Fitch Rates District of Columbia $125,775,000 Multimodal 2008B GO Refunding Bonds...
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Fitch Rates District of Columbia $125,775,000 Multimodal 2008B GO Refunding Bonds 'AA/F1+' NEW YORK--(Business Wire)-- Fitch assigns an 'AA/F1+' rating to the District of Columbia's $125,775,000 Multimodal general obligation (GO) refunding bonds series 2008B (the bonds). The rating is based on the support provided by a direct-pay letter of credit (LOC) issued by Bank of America, N.A. (the bank), securing the bonds. The bank's long-term 'AA' rating is on rating watch negative as of March 7, 2008. The bank is obligated to make payments of principal and interest on the bonds upon maturity, acceleration and redemption, as well as the purchase price for tendered bonds. The rating will expire upon the earliest of: May 21, 2011, the stated expiration date of the LOC, unless such date is extended; any prior termination of the LOC; and defeasance of the bonds. The LOC provides full coverage of principal plus an amount equal to 48 days' interest at a maximum rate of 12% based on a 365-day year and purchase price for tendered bonds. The Remarketing Agent for the bonds is Banc of America Securities LLC. The bonds initially bear interest at the weekly interest rate, but may be converted to daily, or term rates. While Bonds bear interest in the weekly or daily mode, interest payments are the first day of each month, commencing June 2, 2008. Bondholders may tender their bonds on any business day, provided the trustee is given prior notice of the purchase demand. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender on any conversion date, the fifth business day prior to the stated expiration or termination date of the LOC (unless the LOC has been extended or an alternate LOC has been delivered), on the effective date of an alternate LOC and, during the weekly and daily rates, on any interest payment date selected by the bank or District of Columbia. Optional and mandatory redemption provisions also apply to the bonds. Bond proceeds will be used to refund the District of Columbia's outstanding $125,775,000 Multimodal general obligation bonds, series 2002A (Auction Rate Securities). Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site. Fitch Ratings, New York Kevin J. Corrigan, 212-908-9156 or Media Relations: Cindy Stoller, 212-908-0526 Copyright Business Wire 2008
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