Using Variable Rate Debt Instruments



Approved by GFOA's Executive Board: 
March 2010

Issuing variable rate debt is a sophisticated strategy. In optimal conditions, a government might experience lower borrowing costs or reduce the impact of volatile investment earnings by issuing variable rate securities; however, their use exposes governments to many additional forms of risk. Users of variable rate debt need to be informed about these risks and their implications and possess or retain substantial expertise to mitigate them.

Short-term interest rates are generally lower than long-term interest rates. Governments with debt that resets to prevailing interest rates can save money in their long-term financing if rates stay constant or fall over the life of the debt. If rates rise, governments are better off issuing fixed-rate debt from the outset. This interest rate risk is only one form of risk associated with variable rate debt. Additional risk is introduced by liquidity and remarketing provisions. Variable rate debt programs typically involve regular re-marketing or rollover events, and these provisions determine what happens when there are problems in that process. Those problems can impose sudden principal repayments or large increases in interest rates.

 In addition to these forms of risk, governments need staff to actively monitor and manage variable rate debt throughout the time that it is outstanding. Governments without the capacity to manage such a program or who cannot secure the expertise to do so should consider issuing fixed rate debt.

Variable rate debt can be used as a tool for interim financing. Since the expectations of variable-rate investors are, by their nature, short-term, variable rate debt can be redeemed on short notice without any penalty. This feature makes variable rate debt a preferred tool for financing projects for which a prepayment or restructuring is a high probability. Certain variable rate products, most notably commercial paper, can be issued incrementally as funds are needed to finance current construction and reduce the long-term cost of construction financing, and then refunded with a long-term financing when the project is completed. Although variable rate debt is a valuable instrument, issuers should consult with their independent financial advisors and rating agencies to determine the appropriate level of variable rate exposure for their individual circumstances.


GFOA advises governments who plan to issue variable rate debt to exercise caution and carefully evaluate their objectives and consider how this debt and the various risks associated with it will be managed over the long term. Issuance of variable rate debt should be guided by the governments overall financial and debt management objectives and its financial condition. In particular, an issuer should:

  1. Review statutes or ordinances governing the issuance of debt, both at the local and state levels, to ensure that the issuance of variable rate debt (including particular instruments) is permitted and to understand any conditions, such as amounts, interest rate ceilings, or requirements governing debt-related funds.
  2. Ensure that the governments debt policy specifically addresses the use of variable rate debt, including goals to be achieved, permitted instruments, amounts that may be issued, steps to minimize risk, and monitoring requirements.
  3. Evaluate the impact on debt service requirements assuming different interest rate scenarios and develop appropriate contingency plans for a rising interest rate environment, including setting aside reserves consistent with applicable arbitrage regulations or purchasing hedging instruments. An issuer also should consider the impact of changing interest rates on rate covenants and its financial position. Governments using variable rate debt should have adequate financial capacity to accommodate rapid and potential large changes in borrowing costs.
  4. Evaluate the total cost of issuing variable rate debt, including fees to tender agents, remarketing agents, and liquidity providers under expected and adverse scenarios (e.g., if tendered bonds cannot be immediately remarketed). If the issuer is considering an interest rate cap, the cost of purchasing the instrument also should be assessed in relation to interest rate risk exposure. The issuer should include the cost of financial advisors or other expertise needed to monitor the variable rate instrument.
  5. Evaluate the need for an externally provided liquidity facility. If needed, an issuer should undertake an evaluation of possible providers, including their credit ratings, the consequences of a change in this rating, the posting of collateral, the maximum interest rate if bonds are tendered, and the timing of renewal provisions.
  6. Ensure the diversification of remarketing agents, liquidity facility providers and counterparties in their selection. This would assist the issuer in diversifying its exposure in market uncertainties and create competition among the various remarketing agents.


    2. Projected cash balances based on known demands on a given fund and on the issuers fund balance policies; and
    3. Any basis risk, such as the difference in the performance or duration of the issuers investment vehicle compared to the variable rate debt instrument to be used by the government.
  4. Liquidity/Renewal Risk. Issuers should have a plan that specifies their actions and backup provisions should one or more guarantors to the transaction fail to perform. This also applies to a governments ability to renew its liquidity agreements during a difficult market.
  5. Rollover Risk. Issuers should have the flexibility to act quickly if bonds rollover and cannot be sold, in which case remarketing agents effectively put their bonds. Documents should clearly indicate how the issuer should handle these bonds.
Governmental Debt Management
  • GFOA Advisory, Use of Debt-Related Derivatives Products and the Development of a Derivatives Policy, 2010.
  • GFOA Best Practice, Debt Management Policy, 2003.