Recap
The BDA, in partnership with the Bond Buyer, held its Annual National Municipal Bond Summit at the Trump National Doral Resort in Miami, FL on March 21-23. The Summit offered market leaders the opportunity to meet and network with senior issuers, state and federal officials, as well as transaction participants from across the country. The Summit featured several key contacts from BDA firms on various panel discussions. A recap of the BDA led panel discussions are below and the event agenda can be read here.
BDA Member Panel Highlights
Tax Reform Implementation- Municipal Outcomes:
BDA Panel participants included: Brett Bolton, Vice President of Federal Legislative & Regulatory Policy at BDA and Justin Underwood, Director of Federal Policy & Fixed Income Research at BDA.
- Summarized key muni tax provisions in the recently passed Tax Cuts and Job Act.
- Discussed the advocacy efforts of the Municipal Bonds for America during the tax reform debate
- Highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant with advocacy efforts protecting the tax-exempt status of private activity bonds post tax reform
- Discussed the repeal of municipal advance refunding and introduction of HR 5003 by Muni Finance Caucus (with assistance from BDA)
- Stressed the need to advocate for PABs and other muni bond financing tools in potential infrastructure package
Conducting Public Finance Post Tax Reform- Opportunities
BDA Member panel participants included: Guy Yandel, Executive Vice President & Co-Manager of Municipal Finance Division at George K. Baum and Alex Wallace, Managing Director and Head of Public Finance, US Bancorps. The panel was moderated by Jeff Peelen, Partner at Quarles & Brady.
- Discussed the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the Muni market
- Shared best practices of how their companies have addressed the repeal of municipal advance refunding and adjusted business activity
- Shared best practices/ advice of how their firms are moving forward and attracting new business post tax reform
Pending Regulatory Developments Including Markup/Markdown & Disclosure
BDA Panel participants included: Peg Henry, Deputy General Counsel at Stifel Financial Corps and Don Winton, Chief Operating Officer at Crews & Associates, Inc. The panel was moderated by Dan Deaton, Partner, at Nixon Peabody.
- Discussed ongoing regulatory policies at the SEC, MSRB, and FINRA
- Shared their firms’ challenges with implementing pending retail confirm/disclosure rules
- Heard a summary the status of regarding various pending rules including retail confirm FINRA 4210 from MSRB and FINRA staff
- FINRA staff addressed questions submitted by BDA members regarding 4210 rule.
Review of Rules Affecting the Fixed-Income Markets
BDA Panel participants included Gregg Bienstock, Founder of Lumesis and was moderated by Dan Deaton, Partner at Nixon Peabody.
- Discussed the history of the impact of the numerous SEC, MSRB, and FINRA rules to the fixed-income market post Dodd-Frank
- Shared the challenges implementing the numerous number of proposed changes in the last 10 years
- Shared best practices how businesses have been successful post implementation of SEC, MSRB, and FINRA policy changes
For more information on any of these panel dicussions and topics, please contact: Brett Bolton at bbolton@bdamerica.org.
