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O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 0 6 C O C A : P R A C T I C A L G U I D E T O G A S B 4 5 & O P E B OPEB Actuarial and Disclosure Practices Presented by Brian L. Whitworth OPEB Specialist brian.l.whitworth@jpmorgan.com (213) 621-8650 S T R I C T L Y P R I V A T E A N D C O N F I D E N T I A L
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OCTOBER25,2006 COCA:PRACTICALGUIDETOGASB45&OPEB OPEB Actuarial and Disclosure Practices Presented by Brian L. Whitworth OPEB Specialist brian.l.whitworth@jpmorgan.com (213) 621-8650 STRICTLYPRIVATEANDCONFIDENTIAL
This presentation was prepared exclusively for the benefit and internal use of the JPMorgan client to whom it is directly addressed and delivered (including such client’s subsidiaries, the “Company”) in order to assist the Company in evaluating, on a preliminary basis, the feasibility of a possible transaction or transactions and does not carry any right of publication or disclosure, in whole or in part, to any other party.This presentation is for discussion purposes only and is incomplete without reference to, and should be viewed solely in conjunction with, the oral briefing provided by JPMorgan.Neither this presentation nor any of its contents may be disclosed or used for any other purpose without the prior written consent of JPMorgan. The information in this presentation is based upon any management forecasts supplied to us and reflects prevailing conditions and our views as of this date, all of which are accordingly subject to change.JPMorgan’s opinions and estimates constitute JPMorgan’s judgment and should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only.In preparing this presentation, we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information available from public sources or which was provided to us by or on behalf of the Company or which was otherwise reviewed by us.In addition, our analyses are not and do not purport to be appraisals of the assets, stock, or business of the Company or any other entity.JPMorgan makes no representations as to the actual value which may be received in connection with a transaction nor the legal, tax or accounting effects of consummating a transaction.Unless expressly contemplated hereby, the information in this presentation does not take into account the effects of a possible transaction or transactions involving an actual or potential change of control, which may have significant valuation and other effects. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company and each of its employees, representatives or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and the U.S. federal and state income tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure insofar as such treatment and/or structure relates to a U.S. federal or state income tax strategy provided to the Company by JPMorgan. JPMorgan’s policies prohibit employees from offering, directly or indirectly, a favorable research rating or specific price target, or offering to change a rating or price target, to a subject company as consideration or inducement for the receipt of business or for compensation.JPMorgan also prohibits its research analysts from being compensated for involvement in investment banking transactions except to the extent that such participation is intended to benefit investors. JPMorgan is a marketing name for investment banking businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidiaries worldwide. Securities, syndicated loan arranging, financial advisory and other investment banking activities are performed by a combination of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan plc, J.P.Morgan Securities Ltd. and the appropriately licensed subsidiaries of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Asia-Pacific, and lending, derivatives and other commercial banking activities are performed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.JPMorgan deal team members may be employees of any of the foregoing entities. This presentation does not constitute a commitment by any JPMorgan entity to underwrite, subscribe for or place any securities or to extend or arrange credit or to provide any other services. COCA:PRACTICALGUIDETOGASB45&OPEB
Potential Problems with OPEB Implementation 1 1 Funding OPEB is Different Than Funding Pensions 2 11 OPEB Flowchart 3 20 COCA:PRACTICALGUIDETOGASB45&OPEB 1
