Note 12 – Notes Payable

In connection with the New Market Tax Credit activities of City First Bank, CFC 45 is a partnership whose members include CFNMA and City First New Markets Fund II, LLC. This CDE acts in effect as a pass-through for a Merrill Lynch allocation totaling $14.0 million that needed to be deployed. In December 2015, Merrill Lynch made a $14.0 million non-recourse loan to CFC 45, whereby CFC 45 passed that loan through to a Qualified Active Low-Income Community Business. The loan to the QALICB was secured by a Leasehold Deed of Trust that, due to the pass-through, non-recourse structure, was operationally and ultimately for the benefit of Merrill Lynch rather than CFC 45. Debt service payments received by CFC 45 from the QALICB were passed through to Merrill Lynch in return for which CFC 45 received a servicing fee. The financial statements of CFC 45 are consolidated with those of the Bank and the Company.

There were two notes outstanding at CFC 45 as of December 31, 2023. Note A was in the amount of $9.9 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.2% per annum. Note B was in the amount of $4.1 million with a fixed interest rate of 0.24% per annum. Quarterly interest only payments commenced in March 2016 and continued through March 2023 for Notes A and B. Beginning in September 2023, quarterly principal and interest payments were due for Notes A and B. Both notes would have matured on December 1, 2040, but were paid off during January 2024.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2024Mar 31, 2025Showing above
2023May 20, 2024

About Debt Disclosures

Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.

Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.