Raymond James Financial | Services and Products | Taxable Bonds | Government-Sponsored Enterprise Debt Securities

Government-Sponsored Enterprise Debt Securities
(and Agency Bonds)

What you need to know about the risks of bond investing.

Traditionally considered high-quality, income-generating vehicles, government-sponsored enterprise securities offer relative safety, predictable income and competitive returns over Treasuries. Government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) were established by acts of Congress to support various public policies, such as home ownership, farming, education and natural resource development. Although issued by government-created corporations and agencies, GSE debt is not guaranteed by the federal government. This means that payments of interest and principal are solely the obligation of the issuers. One exception exists, however. In 1968, Congress created the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae, and debt securities issued by Ginnie Mae are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are presently under the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s conservatorship. During the conservatorship, both enterprises will continue normal business operations, including interest and principal payments. For more information, please visit fhfa.gov.

S&P Downgrade of United States’ Long-Term Credit Rating
On August 5, Standard & Poor’s announced that it has lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’ and affirmed the ‘A-1+’ short-term rating. The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. Standard & Poor’s also removed the short- and long-term ratings from CreditWatch negative. On August 2, the U.S. government’s ‘Aaa’ bond rating was confirmed by Moody’s with a negative outlook. More about ratings is available at standardandpoors.com, moodys.com and fitchratings.com.

On August 8, as expected, S&P also lowered ratings on related issues, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In order to support public policies, GSEs purchase new mortgages and other loans from issuers, who then use the proceeds to issue new loans. The GSEs issue notes, bonds and mortgage-backed securities via periodic auctions as well as through various securities dealers. The amount of debt issued and the frequency of issuance depend on each GSE’s need for funding. The most active participants are shown in the following table.

GSE	Securities Issued	Borrow from the Treasury	State and Local Tax Exempt	Government Guarantee
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)	Notes, bonds, discount notes	Yes	Yes	No
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)	Notes, bonds, discount notes, MBS	Yes	No	No²
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)	Notes, bonds, discount notes, MBS	Yes	No	No²
Federal Farm Credit Bank (FFCB)	Notes, bonds, discount notes	No	Yes	No
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)*	Notes, bonds	Yes	Yes³	No
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)*	MBS	Yes¹	No³	Yes
Financial Corporation (FICO)	Bonds	No	Yes³	No
Resolution Funding Corporation (REFCORP)	Bonds	Yes	Yes	Yes/No⁴

^*Issuer is a government agency

¹Ginnie Mae is financed through the U.S. Treasury.

²Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are currently under FHFA conservatorship; ³Some exceptions apply.

⁴Interest payments are guaranteed by the U.S. government; principal is collateralized by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds.

Features and Benefits of GSE Securities

GSE securities are offered in a wide range of maturities and may incorporate a variety of features to meet investor demand. The most common feature is a call, which entitles an issuer, at its option, to pay back the principal before the stated maturity date. Generally, the issuer may call bonds when interest rates decline. New securities may then be offered with lower coupon rates to reduce the issuer’s cost of capital. Callable bonds generally offer higher rates than non-callable alternatives in order to compensate investors for giving the issuer an option to redeem the bonds early.

Another feature is a Survivor’s Option – common to securities offered through medium-term notes programs. In the event of a bond holder’s death, the estate or beneficiary has a right to redeem bonds from the issuer at par plus accrued interest. The issuer may limit the total amount per offering per year to be redeemed. Investors must read a prospectus before investing.

Predictable Income

GSE securities offer predictable interest payments for investors looking to supplement periodic income. Interest payments are made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or at maturity and are available for other investment opportunities or withdrawal.

Although many GSEs issue notes and bonds with fixed coupon rates, some offer securities with variable interest rates such as floating rate coupons and step-up coupons. Based on individual investment objectives, variable-rate bonds may help investors meet future financial needs and create a defensive strategy against a potential rise in inflation and interest rates.

Competitive Returns

For investors concerned with the safety of invested principal but looking for higher return, GSEs generally offer competitive yields over Treasuries and other guaranteed securities, such as CDs.

Credit Quality

GSE debt is not guaranteed by the U.S. government. Currently, senior debt of GSEs is rated “AAA,” or “AA” while subordinated debt of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is currently rated “AA” or “A”, outlook negative. Please contact your financial advisor for current ratings information.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are presently under the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s conservatorship. Deterioration of the housing market has shaken the safety and soundness of these two enterprises and, consequently, has compromised their ability to provide stability and liquidity to the mortgage market. In order to restore investors’ faith and help raise additional capital, the FHFA took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s operations. During the conservatorship, both enterprises will continue their normal operations, including interest and principal payments. For more information, please visit fhfa.gov.

State/Local Tax Exemption

Interest income paid by several GSEs is exempt from state and local taxes: FHLB, FFCB, TVA, FICO and REFCORP.

Diversification

GSEs offer securities with competitive yields and lower risks. A wide range of maturities, payment frequencies, coupon structures and other features can potentially help investors realize individual financial objectives and stabilize portfolio returns.

Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

Liquidity – Although not obligated to do so, many broker/dealers participate in the secondary market for agency securities. Investors who need access to cash may sell their bonds prior to maturity, at current market prices. In the secondary market, trading timeliness and prices are subject to market interest rates, issue and position size, credit rating, and other factors. Some bonds trade more often than others and may be easier to sell. The proceeds from sale may be more or less than the original investment. However, if bonds are held until the final maturity date, the investor will receive the full face value, subject to credit risk.

In order to improve market transparency, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) created TRACE – Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine. Investors can access historical data on market transactions for publicly traded securities, including agency and corporate bonds, at investinginbonds.com.

Investment Considerations

As GSE securities evolve and become more complex, investors should have a clear understanding of risks and benefits before investing.

Market prices of fixed income securities may be affected by several risks, including without limitation: interest rate risk - a rise (fall) in interest rates may reduce (increase) the value of your investment, default or credit risk - the issuer’s ability to make interest and principal payments, and liquidity risk - the inability to sell bonds promptly prior to maturity with minimal loss of principal.

For a detailed explanation of GSE securities-specific risks and those of fixed income in general, please read What you need to know about the risks of bond investing and Factors That Affect Prices of Fixed Income Securities.

Taxation

Interest income and capital gains/losses from most GSE securities are subject to federal income tax, as well as state and local taxes. Alternative minimum tax (AMT) may also apply. Investors should consult with a tax professional to ensure proper tax reporting

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Government-Sponsored Enterprise Debt Securities (and Agency Bonds)