Potential Problems: 1. Not Getting a Study • A number of public entities are not familiar with what constitutes a Defined Contribution plan. Since GASB 45 relates to Defined Benefit plans, some entities mistakenly assume there is no need for an actuarial study. • “Defined benefit plans are plans having terms that specify the benefits to be provided at or after separation from employment. The benefits may be specified in dollars (for example a flat dollar payment or an amount based on one or more factors such as age, years of service, and compensation), or as a type or level of coverage (for example, prescription drugs or a percentage of healthcare insurance premiums). • In contrast, a defined contribution plan is a plan having terms that (a) provide an individual account for each plan member and (b) specify how contributions to an active plan member’s account are to be determined, rather than the income or other benefits the member or his or her beneficiaries are to receive at or after separation from employment. In a defined contribution plan, these benefits will depend onlyon the amount contributed to the member’s account, earning on investments of those contributions and forfeitures of contributions made for other members that may be allocated to the member’s account.” [emphasis added] --Source: GASB 45 Statement, page 2. A description of accounting for defined contribution plans begins on GASB 45 Statement, page 21. • Some public entities don’t see the need for a study because retirees pay the full premium. However, if the employer is providing an implicit subsidy to retirees, it is required to obtain a study by GASB 45. POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 2
Potential Problems: 1. Not Getting a Study (continued) • There are several ways an actuary may see that an a study should be performed, including: • A pension actuary may wonder why no OPEB study is being performed, especially if the pension fund also delivers OPEB • An actuary can typically look at the most recent CAFR in the notes and see if the OPEB description sounds like a study is required • Plan documents and benefit descriptions are frequently available online • Failure to get a required study can cause major problems: • Rating agencies look at failing to get an estimate of a large and material liability as an indication of poor management. This could potentially result in a downgrade, leading to more expensive future borrowings and more expensive bond insurance • Downgrades could result in investor lawsuits • The Securities Exchange Commission may pay a visit, especially if a bond was issued after the GASB deadline and there was not the required OPEB disclosure • Because of the potential legal implications, you may want to encourage clients to talk to bond counsel, or disclosure counsel • Investment bankers do not like to work with clients whose disclosure is questionable • In addition, failure to get a study means failure to know true liabilities, and makes it more difficult to manage or plan for the cost of future OPEB payments POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 3
Potential Problems: 2. Studies Performed by the Wrong Actuary • Fairly frequently, a public entity asks its current pension actuary to perform a GASB 43/45 actuarial study for OPEB • This often happens because the client already knows and trusts their pension actuary, and doesn’t want to do a new RFP. • Some pension actuaries have done a substantial number of OPEB studies. Others haven’t done any. • Pension actuaries can work well with OPEB specialists within their firm and provide valuable client-specific knowledge • Many “outlier” results we have seen were performed by pension actuaries who had little or no OPEB background • Public sector clients often want presentations to a board, city council, etc. Actuaries often present to people who have little finance or actuarial background. • Do you enjoy explaining actuarial concepts to the uninitiated? Hate it? • Getting caught in the middle of a political battle is not for the faint of heart • Some background work before the public meeting can be very helpful POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 4
Potential Problems: 3. Bad and Missing Data • Much of this is self-explanatory • Typically, you will be delivering the first OPEB actuarial study for a public entity • Often, you are given partial data, or info of questionable quality. Considerable digging may be required • Often, only current plan descriptions are initially provided; later you find out that there have been multiple modifications and other previous plans • Fragmented data is common. Some data may be at HR, some at a pension system, some at Mayor/Governor/Supervisor/Board, and some at finance/treasury • Example: HR may have information on current employees, the pension system may have data for retirees, resolutions relating to benefits may be at the board, and historical aggregate payout data may be at finance POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 5
