Note F: Funds Held for Clients and Corporate Investments

Included in funds held for clients' money market securities and other restricted cash equivalents as of November 30, 2023 were bank demand deposit accounts, money market funds and U.S. government agency and treasury securities with original maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition.

Included in asset-backed securities as of November 30, 2023 were investment-grade securities primarily collateralized by fixed-rate auto loans and credit card receivables and all have credit ratings of AAA. The primary risk associated with these securities is the collection of the underlying receivables. Collateral on these asset-backed securities has performed as expected through November 30, 2023.

Included in corporate bonds as of November 30, 2023 were investment-grade securities covering a wide range of issuers, industries, and sectors primarily carrying credit ratings of A or better and having maturities ranging from December 1, 2023 through September 15, 2029.

Included in municipal bonds as of November 30, 2023 were general obligation bonds and revenue bonds primarily carrying credit ratings of AA or better and have maturities ranging from February 1, 2024 through October 1, 2031.

A substantial portion of the Company's portfolios are invested in high credit quality securities with ratings of AA or higher, and A-1/P-1 ratings on short-term securities.

Funds held for clients’ money market securities and other restricted cash equivalents is collected from clients before due dates for payroll tax administration services and employee payment services and is invested until remitted to the applicable tax or regulatory agencies or client employees. Based upon the Company’s intent and its contractual obligation to clients, these funds are considered restricted until they are remitted to fund these client obligations.

The Company’s AFS securities reflected net unrealized losses of $187.2 million and $175.3 million as of November 30, 2023 and May 31, 2023, respectively. Included in net unrealized losses as of November 30, 2023 and May 31, 2023, were 991 and 967 AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, representing approximately 94% and 88% of the total securities held, respectively.

The Company regularly reviews its investment portfolios to determine if any investment is impaired due to changes in credit risk or other potential valuation concerns. The Company believes the investments held as of November 30, 2023 that had gross unrealized losses of $189.2 million were not impaired due to credit risk or other valuation concerns, and the Company was not required to record a credit loss or an allowance for credit losses on its AFS securities. The Company believes it is probable that the principal and interest will be collected in accordance with contractual terms and that the unrealized losses on these securities were due to changes in interest rates and were not due to increased credit risk or other valuation concerns. A substantial portion of the securities in an unrealized loss position as of November 30, 2023 and as of May 31, 2023 held an AA rating or better. The Company does not intend to sell these investments until the recovery of their amortized cost basis or maturity and further believes that it is not more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell these investments prior to that time. The Company’s assessment that an investment is not impaired due to credit risk or other valuation concerns could change in the future due to new developments or changes in the Company’s strategies or assumptions related to any particular investment.

Realized gains and losses on the sale of AFS securities are determined by specific identification of the cost basis of each security. On the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, realized gains and losses from the funds held for clients portfolio and corporate investments portfolio are included in interest on funds held for clients and other expense, net, respectively.

Variable rate demand notes (“VRDNs”), when held by the Company, are primarily categorized as due after five years in the table above as the contractual maturities on these securities are typically 20 to 30 years. Although these securities are issued as long-term securities, they are priced and traded as short-term instruments because of the liquidity provided through the tender feature.