The Treasury has annonced the details of its money market mutual fund guarantee program:
Here’s today’s press release:
Treasury Announces Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds
Washington- The U.S. Treasury Department today opened its Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds. The U.S. Treasury will guarantee the share price of any publicly offered eligible money market mutual fund – both retail and institutional – that applies for and pays a fee to participate in the program.
All money market mutual funds that are regulated under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, maintain a stable share price of $1, and are publicly offered and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission will be eligible to participate in the program. Treasury first announced this program on Friday, September 19.
The temporary guarantee program provides coverage to shareholders for amounts that they held in participating money market funds as of the close of business on September 19, 2008. The guarantee will be triggered if a participating fund’s net asset value falls below $0.995, commonly referred to as breaking the buck.
The program is designed to address temporary dislocations in credit markets. The program will exist for an initial three month term, after which the Secretary of the Treasury will review the need and terms for extending the program. Following the initial three month term, the Secretary has the option to renew the program up to the close of business on September 18, 2009. The program will not automatically extend for the full year without the Secretary’s approval, and funds would have to renew their participation at the extension point to maintain coverage. If the Secretary chooses not to renew the program at the end of the initial three month period, the program will terminate.
To participate in the program, the Treasury Department will require money market funds with a net asset value per share greater than or equal to $0.9975 as of the close of business on September 19, 2008, to pay an upfront fee of 0.01 percent, 1 basis point, based on the number of shares outstanding on that date. Funds with net asset value per share of greater than or equal to $0.995 and below $0.9975 as of the close of business on September 19, 2008, will be required to pay an upfront fee of 0.015 percent, 1.5 basis points, based on the number of shares outstanding on that date. These fees will only cover the first three months of participation in the program.
Funds with a net asset value below $0.995 as of the close of business on September 19, 2008, may not participate in the program.
While the program protects the accounts of investors, each money market fund makes the decision to sign-up for the program. Investors cannot sign-up for the program individually. Funds should apply by October 8, 2008 for the program using the forms on the program webpage: .
Eligible funds include both taxable and tax-exempt money market funds. The Treasury and the IRS issued guidance that confirmed that participation in the temporary guarantee program will not be treated as a federal guarantee that jeopardizes the tax-exempt treatment of payments by tax-exempt money market funds.
President George W. Bush approved the use of existing authorities by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. to make available as necessary the assets of the Exchange Stabilization Fund to guarantee the payment
The Exchange Stabilization Fund was established by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, as amended, and has approximately $50 billion in assets. This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, “to deal in gold, foreign exchange, and other instruments of credit and securities” consistent with the obligations of the U.S. government in the International Monetary Fund to promote international financial stability. More information on the Exchange Stabilization Fund can be found at
Here is the Treasury’s FAQ section.
September 29, 2008
hp-1163
Frequently Asked Questions About Treasury’s Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds
How does an investor sign up to participate in the Treasury’s Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds?
While the program protects the shares of all money market fund investors as of September 19, 2008, each money market fund makes the decision to sign up for the program. Investors cannot sign up for the program individually.
How will investors know if their money market fund participates in the program?
Investors should contact their money market fund directly to determine if it is participating in the program.
What type of funds does the program cover?
All money market mutual funds that are regulated under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, are publicly offered, are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and maintain a stable share price of $1 will be eligible to participate in the program. This includes both taxable and non-taxable funds.
Is an investor in a fund that is managed like a money market fund but that is not registered with the SEC covered?
No, the program only covers money market funds that are regulated under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, are publicly offered, are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and maintain a stable share price of $1 will be eligible to participate in the program. This includes both taxable and non-taxable funds.
When will my fund be covered by the program?
Each fund must decide to participate in the program. If your fund participates in the program, your investment as of September 19, 2008 will be covered.
How much of an investor’s money market fund is insured? What happens if the number of shares held in an investor’s account increase above the level at the close of business on September 19, 2008? What happens if the number of shares held in an investor’s account decreases below the level at the close of business on September 19, 2008?
The program provides a guarantee based on the number of shares held at the close of business on September 19, 2008. Any increase in the number of shares held in an account after the close of business on September 19, 2008 will not be guaranteed. If the number of shares held in an account fluctuates over the period, investors will be covered for either the number of shares held as of the close of business on September 19, 2008 or the current amount, whichever is less.
Examples include:
If an investor owned 100 shares in a money market fund as of close of business September 19, 2008, but owns 50 shares on the day the guarantee payment is made, after the fund breaks the buck, then that investor will be guaranteed for 50 shares.
If an investor owned 100 shares in a money market fund as of close of business September 19, 2008, but owns 150 shares on the day the guarantee payment is made, after the fund breaks the buck, then that investor will be guaranteed for 100 shares. The fund, upon liquidation, will distribute proceeds to the shareholder for the additional 50 shares, at net asset value.
If an investor owned 100 shares in a fund as of close of business September 19, 2008, subsequently sold 50 shares and later bought 25 shares, the investor owns 75 shares on the day the guarantee payment is made and will be guaranteed for 75 shares.
If an investor owned no shares in a fund as of close of business September 19, 2008, but owns 100 shares on the day the guarantee payment is made, none of the investor’s shares are guaranteed by the program and the investor will receive the net asset value directly from the fund.
What if another fund in an investor’s fund family breaks the buck before this program starts? Is the investor covered?
The program provides a guarantee on a fund-by-fund basis up to the amount of shares held as of the close of business on September 19, 2008. The performance of a different fund, even one in the same fund family of the investor’s fund, doesn’t affect the investor’s fund’s eligibility. Investors should contact their fund to determine if their fund participates in the program.
When does the program terminate?
The program is designed to address temporary dislocations in credit markets. The program will be in effect for an initial three month term, after which the Secretary of the Treasury will review the need and terms for the program and the costs to provide the coverage. The Secretary has the option to extend the program up to the close of business on September 18, 2009. In order to maintain coverage, funds would have to renew their participation in the program after each extension. If the Secretary chooses not to extend the program at the end of the initial three month period, the program will terminate.
Who provides this guarantee? Are investors able to get all of their money back whenever they want?
The U.S. Treasury Department, through the Exchange Stabilization Fund, is providing this guarantee. In the event that a participating fund breaks the buck and liquidates, a guarantee payment should be made to investors through their fund within approximately 30 days, subject to possible extensions at the discretion of the Treasury.
Is shareholder in a fund that broke the buck before September 19, 2008 covered?
No. This does not meet the program’s eligibility criteria noted above.
What should shareholders in a participating fund that breaks the buck do? Who should they call?
If your fund enrolled in the program you will be covered and do not need to take any action. Shareholders should contact their fund directly.
Who should a fund contact if it has further questions about this program?
Please e-mail the Treasury Department at moneymarketfundsguaranteeprogram@do.treas.gov.
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