Potential Problems: 4. Study Delivered at Inconvenient Time • In general, receiving a study earlier allows a public entity more time to plan. Early implementation of GASB 45 is encouraged • However, if you don’t plan well, the study could be delivered: • Just before an election, and become a political football • During labor negotiations when neither side was expecting it • A few days before a bond is issued, requiring revisions to many documents, and perhaps new trips to rating agencies • Near the end of a legislative session • The arrival of a draft study can cause similar results to the arrival of the final version • Draft studies typically have disclosure requirements, just like final studies (good idea to have client check with counsel, especially if a bond issue or CAFR is near completion) • Major revisions are often politically embarrassing, can attract unfavorable attention from rating agencies, and under some circumstances, the SEC. • Recommendations: • Compliance is top priority. Planning also helps convenience, accuracy • Lay out the calendars for bond issuance, legislature, elections, and GASB 45 deadline • Try to have a study arrive when staff can devote undivided attention to making sure they believe the numbers, and to making any revisions. • Don’t sit on a completed study. Do the planning before, not after completing the study. POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 6
Potential Problems: 5. Client Misquotes or Misinterprets Your Study • We are surprised at how many clients do not have the actuary review press releases regarding OPEB, or disclosures in annual reports and bond documents • Putting the wrong data in a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report or in a bond Official Statement could cause compliance and rating problems • Most items in a CAFR are updates of prior years. Clients need more guidance than usual for OPEB because: • GASB 45 is a new standard • They typically have not had prior actuarial studies for OPEB • People outside of finance and HR may present other problems, potentially including: • Political objectives, especially quoting the highest or lowest number anywhere in the study • Lack of knowledge of the current OPEB program • Lack of background in math, accounting, finance, or actuarial calculations • Speaking to the media, or at public meetings, without having read the study • Misstating what GASB 45 means or requires • Recommendations: • Ask to review disclosures for OPEB used in CAFR or bond official statements • Ask to review the initial press release regarding the study • Try to have someone who fully understands the study at relevant public meetings POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 7
Potential Problems: 6. Mischaracterizing the Commitment • GASB 45 requires calculations related to the “substantive plan.” The actuary might, or might not, have any opinion on vesting, legal commitment, obligation, or similar matters. • The commitment to provide OPEB varies tremendously from one entity to another, even for the same type of entities in the same state. Knowing whether School District X can modify benefits often tells you nothing about School District Y. • We have seen a large number of cases where someone (client, politician, reporter, attorney, even auditor or actuary) mischaracterized the commitment. • Believing you can modify benefits when you cannot may lead to unnecessary and unproductive conflict. • Believing you can’t modify benefits when you really are able to make changes is also common • Many clients can be reasonably certain about potential modifications after doing careful research. For others, the situation remains unclear. • It is very common to see a statement which is true of some employees or retirees stated as if the same is true for everyone • Watch out for statements which are true of employees represented by unions, but not for management or other nonunion employees • There are often statements which are true for those who retire now, but a different arrangement was in place for those who retired years ago POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 8
Other Problems We Have Seen • The highest ranking attorney at a public entity asserted in the media that “these benefits are not vested, therefore we do not need to report them under GASB 45” • Very unusual demographics. One city stated that the number of survivors of retirees exceeded living retirees + current employees. They continue to assert this. • Extremely low or high discount rates. 2% at the low end. 8.25% for an unfunded plan at the high end. Typical numbers for unfunded plans are 3.75% to 4.5%. • Very high medical trend rates, which continue for many years into the future. • Revocable contributions discounted as if they were irrevocable. • Public attempts to sidestep GASB 45, when it clearly should apply. • Trying to push accruals down below reasonable levels, in order to make a better impression on rating agencies. Questionable assumptions actually make the opposite impression. • Assuming 100% participation rates among eligible retirees and/or dependents, when the actual participation rate is available, and materially lower. • GASB 45 actuarial studies performed using FAS 106 rules • Asking actuaries to calculate alternative benefit modifications that are seemingly picked out of the air POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 9
