Sec. 17.

(1) An investment fiduciary may invest in any of the following:

(a) Obligations issued, assumed, or guaranteed by a solvent entity created or existing under the laws of the United States or of any state, district, or territory of the United States, which are not in default as to principal or interest, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Obligations secured by the mortgage of real property or the pledge of adequate collateral if, during any 3, including 1 of the last 2, of the 5 fiscal years immediately preceding the time of investment, the net earnings of the issuing, assuming, or guaranteeing entity available for fixed charges, as determined in accordance with standard accounting practice, shall have been not less than the total of its fixed charges for the year on an overall basis, nor less than 1-1/2 times its fixed charges for the year on a priority basis after excluding interest requirements on obligations subordinate to the issue as to security.

(ii) Equipment trust certificates of railroad companies organized under the laws of any state of the United States or of Canada or any of its provinces, payable within 20 years from their date of issue, in annual or semiannual installments, beginning not later than the fifth year after the date of issue, which certificates are a first lien on the specific equipment pledged as security for the payment of the certificates, and which certificates are either the direct obligations of the railroad companies or are guaranteed by the railroad companies, or are executed by trustees holding title to the equipment.

(iii) Obligations other than those described in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) and in section 12c(3). The aggregate investments made under this subparagraph shall not exceed 15% of the system's total assets.

(b) Obligations secured by a security interest in real or personal property and a lease obligation given by a solvent entity whose obligations would be qualified investments under the provisions of this act, if the investment does not exceed 100% of the appraised value of the property subject to the lease, and if all of the following requirements are met:

(i) The lease has an unexpired term equal to or exceeding the remaining term of the investment.

(ii) The lease is noncancelable unless the lessee first pays the sum of all unpaid rents due or to become due during the remaining lease term.

(iii) The lease provides for net rental payments equal to or exceeding the periodic payments on the investment.

(iv) The lease provides that the net rental payments are to be made without abatement or offset during the full term of the lease.

(v) The lease and the lease payments are assigned to the system, an agent of the system, or an independent trustee.

(c) Obligations issued, assumed, or guaranteed by the United States, its agencies, or United States government-sponsored enterprises.

(d) Obligations of a possession, territory, or public instrumentality of the United States, or of any state, city, county, township, village, school district, authority, or any other governmental unit having the power to levy taxes, or in obligations of other similar political units of the United States. These investments shall be of investment grade. These investments shall not be permitted if in the 3 preceding years the governmental unit has failed to pay its debt or any part of its debt or the interest on the debt. The aggregate investments made under this subdivision shall not exceed 5% of the system's total assets.

(e) Banker's acceptances, commercial accounts, certificates of deposit, or depository receipts issued by a bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or a credit union.

(f) Commercial paper rated at the time of purchase within the 2 highest classifications established by not less than 2 national rating services, and which matures within 270 days after the date of issue.

(g) Repurchase agreements for the purchase of securities issued by the United States government or its agencies and executed by a bank or trust company or by members of the association of primary dealers or other recognized dealers in United States government securities.

(h) Reverse repurchase agreements for the sale of securities issued by the United States government or its agencies and executed with a bank or trust company or with members of the association of primary dealers or other recognized dealers in United States government securities.

(i) Any investment otherwise permitted by this section in which the interest rate varies from time to time. Notwithstanding a provision of any other act to the contrary, a loan shall not be considered to be in violation of the usury statutes of this state by virtue of the fact that the loan is made on a variable interest rate basis.

(j) Obligations secured by any of the obligations described in subdivision (a) or (c).

(k) Dollar denominated obligations issued in the United States by foreign governments, supranationals, banks, or corporations. These investments shall be of investment grade.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this act and except for obligations described in subsection (1)(c), an investment fiduciary shall not do any of the following:

(a) Invest in more than 5% of the outstanding obligations of any 1 issuer.

(b) Invest more than 5% of a system's assets in the obligations of any 1 issuer.

History: Add. 1982, Act 55, Imd. Eff. Apr. 6, 1982 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 485, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 1996 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 307, Imd. Eff. Oct. 16, 2000 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 347, Eff. Mar. 28, 2013