We represent issuers, borrowers, investment banks and other financial institutions in a wide variety of governmental, nonprofit and economic development financings.
Representative Projects:
HEALTHCARE
MBF has worked with most of the healthcare institutions in Georgia as bond or underwriter’s counsel.
Notable recent transactions include financings for Augusta University Medical Center, Southeast Georgia Health System, Navicent, Columbus Regional Health, Archbold, Houston Healthcare and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
In addition to our core healthcare bond issue practice, we also assist healthcare systems in debt restructurings arising from mergers, reorganizations and asset sales.
HIGHER EDUCATION
MBF has extensive experience in the financing of projects for institutions of higher education with particular emphasis on projects for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and its member institutions.
We have been engaged in transactions involving 24 of the 26 issuing public colleges and universities in the State of Georgia in connection with the issuance of more than $4 billion in bonds.
Our higher educational experience also extends to private colleges and universities. Recent matters include financings for Emory University, SCAD, Spelman College, Oglethorpe College, Reinhardt University and Wesleyan College.
URBAN RENEWAL
MBF has provided ongoing advice to Invest Atlanta on various tax allocation district (TAD) issues, including uses of tax allocation increments, early redemptions of TAD Bonds and the extension of TAD legislation.
MBF has provided legal assistance in connection with the Westside TAD and with respect to the use of TAD funding to acquire the Martin Luther King, Jr. papers for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Other urban redevelopment clients include various Gwinnett County TADs, the Atlanta Beltline TAD, the City of Decatur and the City of Marietta in connection with the Atlanta United Football Club.
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES & TAX ABATEMENT
MBF routinely represents counties and development authorities when they are establishing or implementing economic incentive programs. We also represent developers and for-profit companies that will benefit from the economic incentives.
Economic incentive programs include ad valorem property tax abatement. We ensure that the incentives are politically acceptable to all taxing entities, legal and enforceable so that the parties obtain the benefit of their bargain.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BONDS
MBF has long history of providing legal services to cities, counties and school districts in traditional bond financings.
We assist our governmental partners in building the infrastructure that is vital to their communities through the issuance of general obligation and revenue bonds.
We help our clients navigate the entire process, from election preparation through to the closing of the bond transaction.
LEASE PURCHASE FINANCE
Our firm was integrally involved in the development of ACCG’s, GMA’s and GSBA’s lease purchase programs immediately following the adoption of the laws allowing lease-purchase transactions in Georgia.
Because of our early and continued involvement in these programs, we have unique insight into the intricacies of these transactions. We have worked on more lease-purchase transactions than any other lawyers in Georgia and have successfully defended the validity of such transactions in multiple court cases.
SPLOST
MBF has vast experience implementing and leveraging the special 1% sales tax for the benefit of counties, cities and schools.
Our experience allows us to provide invaluable advice regarding the election process and to ensure that our clients retain the desired flexibility with respect to the use of the sales tax proceeds.
We have enabled our clients to leverage the sales tax through the issuance of general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and certificates of participation.
USDA FINANCINGS
MBF has pioneered a niche practice assisting cities and colleges in rural communities in obtaining highly favorable loans from the Unites States Department of Agriculture.
We have served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and borrower’s counsel in a myriad of transactions specifically using this program. Representative transactions include Young Harris College, Reinhardt University, the Cities of Demorest, Grantville and Woodbine.
OTHER SERVICES
MBF is a full service public finance law firm. Other notable services we provide include representing financial institutions in direct placement bonds, providing continuing disclosure assistance after the bond transaction is closed and assisting clients in responding to IRS inquiries. To date, our clients have been 100% successful in obtaining a “no action” finding by the IRS.
We deliver all of these services in a cost-effective and efficient manner so as to minimize the expense and intrusion to our clients.