Base Offering Circular Multifamily
33
a Security provides for two or more qualified floating rates that reasonably can be expected to
have approximately the same values throughout the term of the Security, the qualified floating
rates together will constitute a single qualified floating rate. Two or more qualified floating rates
conclusively will be presumed to have approximately the same values throughout the term of a
Security if the values of all such rates on the issue date of the Security are within 25 basis points
of each other.
A variable rate will be considered a qualified floating rate if it is subject to a restriction or
restrictions on the maximum stated interest rate (a Cap), a restriction or restrictions on the
minimum stated interest rate (a Floor), a restriction or restrictions on the amount of increase or
decrease in the stated interest rate (a Governor), or other similar restriction only if: (a) the
Cap, Floor, or Governor is fixed throughout the term of the related Security or (b) the Cap, Floor,
or Governor, or similar restriction is not reasonably expected, as of the issue date, to cause the
yield on the Security to be significantly less or significantly more than the expected yield on the
Security determined without such Cap, Floor, Governor, or similar restriction, as the case may
be. Although the OID Regulations are unclear, it appears that a VRDI, the primary rate on which
is subject to a Cap, Floor, or Governor that itself is a qualified floating rate, bears interest at an
objective rate and not at a qualified floating rate.
An objective rate is a rate (other than a qualified floating rate) that (i) is determined using
a single fixed formula, (ii) is based on objective financial or economic information, and (iii) is
not based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is
unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as the level of the issuers
dividends, profits, or stock value. The definition includes, for example, a rate that is based on
changes in a general inflation index and a qualified inverse floating rate (generally a fixed rate
minus a qualified floating rate). A variable rate is not an objective rate, however, if it is
reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of the term will be
either significantly less than or greater than the average value for the second half of the term.
If interest on a Variable Rate Security is stated at a fixed rate for an initial period of less
than one year followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective
rate for a subsequent period, and the value of the variable rate on the issue date approximates the
fixed rate, the fixed rate and the variable rate together constitute a single qualified floating rate or
objective rate. A variable rate conclusively will be presumed to approximate an initial fixed rate
if the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate
by more than 25 basis points.
Under the OID Regulations, all stated interest on a Variable Rate Security that qualifies
as a VRDI and provides for stated interest unconditionally payable in cash or property at least
annually at a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate, including a qualified inverse
floating rate (a Single Rate VRDI Security), is treated as qualified stated interest. The amount
and accrual of OID on a Single Rate VRDI Security is determined, in general, by converting
such Security into a hypothetical fixed rate security and applying the rules applicable to fixed
rate securities described under Original Issue Discount above to the hypothetical fixed rate
security. A Single Rate VRDI Security that provides for a qualified floating rate or a qualified
inverse floating rate is converted to a hypothetical fixed rate security by assuming that the
qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate will remain at its value as of the issue