There are differences between private and public sectors. On average, public sector changes will likely be slower and less substantial. • Unionization - Stronger and more widespread unions exist in the public sector • Fewer competitive pressures of the type which have resulted in industries like airlines trying to eliminate OPEB liabilities through bankruptcy. Bankruptcies in the public sector are very rare, and strategic bankruptcies to shed particular liabilities are virtually unheard of. Many public entities are not even eligible for bankruptcy, including state governments and most school districts. • Political realities • Legal requirements - Many public entities are obligated by charter, law, or State constitution to pay benefits. These are more difficult to change than renegotiating benefits with unions. Changing State constitutions would be especially difficult. These types of changes were seldom required to modify private-sector benefits. • Associations - Public entities are much more likely to be part of associations, joint power authorities or retirement systems which dictate the benefits being provided. • Lower turnover - Public entities typically have lower turnover than private entities. This means that any change in postretirement benefits which affects only new employees will take longer to yield material results, both on a cash flow and accrual basis. • Less desire to change - A 2003 Segal Company poll found that only 15% of state governments said they might consider reducing retiree benefit levels in the next one to three years. None of the states responding to the survey were contemplating eliminating retiree health benefits. POTENTIALPROBLEMSWITHOPEBIMPLEMENTATION 10
Funding OPEB is Different Than Funding Pensions Potential Problems with OPEB Implementation 1 1 2 11 OPEB Flowchart 3 20 COCA:PRACTICALGUIDETOGASB45&OPEB 11
OPEB Funding Issues • OPEB liabilities are more volatile than pension liabilities • Public sector pension funding typically had strong guarantees in state law. OPEB commitments vary tremendously • The typical public sector OPEB funding ratio is currently 0.0% • If you want to prefund money, where can you put it? • Very often, pension funds are not authorized or willing to accept and invest OPEB prefunding • You may need to create a new OPEB trust or similar entity, or join a group investment trust • In California AB 1729 (CalPERS OPEB trust open to any govt entity) was vetoed. • OPEB funding shortfalls are usually larger than pension funding shortfalls -- to fund pensions, many public entities have issued POBs • In CA, one OPEB bond has been issued (two others completed, the first was in Wisconsin, another in Florida) • In CA, it appears that most public entities can issue OPEB bonds (typically subject to a validation proceeding, the client should check with bond counsel on these matters) • In other states, this is not always the case • There are some very good reasons not to try to fund 100% of projected OPEB liabilities, especially in the short term FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS 12
Medical premium trends have varied widely Medical Premium Trends FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS Premium trend is per Kaiser Family Foundation (* means that year’s premium trend is interpolated). Annual CPI and earnings trends are per Bureau of Labor Statistics. 13
Funding plan options (yes, there are options!) • OVERFUNDED BENEFIT: High level of security for benefit payments. • DRAWBACKS: Pressure to provide new benefits; funding holidays, followed by general fund budget pressure when payments start again. • MOSTLY FUNDED BENEFIT: High level of security for benefits payments; indicates fiscal responsibility to rating agencies, bondholders, etc; insulates general fund from fluctuations in medical costs. • DRAWBACKS: Could cement liabilities if not required by contract; reduces flexibility to change benefits in the future; difficult for most public entities to fund quickly. • PARTIALLY FUNDED BENEFIT: Good security for benefit payments in medium term; indicates fiscal responsibility to rating agencies, bondholders, etc; insulates general fund from fluctuations in medical costs. • DRAWBACKS: May result in annual contributions that are higher than pay-as-you-go costs in the short run. • PAY-AS-YOU-GO BENEFIT: Lower short run contributions in many cases; no need to create or join OPEB trust. • DRAWBACKS: Could affect credit ratings, balance sheet; strongly rising costs over time; long term cost & accruals higher than funded plans. • (e.g. 110% funded) • (e.g. 80% funded) • (e.g. 40% funded) FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS • (0.0% funded) 14
