Glossary of terms

Basis point

1/100th of 1%. A measure normally used in the statement of interest rates; 100 basis points equals 1%.

Bond

A form of interest bearing security issued by governments, companies and other institutions - usually a form of long-term financing.

Bond issue

A method of borrowing by which debt is raised from a wide variety of individual or institutional investors. Bonds usually carry a fixed coupon payable by the issuer (borrower) to the bondholder (investor) and have a predetermined repayment date.

Cost Overrun Protection Programme

Insurance arrangement implemented by LCR and Bechtel for sharing risk of cost overruns associated with construction of Section 2 of the Link.

Cost Benefit Appraisal

A quantitative assessment of the relative value of the costs and benefits of a project, usually carried out to determine whether proceeding with the project can be justified on the basis that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Debt Management Office

Carries out the Government's debt management policy of minimising financing costs over the long term, taking account of risk, and to manage the aggregate cash needs of the Exchequer in the most cost-effective way, in both cases consistently with the objectives of monetary and wider policy considerations

Discount rate

The percentage rate applied to cash flows to enable comparisons to be made between payments made at different times. The rate quantifies the extent to which a sum of money is worth more today than the same amount in a year's time.

Domestic Capacity Charge (DCC)

Charges paid by the Government to allow domestic train operators access to the Link.

Equity

The value of a company or project after all liabilities have been allowed for. The equity is owned by the shareholders.

Floating interest rate

A rate of interest which varies periodically in accordance with a stated market reference, usually the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).

Gilts

Government securities traded on the London stock exchange. They are called gilt edged as it is certain that the interest will be paid and they will be redeemed on the due date.

Gilt rate

The rate of interest paid on a government security. The gilt rate is often considered to be the risk free rate of interest because of the certainty that the interest will be paid.

Government Guaranteed Bonds (GGBs)

Bonds issued by a party other than Government but carrying a Government Guarantee to honour the bond in the event of the issuer being unable to do so.

Hedging

Instruments used by the consortium company to manage the risk of variations in future interest rates. In most cases, the company will choose to fix its future interest rate thereby providing it with certainty about what its financing charges will be.

Index linked bond

A bond where the value of the interest payments and principal are linked to an index of inflation.

Interest

An additional amount that a bank charges on a commercial loan over and above its own cost of providing the loan. The margin serves to provide the bank both with a profit and compensation against the risk of not having the loan repaid.

LIBOR

London interbank offered rate. The interest rate at which banks will lend to each other.

Net present value (NPV)

The net present value of the contract price represents the amount that would have to be invested at the start of the contract to fund the expected future cash payments which the department will be required to make to the contractor.

Nominal

Prices expressed in current money terms, i.e. inclusive of the effect of inflation.

Real

Prices expressed in money terms adjusted for the effect of inflation from a previous date.

Securitisation

Issuing bonds through a bankruptcy remote vehicle where the debt service is funded by and secured on the asset of a company e.g. in the case of LCR, its future income stream from track access charges.

Section 1

The section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link that runs from the Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction, via Southfleet in northwest Kent

Section 2

The section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link that runs from Southfleet to St Pancras station, London

Swap

A financial instrument that can be used to change the basis on which interest is paid on an asset or liability, for instance a floating rate is turned into a fixed rate or vice versa.

Track access charges

Charges paid by train operating companies, in this case Eurostar UK, to the owner of the network, in this case LCR, for rights of access to the network.

Value for money

Achieving the optimum combination of whole life cost and quality to meet customer requirements.