for each maturity, except that 3% bond maturing in 2020 is refunded in full); and $6,425,000 series 2012B, due Jan. 1, 2021. The Rating Outlook is Stable.}
The refunded bonds will be redeemed at par plus accrued interest, as follows: series 2008A bonds on Jan. 1, 2018; series 2008C bonds on Jan. 1, 2018; series 2009A on Jan. 1, 2019; series 2009C on Jan. 1, 2019. All other refunded bonds will be escrowed to maturity.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
The 'AAApre'; Stable Outlook rating is based on the pledge of securities in the irrevocable trust fund securing the bonds and reflects the express lien of the refunded bondholders on the funds and securities deposited irrevocably and that all amounts have been invested in direct non-callable obligations of the United States and direct non-callable senior unsubordinated obligations of Fannie Mae (FNMA), Freddie Mac (FHLMC) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHB). The U.S. full faith and credit is currently rated 'AAA', Stable Outlook by Fitch. As the ratings of FNMA and FHLMC are currently linked to the U.S. sovereign rating, any rating action on the U.S. sovereign rating will directly affect the rating on the bonds with escrow trust funds invested in those securities. Should Fitch's view of the strength of government support for FNMA/FHLMC be reduced or downgraded, the rating of FNMA/FHLMC may be delinked from the U.S. sovereign rating and may result in negative pressure on the rating of the bond series supported by those securities.
The bonds were refunded on July 23, 2015 with the proceeds of the issuer's Catawba Electric Revenue Bonds, $304,710,000 refunding series 2015A, $41,265,000 refunding series 2015B, and $23,930,000 refunding series 2015D (Federally Taxable) as well as amounts released from the bond funds and reserve funds and reserve and contingency funds previously securing the refunded bonds. The ratings apply to the bonds listed by CUSIP number, below.
Pursuant to three irrevocable refunding trust agreements, U.S. Bank National Association (rated 'AA-/F1+', Stable Outlook), as trustee, holds three separate special irrevocable trust funds, in trust for the benefit of the refunded bondholders. All cash and securities held in these funds are pledged irrevocably to the payment of principal and interest on the related refunded bonds when due, at maturity or earlier redemption. In the future, Fitch will review any proposed substitution or reinvestment of funds, which may only occur following receipt of confirmation that the action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the ratings on the related refunded bonds.
Causey Demgen & Moore PC verified the mathematical accuracy of computations relating to the adequacy of cash and securities deposited in the refunding trust funds to pay debt service requirements of the related refunded bonds. In the opinion of Causey Demgen & Moore, cash and securities deposited in respective refunding trust funds will produce amounts necessary to provide for timely payment of the related refunded bonds. Prior to accepting substitute investment securities or disbursing funds, the trustee must receive a new report verifying the continued sufficiency of escrowed funds to meet all future payments of principal and interest on the refunded bonds.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
The rating is currently tied to the U.S. sovereign creditworthiness and will reflect all changes to that rating. Should Fitch's view of the strength of government support for FNMA/FHLMC be reduced or downgraded, the rating of FNMA/FHLMC may be delinked from the U.S. sovereign rating and may result in negative pressure on the rating of the bond series supported by those securities.
The 'AAApre' rating applies to the bonds with the following CUSIP numbers:
658203Z56
658203Z64
658203Z72
658203Z80
658203H72
658203K37
6582032D5
658203K52
658203K60
658203K78
6582032F0
6582032G8
6582032H6
6582032J2
6582032K9
6582032L7
6582032T0
658203N83
6582032V5
6582032Y9
6582033D4
6582032W3
6582032Z6
6582032X1
6582033A0
6582033E2
6582033H5
6582033B8
6582033F9
6582033J1
658203R48
6582033C6
6582033G7
658203T20
Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Applicable Criteria
Guidelines for Rating Prerefunded U.S. Municipal Bonds (pub. 09 Dec 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=818549
U.S. Municipal Structured Finance Criteria (pub. 23 Feb 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=862222
Additional Disclosures
Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=989001
Solicitation Status
https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=989001
Endorsement Policy
https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31
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