Potential problems of contributing and bonding to 100% funding level for OPEBs • Much of the benefit of 100% funding can be obtained with a lower level of funding: • Stable general fund budget • Investment returns on assets • Improved security of delivering benefits • Lower booked liabilities and normal cost • If actual investment returns exceed actuarially expected return, the trust becomes overfunded • As seen with pensions in the late 1990s, overfunding often leads to: • Long term benefit increases based on short term overfunding • Temporary contribution holidays, which cause budget stresses once the holiday is over • There may be significant revisions from the first actuarial study to the second study, even if benefits and eligibility are unchanged • Future changes in benefits might be negotiated, and changes in benefits, eligibility, or early retirement might leave the trust overfunded • Othersmight pay a larger portion of benefits, leaving the trust overfunded (e.g. medicare prescription drug benefit on a larger scale) • Higher debt service than funding a portion of liabilities through bonds FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS 15
Problems with NOT funding OPEB liabilities at all • Cash flow differential • Any prefunding results in interest earnings which reduce a client’s long term expenditures • There are good reasons why completely unfunded pension plans are rare, and why completely unfunded OPEB plans will become more and more rare over time • Risks • Unexpected increases in medical costs directly affect the current year’s budget • General fund budget strain results in immediate problems paying OPEB costs • Accounting: Unfunded plans generate greater booked liabilities than funded plans • The client could be required to calculate the present value of OPEB liabilities at a much lower interest rate, e.g., 3.5%-4.5% instead of 7.0%-8.5% • Booked liabilities for OPEB could be substantially higher • A present value of $100 million discounted at 8% could be $200 million or more at 4% • Labor relations • Failure to fund could result in a case where unions attempt to negotiate changes at a point where the public entity cannot afford the “give” • Completely unfunded plans leave employees and retirees concerned about benefit security • Bond ratings can be negatively affected as a result being completely unfunded FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS 16
Funding OPEB liabilities similarly to the pension system could help clients meet its future obligations Comparison of Interest Costs and Investment Returns FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS Source: JPMorgan Securities and CALPERS Annual Report 17
Financing arrangements can help to mitigate the impact of OPEBs on municipal finance agencies • A public entity may be able to issue debt similar to pension obligation bonds (“POBs”) • Large, often hundreds of millions or billions • Likely taxable, issued with expectation that investment returns exceed borrowing costs • Typically paid to a retirement system, trust, or similar fund • Investment return risk • Irrevocable contributions • Most public entities do not currently have an appropriate place to put large amounts of prefunding • Over time, we would expect to see financing activity similar to that experienced for pension obligation bonds • As of January 2006, there had been 435 pension bond transactions totaling over $45 billion • $21 billion in proceeds are from just 10 large bond issues • Many different funding alternatives including fixed, floating and synthetic fixed bonds; capital appreciation bonds; direct interest index or equity index swaps without bond issuance FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS 18
JPMorgan has reviewed the historical performance of pension obligation bonds • Comprehensive data on pension bond performance had not previously been published. Last year, JPMorgan conducted a study of pension bonds with more than $100 million in par value issued from 1986 through 2004, evaluated 2/28/05. We repeated a similar analysis as of 3/30/06 (as shown in the chart below), which includes the first OPEB bond (Wisconsin, 2003). • We compared borrowing costs (NIC) to asset returns of CalPERS from date of issuance to 3/30/06. • Higher rated issuers tended to fare better. In one case, different issuers on the same day had 122 bp difference in borrowing cost. • Those who issued during times of generally low interest rates tended to fare better. One issuer borrowed at 200 bp+ cheaper for a later bond than for its prior bond. FUNDINGOPEBISDIFFERENTTHANFUNDINGPENSIONS 19
OPEB Flowchart Potential Problems with OPEB Implementation 1 1 Funding OPEB is Different Than Funding Pensions 2 11 3 20 COCA:PRACTICALGUIDETOGASB45&OPEB 20
GASB 45 and OPEB Flowchart • The chart on the right broadly outlines steps public entities may choose to take to address its OPEB situation • Many steps can be taken simultaneously • Investigation of where to put invest OPEB prefunding can be done while actuarial study is in progress • Investigation of ability to change benefits can also be done while study is in progress • Legislation has a long lead time. It may be needed for OPEB trusts, bond issuance, benefit modifications, etc. • Steps highlighted in red are those that JPMorgan can offer assistance on, including: • Creating an OPEB trust • Asset management • OPEB bonds • Funding levels, and simulations • Background discussions/OPEB overview OPEBFLOWCHART 21