UK Municipal Bonds Agency

The UK Municipal Bonds Agency (UK MBA) is Local Government Funding Agency that exists primarily to reduce councils' capital long term financing costs in the United Kingdom.[1] It allows local authorities to diversify funding sources and borrow at a lower cost than is available from Central Government via the Public Works Loan Board of the UK Debt Management Office, which is part of HM Treasury.[2] The agency will sell municipal bonds on the capital markets, raising funds that it will then lend to councils.[3]

UK Municipal Bonds Agency
TypePublic Limited Company
IndustryFinance
Founded2014 (2014)
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Sir Merrick Cockell, Sir Stephen Houghton
ServicesBonds
Websitewww.ukmba.org

History

The UK MBA was founded in 2014.[4] It was founded by, is owned by and lends to Local Authorities within the United Kingdom.[4]

As of January 2016, 56 local authorities as well as the LGA and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, have signed up as shareholders in the UK Municipal Bonds Agency.[5]

Shortly before December 2015,[4] a framework document setting out the working of the UK MBA was also distributed to councils with Cambridgeshire County Council becoming the first local authority to approve it in early February 2016.[5]

In October 2019, PFM Financial Advisors LLC were appointed as the managed service provider to the UK Municipal Bonds Agency.[6]

Purpose

The UK Municipal Bonds Agency provides councils with lower borrowing costs. The goal of the UK MBA is to lower costs for council taxpayers and provide value for money for councils,[1] via the public bonds market.[1] The UK MBA will issue bonds backed by joint and several guarantees of the authorities involved.[4]

Key People

The Chairman of the UK MBA is Sir Merrick Cockell, who was previously head of the Local Government Association.[5]

Its Vice Chairman is Adrian Bell,[7] who also heads up JCRA's Canaccord Genuity team.[8]

Its Chief Executive is Aidan Brady, who was previously a Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Bank, an investment bank.[9] In October 2019, Aidan Brady stepped down from his role at the UKMBA.[10]

In January 2016 the UK MBA announced the appointment of four key non-executive appointments and converted to a public limited company (Plc) as it prepares for launch.[8]

Sir Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and chair of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, has been appointed senior independent director.[8]

Other appointments include Derrick Anderson, former chief executive of Lambeth and Wolverhampton councils; Mridul Hegde, a former director of public spending at the Treasury;[5] and Melanie McLaren, executive director of codes and standards of the Financial Reporting Council.[8] Mridul Hegde and Melanie McLaren stepped down from their roles at the UKMBA in 2019 (Mridul) and 2018 (Melanie).[11]

Other Countries

Municipal bonds agencies also known as Bond banks or Local government funding agencies exist in other countries, such as Sweden and Finland.[12] In New Zealand, the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), is the second-biggest issuer of New Zealand-dollar debt behind the government.[5]

References
  1. Marrs, Colin (27 March 2014). "Aidan Brady on the municipal bond agency". Room 151. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. Jenkins, Patrick; Pickard, Jim (1 February 2015). "Cash-strapped councils to raise billions with new municipal bonds". Financial Times. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. Jonstone, Richard (19 February 2016). "First council lines up to borrow from municipal bond agency". Public Finance. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. Moore, Elaine (1 February 2015). "Million-pound municipal bond market stuck at zero". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. Johnstone, Richard (25 January 2016). "Municipal bonds agency opens for business". Public Finance. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. Marrs, Colin (10 October 2019).PWLB rate hike best day for a long time for bonds agency. Article in 'Room 151'. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  7. Evans, Richard (5 February 2014). "Mini-bond loss 'certain' says broker". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  8. Cross, Luke (27 April 2016). "Canaccord housing team joins JC Rathbone". Social Housing. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. Cobley, Mark (7 September 2014). "U.K. Plans to Form Municipal Bonds Agency". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  10. Marrs, Colin (17 October 2019). Brady to step down from bond agency helm. Article in Room 151 Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  11. Endole Latest Activity. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  12. "Municipal Bonds Agency yet to refresh arid public sector market". Global Capital. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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