Brightline wins Deal of the Year award

Brightline won The Bond Buyer’s 23rd annual Deal of the Year award for its $3.2 billion recapitalization that represents a transformative moment in U.S. infrastructure financing. 

As the largest private-activity bond issuance and first investment-grade debt for American high-speed rail, this transaction, which also won Deal of the Year in the Innovative Financing category, restructured $4.5 billion of debt across three liens, achieving a new standard for multi-modal transit funding. By attracting a diverse investor base, Brightline’s deal opens new avenues for large-scale infrastructure projects in a traditionally underserved financing sector.

“This deal broke barriers in a sector long plagued by challenges, creating a financing model that could redefine how we approach infrastructure in America,” said Mike Scarchilli, Editor in Chief of The Bond Buyer, at Tuesday’s gala. “It engaged a diverse investor base, including those from outside the traditional municipal sphere, unlocked new pathways for private capital, and cemented itself as a catalyst for future large-scale infrastructure endeavors. This is a project that doesn’t just promise to transform regional transit — it promises to transform how we think about financing it.”

The Bond Buyer’s editors and senior reporters considered a range of factors when judging entries, including: creativity, the ability to pull a complex transaction together under challenging conditions, the ability to serve as a model for other financings, and the public purpose for which a deal’s proceeds were used.

Brightline’s $3.2 billion recapitalization marked a watershed moment in U.S. infrastructure finance. As the largest private-activity bond issuance for U.S. transportation, Brightline’s deal has redefined financing for high-speed rail projects, supporting future expansion and setting the stage for similar large-scale infrastructure developments. By offering an innovative model, Brightline’s recapitalization opened new financing pathways in the rail and transit sector, demonstrating how strategic financial structures can power transformative projects.

The awards ceremony, held Dec. 3 at Guastavino’s in New York City, also included, for the 15th year, the presentation of the Freda Johnson Awards for Trailblazing Women in Public Finance. This year marks the 10th in which the organization honored public finance professionals from both the public and private sectors. The 2024 honorees were, Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the public sector, and Vivian Altman, head of public finance at Janney in the private sector.

Along with Wiggins and Altman, whose awards were presented by Freda Johnson, 12 other honorees from the public and private sectors were recognized as Trailblazing Women in Public Finance by the Northeast Women in Public Finance at the Dec. 3 event.

The 2024 public-sector Trailblazers:

• Ronda Chu, San Francisco International Airport
• Kim Edwards, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Pamela M. Frederick, Battery Park City Authority
• Alexandra Levin, Brightline
• Viola Miller, Utah Transit Authority
• Cathy Williams, Illinois Tollway

The 2024 private-sector Trailblazers:

• Lourdes Abadin, Estrada Hinojosa & Co.
• Arlene Bohner, Fitch Ratings
• Camille M. Evans, Endow Law P.A.
• Kristin Stephens, Oppenheimer & Co.
• Monika Suarez, Western Alliance Bank
• Grace Yuen, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

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The other finalists for the 2024 Deal of the Year:

NORTHEAST REGIONThe Northeast Region winner is the New York Transportation Development Corporation’s $4.55 billion green bond issuance for JFK International Airport’s Terminal One redevelopment. This project, the largest single-asset project financing in U.S. history, showcased a novel P3 structure that integrates sustainability commitments and attracts both traditional and non-traditional investors. Designed to LEED Silver standards, the terminal features solar arrays and a microgrid, positioning JFK’s Terminal One as a model for environmentally focused airport expansions worldwide.

SOUTHWEST REGIONThe cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, in partnership with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), are the Southwest Region winners for their $1.32 billion financing. DFW is the first U.S. airport to introduce an Extendable Commercial Paper (ECP) program as part of a financing, generating notable cost savings by bypassing traditional bank fees and offering interim funding for its $8.6 billion capital plan. This innovative structure attracted a broad range of investors and set an industry standard for large-scale airport financings.

MIDWEST REGIONThe Midwest Region winner is the Illinois Finance Authority and the University of Chicago’s $1.92 billion revenue bond transaction, the largest deal issued by the Illinois Finance Authority to date. This financing involved a sophisticated restructuring, featuring tender offers and hedge reconfigurations that optimized the university’s capital structure. Supporting new facilities, such as the engineering and sciences building, the transaction attracted diverse investors and underscored how strategic refinancings can transform an institution’s financial position.

SOUTHEAST REGIONThe Southeast Region winner is Jefferson County, Alabama’s $2.24 billion sewer revenue warrants refinancing, a hallmark of financial recovery following the county’s 2011 bankruptcy. This complex restructuring eliminated accreting debt, leveled debt service, and restored Jefferson County’s access to the municipal market, making it a true turnaround story. With over $1 billion in present value savings and substantial interest from international investors, this deal set a precedent for managing long-term debt effectively while stabilizing local financial health.

FAR WEST REGIONLos Angeles Unified School District’s $2.97 billion general obligation refunding bonds earned the Far West Region award as the largest municipal bond financing over the past year. This record-breaking deal refunded over $2.6 billion in Build America Bonds, leveraging extraordinary redemption provisions to generate approximately $175 million in property tax savings for LAUSD taxpayers. By navigating federal subsidy reductions, LAUSD’s strategic approach established a replicable model for educational issuers and secured significant interest from both traditional and new investor bases.

ESG/GREEN FINANCINGThe ESG/Green Financing winner is the California Community Choice Financing Authority’s $1.52 billion clean energy project revenue bonds on behalf of Clean Power Alliance of Southern California. As the largest renewable energy prepayment financing, this transaction secured 30 years of solar and storage, enabling the alliance to serve over 225,000 homes annually with clean energy. The bond structure achieved record customer savings and demonstrated how large-scale green financings can make a lasting environmental and economic impact.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FINANCINGThe Louisiana Public Facilities Authority’s $1.33 billion financing for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge replacement project is the Public-Private Partnership winner. A collaboration between the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and Calcasieu Bridge Partners, the project employs a demand risk structure, minimizing financial risk for the state. Supported by toll revenues and private capital, this critical infrastructure deal creates a model for public-private partnerships in addressing complex transportation needs.

HEALTH CARE FINANCINGWestchester Medical Center Health Network’s $286.9 million Series 2023 financing took the Health Care Financing award for its pioneering use of a corporate taxable tender offer, a first in the nonprofit healthcare sector. The deal’s complex restructuring optimized WMC’s capital structure, enhancing its financial stability. This financing drew strong investor interest and showcased strategic financial innovation in a challenging economic climate.

SMALL ISSUER FINANCINGAlexRenew (city of Alexandria, Virginia, Sanitation Authority) won the Small Issuer category with its $45.7 million issuance of wastewater revenue bonds, marking Virginia’s first green bond for a wastewater authority. This financing supports sustainable infrastructure, including the solids upgrade program and energy-efficient operations, advancing AlexRenew’s goal of emissions reduction. This deal introduced green bonds to a traditional area, underscoring how smaller issuers can access innovative funding solutions for environmental priorities.