Laserfiche WebLink
STIFEL <br />March 11, 2021 <br />Kathryn Downs <br />Executive Director of Finance & Management Services Agency <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana. CA 92701 <br />Re: Proposal to Provide Underwriting Services <br />Dear Kathryn, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to present our qualifications to provide underwriting services to the City of Santa Ana <br />(the "City") on its proposed pension obligation bonds (the "POBs"). Whether the City decides to refinance all or a <br />portion of its unfunded pension liabilities, this is likely to be the largest and most important financing the City <br />undertakes for decades to come. We understand the magnitude of that sheer fact and, in turn, the magnitude that <br />even a 1 or 2 basis point difference can have. <br />So why entrust this borrowing to Stifel? We could argue many reasons, but most important is our consistency setting <br />the lowest FOB credit spreads and our proven track record of selling POBs successfully in all types of markets for a <br />wide range of California cities with different attributes (i.e. ratings, name recognition, size, etc.). Additionally, please <br />consider the following! <br />#1 California Bond Underwriter. #1 Taxable Bond Underwriter_ #1 Pension Bond Underwriter_ Since 2019, Stifel has <br />brought to market 569 California bond issues totaling $14.3 billion, making us the #1 underwriter by number of issues <br />with a market share of 24%. During the same time, Stifel has led 118 taxable financings totaling $3.6 billion and senior <br />managed 7 pension obligation bonds totaling $989 million, which includes the recent sale of the $287 million City of <br />Orange PORs. Additionally, Stifel is set to lead manage next week's $363 million Huntington Reach PORs. Our primary <br />market presence keeps Stifel's sales professionals in constant dialogue with the buyers of California credits to <br />understand their portfolio needs and credit apprehensions. <br />Distribution Platform that Combine to Deliver Aggressive Pricing. Stifel is one of the few underwriting firms doing <br />business in California that underwrites California bonds from a California underwriting desk. In fact, the firm has 3 <br />California underwriters on 2 California underwriting desks. Our underwriters' knowledge of California communities <br />facilitates our ability to match buyers with communities and credits that meet these investors' varying investment <br />criteria. Furthermore, our sales platform includes 22 institutional municipal sales specialists, approximately 200 <br />fixed -income generalists and 280 retail sales professionals among 36 California private client offices. Sale of taxable <br />bonds to overseas buyers is led by Michael Levy, the Head of Institutional Sales for Stifel Europe. Michael oversees <br />20 institutional sales people covering European corporations, sovereign funds, pension funds and other European - <br />based asset managers. We will leverage all corners of this distribution network to drive down interest rates on the <br />City's PCBs. <br />Selectnentn 1®, lP iy <br />Incomparable Experience with Local Credits. I;n=c20-G <br />Stifel has extensive experience working with a ; <br />public agencies throughout Orange County. < < M C9',ie�' <br />The accompanying map highlights issuers forI m, <br />which we have served since 2016. This vast "' ® "' <br />experience of working with all of the City s <br />� J C. <br />neighbors provides our banking and <br />underwriting team with n better ^° <br />®, <br />understanding of local credits and Insights on <br />..cn� ,, xoac roe: <br />appropriate pricing levels. w�«��n.�. „�. I, . <br />City Council 23 — 200 5/18/2021 <br />